Popular Essential Oils
Anyone who’s been involved with aromatherapy for any length of time will have their favorite essential oil. It’s the one they turn to first and may even carry with them when going to work, traveling, or even running errands. Do you have a favorite?
Lavender
It seems that lately the most popular essential oil is lavender. Also known by its botanical name of Lavendula officinalis (or Lavendula angustifolia), lavender’s oil is extracted from its flowers by distillation. It has a floral, slightly herbaceous, dreamy scent that is often used to alleviate feelings of anxiety. Lavender is also helpful for combating insomnia, irritability, depression, and hysteria.
Physically, aromatherapists the world over use lavender to treat sunburns, other minor burns, skin abrasions and rashes, heart palpitations, muscle spasms, and pain related to arthritis, fibromyalgia, and sprains. Lavender may be applied neat (by itself) to the skin, or used in the bath. In fact, its name comes from the Latin word lavare, meaning “to wash.”
Lavender’s incredible healing properties regarding burns were first discovered in 1910 by Rene-Maurice Gattefosse. Gattefosse was working in a perfumery when he badly burned hand. Quickly, he plunged it into the nearest vat of liquid, which happened to be lavender essential oil. He was amazed at the small amount of scarring, and how quickly the burn healed.
Rosemary
Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis, has a refreshing, herbal, and slightly woody scent. It is an excellent remedy for bodily aches and fatigue, and even mental fatigue. It is helpful for relieving PMS, depression, and lethargy. Rosemary has also been used as an aphrodisiac and a decongestant.
A known stimulant and emmenagogue (menstruation inducer), rosemary should be avoided during pregnancy.
Roman Chamomile
Roman Chamomile is also known simply as chamomile. With a fruity, herbal aroma, Anthemis nobilis is used much in the same way as lavender when it comes to insomnia, irritability, and stress. In fact, a few drops each of chamomile and lavender in a bath at bedtime can work wonders for helping to induce sleep. And, like lavender, it is helpful for many skin irritations. Chamomile is also used to help relieve headaches and migraines.
The use of chamomile should be limited by women with estrogen-dependent cancers (such as breast and ovarian).
Clary Sage
Salvia sclarea is better known by it’s everyday name of clary sage. It’s an essential oil that is well known in aromatherapy circles for it’s ability to fight depression and even induce a somewhat euphoric state. Clary sage has a calming effect, so it is helpful when treating stress and fear, and can even help alleviate mood swings.
Besides the psychological and emotional benefits of clary sage, it is also useful for toning the skin. Mix one drop of clary sage with a carrier oil (such as olive oil) and massage over the face. You’ll find it’s a very nice way to start your morning.
Women with a history of estrogen-dependent cancer should avoid clary sage.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is loved by aromatherapists the world over. Eucalyptus, a.k.a. Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus radiata, or Eucalyptus smithii, has an aroma that many people may remember from childhood. Its medicinal menthol and camphor scent is reminiscent of a certain, famous chest rub in a little blue jar. You may have had it rubbed on your chest and under your nose when you were sick.
Now, instead of using a store-bought chest rub (made with petroleum products), try mixing a couple of drops of eucalyptus with a teaspoon of a carrier such as olive or almond oil in a small cup. Dip your fingers into it and rub the mixture on your chest. This is also a helpful remedy for sore muscles.
Eucalyptus is also used to increase alertness and focus the mind. It is a helpful remedy for various infections, including chest and throat infections, sinusitis, herpes, and abscesses.
Used in a diffuser, eucalyptus is an effective air purifier. It should be avoided by people with a history of hypertension or epilepsy.
Peppermint
Mentha piperita, commonly known as peppermint, has a sharp, minty aroma and the uncanny ability to cause children everywhere to dream of candy canes and the holiday season. One of the more widely recognized essential oils, peppermint has many surprising uses.
Mouth rinses to banish bad breath and kill bacteria and viruses associated with oral infections is a popular use of peppermint, as is using it in massage oils to help combat nausea and other digestive problems. Placing a couple of drops of peppermint on a cotton ball and smelling as needed can be helpful to moms-to-be dealing with morning sickness.
Feeling fatigued? Try taking a warm peppermint/lavender bath. Mix 6 drops of lavender and 3 drops of peppermint essential oils into 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil, and pour into the bath water. Be sure to swish around to disperse the oils before getting in.
Peppermint essential oil is a known skin irritant and should not be applied neat (directly to the skin). It should also be avoided in pregnancy and lactation.
Tea Tree
Ah, the ever-versatile, oh-so-useful Melaleuca alternifolia! Tea tree’s medicinal, woodsy scent is enough to convince anyone of its healing properties. Tea tree was all the rage almost two decades ago, and while that ardor has died down, its popularity has remained constant.
The affection shown tea tree is largely due to its ability to be used in treatment of many everyday maladies, from ringworm to acne to cold sores.
Like peppermint, tea tree can also be used in oral rinses to encourage healing of mouth sores while killing viruses and bacteria. It is also useful in the fight against acne: soak a cotton ball in witch hazel, then apply one drop of tea tree to the cotton. Swab gently over the face to remove excess oil, kill bacteria, and reduce redness.
Use a disposable nail file to scour away dry cells from the top of a wart, then apply a bandage on which you’ve place one drop of tea tree oil. Place over the wart and leave for several hours or overnight. Do this once a day until the wart is gone. Note: Because warts are spread by a virus, do not use the nail file on anything else but that particular wart.
Like lavender, tea tree may also be applied neat to the skin, though it may possibly irritate skin that is very sensitive.
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