Top Essential Oils Used In Aromatherapy
Essential oils are the highly concentrated effusions of aromatic plants. Aromatherapy is the method of using the essential oils to help rejuvenate the body and mind. There are various top essential oils used in aromatherapy to develop a desired healing to any health condition. They can be both used in different combinations or alone.
Before using essential oils, it is better to know about their effect and how they work. The oils are extracted from different plant parts like twigs, flowers, bark and leaves and also rind of fruits. For instance, in sandalwood it is extracted from wood, in basil from the leaves, in roses from the flowers, etc.
The following article gives a list of top essential oils used in aromatherapy, their properties and the way they work.
Basil:– This essential oil has a sweet and spicy aroma with a stimulating and uplifting effect. It is effective in treating the conditions like colds, bronchitis, insect bites, constipation, migraine, mental fatigue, sinus congestion, rheumatism and nervous tension. It may cause irritation if the skin is too sensitive. Avoid using this oil during pregnancy.
Bergamot:– Similar to basil, it also has sweet and spicy aroma with uplifting and refreshing properties. It is beneficial in treating boils, acne, colds, chicken pox, cystitis, cold sores, loss of appetite, flatulence, sore throat and mouth infections. It should not be used when the skin is exposed to sunlight or any light source as it increases the skin's sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid using during pregnancy.
Black Pepper:– It has a peppery and warm aroma with a stimulating effect. It is effective in treating constipation, colds, flatulence, indigestion, heartburn, sinus congestion, muscle pains and aches. It causes irritation on sensitive skin and should be avoided during pregnancy.
Chamomile:– It has a fruity, herbal and sweet aroma with relaxing and soothing effect. It is beneficial for treating health conditions like boils, blisters, acne, digestive disorders, depression, colitis, indigestion, headaches, skin conditions, rheumatism and nervous tension. This oil also causes irritation when used on highly sensitive skin. Avoid using this at early stages of pregnancy.
Clary Sage:– This essential oils used in aromatherapy has a herbal, spicy and sweet aroma with a warming effect. It is effective in treating conditions like depression, asthma, exhaustion, digestive disorders, muscle spasms and cramps, respiratory problems and also provides relief from PMS. It is highly sedative due to which it cannot be used before any activity such as driving or during pregnancy.
Clove:– This essential oil has a fresh, spicy and sweet aroma with a warming effect. It is beneficial to use in conditions like colds, bronchitis, infected wounds, indigestion, mouth sores, insect repellents, nerve tension and muscle pains. It is also used for treating toothache and as a room disinfectant. It causes high irritation on the sensitive skin and that's the reason it should be diluted to less than 1% before use.
Cypress:– It has a refreshing and sweet aroma and produces relaxing effect. It effectively treats conditions like bronchitis, asthma, edema, cough, menopause, hemorrhoids, nervous and muscle tension, menstrual symptoms, rheumatism, oily hair and skin. This oil should also be avoided during pregnancy.
Eucalyptus:– The aroma is woody and camphorous which provides stimulating and balancing effect. It is beneficial in treating bronchitis, asthma, cuts and burns and also as a insect repellent and air disinfectant. It has decongestant properties that makes it great to treat headaches, flu, rheumatism, muscle aches, skin ulcers, sinusitis, wounds and urinary infections. Avoid using this oil if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy conditions. It is also fatal when ingested.
Fennel:– It has a sweet and earthy aroma and has got clearing effects. It is effective in treating nervous tension, gout and digestive problems. Avoid using this if you have epilepsy and during pregnancy.
Frankincense:– It has a sweet and warm aroma with relaxing and uplifting properties. It is found effective in treating colds, bronchitis, asthma, nervous tension, wounds, skin conditions, respiratory conditions and can also be used to massage the infant and as a uterine tonic.
Geranium:– It has earthly, sweet and floral aroma and has got healing and comforting effects. It is used to treat eczema, burns, fluid retention, edema, poor circulation, PMS symptoms, tonsillitis and rheumatism. It can cause skin irritation and should also be used during pregnancy.
Ginger:– This essential oils used in aromatherapy has a woody, spicy and warm aroma with warming effects. It is beneficial in treating bronchitis, asthma, flu, cold, sinusitis, poor circulation and indigestion. It can cause skin irritation.
Jasmine:– It has floral and warm aroma with relaxing and soothing effects. It is effective in treating cough, anxiety, mental tension, headache, dry and sensitive skin. Do not use during pregnancy.
Lavender:– It has herbal, woody, sweet and floral aroma and has got therapeutic and calming effects. It is effective in treating anxiety, acne, colds, bronchitis, headaches, flu, insomnia, insect bites, muscle pains and aches, skin disorders, PMS symptoms, tension, sunburn, sores and wounds. Avoid using this oil if you have low blood pressure and during pregnancy.
Lemon:– It has a citrus, sharp and fresh aroma with a stimulating and refreshing effect. It is beneficial in treating circulatory problems, cellulite, constipation, cold sores, gingivitis, corns, insect bites, headaches, varicose veins, sore throat and migraine. It should not be inhaled directly and also not be used in sunlight as it increases the skin's sensitivity to sunlight.
Myrrh:– It has a spicy and warm aroma with rejuvenating and toning properties. It treats bronchitis, asthma, cough, cold, digestive disorders, gum and mouth problems and is an effective immune system stimulant. Do not use during pregnancy.
Peppermint:– This essential oil has got fresh and strong menthol aroma and is a stimulating and refreshing oil. It effectively treats bronchitis, asthma, headache, colic, migraine, indigestion, joint and muscle pains, toothaches, sore feet and nausea.
Rose:– It has a floral, deep and warm aroma with relaxing effect. It treats broken veins, aging skin, dry skin, depression, insomnia, headache, sensitive skin, PMS symptoms, stress and sore throat.
Sandalwood:– It has a exotic, sweet and woody aroma with relaxing and warming effect. It effectively treats bronchitis, anxiety, frigidity, fatigue, nervous tension, impotence, sore throat, skin conditions, water retention, urinary infections and stress. Do not use during pregnancy and depressed conditions.
Tea Tree:– It has medicinal and fresh aroma with refreshing and cleansing effects. It is beneficial in treating athlete's foot, age spots, boils, burns, colds, fungal infections, dandruff, sunburn, itching, warts and urinary tract infections. It also boosts immune system.
Thyme:– It has herbal, strong and sweet aroma with warming and refreshing properties. It is effective in treating colds, arthritis, depression, cough, sore throat, fatigue, tonsillitis and stress. It also raises low blood pressure, enhances memory and boosts immune system.
Ylang-Ylang:– It has got a exotic, floral, sweet and heavy aroma with stimulating and relaxing effects. It is used to treat high blood pressure, anxiety, stress, sexual dysfunction and intestinal problems. These are the top essential oils used in aromatherapy that are found to be very effective. They can be mixed with base oil or water and then can be applied diluted on the skin.
Before using essential oils, it is better to know about their effect and how they work. The oils are extracted from different plant parts like twigs, flowers, bark and leaves and also rind of fruits. For instance, in sandalwood it is extracted from wood, in basil from the leaves, in roses from the flowers, etc.
The following article gives a list of top essential oils used in aromatherapy, their properties and the way they work.
Basil:– This essential oil has a sweet and spicy aroma with a stimulating and uplifting effect. It is effective in treating the conditions like colds, bronchitis, insect bites, constipation, migraine, mental fatigue, sinus congestion, rheumatism and nervous tension. It may cause irritation if the skin is too sensitive. Avoid using this oil during pregnancy.
Bergamot:– Similar to basil, it also has sweet and spicy aroma with uplifting and refreshing properties. It is beneficial in treating boils, acne, colds, chicken pox, cystitis, cold sores, loss of appetite, flatulence, sore throat and mouth infections. It should not be used when the skin is exposed to sunlight or any light source as it increases the skin's sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid using during pregnancy.
Black Pepper:– It has a peppery and warm aroma with a stimulating effect. It is effective in treating constipation, colds, flatulence, indigestion, heartburn, sinus congestion, muscle pains and aches. It causes irritation on sensitive skin and should be avoided during pregnancy.
Chamomile:– It has a fruity, herbal and sweet aroma with relaxing and soothing effect. It is beneficial for treating health conditions like boils, blisters, acne, digestive disorders, depression, colitis, indigestion, headaches, skin conditions, rheumatism and nervous tension. This oil also causes irritation when used on highly sensitive skin. Avoid using this at early stages of pregnancy.
Clary Sage:– This essential oils used in aromatherapy has a herbal, spicy and sweet aroma with a warming effect. It is effective in treating conditions like depression, asthma, exhaustion, digestive disorders, muscle spasms and cramps, respiratory problems and also provides relief from PMS. It is highly sedative due to which it cannot be used before any activity such as driving or during pregnancy.
Clove:– This essential oil has a fresh, spicy and sweet aroma with a warming effect. It is beneficial to use in conditions like colds, bronchitis, infected wounds, indigestion, mouth sores, insect repellents, nerve tension and muscle pains. It is also used for treating toothache and as a room disinfectant. It causes high irritation on the sensitive skin and that's the reason it should be diluted to less than 1% before use.
Cypress:– It has a refreshing and sweet aroma and produces relaxing effect. It effectively treats conditions like bronchitis, asthma, edema, cough, menopause, hemorrhoids, nervous and muscle tension, menstrual symptoms, rheumatism, oily hair and skin. This oil should also be avoided during pregnancy.
Eucalyptus:– The aroma is woody and camphorous which provides stimulating and balancing effect. It is beneficial in treating bronchitis, asthma, cuts and burns and also as a insect repellent and air disinfectant. It has decongestant properties that makes it great to treat headaches, flu, rheumatism, muscle aches, skin ulcers, sinusitis, wounds and urinary infections. Avoid using this oil if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy conditions. It is also fatal when ingested.
Fennel:– It has a sweet and earthy aroma and has got clearing effects. It is effective in treating nervous tension, gout and digestive problems. Avoid using this if you have epilepsy and during pregnancy.
Frankincense:– It has a sweet and warm aroma with relaxing and uplifting properties. It is found effective in treating colds, bronchitis, asthma, nervous tension, wounds, skin conditions, respiratory conditions and can also be used to massage the infant and as a uterine tonic.
Geranium:– It has earthly, sweet and floral aroma and has got healing and comforting effects. It is used to treat eczema, burns, fluid retention, edema, poor circulation, PMS symptoms, tonsillitis and rheumatism. It can cause skin irritation and should also be used during pregnancy.
Ginger:– This essential oils used in aromatherapy has a woody, spicy and warm aroma with warming effects. It is beneficial in treating bronchitis, asthma, flu, cold, sinusitis, poor circulation and indigestion. It can cause skin irritation.
Jasmine:– It has floral and warm aroma with relaxing and soothing effects. It is effective in treating cough, anxiety, mental tension, headache, dry and sensitive skin. Do not use during pregnancy.
Lavender:– It has herbal, woody, sweet and floral aroma and has got therapeutic and calming effects. It is effective in treating anxiety, acne, colds, bronchitis, headaches, flu, insomnia, insect bites, muscle pains and aches, skin disorders, PMS symptoms, tension, sunburn, sores and wounds. Avoid using this oil if you have low blood pressure and during pregnancy.
Lemon:– It has a citrus, sharp and fresh aroma with a stimulating and refreshing effect. It is beneficial in treating circulatory problems, cellulite, constipation, cold sores, gingivitis, corns, insect bites, headaches, varicose veins, sore throat and migraine. It should not be inhaled directly and also not be used in sunlight as it increases the skin's sensitivity to sunlight.
Myrrh:– It has a spicy and warm aroma with rejuvenating and toning properties. It treats bronchitis, asthma, cough, cold, digestive disorders, gum and mouth problems and is an effective immune system stimulant. Do not use during pregnancy.
Peppermint:– This essential oil has got fresh and strong menthol aroma and is a stimulating and refreshing oil. It effectively treats bronchitis, asthma, headache, colic, migraine, indigestion, joint and muscle pains, toothaches, sore feet and nausea.
Rose:– It has a floral, deep and warm aroma with relaxing effect. It treats broken veins, aging skin, dry skin, depression, insomnia, headache, sensitive skin, PMS symptoms, stress and sore throat.
Sandalwood:– It has a exotic, sweet and woody aroma with relaxing and warming effect. It effectively treats bronchitis, anxiety, frigidity, fatigue, nervous tension, impotence, sore throat, skin conditions, water retention, urinary infections and stress. Do not use during pregnancy and depressed conditions.
Tea Tree:– It has medicinal and fresh aroma with refreshing and cleansing effects. It is beneficial in treating athlete's foot, age spots, boils, burns, colds, fungal infections, dandruff, sunburn, itching, warts and urinary tract infections. It also boosts immune system.
Thyme:– It has herbal, strong and sweet aroma with warming and refreshing properties. It is effective in treating colds, arthritis, depression, cough, sore throat, fatigue, tonsillitis and stress. It also raises low blood pressure, enhances memory and boosts immune system.
Ylang-Ylang:– It has got a exotic, floral, sweet and heavy aroma with stimulating and relaxing effects. It is used to treat high blood pressure, anxiety, stress, sexual dysfunction and intestinal problems. These are the top essential oils used in aromatherapy that are found to be very effective. They can be mixed with base oil or water and then can be applied diluted on the skin.
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