The Benefits of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is widely known as the use of essential oils to treat or prevent diseases. Ever since the first century AD, when the Roman physician Dioscorides wrote about the healing properties of plant-derived oils, aromatherapy has been helping people.

Essential oils are most commonly extracted from plants via steam distillation. Their benefits are widely varied; for example, lemon oil is known to have an uplifting quality and to relieve stress, while peppermint oil can be used as a potent ant deterrent, as putting drops on ant trails will disrupt their communications.

Other oils, such as eucalyptus and lavender, are used to combat anxiety, stress, and depression.

Eucalyptus Essential Oils

The essential oil of the eucalyptus tree is extracted from its leaves. It is known to have antiseptic and deodorizing properties, and is used in small quantities in toothpaste, cough drops, candies, and decongestants, as well as being a common ingredient in insect repellent.

Eucalyptus oil can also be used to get tricky stains out of clothing. Simply form a paste with a few drops of oil and some washing detergent, then rub it on the stain and let it sit for ten minutes. This will loosen up the particles still stuck in the fabric and allow you to wash it away. The oil can also help to loosen up anything sticky that you’re trying to remove, like wax, or glue.

If you’ve got a stuffed nose, you can take advantage of eucalyptus oil’s decongestant quality by putting a few drops (2-3) into a large bowl of hot water. Put a towel over your head and breathe the vapors in, and feel the instant relief.

Lavender Essential Oils

Lavender is a flowering plant whose entire body is used in the production of lavender essential oil. The oil is very commonly used in perfume production and has been for a long time. The smell of the oil is said to be relaxing, aiding in the relief of anxiety and stress. If breathed in or diluted and used on skin, it can help pains associated with tension headaches.

Lavender oil has antiseptic and pain relieving qualities, and can be used on minor burns or bites/stings from insects. In addition, it helps to soothe sunburns, and it is also used in massage therapy to aid in relaxation of muscles.

Aromatherapy’s efficacy has been proven by its staying power through the centuries. Its benefits are wide-ranging, and at the very least, you’ll breathe in a pleasant scent, and for that one moment, your cares will leave you.