Essential Oils: What Are Essential Oils Used For?

there are still people who don’t know what essential oils are or what they are used for, while for others, aromatherapy is essentially something mystical, something out of the realm of science fiction. Let’s consider what’s real and what’s fiction.

Essential oils are aromatic plant compounds extracted from plants using various methods. They are volatile and highly concentrated enough to evaporate into the atmosphere. In other words, they are the “essence” of the plant, its healing power and aroma, in liquid form.

The difference is that an essential oil is more potent than the plant from which it was extracted, precisely because of its very high concentration. Therefore, essential oils are typically sold in small quantities—usually 5 ml or 10 ml, with especially valuable oils sold in 1-2 ml. Essential oil dosages are usually measured in drops, so a 5 ml bottle should last a long time.

Another characteristic of essential oils is that they are not used in their pure form (with rare exceptions, such as lavender or tea tree oil); they are diluted in a solvent (soda, vegetable oil, milk, alcohol, etc.).

Therapeutic Properties of Essential Oils

Each essential oil is versatile; thanks to its unique multi-component composition, essential oils can treat physical and emotional disorders. Their list of beneficial properties is impressive, but we’ll list the most important ones:

• Stimulates blood circulation and immunity;
• Corrects cosmetic defects;
• Balances hormonal levels;
• Insect repellent;
• Psycho-emotional correction;
• They have antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, making them a natural alternative to antibiotics;
• They reduce inflammation and heal wounds.

All these properties make essential oils a wonderful remedy for both preventative and therapeutic effects. For example, bay essential oil has antiseptic and fungicidal properties, which help with dandruff and other fungal scalp infections.

No other oil can claim to have its composition fully researched; essential oils are a complex mixture, and scientists continue to discover and study new elements.

Today, there are over 10, 000 studies on essential oils confirming their effectiveness.