For thousands of years, people have turned to pure plant extracts to enhance their health. Well before pharmaceuticals and chemical compounds, the first essential oils were helping to heal a myriad of ailments. Now, as many consumers are becoming educated on the long-term negative effects of exposure to harsh chemicals and artificial ingredients, essential oils are making a huge comeback as a natural alternative.
The goal when purchasing essential oils is to find the highest quality products that contain no additives, having been extracted using distillation or mechanical cold processing – not through a chemical process.
Once you’ve found a product that you trust, you can enjoy the benefits of essential oils through aromatherapy, topical solutions applied directly to your skin, in organic cleaning products, and in some cases, through ingestion.
The Benefits of Essential Oils
It’s true that a few drops of essential oil into your diffuser will freshen up your home without using chemicals that are often found in candles and plug-in air fresheners. But what are the medical benefits of using essential oils?
Aromatherapy and topical application of essential oils can both help to treat anxiety and stress. Some of the most effective scents for this purpose are Lavender, Bergamot, and Rose.
Headaches and migraines have long been alleviated by applying Peppermint, Lavender, or Chamomile to the temples. Ylang-ylang is also popular for this purpose.
Improving your quality of sleep and combating insomnia have both been achieved through the use of oils like Lavender, Ylang-ylang, and Sandalwood.
If you’re experiencing inflammation, studies have shown that Thyme, Oregano, Caraway, and Rosemary essential oils are all effective at reducing inflammation.
If you’re searching for a natural alternative to fight bacterial infections, you can try Peppermint or Tea Tree oil.
Other benefits of essential oils include mosquito repellants, boosting energy, aiding in digestion, helping to improve focus, improving skin conditions, inducing relaxation, helping with depression, increasing libido, easing pains of childbirth, and boosting immunity.
Essential Oil Responsibility
Reputable essential oil companies will responsibly and sustainably source their oils from reliable sources. They will rigorously test their oils, and make those test results known to the public. And they will educate their customers on how to safely and most effectively use their essential oils for optimal results.
Because of the resurgence in essential oil popularity, several companies have become household names, with highly respected and easy-to-obtain products. Two such examples are Young Living and doTERRA.
While there is a general understanding that higher quality products will cost more than lower quality products, a discussion on essential oils would not be complete without mentioning Melaleuca’s “Pure” line of oils. While Melaleuca was founded in 1985 and the PURE line was released in 2015, the company has been able to offer it at a significantly lower price point than Young Living and doTERRA. Melaleuca has a reputation for being a leader in the health products industry, only releasing products of exceptional innovation. Their 97 percent rate of customer retention month-to-month tells you everything that you need to know about how well-loved Melaleuca products are.
Enjoy the Benefits Right Away
You can begin to enjoy the benefits of essential oils right away. After doing your research and selecting a supplier, you can purchase oils in pure form that can be added to a diffuser, as well as topically applied formulas in rollers. Adding essential oils to homemade cleaners can also freshen up your home without adding any harsh chemicals to the air.
Whether you’re transitioning to a healthier lifestyle, or just seeking a natural alternative to heavily artificial air fresheners, take some time to research and experiment with essential oils. You won’t be disappointed!
