Essential oils are ones that get used in variety of products- like food, soft drinks, perfumes, joy sticks, mosquito mats and coils, massage oils, cosmetic products, hair oils, after shaves, medicines etc., the list is endless.
Essential oils play a major part in getting our sensory buds activated for a product, be it for internal or external consumption.
Pure essential oils are vital ingredients for the science of aromatherapy. Essential oils are pure oils that are extracted from flowers, roots or leaves of certain plants.
The art of extracting oils from plants and other natural ingredients has continued in our country from time immemorial. Attar is one good example of essential oils manufactured till date using old time tested methods.
Aromatherapy helps in overall healthcare, well being in the areas of skin care and prevention of various diseases and conditions. It is a branch in the field of healing like ayurveda, homeopathy, allopathy, siddha vaidhya, Unnani medicines and colour therapy.
Essential oils are unique because of their molecular structure and their ability to penetrate and get absorbed. Generally essential oils are always added with a carrier medium oils like day to day oils viz., coconut oil, mustard oil, sesame oil etc., Sometimes it can also be sniffed from the small vials that most of the essential oils are packed in . They are quite expensive.
Some key essential oils and their benefits are as follows:
Lavender: treats burns and promotes healing( generally used in talcum powders)
Tea leave:Antiseptic( anti- dandruff properties)
Peppermint:anti-inflammatory, bad breath and migraines
Chamomile: teething and diarrhea
Eucalyptus: Cools body in summer, deodorizing
Geranium: works on emotions
Rosemary:Flu
Thyme- anti-viral antibiotic
Lemon: Insect bites etc
Clove: cures toothaches
Oil of wintergreen: anti- inflammatory
Almond oil: good for hair
Some useful tips on using essential oils:
Clove oil is a proven oil for relief from toothache
Eucalyptus oil is very good to give relief for opening up blocked noses. If you have an infant in the house put a few drops of eucalyptus oil on the pillow of the infant if he/she is suffering from cold the vapours from the pillow will make her feel better
If you have a used mosquito mat at home and want to reuse them make a mixture of neem oil and eucalyptus oil and just put 2 drops of the concoction on the used mat and put it to use on the machine, the vapours from the mat will drive away the mosquitos effectively.
Eucalyptus oil is also used for steam inhalation to clear blocked nose. Few drops of eucalyptus oil / tea tree oil in a your bath will provide the much needed relaxation after a hard days work.
Lavender oil is good for massage and a good bath oil for providing relaxation.
Most of the massage oils contain essential oils in combinations and are used for comforting, relaxing soothing etc., But my advice would be to use essential oils only on advice from practitioners of aromatherapy. Because each individual needs are different and use of fragrances depend entirely on case to case basis.
There is no doubt essential oils have always been the back stage performers, value adding to any product.