Do Essential Oils Actually Work?

Dear friends,

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about essential oils and aromatherapy. First of all, if you don't know about either of the two... you're missing out. Second of all, although research on aromatherapy and essential oils is limited, multiple studies have shown that the two can alleviate symptoms like stress, anxiety, and depression, but also somatic symptoms like headaches and nausea. At the basic level, essential oils can at least boost your mood in a positive way which in turn produces other positive health benefits.

So, what exactly is aromatherapy and how are essential oils used? Basically, aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils for health benefits through the skin or olfactory system absorption, aerosolized spray, massage therapy, and more. Interestingly, essential oils and aromatherapy have been used for thousands of years in various ways. Nowadays, you can even make soap, cleaning products, fabric fresheners, and more with essential oils. For use during aromatherapy, essential oils are extracted from plants through a certain process that involves steaming and pressing. Sometimes, it can take several pounds of a plant just to make a single bottle of essential oil. Crazy, I know.

Personally, I love essential oils, and I know a lot of people who love them just as much as I do. Just as there are a wide variety of essential oils, the uses for them are just as vast. For a lot of people, convenience, safety, and price come into play for a lot of things, and essential oils are no exception. If you're looking for the safest way to use essential oils, try aromatherapy sticks, body oils (oil base---like coconut oil--- mixed with a few drops of essential oil), or accessories like necklaces and earrings. For convenience, I recommend making a body oil in a container that you can take with you on the go anytime---especially for those long car rides during family vacations when the stress level is a bit higher than usual... LOL. Finally, if you're a miser like me (someone who doesn't like to spend a lot of money), make sure you do your research on multiple websites to find out where you can get the best deal. Just like any other product, essential oils can be relatively inexpensive, average, or kind of pricey; it just depends on where you look and what quality you're looking for. Sometimes, the lower-priced essential oils can be less concentrated which makes the smell not as strong. Basically, just be smart, read the labels, and do some research beforehand if you've never bought essential oils before.

Another thing to keep in mind when using essential oils is allergies. Be careful when using a specific type of essential oil for the first time, because everyone is different. Some people may experience a sort of allergic reaction with certain oils, especially if the concentrated oil is used directly on the skin. One person may love peppermint oil so much they could drink it, and another person may get an intense migraine from one sniff. At the end of the day, you should always be cautious, kind, and polite when it comes to most things---including using essential oils.

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Down below, you'll find some popular essential oils and their respective uses:

Lavender: used to help with stress and anxiety but can also help with relaxation and sleep

Tea Tree: a natural antiseptic used to treat acne, bug bites, athlete's foot, and more (I have personally used this oil before for small acne spots and it works nicely; a little bit goes a long way. And, I read the other day that Megan Markle carries this oil around almost everywhere she goes! ;))

Peppermint: some evidence suggests that this oil can help Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) when taken in a capsule and tension headaches

Lemon: has a citrusy smell that boosts mood and is often used in home cleaning products

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As always, I hope you enjoyed reading this blog and that your day has been nothing but bright! Let me know if you have any questions, and don't be afraid to reach out if you need to! Also, don't forget to stop and smell the roses! Until next time...

xoxo,

Allie

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