After several weeks during which I gave you all my advice on Aromatherapy and how it can help treat your daily woes in a more natural way, i felt it time to draw a line under this subject with one final article. I have to admit, there are hundreds of different essential oils and that not everyone owns a 3 metre tall cupboard to dedicate to these little bottles. That’s why I said to myself that it would be useful to give you my three favourite organic essential oils, the kind that you find in pharmacies for less than 10 euros and should always be somewhere in the house. Are you curious? Here we go !
Tea Tree Essential Oils
What is it?
Yup, how can you miss out on Tea Tree Essential Oil? It’s the most basic of all! We hear about it everywhere today, but do you actually know where it comes from? Well, it comes from the leaves of a native tree in Australia, the Melaleuca Alternifolia which for centuries was exploited.
Why ?
Tea Tree Essential Oil is not so well known for nothing. It has many benefits:
- Anti-infectious role: Thanks to the presence of terpinen-4-ol, it is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-mycotic. It thus cleanses problematic skin including acne and can fight against infections of all kinds.
- Role in healing: it reduces inflammation and stimulates the immune system.
- Role of general toning: it stimulates the body and restores the firmness of the nervous system. It also helps fight against fatigue, stress or anxiety.
- Antiseptic role: this is the magical trick of this oil. In addition to curing your ugly spots, you can also use it to do your housework. Great, no? Mix a few drops with water in a spray and get started on some great cleaning!
How?
There are several ways to use Tea Tree Essential Oil:
- by massage: diluted in vegetable oil or in a cream
- by inhalation: ideal in the case of sinus infections to make the most of its antiseptic properties
- by diffusion: to purify a room or fight against stress
- by ingestion: in this case, beware of an overdose!
Lavender essential oil
What is it?
This oil comes from fine lavender, a wild flower found at high altitude that for centuries was used for disinfecting, as an anti-infective agent and for its sweet fragrance. As you can see, lavender has other roles apart from perfuming your laundry!
Why ?
Once again, Lavender essential oil has multi-functions:
- Role in healing and cell regeneration: thanks to its camphor content, it can quickly heal burns and sunburns. So always have a bottle of it in the kitchen closet in case of you burn yourself with boiling oil!
- Anti-inflammatory role: the linalool it contains has miraculous anti-inflammatory and antalgic properties
- Anti-spasmodic and myorelaxant role: it is perfect in cases of painful periods, rheumatism, or muscle contractions. A small massage on the affected area and you’ll be soon back o your way!
- Anti-infectious role: it is mainly antibacterial and anti-fungal.
- Soothing role: it helps to fight against stress, insomnia and anxieties and gives balance the nervous system.
How?
Depending on the desired effects, the methods of use vary:
- by massage: pure or diluted in a vegetable oil
- by ingestion: to clear a blocked nose, but be careful of taking too much.
- by inhalation: to enjoy its relaxing effects
- by diffusion: to benefit from its soothing and anti-infection properties.
And what about vegetable oils in all this?
It’s always nice to talk about essential oils but in most cases they are not used pure! So which vegetable oils are the most appropriate?
If you want to achieve synergy for a particular treatment, (tendinitis, muscle aches, migraines), it is important to make a preparation using vegetable oils that don’t go rancid quickly. Indeed, if you need to keep a small bottle for a while, it is important that your oil retains all its properties and qualities. For this, use Jojoba Oil, which is very resistant and has the advantage of being odourless and non-greasy.
For a deep penetration, use Hazelnut Vegetable Oil, which allows essentials oils to quickly penetrate the skin without leaving a greasy film.
Finally, certain vegetable oils actually reinforce the effects of the essential oils with which they are associated: sweet almond oil for relaxation, calophyle oil for heavy legs, avocado oil for its nourishing effects, and finally, borage oil for its anti-wrinkle properties.
Warning!
Don’t panic…. I’d advise you to only use those oils that are globally known to be without toxic risk. However, it is still essential to carry out tolerance tests before treating a large area and to seek the advice from your doctor.
Essential oils are powerful and their use should not be taken lightly. So beware of their pure use if you have sensitive skin, but also of overdosing in the case of oral use.
Finally, if you are in a particular condition: hypertension, diabetes, pregnancy, breastfeeding … take real precautions to avoid any adverse effects.
