What Are Essential Oils?
An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing all kinds of beneficial compounds derived from plants. What really are essential oils, though?
Defining Essential Oils
You might be wondering what a "hydrophobic" liquid actually is? A hydrophobic liquid is one who molecules are repelled from water - hence, the notion of being "phobic" of "hydro," which comes from the Greek word for water (hudor).The thing to remember is that an essential oil is hydrophobic and considered volatile due to the fact that these oils evaporate easily at or above room temperature of 72 degrees. Volatile in the context of an essential oil doesn't mean that these oils are dangerous. In fact, essential oils derived from peppermint, lavender, and sandalwood have a number of beneficial properties.
What Does Essential Mean?
Before moving on to a couple of essential oil examples, like peppermint oil, and their benefits, it might be worthwhile to clear up some confusion about the term "essential" in this context as well.Essential is this context does not refer to an essential oil being absolutely indispensable for human health like an essential amino acid; rather, the adjective "essential" in this new context means that these oils (e.g., sandalwood) contain the essence of the plant from which they're derived.
Two Ways to Use
An essential oil is a tool used in alternative medicine and administered one of two ways - through some kind of aromatherapy or by being diluted then rubbed on to the individual's skin. Both methods have their benefits, but make sure that you're not allergic to the essential oil in question before taking it in.Aromatherapy
For aromatherapy, the most common method is using a diffuser. A diffuser uses water and a few drops of the oil to diperse the scent into the air. Be sure to only use a few drops of your chosen oil to begin with and build onto the amount if needed.
Skin Application
To apply essential oils to your skin, you must first dilute the oil. You will need to add the oil to a "carrier" oil such as coconut oil, olive oil, or almond oil. The carrier oil dilutes the essential oil to make it safer for your skin. If you apply an essential oil directly, it can cause irritation and therefore is not recommended.
My Favorite Oils
I've found that the website Plant Therapy has some of the best prices for reputable oils. Use this link to get $10 off your first purchase of $10 or more. This is not a MLM company and puts their oils through rigorous testing to ensure high quality. [Affiliate link]
Peppermint Oil
While these beneficial oils are certainly not a substitute for medical attention following some kind of health emergency, alternative health practitioners claim that peppermint oil can open skin pores and improve circulation when applied topically.
Plant Therapy: $7.95 [Plus use this $10 Off Link]
Lavender Oil
Alternative health practitioners also claim that lavender oil can usher in a sense of calm and provide some relief from anxiety and insomnia. Indeed, there has been some research indicating that lavender oil can help: depression, anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness.
Plant Therapy: $7.49 [Plus use this $10 Off Link]
Sandalwood Oil
Plant Therapy: $34.95 [Plus use this $10 Off Link]
Remember, an essential oil can usually be applied topically or through aromatherapy, but make sure that you're not allergic first!
