A form of alternative medicine known as aromatherapy uses plant extracts to promote health and well-being.
Health benefits claimed for these oils, however, have been called into question.
These Essential oils and their health benefits are thoroughly discussed in this article.
What are essential oils and how are they made?
Compounds derived from plants are used to make essential oils.
A plant’s “essence” is preserved in the oils.
Each essential oil has a distinct perfume because of its unique aromatic components.
Steam and/or water distillation, as well as mechanical processes like cold pressing, are common ways of obtaining essential oils.
A carrier oil is then added to the aromatic compounds extracted from the plant to generate a product that is ready for usage.
Chemically produced essential oils aren’t considered actual essential oils, thus it’s crucial to know how they’re made.
Do essential oils work?
Aromatherapy is the most popular application for essential oils, which are inhaled via a variety of methods.
Essential oils should never be taken internally.
Essential oils include a variety of compounds that can interact with your body in several ways.
Some plant compounds are absorbed into your body when applied to your skin as a lotion.
With heat or different parts of the body applied, it is thought that certain application methods can enhance absorption. However, there is a shortage of research in this field.
When you breathe in the fragrances of essential oils, your limbic system, which is involved in emotions, behaviours, smell, and long-term memory, is stimulated.
Memories are formed in large part by the limbic system. Why do certain smells bring back memories or trigger emotions? This could be a contributing factor.
There are several unconsciously controlled physiological functions controlled by the limbic system as well. Because of this, some believe that essential oils can have a physical effect on your body.
However, studies have yet to confirm it this works.
Health benefits of essential oils
There is a lack of evidence that essential oils can help treat some health concerns, despite their widespread use.
There’s a lot of evidence that essential oils and aromatherapy can help with a variety of common health issues.
Headaches and migraines
Small studies in the 1990s indicated that applying a mixture of peppermint oil and ethanol to the forehead and temples of volunteers eased their headaches.
Reduced headache discomfort has also been seen in recent trials after skin application of peppermint and lavender oil.
A chamomile and sesame oil blend applied to the temples may also help with headaches and migraines, according to some research. This is an old-fashioned Persian treatment for a headache.
Reducing on Inflammation
Essential oils may be useful in the fight against inflammatory disorders. The anti-inflammatory properties of these substances have been demonstrated in laboratory investigations.
Thyme and oregano essential oils are effective in the treatment of colitis in mice. Caraway and rosemary oils had similar effects on rats in two separate experiments.
Human studies on the use of these oils to treat inflammatory illnesses are scarce. There is no way to tell whether or not they are safe and effective at this point.
Antibiotic and antimicrobial
To combat antibiotic-resistant germs, researchers are now looking for novel chemicals that can do the same job.
Essential oils such as peppermint and tea tree oil have been widely studied in test tubes for their antibacterial benefits, with some encouraging results.
Anxiety and Stress
43% of people who suffer from stress and anxiety use some type of alternative therapy to alleviate their symptoms, according to multiple studies.
Aromatherapy has proven quite encouraging. Anxiety and tension can be alleviated by the aroma of some essential oils, according to numerous studies.
However, because of the smells of the chemicals, conducting blinded trials and eliminating biases is difficult. As a result, several studies looking at the stress-relieving properties of essential oils have come up short.
To some extent, employing essential oils in conjunction with massage therapy has been shown to alleviate stress temporarily.
Sleep and insomnia related issues
It has been shown that the smell of lavender oil can help women who have recently given birth and those with heart disease sleep better.
Lavender oil has proven to be the most effective showing that it improved sleep quality when inhaled.
Other uses of essential oils outside aromatherapy
In addition to aromatherapy, essential oils can be used for a variety of other purposes.
Most people use them to freshen up their homes or wash their clothes.
A natural aroma is also employed in DIY cosmetics and high-end natural items.
In addition, essential oils have been proposed as a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic insect repellents.
Also, some oils, such as citronella, have been demonstrated to repel mosquitoes for up to two hours. When combined with vanillin, the protection time can be increased to three hours.
In addition, the qualities of essential oils suggest that certain of them could be employed industrially for extending the shelf life of food.
How to pick the best essential oils for your needs
It’s common for companies to make claims about the purity and quality of their products. These terms, on the other hand, aren’t agreed upon by everyone.
To ensure that you’re purchasing just the best oils, follow these guidelines:
Purity
Look for a pure essential oil that doesn’t have any additions or synthetic oils in it. Lavandula officinalis is the botanical name of the lavender plant, not the “essential oil of lavender.
Quality
Only those essential oils that have undergone minimal extraction alteration can be considered genuine. Essential oils that have been distilled or cold-pressed without the use of chemicals are the best option.
Reputation
Always buy from a company known for creating high-quality goods.
Conclusion
As long as the base oil is present, essential oils are typically regarded as safe for inhalation or application to the skin. No one should eat them, however!
Essential oils may be safe to use as a supplemental therapy for mild health issues.
Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have a significant medical condition or are on medication.