How do essential oils work?

The following is a simplified version of what happens when you inhale the aroma or scent of an essential oil.

1. The essential oil molecules enter your nose and interact with receptors on the olfactory mucous membrane within the nose.

2. These receptors identify the smell and pass the message through the olfactory nerve to the limbic system of the brain.

Learn more from the Aromatherapy 101 Course.

How are essential oils extracted?

1. Steam distillation. This involves passing high pressure steam through the plant material to evaporate the oils. The steam is then collected and condensed and the water and essential oil separated. Essential oils extracted by steam distillation include lavender, rose and ylang ylang.

Learn more methods from Aromatherapy 101 Course. 

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are highly concentrated substances extracted from plant materials.

Note that, different essential oils can be produced from the same plant. For example the bitter orange plant Citrus aurantiumn produces orange essential oil from its fruit rind, neroli essential oil from its flowers and petitgrain essential oil from its leaves.

Learn more from the Aromatherapy 101 Course.

What are the cautionary measures when using essential oils?

1. Always conduct a skin patch test before using a new essential oil.

Do this by applying the essential oil that has been diluted with a  carrier oil on the inner aspect of your elbow, bandage it and wait for 24 hours to see if you will develop rashes or itchiness or swelling or any other sign of an allergic reaction.

Learn  more from the Aromatherapy 101 Course.

Health Benefits of Peppermint Essential Oil

 Peppermint is one of the aromatherapy essential oils with multiple health benefits. This healing oil which is extracted from the plant by steam distillation, has a minty scent and is used for:
1. Coughs and colds
2. Relieving hot flashes of menopause
3. Aiding concentration

Peppermint essential oil for coughs and colds
Peppermint is one of the most effective aromatherapy oils for managing coughs and colds.  To reap these health benefits of peppermint essential oil, simply put 20 drops of peppermint essential oil in one cup (8 oz or 250 ml) of water and put it in your facial steamer or sauna. Cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam as it is known to be a potent expectorant.

If your facial steamer comes with instructions, use the number of drops recommended by the manufacturer. If you don’t have a facial steamer, simply put the peppermint into a bowl of hot water and cover your head and the sides of your face with a towel to prevent the steam from escaping.

Peppermint essential oil for hot flashes of  menopause
To use this aromatherapy oil to help you manage the hot flashes of menopause, add 50 drops (2.5 ml or ½ teaspoons) of peppermint essential oil to one cup (8 oz or 250 ml) of distilled water in a spray bottle and use it to spray your face, neck and other parts of your body whenever you feel a hot flash coming on as its evaporation process will cool you off.

Peppermint essential oil for aiding concentration
The aromatherapy benefits of peppermint essential oil also include aiding mental concentration. Therefore, if you are feeling lethargic, you can add 5 drops of peppermint essential oil to a handkerchief and sniff it as you work.

You can also place an essential oil warmer close to your work desk, add 12 drops of peppermint essential oil to ¼ cup (2oz or 60ml) of water, place it on the oil warmer and light it up so that you can scatter the mentally stimulating scent.

Words of Caution
Though most aromatherapy essential oils are safe to use, if you have any medical condition or you are pregnant, you should always consult a certified aromatherapist before using aromatherapy essential oils.

In addition, do not confuse natural essential oils with fragrance oils are the later are purely synthetic and do not have the therapeutic benefits of pure essential oils. Therefore, purchase organic, therapeutic blend aromatherapy essential oils from ethical suppliers and improve you physical, mental and emotional well being.

Learn more about the health benefits of peppermint and other essential oils from the Aromatherapy 101 Course.

Health Benefits of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

 Roman Chamomile is one of the aromatherapy essential oils with multiple health benefits. This healing oil which is extracted from the plant by steam distillation, has a sweet herbaceous scent is used for:
1. Stress management
2. Insomnia
3. Dry skin  conditions

Roman chamomile essential oil for stress management
Roman chamomile is one of the most effective aromatherapy oils for managing stress and helping a person relax. To reap these health benefits of roman chamomile, simply create a relaxing bath by adding 12 drops of roman chamomile essential oil into your warm bath water with your hand. You can also mix it with a little milk to help it disperse better in the water and you will definitely feel relaxed or at least less tense as you emerge from your languid bath.

Roman chamomile essential oil for insomnia or sleeplessness
To use this aromatherapy oil to help you overcome sleeplessness, simply drop 3 drops on to a cotton ball and put it inside your pillow case to ease your passage to the land of sweet dreams.

In addition, you can also take a relaxing chamomile bath as described above and combine it with sipping a cup of milky chamomile herbal tea.

Roman chamomile essential oil for dry skin conditions
The aromatherapy benefits of Roman chamomile include the management of dry skin conditions. To create a healing aromatherapy oil, simply add 50 drops (2.5 ml or ½ teaspoon) of chamomile essential oil to one cup (8 oz or 250 ml) of sweet almond oil or sunflower oil or any other carrier oil.

Massage this oil into your skin while it is still damp after every shower or bath you take to lock in the moisture and healing benefits of the roman chamomile and your chosen carrier oil. As you massage this healing body oil into your skin, place special emphasis on the really dry areas and keep a bottle close by to reapply it through out your day.

Words of Caution
Though most aromatherapy  essential oils are safe to use, if you have any medical condition or you are pregnant, you should always consult a certified aromatherapist before using aromatherapy essential oils.

In addition, do not confuse natural essential oils with fragrance oils are the later are purely synthetic and do not have the therapeutic benefits of pure essential oils. Therefore, purchase organic, therapeutic blend aromatherapy essential oils from ethical suppliers and improve you physical, mental and emotional well being.

Learn more about the health benefits of roman chamomile and other essential oils in the Aromatherapy 101 Course.

Health Benefits of Eucalyptus Essential Oil

 Eucalyptus is one of the aromatherapy essential oils with multiple health benefits. This healing oil which is extracted from the leaves of a tree by steam distillation, has a camphoraceous scent is used for:
1. Arthritis
2. Coughs and colds
3. Mosquito repellant

Eucalyptus essential oil for arthritis
Eucalyptus is one of the most effective aromatherapy oils for managing joint pains and aches. To reap these health benefits of eucalyptus essential oil, simply add 4 drops eucalyptus essential oil to 20 ml of sweet almond oil or sunflower oil or any other carrier oil of your choice. Use it to massage aching joints preferably after taking a warm bath which relaxes painfully stiff joints.

You can also add 5 drops of eucalyptus to a bowl of warm water and either soak your feet or hands in it depending on whether the arthritis affects your ankles or wrist joints.

Eucalyptus essential oil for coughs and colds
To use this aromatherapy oil to help you manage coughs and colds, simply put 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to one cup (8 oz or 250 ml) of water and put it on your facial steamer or sauna. Cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam as it is known to be a potent expectorant.

If your facial steamer comes with instructions, use the number of drops recommended by the manufacturer. If you don’t have a facial steamer, simply put the eucalyptus into a bowl of hot water and cover your head and the sides of your face with a towel to prevent the steam from escaping.

Eucalyptus essential oil as a mosquito repellant
The aromatherapy benefits of eucalyptus include repelling insects such as mosquitoes. To create your own mosquito repellant, melt 2 teaspoons of a petroleum jelly such as Vaseline, add 4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil when cool and then pour into a jar. Carry this with you when travelling to areas infested with mosquitoes and apply it on your hands, legs and any other exposed areas.

Words of Caution
Though most aromatherapy essential oils are safe to use, if you have any medical condition or you are pregnant, you should always consult a certified aromatherapist before using aromatherapy essential oils.

In addition, do not confuse natural essential oils with fragrance oils are the later are purely synthetic and do not have the therapeutic benefits of pure essential oils. Therefore, purchase organic, therapeutic blend aromatherapy essential oils from ethical suppliers and improve you physical, mental and emotional well being.

Learn more about the healing benefits of eucalyptus and other essential oils in the Aromatherapy 101 Course.