Essential Oils and Their Health Benefits
Essential oils are known for their many uses in natural beautification from skin moisturizer to natural fragrances. They are a good alternative to traditional beauty products as they are generally chemical-free and made from all-natural ingredients. But apart from their benefits in natural beautification, they also have health benefits that we can take advantage of.
Majority of the essential oils have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and we can benefit from these health benefits through many ways:
*Using essential oils as aromatherapy
*Massaging essential oils into the skin
*Adding few droplets to bathwater and teas
*Applying them in a compress
Below are some of the common essential oils and their health benefits:
1. Clove Oil
Clove oil is a spicy oil with many health benefits. It is a natural remedy for hangover headaches, tooth pain and gum pain. It is also recommended for people who have bad breath. The antiseptic properties in clove oil also aids in treating and alleviating pain caused by bug bites, scrapes and cuts. Its other health benefits include aid in digestion problems, stomachaches, nasal congestion and headaches.
2. Lavender oil
Lavender oil is perhaps one of the most versatile essential oils because of its many uses and health benefits. It contains anti-bacterial properties that allow it to fight germs and bacteria. This is what makes it a vital ingredient for many natural cleaning products.
The many health benefits of lavender oil include calming the nervous system to help relieve anxiety, depression, mental fatigue, stress and irritability. It is also ideal for bruises, acne, stretch marks, and other skin problems. And for people suffering from hypertension, vertigo, high blood pressure, and whooping cough, lavender oil makes an excellent home remedy.
3. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a common ingredient in mouthwash and toothpaste. It helps in making your breath fresh. Apart from this, peppermint oil can also be used to treat stomach problems, soothe nausea, relieve headache, and help stop itching. Massaging peppermint oil on your skin has also a soothing and cooling effect to overworked and sore muscles. Additionally, peppermint oil aromatherapy is best for mental fatigue, exhaustion and vertigo. It can even help alleviate the symptoms of asthma and sinusitis.
4. Rosemary Oil
The rosemary plant has a variety of uses. Its leaves are popularly used as a spice and the rosemary oil that can be extracted from its leaves provides many health benefits more particularly in skin care. It can be added to your lotion, bathwater or applied directly to the skin to remove blemishes, prevent oily skin, and to achieve a natural glow. It can also be massaged to the scalp to promote hair growth and prevent baldness. Other than its skin care benefits, rosemary oil can also aid in relieving pain, can promote gastrointestinal health and boost immune system. And if you have a problem with concentration and memory as well as migraine, adding a few drops of this oil in your tea can help improve your condition.
5. Sesame Oil
Sesame oil is a favorite ingredient for hair and skin care products because of its moisturizing qualities. Additionally, it contains SPF factor and fatty acids that are beneficial to lower blood pressure and discourage the growth of cancer cells.
All the natural oils mentioned above and several others are gaining in popularity as home remedy for various health problems. To be safe though, if you are suffering from a serious health condition, it is best to consult your physician first before using these oils as alternative treatment.
