Although aromatherapy is no replacement for a good doctor, when used as part of a holistic approach to healing, essential oils can be incredibly effective in helping people recover from illness—and stay healthy—naturally.
To help you get started on your journey to wellness, let’s take a look at the 8 best essential oils for promoting good health:
1. Clove
Because the active ingredient in clove essential oil is eugenol, which functions as an antiseptic, clove oil is great for curing bad breath and relieving toothaches.
How to use:
- To use clove oil as an oral antiseptic, dilute 2 drops in one cup of warm water, and gargle for 30 seconds in addition to your normal dental hygiene routine.
- When 2-4 drops are placed in an essential oil diffuser, clove oil will emit a scent that is energizing to the mind.
2. Lavender
Lavender is a staple scent in perfume, candles, soaps, and air fresheners. Though widely popular for its calming scent, lavender is also effective as home healthcare remedies. For instance, lavender oil accelerates the healing time of cuts, bruises, burns, and other wounds. It protects against infections in open wounds. Using the healing and pain-reducing qualities is easy.
How to use:
- Simply place 2 drops on a cotton ball, and swab a wound. Re-apply every few hours, as needed.
- Lavender, when diffused, helps reduce stress and anxiety. Add 2-4 drops in a diffuser.
- Another relaxing use for lavender is in a bath. Combine 2 drops of lavender essential oil with 1 cup of Epsom salt in a hot bath.
3. Chamomile
Like lavender, chamomile is popular for its calming effect. Chamomile, however, is more than just a smoothing sent; it also stimulates and acts as an anti-depressant. It eliminates sadness while inducing a feelings of happiness. In addition to being an anti-depressant, chamomile contains a number of compounds which have positive effects on the body, including antispasmodics, anti-inflammatories, anticoagulants, and anti-cancer chemical compounds. As an antispasmodic, chamomile calms nervous disturbances that result in spasms, shaking, and loss of control of the limbs.
How to use:
- Add 1-2 drops of chamomile oil to an herbal tea to gain its antispasmodic and antioxidant effects.
- Diffuse 2-4 drops of chamomile at night as a sleep aid.
4. Peppermint
Peppermint is one of the world’s oldest medicines. It is also an excellent deterrent for insects. if you wipe the oil in the areas that bugs tend to cross—window sills, in dark corners, and beneath doorframes. Though it’s toxic to insects, peppermint oil is wonderful for humans. Because peppermint oil helps reduce gas and relaxes the muscles of the GI tract, peppermint oil is great for digestion, bloating, and abdominal pain. Additionally, it’s great for treating sinuses, soothing muscle and joint pain, and disinfecting wounds.
How to use:
- For stomach-related health problems, add a few drops of peppermint to a cup of tea.
- Put a few drops on a cotton ball and apply to wounds to help stave off infection. Use sparingly.
- Diffuse peppermint to open sinuses and provide relief for upper-respiratory problems like coughs and asthma.
- Ward of insects by wiping down problem areas in the house, like windowsills or countertops, with peppermint oil.
- Dilute several drops of peppermint oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil and apply liberally to sore muscles.
5. Frankincense
Frankincense is often associated not only with physical healing, but spiritual awakening. The oil influences the limbic system of the brain – the central hub of emotions. As such, frankincense is a great stress reliever. Additionally, this oil is an excellent beauty product. It treats wrinkles, scars, stretch marks, and acne. Other benefits include sinus and respiratory relief, as well as indigestion relief.
How to use:
- To treat skin blemishes, mix 2-3 drops with an unscented base lotion or carrier oil like coconut.
- For joint pain and stress relief, add a few drops to a hot bath or to an oil diffuser.
- Diffuse frankincense to relieve sinuses and coughs, as well as reduce heart rate and blood pressure.
- Add a 1-2 drops to water or tea to treat digestive distress. Ingest only 100% frankincense oil and sparingly. ***Don’t ingest large quantities.
6. Oregano
This oil is packed with antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory chemical compounds. It’s great at treating bacterial infections of the skin. While it’s hard on germs, oregano oil is easy on the lungs by working as a natural expectorant. Oregano oil also provides sinus relief by warding off allergens. Similar to peppermint, oregano can be used as a topical insect repellant.
How to use:
- Diffuse a few drops to loosen phlegm within the respiratory tract and relieve allergy symptoms.
- To athlete’s foot or bug bites, add a few drops to coconut oil and apply to the infectious area.
- For sore throats and toothaches, add a few drops to a glass of water.
7. Grapefruit
This essential oil is an excellent weight loss aid! It both boosts metabolism and curbs appetite. Additionally, grapefruit has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Grapefruit essential oil, with its pleasant smell, is popularly used as a deodorizer and air freshener. Its aroma is also a mood changer, as it uplifts and energizes.
How to use:
- To stop cravings, add a few drops to your tea.
- Put a few drops in your diffuser for respiratory infections. Diffused, grapefruit also freshens the air, relieves stress, and helps fight fatigue.
- Add a few drops do a bath to take advantage of its antibacterial properties and stress-relieving aroma.
8. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties. These properties make eucalyptus great for treating infections, sore muscles and joints, as well as alleviating headaches and respiratory problems.
How to use:
- Mixing 2 drops into a cup of water can create a gargle to treat sore throats.
- Add a few drops to a carrier oil and apply to sore muscles.
- Add 1-2 drops to a glass of water and ingest to control blood sugar.
- Diffuse a few drops for to treat stress, respiratory problems, and headaches.
9. Lemon
Lemon oil is easily one of the most popular essential oils. To name a few benefits, lemon oil is an anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, weight loss aid, anti-cancer, antiseptic, anti-depressant, and immune stimulating, etc. One of the more popular uses for lemon oil is cleaning and purification – both internally and externally. Since lemon oil can be ingested, its a great detox. Particularly, lemon oil helps with digestion and weight loss. Studies also show that drinking tepid, lemon water when you wake up improves cardiovascular health. On the other hand, lemon oil is also safe to use as a natural home cleaning product. It’s also an excellent beauty product.
How to use:
- Mix with coconut oil and apply to the back of the neck of lymphatic drainage support.
- Diffuse lemon oil to lift mood and energy levels.
- Add a few drops to a glass of water 3 times daily to promote healthy weight loss.
- Mix lemon oil with baking soda and coconut oil for a natural teeth whitener. Leave on for 2 minutes.
- Mix with baking soda and honey for a natural acne-free face wash.
10. Tea Tree
Tea tree oil helps fight bacterial infections, as well as burns and cuts. It’s most popularly used to treat athlete’s foot, acne, cold sores, and warts.
How to use:
- Apply directly to warts, acne, or wounds to treat and ward off bacterial infections.
- Mix with baking soda and coconut oil for a natural, homemade deodorant. This same mixture also produces a homemade toothpaste.
11. Sandalwood
According to research, sandalwood is more than just a key ingredient in most soaps. It’s been shown to improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Studies show that sandalwood essential oil inhibits both tyrosinase and cholinesterase- chemicals that affect physiological processes, such as melanin production and proper nervous system function. By inhibiting these chemicals, sandalwood has great potential in treating Alzheimer’s.
With its anti-viral, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties, sandalwood is great for treating any skin irritation or infections. As for the common cold, sandalwood helps soothe sore throats.
How to use:
- Diffuse sandalwood to enhance mental clarity and relaxation, as well as to treat respiratory problems.
- Apply sandalwood to skin to treat pimples, warts, insect bites, and superficial wounds.
- Gargle water mixed with a few drops of sandalwood to treat a sore throat.
12. Rosemary
This is mostly known to help enhance memory. Rosemary helps prevent the breakdown of the acetylcholine, which is a chemical primarily responsible for memory retention, reasoning, and communication with other people. In addition to promoting mental acuity, it helps normalize blood pressure. Lastly, rosemary has been known to stimulate hair growth.
How to use:
- Diffuse a few drops of rosemary to improve mental awareness and sharpness.
- Apply to the scalp to prevent baldness and to treat dandruff.
- Mix with coconut oil and rub over gallbladder area twice a day for improved gallbladder function.
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