What are Essential oils – A complete guide 101 

Compounds obtained from plants are called essential oils. Each essential oil’s distinctive essence is derived from distinct aromatic components. Since ancient times oils have been used as medicines, skin treatments, and personal scents. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Indians, and Chinese used concentrated oils made from plants and herbs for various reasons. 

Many plant parts, including fruits, flowers, leaves, grass, roots, and wood, are used to make essential oils. Lemongrass, Citronella is made from chopped grass, Rose, Jasmine, and Ylang-Ylang are flowers, Ginger and Turmeric are rhizomes made from leaves, Cinnamon is made from bark, and Sandalwood and Agarwood are made from heartwood. Orange, Lemon, and Bergamot are fruits. Furthermore, from whole spices such as cardamom, clove, and anise. Depending on the plant, the essential oil is kept in specialized resin or oil cells, glandular hairs, partitions, or scales with single or multiple cell pockets or tiny reservoirs.

How are essential oils made? 

1. Distillation with steam or water The passing of hot steam through the plants separates the vital components from the plant matter.
2. Cold pressing Plant material is mechanically pressed to extract juices that are vital to the process. An easy illustration of this would be inhaling the fragrant perfume of freshly squeezed lemon after zesting a lemon peel. 

What is Aromatherapy

How does aromatherapy work? The discipline of aromatherapy involves employing naturally extracted fragrances or essences from aromatic botanical material to enhance your body’s, mind’s, and soul’s overall wellness. Essential oils are the essences derived from specific types of flowers, grasses, fruits, leaves, roots, and forests. The vital life power of aromatic botanical plants is contained in the essences. There are already roughly 300 essential oils, which, when combined, provide a highly effective medical system. They may give your life depth, dimension, and distinction while restoring balance and harmony to your body and mind through aromatherapy.

Must have essential oils 

When you take essential oils more seriously, you’ll want to have a collection of them at your house for all of their varied applications. Everyone has different preferences and tastes, so it is a good idea to try out several kinds and identify the ones most suited to you. 

The following is a list of our top must-have regular  oils.

Lemon oil

Due to its energizing and fresh aroma, it is frequently used as a component in home cleaning products. Lemon oil may be used to clean clothes and is an excellent oil for cleaning the kitchen and any culinary item. Because lemon is a source of d-limonene, a component frequently found in cosmetics, it can be applied topically as a skin treatment for personal use. Limonene helps with wrinkles and toning while promoting circulation. When used in aromatherapy, lemon oil is also reported to provide a calming and stress-relieving impact.

Rosemary oil

Due to its many benefits, rosemary oil, one of the best essential oils with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities, is frequently used in health and beauty products. Although rosemary is most commonly used in cooking, it also has a wide range of therapeutic uses. Rosemary promotes nerve growth, circulation, and blood flow to hair follicles. Rosemary can aid with premature graying, dandruff, and itchy scalp when it comes to hair. 

Peppermint oil 

Everyone is familiar with the famous peppermint oil used in various products, including toothpaste, chewing gum, and body wash. Due to its potent antibacterial effects, it is present in almost all of our hygiene products. But in addition to helping with headaches and fevers, peppermint can also be used as a digestive aid. Applying peppermint oil is excellent for tired muscles. 

Lavender oil

Lavender is one of the most used essential oils for aromatherapy and air fresheners. Additionally, it can be applied in first aid situations to help treat wounds and cuts. Everything we put on our skin benefits from its antispasmodic, anti-anxiety, antimicrobial, and antibacterial characteristics. Lavender aids in encouraging drowsiness while easing tension and stress for those who have trouble falling asleep or who struggle with insomnia. Lavender oil applied to your pillows and sheets will aid in the struggle to get to sleep. 

Tea tree 

Tea tree oil has some of the most significant therapeutic characteristics of all the others and is used as an expectorant, antiviral, antifungal, and antibiotic. Even in rodents, the growth of tumors has been proven to be slowed by its cancer-fighting abilities. Moreover, it works well to moisturize the skin and heal pimples, and it also works well to sanitize hands.

 

Health benefits of essential oils 

Despite their widespread use, little is known about the therapeutic potential of essential oils for specific diseases. Some medical issues with aromatherapy and essential oils have been highlighted below.

• Antibacterial properties: The growth of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics has rekindled interest in finding additional substances that can combat bacterial illnesses. Peppermint and tea tree oil have shown some good antibacterial properties.
• Better sleep: It has been demonstrated that lavender oil enhances sleep quality for heart disease patients and postpartum mothers. Most research revealed that smelling lavender oil benefits sleep patterns.
• Helps with inflammation: Essential oils may aid in treating inflammatory disorders. Ingestion of a mixture of thyme and oregano essential oils was reported to assist with inflammation. 
• Stress and anxiety: According to estimates, 43% of people who suffer from stress and anxiety use aromatherapy to lessen their symptoms. Initial research on aromatherapy has proven quite encouraging. Numerous studies have demonstrated how various essential oils and aromas can help cure stress and anxiety. Interestingly, using essential oils while getting a massage may reduce stress. 
• Migraine: Recent studies have also shown that the skin-applied peppermint and lavender oils lessen headache discomfort. Additionally, it’s been said that using chamomile and sesame oil on the temples will help with headaches and migraines. This is a traditional headache treatment from Persia.

 

Side Effects of essential oils 

Something is not necessarily safe just because it is natural. Essential oils are bioactive substances found in plants and herbal goods that might harm your health. However, most essential essences are considered harmless when inhaled or mixed with a base oil for topical use. Consider nearby individuals breathing in the perfume, such as children, pregnant women, and pets. Nevertheless, they could result in some adverse effects, such as:

 

Skin irritation and rashes	Skin rashes are the most common side effect of using essential oils topically. Always dilute oils with a base oil before applying them to the skin to prevent irritation and burning. To check for any responses, dab a small amount of the substance on a skin patch.
Headache	Some people may relieve their headaches by inhaling oils, but others may experience headaches due to inhaling too much.
Asthma	While inhaling oils may be harmless for most individuals, certain asthmatics may react when exposed to the vapors. Thus, inhaling is not recommended as it may cause serious adverse effects and even be fatal in extreme cases.

 

Conclusion 

If mixed with a base oil, essential oils are generally considered safe to inhale or apply to the skin, but they must not be consumed. However, there isn’t enough data to back up many of the health claims they’re connected with, and assertions about how helpful they are frequently exaggerated. Using essential oils as a supplemental therapy for minor health issues is most likely risk-free. However, you should seek guidance from your healthcare provider about their use if you have a significant medical condition or are taking medication.