How about taking a time-out from life? Wouldn’t we all want that? With all the daily errands, the demanding workload and a somewhat erratic social life, it’s no wonder your batteries have run out. And no amount of sleep can effectively raise your energy levels because, well, you have to do it all over again tomorrow. Is there really a way out of this loophole?
Truth be told, with the right tools, you can break this draining cycle. How, you may ask? To answer that question, we have to go all the way back to ancient times, when people didn’t exactly have the medical resources that we have at our disposal today. Instead, they relied on natural remedies to ease their calamities. Needless to say, it worked better than you’d think.
Chapter Overview
What Are Essential Oils?
In a nutshell, they are scented extracts that are taken from various plants and leaves. These concentrated liquids are thought to have potent healing properties and numerous benefits for both your physical and mental wellbeing. And today, you can find a variety of essential oils that target all kinds of health issues from stress and anxiety to muscle pain, sinus problems and indigestion.
The herbal extracts are obtained through three extraction methods but they all yield the same results. If the process is done through distillation, the plants are submerged into a heated container filled with water. The steam is then captured and exposed to cooling temperatures. The end result is a highly aromatic liquid that’s ready for use.
Similarly, citrus-based oils are extracted through the cold-pressed method. You’ve probably already noticed that whenever you cut or peel citrus fruits, there’s a small amount of liquid that sprays out from their skin. To produce essential oils, manufacturers use machines to cut into said fruits and collect the moisture using sponges.
The third and final extraction method is perhaps the most gentle one. Effleurage is used to absorb the essence of the delicate petals of many flowers. The end result is a very pleasant and calming scent that you can’t get enough of.
What Are the Benefits of Using Essential Oils?
It’s no secret that essential oils have the ability to significantly improve your overall health. Of course, it all depends on the type of essential oil you get and your frequency of use but you’ll likely see noticeable improvements soon after you implement them into your routine. Keeping that in mind, it’s no wonder that scented essential oils serve as the perfect gift for aromatherapy enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Reduce Stress and Anxiety
There’s a lot of that going around, eh? Too much for your liking even. Well, the good news is that aromatherapy using EOs may help you manage your stress levels and relieve anxiety and depression symptoms. Obviously, this isn’t a change that happens overnight, but this alternative treatment can show positive results with continuous use over time.
Improve Sleep
You know how sometimes when you’re exhausted beyond measure it’s difficult to fall asleep? It’s ironic but it happens to the best of us. Most of the time, our bodies and minds are hard-wired to be on high alert and whenever the slightest prospect of some downtime comes across, it feels impossible to relax. How are you supposed to ease up after feeling tense all day?
Luckily, research has shown that the soothing scent of an essential oil like lavender helps combat insomnia and improves your quality of sleep. In fact, it plays a key role in calming your nerves and soothing your mind. Interestingly enough, the majority of people report falling asleep almost instantly. Doesn’t that sound tempting?
Promote Hair and Skin Health
In a world where makeup and beauty gurus run the show, finding suitable self-care products poses a real challenge for the rest of us mere mortals. You hear the words ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ being thrown around so carelessly that you start to question their authenticity. Is it really all that and more?
This is where EOs really start to make a difference. Their gentle formula has the incredible ability to cleanse, tone and hydrate your skin, resulting in that dewy look we all so desperately crave. Likewise, their nurturing capabilities stimulate healthy hair growth and restore its natural shine, something that can truly revolutionise the way you take care of it.
Antibacterial Properties
Not many people know this but EOs have inherent anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties. This gives you the ability to use them as cleaning products to prevent the spread of germs, all while emitting that heavenly scent. It really doesn’t get any better than that.
How Can You Use Essential Oils?
Now that you’re feeling eager to give aromatherapy a try, here are a few ways you’re able to include them in your daily routine.
Inhalation
This is by far the most common method simply because it’s also the easiest. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a diffuser, room spray or taking a whiff straight from the bottle itself, the scented particles fill your lungs and eventually enter your bloodstream. Once this happens, you’ll start to feel the calming effects taking over your nervous system, allowing you to get some well-deserved rest and relaxation.
Topical Application
Whether you’re using the oils as body lotions or perfumes, applying them directly to your skin allows your body to absorb all the nutrients it needs. Naturally, this doesn’t mean that you should lather loads of product every chance you get because this can have adverse effects. The proper way to go about it is to dilute the concentrated formula in carrier oils so before putting them onto your skin.
Compression
For those inconvenient times when you’re dealing with sore joints and muscles or you have the occasional skin rash you want to get rid of, applying compression pads onto the designated area may alleviate discomfort. Apply a few drops into a bowl of water before soaking it into a cloth washer. Leave the fabric on your skin for about 10 minutes for the best results.
Bath and Spa
Last but not least, how do you feel about turning your bathtub into a relaxing spa? Who could say no to that after a long day at work? Putting a few drops of diluted essential oil is the perfect way to unwind and leave all your troubles behind, even for a little while.
If you prefer taking a shower over a bath then try using a shower steamer like this one here.