Relaxing: Essential Oils

Relaxing: Essential Oils

Per Wikipedia: An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants.

Hot Bath

I love using essential oils in a nice hot bath to relax. It is very comforting after a long and stressful day. Essential oils actually serve two purposes when used in the bath. Your skin, as the largest organ of the body, absorbs the healthy benefits of the oil you use. The scent of the oil provides an additional benefit called ‘aromatherapy’ – therapy via the aroma.

Aromatherapy

Scents that I am particularly fond of: vanilla, sandalwood, and lavender. Place these in a candle for hours of lovely aroma. I also like the healing properties of tea tree and use it in the bath.

Other Uses

Essential oils can be used in other ways as well. You can use them in air fresheners to make any room more inviting. You can add a drop of peppermint to a medicinal syrup to make the medicine more palatable. Essential oils add their aromatherapy benefits when they are added to massage oils.

Something you might not think of immediately when you are discussing essential oils is their use as a disinfectant in house cleansers, the ones you make yourself. One of my favorites to include is tea tree.

Economical

It only takes a drop or two in most cases so using essentials oils is actually cost effective and healthy. Did I mention that they smell good too?

Caution

A word of caution. Essential oils should be handled with care. If you use them in a bath, make sure you mix it well. You can actually burn your skin if the pure essential oil makes direct contact. I have never had this happen to me personally, but I know of people who did.

Are you familiar with essential oils? How do you use them?

Filed in: Health • Herbs For Health • NaBloPoMo Tags: featured