What are essential oils?

Essential oil is a liquid extract of a variety of beneficial plants. The valuable chemicals from these plants can be extracted using manufacturing procedures.

Essential oils have a more potent fragrance and contain more active chemicals than the plants from which they are derived. This is because essential oil requires a large amount of plant matter to be produced.

There are two ways that manufacturers extract essential oils

1. The first method is steam or water distillation. The manufacturers can remove the essential oils from condensation or water distillation. This method separates the vital components from the plant matter by passing water or hot steam through the plants.
2. The second method is cold pressing. This technique works by mechanically pressing or squeezing plant matter to release essential juices or oils.

How essential oils help

Manufacturers use essential oils to make a variety of products. Essential oils are used in the cosmetics business to generate perfumes, add fragrance to lotions and body washes, and even as natural antioxidant sources in some beauty care products.

Aromatherapists and other natural medicine practitioners use essential oils. Aromatherapy is the process of diffusing essential oils into the air. Aromatherapists think that inhaling critical oils allows some potentially beneficial components to enter the lungs and bloodstream, where they may benefit the body.

In rare cases, some people may consume essential oil capsules orally. However, this should only be done under the supervision of a medical practitioner.

Benefits of essential oils

1. Essential oils help to reduce stress and anxiety. It is estimated that 43% of people who suffer from stress and anxiety use alternative therapy to help them relieve their symptoms. Research on aromatherapy has proven quite encouraging. Many studies have demonstrated that the fragrance of various essential oils can help cure anxiety and stress alongside traditional therapy.
2. Essential oils can reduce headaches and migraines. Two small studies from the 1990s discovered that dabbing a peppermint oil and ethanol mixture on the foreheads and temples relieved headache pain. Recent studies have also found that putting peppermint and lavender oil on the skin reduces headache pain. In addition, applying a mixture of chamomile and sesame oil to the temples has been proposed to treat headaches and migraines. This is an Old Persian headache treatment.
3. Essential oils can help to improve sleep quality. Lavender oil has improved mothers’ sleep quality after childbirth and in heart disease patients.
4. Essential oils may help in reducing inflammation. Essential oils have been considered a therapy option for inflammatory disorders. According to specific test-tube research, they have anti-inflammatory properties.

Side effects of essential oils

Many believe that essential oils have no side effects because they are natural substances. This isn’t correct. The following are some of the possible side effects of essential oils:

1. Essential oils may cause burning and irritation. To test for reactions, apply a tiny quantity to a small skin area first. Before using oils on the skin, always mix them with a carrier oil.
2. Essential oils may lead to asthma attacks. While essential oils are generally safe to inhale, some people with asthma may react to breathing in the fumes.
3. The essential oil may cause the problem of headaches. Some people find that breathing essential oils reduces their headaches inhaling too much can cause others headaches.

Also read: WHICH OIL IS BEST FOR YOUR SKIN?