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Whether you enjoy the soothing effects when massaged onto skin or simply the delightful aromas, there are so many uses for essential oils – from enhancing relaxation to relieving pain.
In this article, we are taking a closer look at essential oils and some of the many ways to use them!
What Are Essential Oils?
From lavender and tea tree to rosemary and peppermint, essential oils are concentrated compounds extracted from various parts of certain plants, including the leaves, seeds, and roots.
Essential oils capture the plant’s essence, including its scent, which is why they are generally used in aromatherapy.
Some oils can also be absorbed when applied to your skin, interacting with your body in multiple ways. This is why some essential oils are found in products like shampoos and face washes, as well as pain relief creams, gels, and balms.
For example, we use essential oils such as arnica oil, rosemary oil, and wintergreen oil in our award-winning Relief Balm (more on this below).
What Are the Uses For Essential Oils?
1. Relaxation of body and mind
One of the first things people think of when it comes to uses for essential oils is relaxation – and it’s no surprise, with so many calming oils that can help relieve stress and anxiety.
It’s the scent of essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, and rosewater that can really help calm the senses. Invest in some of these oils, as well as an oil diffuser, and enjoy unwinding!
Another essential oil traditionally used to bring about feelings of calm and relief is frankincense, as mentioned in a 2020 aromatherapy review. We use organic frankincense oil in our bestselling WholyMe Relief Salts, which are made with 100% natural Epsom salts, along with arnica oil and eucalyptus oil to cultivate a clear and relaxed body and mind. It’s the perfect bath-time booster!
2. Pain relievers
On the subject of frankincense, another benefit of this resin-based oil is that it has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help relieve aches and pains in your body – it’s even recommended by the Arthritis Foundation as a treatment for arthritis (referred to as Boswellia Serrata in that article).
Yet, frankincense is just one of many pain-relieving essential oils that can be diluted and massaged into aching muscles and joints to relieve pain, swelling, and tension. Others include peppermint, marjoram, eucalyptus, rosemary, wintergreen, and juniper oils.
We use the latter four – along with frankincense – in our popular WholyMe Relief Balm, which works with your body to relieve inflammation. This award-winning balm is independently tested to ensure the highest quality and efficiency for pain relief.
No wonder so many professional athletes use it to ease their aches and pains!
3. Help you sleep
Struggling to nod off? Thankfully, essential oils can be very useful for sending you off to sleep. Depending on the oil, you can either inhale it or apply it to your skin, and enjoy the soothing benefits.
For example, chamomile essential oil has been frequently used as a treatment for mild sleep problems, as the oil – like the plant itself – has mild sedative effects.
Other essential oils that can help you sleep include lavender, frankincense, jasmine, and bergamot. Sweet dreams!
4. Energize you
While some essential oils can help you sleep, others do the exact opposite and can help energize your body and mind when you need a pick-me-up.
With such a fresh and invigorating fragrance, peppermint oil is an obvious choice and one that is backed by a small study, which highlighted its effectiveness in preventing fatigue.
Other essential oils that can help decrease fatigue and increase focus include sweet orange, spearmint, rosemary, and lemon. These are perfect if you are working, studying, or just need help getting out of bed each morning!
5. Clean your home
In addition to caring for your body, essential oils can also help you care for your home!
For example, lavender oil may smell divine, but its beauty hides powerful antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral properties.
In fact, in the days predating antiseptics, it is said that lavender was used to clean hospital wards. This is supported by modern science, with one 2019 study showing that lavender essential oil could be an efficient enhancer of common antiseptics against MRSA strains.
Eucalyptus is another essential oil with antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, that can be used around the home to fight various bacteria.
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So, whether you want to fall asleep, wake up, or just give your home a bit of a spring clean, you now know some of the prime uses for essential oils.
As always, be sure to do some further reading on each oil mentioned, as every oil has different benefits and uses!
Here are a few links to get you started:
