Sunday, May 21, 2023

Informational Article (654 words)




Essential Oils Can Help Ease Stress


Read on to learn how you can use essential oils—plant-derived extracts—to improve your sleep, mood, and focus. The best part? There are no harmful chemicals or weird ingredients you can’t pronounce; just all natural goodness.



You can make your own oil blends at home or buy blends from your local health store or online.



By Elaine Ewertz


Life is stressful. You’ve got a lot on your plate: juggling long hours at work, managing your home life—kids, partner, pets—and taking time for yourself always ends up on the back burner. You’re stressed and exhausted. You have trouble focusing on the task at hand and your to-do list is never-ending.

Adding essential oils into your self-care routine (or starting a self-care routine!) can help you feel better.

Where are the oils from?

Essential oils are extracted from the plant through mechanical pressing or distillation, according to the National Institute of Health. The result is a pure oil with its own unique scent and benefits.

How should I use the oils?

You should always use a carrier oil, such as grapeseed, fractionated coconut oil, almond oil, or jojoba oil. Most of these can be found at your local supermarket. Diluting the essential oil with a carrier oil is crucial because the oils are in pure form and are too strong to be used directly on the skin. Doing so can cause irritation and rashes. You can buy oil blends like this one by Eden’s Garden on Amazon. (Eden’s Garden essential oils are good quality and reasonably-priced).

Roll-On

If you’re feeling creative, you can make an oil blend yourself. I recommend using a rollerball bottle so you can carry it with you and use it as perfume or just to inhale whenever needed. Note that if you decide to make blends at home, you should look up a recipe from a reputable website. Happy Home Happy Heart has some nice recipes. I’ve used these rollerball oil bottles to make my own blends at home. This is just one type; there are several different colors and styles to choose from. Be creative and have fun with it!

Diffuser

When using a diffuser such as this one, you can add the undiluted oils in along with water. You will typically use 5-10 drops of each oil and fill the rest of the base with water (there is usually a fill line to guide you). The diffuser will stay on for a few hours, filling your home with the lovely scent of your chosen oil or blend. You can also look up recipes for using oils in the diffuser. This website has several great recipes you can try.

There are many other ways to use the oils but these are the basics to get you started. Curious as to what oils you should try? This depends on what type of benefit you are looking for. If you need to relax, lavender is always a great choice.

Lavender: Relax & Soothe



According to the Center for Research on Ingredient Safety at Michigan State University, scientific research shows that lavender may have healing properties, help insomnia, and decrease anxiety.

You can find lavender essential oil at your local health food store (read the label to make sure you are getting a pure oil and not synthetic or perfume) or on Amazon. For a soothing scent, try blending lavender with vanilla or chamomile oil. It’s also great used on its own!

Some ideas for using lavender oil:

· Use 5-7 drops in your diffuser at night while winding down for bed

· Mix a few drops into an unscented lotion and rub onto skin for a soft scent

· Add a few drops into your bath

· Keep a bottle in your nightstand and inhale for a few seconds before bed

· Make a rollerball bottle with lavender and a carrier oil and rub onto your pulse points and use as perfume or to breathe in throughout the day for stress relief

Peppermint: Uplift & Improve Focus



According to the Cleveland Clinic, peppermint can help with stomach issues, reduce fatigue, help with headaches, and improve your mood. It’s a great choice when you hit that afternoon slump at work or just need a pick me up. If you make a blend, adding a small amount of bergamot pairs nicely with this oil.

Some ideas for using peppermint oil:

· Add a few drops to your diffuser in the morning to help you wake up

· Inhale for a few seconds for an afternoon pick me up

· Mix a few drops into an unscented lotion and keep in the refrigerator for a cooling refresher in the summer or to apply to forehead and temples for a headache.

* Bonus: You can also make a cooling spray: Using a glass spray bottle, fill with distilled water and mix 5-10 drops of peppermint oil and keep in the refrigerator. Spray onto your neck for a tension headache or migraine or just to cool down after a workout or a hot summer day!

Lemon: Ease Pain & Depression



Besides being a fresh and clean scent, this oil may help people with Alzheimer’s, according to this study. It is also helpful in relieving pain and easing depression. Be careful though, as this oil can cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight and increase your risk of sunburn.

Some ideas for using lemon oil:

· Inhale the scent for 3-4 seconds when you’re feeling down

· Add a few drops into your diffuser at work or home for an uplifting scent

· Mix 5-10 drops of lemon oil with water in a spray bottle and spritz around your home to refresh your space

Rosemary: Help with Joint Pain & Hair Growth



A study published on PubMed showed rosemary oil helps reduce joint inflammation which could help decrease joint pain. It is also believed to help promote hair growth and improve mood. Note: Avoid using if you are pregnant, have epilepsy, or high blood pressure.

Some ideas for using rosemary oil:

· Mix 5-10 drops with water into a spray bottle to use as an air freshener

· Blend a few drops into unscented lotion or oil and apply to painful muscles and joints (try a small amount first to test for sensitivity)

· Add a few drops into your diffuser to fill your space with a warm and spicy scent

Conclusion

There are countless types of essential oils to choose from. According to Aromaweb, there are 130 different oils. This site lists all of them and offers descriptions of their uses, benefits, and properties. You're sure to find some inspiration for even more oils to use to help ease stress in your life as well as to benefit you in other ways, including gaining energy, focus, creativity, and pain relief. Be sure to use caution and use oils in a safe manner: Never apply directly to skin without a carrier oil and make sure you are not allergic to the oil. 






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