What to Do With Essential Oils: Simple and Effective Ways to Use Them

Using essential oils for various health benefits dates back to the Ancient Egyptians in 4500 BC.

Aromatherapy isn’t a new thing. Still, many people don’t know the benefits of these plant extractions because they aren’t mentioned in many modern medicine practices.

If you’re wondering what to do with essential oils and why you’d want to do anything with them, keep reading. You’ll find out various methods, benefits, and everything you need to know before you try them for yourself.

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are compounds found in plant bark, leaves, and roots. They are extracted using methods like steam distillation, expression, and supercritical carbon dioxide.

The result is a pure liquid from one plant. Examples include clove, rosemary, and lavender. Various essential oils have health benefits such as being antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and relieving headaches.

It’s important to note that just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s inherently safe. You should do your research on the particular essential oil you want to try and find one that is 100% pure. Also, doctors should always approve of use in pregnant women, young children, and people with serious health conditions.

With all of that said, let’s take a look at the various ways you can use these beneficial plant compounds.

What to Do With Essential Oils: Inhale Them

The most common use of essential oils involves inhaling them directly into your lungs. You can do this in a variety of ways depending on your preference.

People do this to promote sleep, relieve stress and congestion, improve immune function, and help a variety of other ailments.

Be aware: there’s evidence showing that some essential oils are toxic to pets (you can find a comprehensive list here). If you have furry friends, be sure to review this list before using essential oils in your home.

Directly From the Bottle

The easiest way to inhale essential oils is by twisting off the cap from the bottle and holding it to your nose for a minute or so.

As you do this, breathe deeply and focus on the smell itself. Avoid touching the bottle directly to your skin.

Add a Few Drops to Cloth

If you want a prolonged experience, you can add a few drops of essential oil to a cloth or cotton ball.

Then, you can either hold it, put it in a vent in your car, or keep it nearby. This allows a slower experience as the oil evaporates.

Create a Steam Bath

You can create a steam bath by boiling a large pot of water. When it’s ready, add about 10 drops to the pot.

Draping a towel over your head, you can lean 10 inches or more over the top of the pot. The towel creates a barrier so that you create your own essential oil steam sauna.

Close your eyes and breathe deeply while doing this for about 2 minutes. Be sure to keep a safe distance from the top of the water to prevent steam burns.

Use a Diffuser

Essential oil diffusers typically use the oil as well as water. They’re made of ceramic, BPA-free plastic, and other materials.

Diffusers release the essential oil-water mixture in the form of a humid mist. Often, you can set a timer on them or have them go off in intervals.

This allows you to enjoy the benefits of essential oils in an entire room without having to directly inhale it.

Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions so that you don’t break your piece of equipment. You can find a wide range of diffusers at various price points, making it an ideal way to try aromatherapy for yourself.

Using Essential Oils on Your Skin

Some essential oils, like lavender, rosehips, and tea tree, provide relief for skin conditions. They can treat things like acne, eczema, and fungal infections.

You’ve probably seen or bought products that contain these oils before. You can make them yourself by using a carrier oil.

A carrier oil is a base for diluting the essential oil. Without it, essential oils can cause skin irritation or problems.

So, to use essential oils topically, you’ll want to pick up an organic carrier oil such as:

• Apricot kernel
• Almond
• Avocado
• Coconut
• Grapeseed
• Jojoba
• Olive

Be sure to research what carrier oil is best for the ailment you’re trying to treat. When you’re ready to make your mixture, use about 15 drops for every ounce of oil that you use.

Once it’s made, store it in labeled glass bottles in your refrigerator. This will preserve it to last for about a year.

Using Essential Oils for Their Delicious Smells

Some essential oils don’t have a great nose to them. Others, like lavender and eucalyptus, have amazing smells that you can use around your home.

For example, you can add water and 15 drops of your favorite smelling oil to a glass spray bottle. Shake it up before each use and spray it on your bedding, couches, and carpet for a fresh scent.

You can also use essential oils in natural detergents. Even if you don’t make your own detergent, you can simply add 15-20 drops of oil to large loads of laundry for a unique and light scent.

Treating Certain Health Problems With Essential Oils

Before you choose one of these methods to try, you may want to consider what benefit you’d like to get from the oils.

You can do this by researching, “essential oils to treat (insert your symptoms)”. This will give you an idea of what oils to buy and the best way to use them since each one has unique properties.

You can also purchase reference books like this guide to have your answers conveniently at your fingertips. There, you may look up oils for anxiety, immune issues, and sleep problems.

Give This Simple, Natural Method a Try

Now that you know what to do with essential oils, you can research to find out what ones might improve your wellbeing.

Follow instructions, consult your doctor when applicable, and try these natural remedies for yourself.

Keep reading our blog for more health tips to be the best version of yourself.

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