Essential oils of plants have been reaping essential oils benefits for literally centuries. Essential oils have been a crucial part of the medical knowledge of ancient peoples around the globe, including the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. In modern times, essential oils benefits are mainly when the oils are used in topical lotions, aromatherapy, and soothing baths, as well as a wide array of healing herbal remedies.
Essential oils are created from the distillation of plant materials, such as the flowers, bark, leaves, stem, and roots of plants. The essential, volatile oils of the plants contain healing properties for the body that provide many essential oils benefits on the body's physiological system, either directly or indirectly. Even a two or three drops of peppermint essential oil taken orally can have essential oils benefits to ease digestion. Simply inhaling lavender essential oil can have a great calming effect on stress.
Essential oils benefits can happen almost immediately when the oils are administered either orally, to help with digestion, or applied topically to soothe inflammation and alleviate pain. There are many antimicrobial essential oils, antifungal essential oils, and antibacterial essential oils that can be used to disinfect and heal cuts, abrasions, or soothe other wounds or skin conditions. Antimircrobial essential oils and antibacterial essential oils will help heal external skin conditions, while antifungal essential oils will assist in ridding the body of fungal infections, whether used externally or internally.
Essential oils have now become very popular for use in the profession of aromatherapy. Essential oils benefits in aromatherapy include their effectiveness in treating physical, psychological, and easing stress and anxiety.
The body can utilize essential oils benefits due to their stimulating effects on the nervous system and in lowering or raising blood pressure, as well as balancing out hormonal secretions.
Other essential oils benefits are in the use of steam inhalation of the oils to treat and relieve respiratory conditions, such as occurs with a cold or the flu. Oils that provide these essential oils benefits include angelica, sage, myrtle, eucalyptus, lemon grass, lemon, ocean pine, cypress, cedar, thyme, tea tree, juniper, niaouli, and chamomile. There are some studies that suggest some of these could be more accurately described as antimicrobial essential oils and antibacterial essential oils due to their ability to kill microbes and bacteria. It should be noted steam inhalation is generally not recommended for asthmatics as the effect of the hot steam could trigger a mild asthma attack.
Lymphatic massage with essential oils is a common aromatherapy treatment that utilizes essential oils benefits to their utmost. Lymphatic massage stimulates the body's own healing process by encouraging blood and lymph fluid flow. Keep in mind that in order to really get good use from essential oils benefits through massage, the oils should be diluted before direct application on the skin as direct application can cause potential severe irritation. To dilute essential oils, a ratio of 15 drops of essential oils are added to every ounce of carrier oil. Carrier oils include such vegetable oils as almond, jojoba, coconut, jojoba, olive oils, wheat germ oil, and aloe vera oil. These are oils made from the fatty section of seeds, nuts or kernals.
Oils that relax tight muscles and increase circulation provide obvious essential oils benefits to the body. These oils include lemon, swiss pine, rosemary, lemon grass, lemon verbana, cinnamon, birch, and lavender. Oils that provide calming essential oils benefits include Roman Chamomile, sandalwood, rosewood, tangerine and orange, honey, mimosa, lavender, rose, petitgrain, balm, geranium, neroli and cedar. Body and facial oils used on a daily basis provide essential oils benefits of nourishing the skin and enhancing a sense of calm in the body.
Essential oils benefits can extend to the bath as well and will induce relaxation and calm the spirits. Simply sprinkle 5 to 10 drops of the oil of your choosing into the bath water. For sensitive skin, the oil can be diluted in a base oil first. Just make sure to wipe up the tub after your bath as some essential oils can mark some tubs.
Your feet can enjoy the benefits of essential oils. Four drops of rosemary, thyme and peppermint essential oil added to a large basin of warm water can bring wonderful relief to tired, aching feet. For some extra relaxation, after you soak your feet, rub some lavender essential oil onto your feet and reap the benefits of essential oils.
The benefits of essential oils also include their use in helping with insomnia or inducing a sense of calm to allow a person to fall asleep. You can simply scent a pillow with 2 or 3 drops of your choice of essential oils. Lavender essential oil is wonderful to enduce a sense of calm and relaxation.
Handkerchiefs are a great way to enjoy the benefits of essential oils at a moments notice! Inhaling a scented handkerchief with your favorite essential oil will help ease stress that accumulates throughout your day. Just 2 or 3 drops should be enough dropped onto a handkerchief. Some practitioners of alternative medicine feel that inhaling antimicrobial essential oils and antibacterial essential oils may actually prevent or inhibit the