Discover How to Use Essential Oils

Knowing how to use essential oils can be good for health and beauty. Understand

essential oils how to use

Edited and resized image by Priscilla Du Preez is available on Unsplash

Essential oils have a number of health benefits. They help us balance emotions, improve physiological functioning and the body's energy balance. There are many ways to enjoy its benefits through aromatherapy (to learn more about this topic, check out the article "What is aromatherapy and what are its benefits?"). But the best way to use them depends on the purpose. The essential thing is to allow yourself to experiment, as there is no single treatment that works for 100% of people.

Ways of use

Topical use

The topical use of essential oils consists of applying them to the skin, hair, mouth, teeth, genitals, ears and nails. But as they are extremely concentrated and powerful, they must be diluted in neutral bases, such as coconut vegetable oils, sweet almonds, hazelnuts, jojoba, rose hips, among others, as the continuous use of undiluted essential oils can cause skin sensitization. To learn about the benefits of coconut oil take a look at the article "How to make coconut oil the easy way". To learn more about rosehip oil, check out the article "Rosehip oil has proven benefits". And to learn more about almond oil take a look at the article "Sweet almond oil: benefits for beauty and health".

Another important precaution in the topical use of essential oils is to avoid exposure to the sun after immediate application. Otherwise, burns and stains may occur. The essential oils that can cause this type of blemish are called phototoxic. In this category, the most common are the essential oils of orange, lemon, tangerine, bergamot and rue. However, some manufacturers remove furanocoumarins (phototoxic substances) from essential oils, which allows these phototoxic oils to be used in the sun.

The main beneficial applications of the topical use of essential oils are:

Direct application:

The use is made directly in the affected area. But it is worth remembering that essential oils are potent, so greater concentration does not mean greater effectiveness. The application of one to five drops is enough to reach the therapeutic objective.

Massage:

Essential oil massage has a very effective effect on the skin, muscles and connective tissues and promotes relaxation, energization and balance. To use aromatherapy in massage, it is necessary to dilute the essential oils in some quality vegetable oil, such as coconut, flaxseed, avocado oil, among others. The recommended dilution is 1% to 5%, but it can reach 10% in severe cases of joint inflammation and fibromyalgia.

Compresses:

Essential oils can also be used using compresses. It's simple: fill a basin with a liter of hot or cold water and add three to six drops of the essential oil of your choice, after that, mix vigorously and soak a towel in the water, applying on the spot for at least 30 minutes.

Baths:

A simple, practical and pleasant way to apply aromatherapy. If using a bathtub, apply between three and six drops while it is being filled and the skin will absorb quickly. You can also dilute it in liquid soap or use bath salts with essential oils. If you don't have a bathtub at home, add three to six drops of essential oils in a basin and pour into your body while showering - as the pores will be open due to the hot water from the shower, the procedure will be more effective.

Sitz baths:

For every three liters of water, add three to six drops of essential oils.

Essential oils can also be used in liquid soap or shower gel, as long as they do not contain mineral oil. When you're taking a shower, put some of this mixture in a vegetable loofah and try the exfoliation with essential oils.

But remember: do not use essential oils that can be aggressive to the skin. The main essential oils of this type are oregano (vulgar origanum), thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia or Cinnamomum zeylanicum).

Inhalation

The use of essential oils through inhalation also brings numerous benefits. This form of absorption is responsible for benefiting memory, the endocrine (hormone) system and emotions through the olfactory system, in addition to treating sinusitis, rhinitis, laryngitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. But there are different inhalation techniques. Check out:

Inhalation by diffusion:

A very simple and effective way to inhale essential oils is through diffusion into the environment, using an aroma diffuser. When cold steam diffusers are used, the antiseptic essential oil molecules remain in the air intact for hours. This makes the air clean, free from fungi, viruses, bacteria and mites. Heat diffusers, on the other hand, need a controlled temperature between 50°C and 60°C, because at temperatures higher than these, the chemical composition of essential oils can decrease and affect their therapeutic qualities. In inhalation by diffusion it is recommended to use five to 20 drops of essential oils.

Direct inhalation:

Direct inhalation of essential oils has the potential to affect mood and emotions. To obtain this benefit, simply hold the bottle of essential oil close to the nostril or drop one to three drops into the palms of your hands, pass one hand over the other, bring it to 15 cm from the nose in a cupped shape and inhale.

Cotton or fabric:

You can also use cotton or some piece of cloth to get the benefits of essential oils; just apply one to three drops of essential oils on a fabric, cotton ball, neckerchief, towel or pillowcase and hold it close to your nose, inhaling the aroma.

Hot steam:

Hot steam is also a great way to inhale essential oils. To do this, just apply three to five drops of essential oil in a glass container or pan with hot water and place your face above, inhaling the aroma. Due to the temperature of the water, the penetration of essential oils into the olfactory system will be very fast. To maximize this effect, you can cover your head with a towel or cloth, creating a kind of sauna.

Ventilation:

To use the benefits of essential oils through ventilation, simply place three to ten drops of the essential oil on a piece of cotton and hold it close to the fan. This technique is most effective in small places. For larger spaces it is recommended to dilute essential oils in alcohol and moisten a cloth to place on the fan.

Perfume or cologne:

Using essential oils like perfumes or cologne is a great way to improve your physical or emotional state. In addition to bringing a great aroma to others who are close to you. For this use, apply one to three drops of essential oils to the neck and wrists, or make your own essential oil cologne. To do this, dissolve ten to 15 drops of essential oils in 5 ml of grain alcohol and combine this mixture with another 10 ml of distilled water. For more tips on this topic, check out the article "How to make homemade perfume".

The use of inhalation is great for aromatherapy, but care must be taken with excessive olfactory stimulation. It is recommended to create breaks without inhaling essential oils so that the sense of smell is renewed before receiving further stimulation.

Intern use

Internal use is a way of ingesting or internalizing essential oils. But only 100% pure essential oils can be used in this way.

The ideal dosage is 25 mg (one drop) for every 20 kg of body weight, three times a day.

Under the tongue:

Place one to three drops of essential oil under the tongue. This route is very effective as the lining of this region of the body allows essential oil to quickly enter the bloodstream. As the effect by this route is greater than by direct ingestion, smaller doses are indicated.

Cutlery:

Add one to three drops of essential oil to a spoonful of vegetable oil or water. But beware: it is recommended to practice this method after meals and avoid oils that are harmful to the skin.

Capsule:

Put one to five drops of essential oil into an empty capsule, cover it with the other part of the capsule and drink it with water. If there is space left inside the capsule you can also fill it with vegetable oil.

Drink:

Add one to four drops of essential oils in juices, vegetable milks and water, remembering to shake this mixture well before consuming it. A tip is to add one drop of peppermint essential oil to one liter of pineapple juice or one drop of clove essential oil to two liters of mango juice. Remember not to exceed this amount, as the essential oil is very strong and can spoil the flavor if added in excess.

In food:

Put three to five drops of essential oils in 100 mL of extra virgin olive oil and water your dishes. A tip is to make harmony of essential oils of oregano, lemon and basil. Another tip is to add a drop of ginger and lemon essential oil to 500 g of pesto sauce.

Vagina:

Essential oils can also help treat urinary infections, thrush, fibroids and cysts. There are three ways to use essential oils in the vagina. The first one is to dilute three to five drops of essential oils in ten to 15 ml of extra virgin vegetable oil. It is recommended to insert this mixture with the help of a syringe and then hold it with a tampon. Release then. The second way to use it is to soak a tampon with a mixture of three to five drops of essential oils in 10 ml of extra virgin vegetable oil. You can retain this mixture for a few hours or overnight. Another way to use essential oils in the vagina is to add two to three drops of essential oil to warm water and insert it with the help of a vaginal syringe. But remember to make sure that your chosen essential oils don't irritate your mucous membranes. If there is irritation, dip a cotton ball in neutral vegetable oil such as coconut oil, olive oil or sunflower and apply it to the area irritated by the essential oil, removing all the excess.

Suppository:

This type of aromatherapy treatment is widely used in France to treat respiratory problems and other illnesses. The suppository is made using cocoa butter and must be applied by a professional.



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