The Best Essential Oils to Have in Your Home and How to Use Them According to Science
Essential oils are highly concentrated oils that are extracted from plants and contain the essence of the plant aroma. Oil extracts can be obtained from flowers, leaves, roots, peel, seeds, and even wood and bark. Many essential oils can be used in aromatherapy preparations for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Having the best essential oils in your home allows you to create many practical home remedies.
Essential oils are also very versatile to use, and just having a few in the house can help to address a number of health concerns. Sometimes a combination of the best essential oils can make using them even more effective. You can use essential oils to help relax, ease pain, improve your skin health, treat acne, reduce anxiety, clear sinuses and purify the air.
In this article, you will find out the must-have essential oils to always keep in your cupboard. You will also learn how to use essential oils in home remedies to help you feel great.
At the end of the article, you will learn about the precautions that you have to take when using essential oils at home.
What Are Essential Oils and What Are They Used For?
Essential oils (sometimes called EOs) are liquid extracts derived from plant sources. Popular plants from which natural oils are extracted include lavender, lemons, tea tree, rosemary, oregano, and chamomile.
The most common way to get essential oils is using a steam distillation method. This involves passing steam through the plant material and collecting the vapor-containing compounds. (1)
The extracted oils are also highly concentrated compounds and must be used very sparingly. In fact, there may be up to 200 constituents in various essential oils.
Researchers say that essential oils can be used to kill off microbes and germs, reduce skin inflammation, treat infectious diseases, improve digestion, calm nerves, and stimulate the mind. (1, 2)
Benefits of Essential Oils
Natural essential oils have many health benefits because they contain bioactive chemicals.
The journal BioMed Research International reported that essential oils are good for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-carcinogenic properties. Various studies have found that EOs can inhibit microorganisms or suppress them. Some compounds in different essential oils have a synergetic effect to make them even more potent. (3)
For example, lavender EO is good for pain relief. However, it can also treat burns, kill off fungal infections, and help you relax. Peppermint is a good antiseptic essential oil but can also treat respiratory infections, improve digestion, and reduce inflammation. Lemon essential oil is also an antiseptic oil that has immune strengthening properties. (3)
The Best Essential Oils to Have in Your Home According to Science
Let’s look in more detail at the best essential oils to have at home and why they are good to have on hand.
Lavender Oil is One of The Best Smelling Essential Oils
Lavender essential oil is one of the most versatile natural oils to always have at home. Lavender EO has a very fragrant scent that is known to help you sleep better.
Research into the benefits of natural lavender oil has found that lavender has a calming effect on pain, your nerves, and inflammation. Lavender is also good for treating conditions such as insomnia, depression, fungal infections, acne, and skin burns. (4, 5)
It is very easy to make your own lavender ointment to help improve your skin condition and relax your frayed nerves. You can mix 4 drops of lavender oil with a tablespoon of sweet almond oil or other carrier oil. Massage a little of the lavender oil blend to help improve your skin’s appearance.
Lavender is also one of the top essential oils to relieve anxiety. All you need to do for stress relief is put a few drops in your diffuser. Just inhale deeply the soothing aromas of lavender to help ease the stress.
One of the benefits of lavender oil for your skin is that you can put a drop or two directly on your skin as a spot treatment. For example, if you have a large pimple, you can dab a drop of lavender oil on the inflamed bump twice a day to help get rid of the spot quicker.
Learn more about the many health benefits of lavender essential oil and other ways you can use this most useful essential oil. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of lavender oil also makes it one of the best essential oils to relieve pain and inflammation.
Tea Tree Oil is One of The Best Essential Oils to Have at Home
Tea tree oil is definitely one of the best essential oils to have at home because of its antimicrobial benefits.
Tea tree oil contains a number of compounds that kill off bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This means that tea tree oil is good for treating athlete’s foot, acne, head lice, cold sores, and preventing skin infections. (6)
Because tea tree oil helps to kill off fungal infections and reduce itching, you can add tea tree oil to your shampoo bottle to resolve the problem of flaky skin on your scalp. (7) Use 10 drops of the essential oil for every 1 oz. (30 ml) shampoo.
Tea tree oil is also a great natural cure for acne. One study found that a 5% tea tree oil treatment was as effective as popular pharmaceutical acne treatments, but without any side effects. (8)
Tea tree oil homemade ointments are also good for eczema and helping to reduce skin inflammation. (9) Add 3-4 drops of tea tree oil to a tablespoon of coconut oil and apply a little amount to your skin twice a day to treat eczema, psoriasis, or acne.
Find out more about the amazing benefits and uses of tea tree oil.
Peppermint Oil is One of the Best Aromatherapy Oils
One essential oil to always have on hand is peppermint oil because it not only smells great but helps to relieve pain.
You can use peppermint essential oil to remedy a number of health issues. Research published in 2015 found that peppermint oil is a good natural oil for headache relief, improving depression, relieving muscular pain, clearing congestion and soothing skin ailments. (10)
For example, one study found that peppermint was as good as aspirin for treating headaches. (11)
To help get rid of a headache or migraine fast, mix 2 drops of peppermint oil with 1 tablespoon of carrier oil. Gently massage onto your temples and behind your head to help your headache disappear quickly.
Taking peppermint oil capsules is also helpful for getting relief from indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, and excess gas. (12)
You may also be surprised to learn that peppermint oil is among the best essential oils for muscle pain relief.
Learn about more reasons to add peppermint oil to your best oils for good health.
Lemon Essential Oil is On the List of Essential Oils to Have at Home
Lemon essential oil is in the top list as one of the best smelling essential oils for your home that also has medicinal properties.
Studies have shown that lemon oil is good for your skin, relieving stress and anxiety, and eliminating germs from surfaces. The smell of lemon essential oil is also good for repelling insects and mosquitoes. (13)
One of the ways that lemon EO is good for your skin is that it helps to treat oily skin conditions. Antioxidants in lemon essential oil also help to prevent the visible signs of aging and kill off skin bacteria. (14, 15, 16)
For example, you can easily make your own skin toner by adding 10 drops of lemon oil, 5 drops of tea tree oil, and 1 tablespoon of witch hazel to a cup of rose water. Use a cotton pad to cleanse your skin in the evening and avoid eye contact.
Find out about more ways to use lemon essential oil that smells so good and fresh.
Rosemary Oil is One of the Best Aromatherapy Oils
One of the top essential oils for healing to have at home is rosemary essential oil.
Rosemary is a Mediterranean herb that is known for its therapeutic properties. Research into the benefits of rosemary EO has shown it is good for calming your nerves, reducing inflammation, and treating microbial infections. (17)
Inhaling rosemary essential oil also has a stimulating effect on the mind and can help to improve mood. In fact, when used in aromatherapy, rosemary oil can help people feel more mentally active and perform better in memory tests. (18, 19)
One of the most popular uses of rosemary oil in home remedies is for its ability to stimulate hair growth. In one study, rosemary essential oil helped increase the number of hairs in men who had been showing signs of balding. (20)
You can help combat the problem of hair loss by adding rosemary essential oil to your shampoo. Use 10-12 drops for every 1 oz. (30 ml) of shampoo. Or, you can mix 4 drops of rosemary oil with a tablespoon of carrier oil and massage into your scalp to help improve hair growth.
To help deal with stress better, put a few drops of rosemary on a tissue and inhale deeply to help calm your nerves.
Learn about more of the many uses for rosemary oil in aromatherapy, including, how to help hair grow faster.
Eucalyptus Oil Has Many Uses
Eucalyptus oil is one of the best essential oils if you have blocked sinuses or chest congestion.
As with most oils on this list of the best essential oils, eucalyptus EO has antimicrobial properties. Studies have shown that eucalyptus oil can help to kill off bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens. Eucalyptus is one of the most popular essential oils for treating bronchitis, unclogging sinuses, and sore throat. (21)
Other studies have shown that breathing in eucalyptus oil can help in reducing pain and blood pressure. (22)
To use eucalyptus oil for pain relief and clear chest congestion, mix 3 drops of eucalyptus oil with a tablespoon of carrier oil such as sweet almond oil. Massage onto your chest or area where you have pain 2-3 times a day.
Or, to clear blocked sinuses with eucalyptus oil, put a few drops in a bowl of hot water. Put your head over the bowl, cover it with a towel and inhale the therapeutic vapors for 10 minutes.
Find out about some other top uses of eucalyptus essential oil that include getting rid of dandruff, easing arthritic pain, and treating migraines.
Oregano Oil is One of The Best Essential Oils For Healing
Another of the top Mediterranean essential oils that you should have is oregano essential oil.
Oregano oil is commonly used together with carrier oils to help treat and prevent wound infections. Studies have shown that oregano essential oil is effective against Staphylococcus aureus bacterial infections. (23)
You can also use oregano oil to treat cold sores (fever blisters) due to its powerful antiviral properties. (24)
To use oregano EO for treating topical infections, mix 3 drops with a tablespoon of carrier oil. Apply 4 times a day to the infected area to help treat the infection naturally.
Learn about more reasons why oregano essential oil is a must-have essential oil for treating skin and respiratory infections and many other health conditions.
Chamomile Essential Oil is One of The Most Popular Essential Oils
Chamomile essential oil is one of the top essential oils for calming your nerves and soothing pain.
Studies have shown that chamomile oil has a therapeutic effect when inhaled or applied topically.
One 2017 study found that inhaling chamomile essential oil may have an anti-depressive effect. Chamomile essential oil can be used in aromatherapy preparations to help reduce anxiety and stress naturally. You may also help alleviate cold symptoms by breathing in chamomile vapors. (25, 26)
Adding a few drops of chamomile oil to a tablespoon of carrier oil could also be a good way to treat eczema, reduce skin inflammation, and prevent wound infections. (27)
Learn more about how to use chamomile essential oil to treat insomnia and get a better night’s sleep. The soothing effect of chamomile aromas can also help to address some symptoms of asthma.
Sandalwood Essential Oil Is One of the Best Smelling Essential Oils For Your Diffuser
Sandalwood is one of the best smelling essential oils that has healing properties and is good for anxiety.
Sandalwood has a woody aroma that helps to induce feelings of calmness and relaxation. Some studies have shown that sandalwood essential oil can be used in aromatherapy preparations to help treat depression, anxiety disorders, and help you sleep better. (28)
Using essential oils such as sandalwood in aromatherapy preparations has a double effect when applied topically. The oil is good for your skin to treat conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, and wound healing. At the same time, the pleasant sandalwood smells help reduce stress and nervousness. (29, 30)
Find out more about why sandalwood in on the list of the best essential oils to always have at home.
Clove Essential Oil is One of The Best Aromatherapy Oils
Clove is another essential oil that smells good and has many therapeutic uses to help improve your health.
Clove essential oil is good for you because it has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. One of the reasons to always keep some clove essential oil handy is that it can help treat toothache and other dental problems.
Studies have shown that clove oil can help to kill off fungal infections in the mouth and prevent bacteria from spreading. Also, some studies have found that clove oil can help to reduce pain after tooth extractions. (31, 32)
To get rid of a toothache, you can put a few drops of clove oil on a cotton ball and hold it against your sore gum.
Find out more about how to use clove oil in aromatherapy to relieve asthma, reduce painful inflammation, clear sinuses, and treat shingles naturally.
Lemongrass Essential Oil Has Many Uses in Aromatherapy
Lemongrass essential oil is a very fresh-smelling aromatic oil that has many uses in home remedies.
You can use lemongrass EO to eliminate bacterial and fungal infections by applying it topically. The anti-inflammatory effect of lemongrass oil also helps to bring down swelling under your skin. (33)
Lemongrass is also a good essential oil to use if you feel stressed out. Some studies have shown that inhaling lemongrass essential oil smell can help treat anxiety disorders. Adults using lemongrass essential oil in aromatherapy preparations felt calmer and less tense. (34)
You can also use lemongrass as a mouthwash by putting 2 drops of the EO in a glass of water to swish around your mouth.
The pleasant aromas of lemongrass can also give your rooms a fresh smell when you use the essential oil in your diffuser.
Find out more about using lemongrass for its many practical and medicinal purposes at home.
Clary Sage
Clary sage is a very useful essential oil that is always good to have at home for use in natural remedies.
Studies have shown that clary sage can help to reduce stress and calm your emotions. The positive effect of clary sage EO on your mind also helps with depression, anxiety, and other types of mental distress. (35, 36)
Clary sage oil also has pain-relieving effects when massaged onto painful joints or areas of your body. For example, one study showed that a combination of clary sage and other essential oils is good for an abdominal massage to relieve menstrual cramping. (37)
Precautions and Side Effects When Using Essential Oils
Keeping the top essential oils at home means that you always have ingredients to make effective home remedies. Essential oils can be used to calm nerves, relieve pain, get rid of respiratory viral infections, and unblock stuffy sinuses.
However, it is good to remember that essential oils are highly concentrated liquids that are very powerful. This means that you should never put essential oils directly on your skin. The best way to use essential oils for your skin is to combine 3-4 drops with every tablespoon of carrier oil.
The only exception to putting undiluted essential oils on your skin is lavender oil and tea tree oil that can be used as spot treatment. However for larger skin areas you need to dilute them with a carrier oil.
Even though essential oils are completely natural, you should always check for allergic reactions. To prevent adverse reactions, always do a spot check on your skin.
Researchers also say that essential oils are generally not recommended for pregnant women and children. (38)
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