From diffusing essential oils to diluting them and placing them directly on your skin, there are many ways to utilize these popular products. Maybe you know someone who uses essential oils and swears by them. After all, essential oils have been touted as providing a variety of benefits, from reducing stress to improving circulation. So, are essential oils everything they’re cracked up to be? While the debate might still be out, an osteopath can show you effective ways to incorporate these safe and therapeutic oils into your daily routine.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are plant extracts that come from the flower, leaves, or fruit of a plant. Along with capturing and bottling the fragrance of the plant, essential oils may also capture some of the benefits that these plants offer. Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils. While people may inhale these oils to trigger the emotional centers of the brain, essential oils can also be diluted and applied to the skin for fast absorption. During a massage therapy session, an osteopath may employ essential oils to help create a calming, relaxing environment while also easing tight, stiff muscles.
What are the benefits of essential oils?
While there are studies out there that have found benefits to essential oils, there is still a lot of research that needs to be done. While essential oils can be used for a wide range of conditions and ailments, here are some of the most common:
- Stress and anxiety
- Depression
- Muscle aches, pain, and stiffness
- Sinusitis and other respiratory infections
- Stomachaches and nausea
- Headaches
- Constipation
- Sleep disturbances
The reason essential oils have become so popular is that it provides many people with relief through natural, drug-free remedies that can easily be utilized from the comfort of your own home with little to no possible side effects.
It is important to note that essential oils are incredibly powerful and should not be placed directly on the skin without first being diluted, otherwise you risk severe burns. You must test a drop or two on a very small patch of skin to see how it reacts before applying to a larger surface.
While essential oils may alleviate headaches for some, the fragrances and scents may cause headaches in others. If you are particularly sensitive to scents, then essential oils may not be right for you. People with allergies and asthma may also be more at risk for asthma attacks and breathing issues when inhaling essential oils so it’s important to speak with your osteopath about these possible side effects before using essential oils.
If you are looking for a safe, drug-free, and natural way to improve your wellbeing and wellness then adding essential oils into your daily routine may provide you with additional relief. If you’re not sure where to begin, an osteopath can help guide you on the path to essential oil use.