Essential oils – properties, application, types of oils [EXPLAINED]

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Essential oil has many different uses: it works as an air freshener, a few drops of your favorite essential oil added to the laundry will make clothes smell beautiful, it is also used as a basic attribute of aromatherapy. How do essential oils work? What are their properties?

Essential oils – what exactly are they?

Natural essential oils are a volatile mixture containing from several dozen to several hundred compounds. It is a secondary metabolite stored in every part of a potential plant: root, rhizome, herb, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds and even the bark. In plants from which essential oils are obtained, its content is in the range of 1 – 3%, but you can meet with its higher content, e.g. 18% – clove buds, the so-called cloves.

Also read: The importance of smell in medical diagnosis

Essential oils – how are they obtained?

Essential oil is obtained in various ways, it depends on its further use. They are most often obtained from dried or fresh plants by steam distillation or hydrodistillation. In the case of citrus fruits, the oils are obtained by squeezing, for industrial purposes, extraction is carried out with organic solvents, and in perfumery, the old method of odorizing fats (enfleurage) is used.

See also: Hydrolate, or floral water – what is it?

Essential oils – how are they used?

Essential oils can be safely used in three ways: by topical application to the skin (in ointments, creams, gels), inhalation (inhalation with an inhaler) and as part of aromatherapy. The use of essential oils by mouth is not recommended as it may have negative health consequences. Try Bioherba’s Bath and Massage Oil with a hint of forest. AROMASTICK nasal inhalers are convenient to use – different types that use different essential oils depending on your needs.

Aromatherapy – what is it?

Aromatherapy, or essential oil therapy, refers to a range of traditional, alternative, or complementary therapies that use essential oils and other aromatic plant compounds. Essential oils have been used for almost 6000 years, and in fact their use began centuries ago in the time of Neanderthals who bury their dead with aromatic herbs and flowers. Ancient Egyptians, Romans and Arabs used fragrances obtained from flowers in air purification, skin care, wound healing, and in the process of embalming corpses. Essential oils were believed to be more valuable than gold, motivating gravediggers to steal jars of oils from King Tutankhamun’s tomb.

In the XNUMXth century, essential oils were first used in therapeutic practice. The founder of this practice was Rene Maurice Gattefosse, a French perfumer and chemist who accidentally discovered that after applying lavender oil to a hand burn, the healing process was extremely fast. He noted that the oil was both aromatic and therapeutic. He, too, used the term aromatherapy for the first time.

The National Society for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) defines aromatherapy as “the therapeutic use or medical use of aromatic substances (essential oils) for holistic treatment.”

Reach today for Gaudium Firming Body Elixir, the aroma of which positively affects the well-being and the action soothes the skin, making it soft and smooth.

Read: Can Aromatherapy Help With Insomnia?

Essential oils – properties?

Essential oils have many health properties. Here’s how they work:

Antiseptic action – essential oils have an antiseptic effect against viruses, mold fungi, yeasts, protozoa as well as Gram – (+) and Gram – (-) bacteria. Moreover, they act against bacteria that are resistant to some antibiotics. Antimicrobial activity increases with increasing concentration of the oil, however, it depends mainly on the chemical nature of the lead component. The oils that contain the strongest antibacterial properties include eugenol (clove and cinnamon oil), phenols (thyme, savory and oregano oils).

Expectorant action – this action consists in irritating the bronchial mucosa by the oil, which increases the secretion of residual mucus. The most effective form of using the oil for this purpose is inhalation of pure oils or a mixture with saline. Eucalyptus, pine, thyme, fir, anise oils – these are oils with expectorant properties.

Spasmolytic action – reduction of smooth muscle tone, mainly of the gastrointestinal tract, and restoration of normal peristaltic movements. Some oils stimulate the secretion of gastric juice and inhibit the multiplication of bacteria. Lavender, mint, dill, caraway and melissa oils have spasmolytic properties.

Diuretic action – it works by increasing the amount of urine produced. Such properties have juniper oil and lovage root oil.

The individual oils also exhibit sedative, antiviral, hypnotic, antiemetic and anti-inflammatory properties.

See: Sore throat, sinuses – which essential oil to choose?

Essential oil – which one to choose?

Tea tree essential oil – as the name suggests, it is obtained from the tea tree. It is best suited for inhalation or massage of a cold person, flu, viral infections. The scent of the tea tree has a calming effect.

Lavender essential oil – is one of the most popular essential oils. It has a calming effect, it is recommended for people who are tired and tense, suffering from insomnia. It brings relief in case of a runny nose, flu or sinus and throat inflammation. When added to the bath, it soothes aching muscles and joints, and helps fight skin inflammation, eczema and acne. It has antifungal properties, therefore it is recommended for people with skin and nail fungus. Lavender oil can be found in: in Relaxing Massage Oil with Ylang-Ylang Bioherba Oil and in Bath and Massage Oil with a lavender note. You can find both preparations at Medonet Market.

Orange essential oil – orange oil soothes depressive symptoms, nervous tension, helps to fall asleep. It is most often used for bathing and massage.

Attar – it is obtained from rose petals. Recommended for people with depression, insomnia, and anxiety. Cold compresses with the addition of rose oil soothe the symptoms of migraine. In addition, it has a soothing effect – it is worth adding a few drops of rose oil to the bath if you have irritated skin or badly healing wounds and burns.

Eucalyptus oil – ethereal tenole is obtained from eucalyptus leaves. It is recommended for inhalation during flu, colds or bronchitis. As a massage oil, it helps with sore muscles and rheumatism, and when used in the bath, it soothes inflammation. It is one of the strongest essential oils, so it is recommended to use a maximum of 2 drops per treatment. Eucalyptus oil can be found, for example, in the Bąbel preparation – a bath liquid for children against colds.

Mint essential oil – the most popular is the one obtained from peppermint. Peppermint oil is recommended for people suffering from migraine headaches, bronchitis, colds and flu. Used for massage, it is effective for menstrual cramps.

Lemon oil – it can be diluted and applied topically to the skin, as well as diffused into the air and inhaled. It is used to fight fatigue, helps with depression, cleanses the skin, kills harmful viruses and bacteria, and reduces inflammation. Relaxing bath and massage oil with a hint of Bioherba lemon order on Medonet Market at an attractive price.

Cedar oil – affects concentration, brain function, relieves symptoms of stress, soothes irritation and inflammation, reduces dryness and redness of the skin. It helps regulate sebum production, eliminates acne-causing bacteria, protects the skin from environmental pollutants and toxins, reduces the risk of future breakouts, and reduces the symptoms of skin aging. It facilitates the healing of wounds, soothes aching muscles and aching joints, soothes coughs, regulates menstruation and stimulates circulation.

Camphor oil – used in aromatherapy, it cleanses the bronchi and lungs, relieving inflammation. It improves blood circulation, the body’s immunity and has a relaxing effect. When applied topically, it soothes inflammation, redness, ulcers, insect bites, itching, irritation, rashes, acne, sprains and muscle pain. Thanks to its antibacterial and antifungal properties, camphor oil also helps protect against viruses. It also improves circulation, digestion, and reduces the intensity of physical pain, nervousness and anxiety. Its refreshing and relaxing fragrance stimulates and increases libido.

Ginger Root Oil – when used in aromatherapy, it stimulates and warms up. It can increase concentration, soothe and reduce symptoms of stress, sadness and anxiety. Topically applied ginger oil soothes redness, inhibits signs of damage and aging of the skin, and has antibacterial properties. It soothes dryness and itching, influences hair growth by stimulating and improving circulation on the scalp. Used in medicine, ginger oil helps eliminate toxins, speeds up digestion, soothes stomach and intestinal ailments, improves appetite, cleanses the respiratory tract, soothes pain and reduces inflammation.

Pine oil – when used in aromatherapy, it has a positive effect on the mood, cleansing the mind, energizing the body, eliminating fatigue and increasing concentration. Pine oil applied topically soothes itching, inflammation and dry skin. It controls excessive sweating, prevents fungal infections, protects minor abrasions from the development of infections, slows down the appearance of signs of aging and improves circulation. Supports immune functions, cleanses the respiratory tract, alleviates symptoms of colds, coughs, sinusitis, asthma and flu. Try the resin liner for sinuses, which contains pine oil in its composition.

Rosemary essential oil – this oil has many valuable properties. In aromatherapy, it has anti-stress and psychostimulating properties, improves cognitive functions and reduces congestion. In medicine, it is used as an antibacterial, antifungal, detoxifying, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, laxative, antiseptic, disinfecting agent.

Sage oil – cosmetically or topically, sage oil is known to eliminate toxins, soothe minor skin abrasions, reduce discoloration, remove stretch marks, ulcers and swelling. Its moisturizing and caring properties help soothe skin dryness and irritation. Used in aromatherapy, it has a stimulating effect, while maintaining balance. It improves memory, relieves discomfort in the digestive and respiratory systems. Sage oil is also known to regulate and stabilize menstrual cycles and related symptoms. It also soothes aching muscles and joints, fights bacterial infections and eliminates toxins from the body.

Basil oil – basil oil, and more precisely from sweet basil, soothes minor skin irritations, spasms and joint pains, muscle pains, flatulence and general exhaustion of the body, improves the immune function, protects against infections and stabilizes irregular menstruation. In aromatherapy, sweet basil oil has a stimulating, calming, strengthening and energizing effect. It also has insect repellent properties, eliminates odor-causing bacteria, and soothes headaches, as well as respiratory and digestive ailments.

Essential oils – application

There are several basic ways to use essential oil, the first and most popular is to use a ceramic aromatherapy fireplace. The upper part of the fireplace is a basin that is filled with your favorite oil, while the lower – a cylinder open on one side – is the place where the candle (heater) is placed.

The second way to get essential oil is to use it along with an air humidifier. Just add a few drops of essential oil to a container of water. When the humidifier is switched on, it releases the mist along with the diluted oil. There are also special diffusers for oils available on sale, consisting of a small bottle closed with a cork, into which you pour essential oil diluted with ethyl alcohol. Then, in the bottle, through the hole in the cork, thin bamboo sticks are placed, which soak up the ethereal mixture, spreading the fragrance of the oil throughout the room.

Another way to apply essential oil is through massage. The essential oil added to the base oil enters the bloodstream through skin contact. The massage opens and widens the capillaries of the skin and tissues, thanks to which the essential oil can spread throughout the body in a fairly short time.

Medonet Market also offers herbal Mollis oil for intimate massage for women. The product has firming and elasticizing properties, and at the same time soothes irritations.

The essential oil can also be used during a hot bath. Just a few drops of the oil added to hot water will generate steam, which has a relaxing and calming effect on a person taking such an aromatic bath. It does not hurt to add 1-2 drops of oil to a body lotion or hand cream – it will provide cosmetics with a beautiful and soothing fragrance. Essential oils for baths relax and give the skin the right glow.

For a runny nose, it is worth using Aromactiv + patches for children from the first day of life, soaked in essential oils that have a positive effect on the respiratory system.