Essential oils are used for everything fromphysical health problemslike fungal infections to emotional concerns likeanxiety or depression.
They have been used for thousands of years as both medicine and perfumes.
Essential oils are even included in many religions' rituals and practices.
Essential oils have been helpful for hair loss, constipation, and psoriasis.
Smelling some essential oils could even help you feel better during a colonoscopy!
Those are some powerful little plants.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils come from theroots, leaves, seeds, and blossomsof plants.
Practitionerssoak the plantin a liquid that removes some of the chemicals, leaving the concentrated extract of the plant.
How do they work?
Our sense of smell can send messages to the part of the brain that affects our emotions and memories.
This explains why every time you smell tequila, you’re immediately transported back to college spring break.
Mayo Clinic nurse Sheryl Ness, R.N.
explained the processon the hospital’s blog.
Put down the antibiotics
One particularly exciting benefit of essential oils is their antibiotic properties.
Studies have linked them to being effective at treating some infections.
This is especially helpful because of the antibiotic resistance problem in our country and around the world.
This means the medicines we’ve always turned to for sinus or ear infections won’t work anymore.
Chickens may be able to take rosemary and oregano oilsinstead of antibiotics.
Essential oils may evenprevent them from getting salmonella.
Healthier, more natural food and fewer antibiotics in our systems?
And it’s not just the chickens feeling better.
Recent research is finding that we humans could tryessential oils instead of antibiotics too.
This essential oil has been proven to improve the itching and dry skin caused byeczema and dermatitis.
Evening primrose has even been used by Native Americans totreat bruises, open wounds, and sore throats.
Evening primrose oil can also help with premenstrual syndrome (PMS)!
When you take a supplement of it by mouth, it should help with commonPMS symptoms like breast pain.
Now if it only took care of those chocolate cravings.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil comes from leaves and can be applied directly to your skin.
It ishelpful for acne, as well as other skin infections.
Studies have shown that using tea tree oil can help with theinflammation and number of pimpleson your skin.
It could help with fungal skin infections of the nail or athlete’s foot.
see to it to stick with the recommended amount and never go over that.
That’s where grapefruit seed extract comes from.
Grapefruit seed extract is a natural detoxifier and can help our immune systemsfight off infection.
Taking it by mouth can help with tummy troubles like diarrhea and even food poisoning.
While grapefruit seed extract is loaded with health benefits, verify to read the label before you buy it.
Lavender is known for helping with relaxation.
Research has shown that smelling lavender may actually cause our nervous systems to slow down.
Lavender can also be used for headaches and fatigue.
Peppermint
Munching on too many candy canes during the holiday season?
Peppermint is good for you and does a lot more than just make your hot chocolate taste extra delicious.
Peppermint has also been shown tocalm our stomach muscles.
This could also be why peppermint is so helpful for nausea.
Peppermint can also ease the cramping and pain fromirritable bowel syndrome.
Smelling a little peppermint can even help youfeel more alert and motivated.
Peppermint is alsohelpful for colds and flu.
That menthol in sprays and rubs for throat pain and congestion comes from peppermint.
Lemon
Next time the waiter asks if you’d like lemon for your water, say yes.
It’s proven to prevent infections of our guts.
Research has shown that usinglemon extract prevents the growth of the yeast Candida albicans in our guts.
Drinking lemon juice can also give you more benefits.
TheNew York Timesreported on a study that linkedlemon juice to preventing kidney stones.
The citrus in lemon may evenprevent certain types of cancer.
Bilberry
Bilberry is the blueberry’s younger, cooler little sister.
It’s alsofull of antioxidants, but has loads of other healing properties.
It can even be used in pies just like blueberries!
Well, maybe make that a sugar-free pie, because bilberry can help manage diabetes.
It’s been used to control blood sugar levels and can be especially helpful right after a meal.
Some research has found that taking bilberryactivates fat burning in the body.
Maybe a little bilberry pie after dinner tonight?
Some research has shown that the antioxidants in bilberry may be good for our hearts as well.
Bilberry has properties thatstrengthen our blood vesselsand improve our circulation.
This means less work for our heart, which is always a good thing.
A little bilberry jam or essential oil may help you see better, too.
Its antioxidants canimprove retina healthand may improve our vision.
It has also been shown to be helpful in patients who have the vision problem glaucoma.
Either way, it’s time to try this powerful little leaf.
Green tea has been shown to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Scientists also believe that some of the antioxidants in green tea can prevent some types of cancer.
It has even been shown toslow or stop the growth of breast cancer cellsin studies.
Rosemary
If you open your kitchen cabinets, you’ll likely find rosemary sitting back there.
Rosemary oil should always be used on the skin and not swallowed.
Like its essential oil friends, rosemary oil has been shown to kill some types of bacteria and fungus.
Rosemary may help with hair loss, too.
Massaging your head with rosemary oil couldstimulate hair growth, but the research is mixed.
Either way, you’ll smell delightful.
Just smelling the oil can lead to feelingmore relaxed and less stressed.
It may evenimprove your memory.
Can everyone benefit?
Essential oils are not tested for safety, so it’s important to do your homework before diving in.
If you haveasthma or any severe allergies, it’s best to talk to your doctor before trying them.
Some essential oils can also interact with medications, so ask your pharmacist if you have any concerns.
Most essential oils are safe, but they could still cause side effects.
Mayo Clinic physicianBrent A. Bauer, M.D.discussed some essential oil possible side effectson the hospital’s blog.
