Category Archives: Essential Oil

Top 10 Relief Remedies Using Essential Oils at Home

How To Use Essential Oils Depending on the desired outcome, quality of the oil and personal preference, essential oils can be used in the three following ways: Applied to the Skin There are a variety of ways to apply essential oils to the skin. People with sensitive skin and children should be more careful with this method. Using a carrier oil such as olive, grapeseed, sweet almond or coconut oil is a helpful way to dilute the essential oils before applying them topically. Do not use butter, margarine or petroleum-derived products as carrier oils. Essential oils are commonly applied to the feet, because they absorb well into the body this way. Massaging the feet first helps increase circulation and therefore the effectiveness of the oil. They are also sometimes applied to the ears, neck, forehead, chest or other affected areas of the body. Do not put essential oils in the eyes. Woman inhaling essential oils THE SMELL OF ESSENTIAL OILS CREATES A RESPONSE IN THE BRAIN, AND INHALING THEM IS A VERY COMMON METHOD OF USE. IMAGE CREDIT: IMAGE POINT FR / SHUTTERSTOCK Inhaled The smell of essential oils creates a response in the brain, and inhaling them is a very common method of use. A couple drops of essential oil can be added to a spray bottle with water and sprayed. Oils can be smelled directly from the bottle, or added to a hot compress and applied to a certain part of the body. A drop or two can be applied to a handkerchief, put on a pillow, added in a bath, used in a diffuser or added to a bowl of hot water. Depending on the type of oil used, it can help deodorize, reduce stress, boost the immune system or induce sleep. Ingested Some people take certain oils internally, although some specific oils are not intended for internal use. Only internal-grade oils should be ingested, so read the bottle first. When these conditions are met, a couple drops of essential oils can be added to a glass of water, applied directly to the tongue or even used to add flavor to food. When ingesting oils, it is best to put them in glass or metal containers, as plastic containers can be broken down by the oils, causing people in ingest impurities. Remedies Using 4 Essential Oils 1. Lavender This oil has a calming effect, so it is a great way to help induce sleep and reduce anxiety. It can be added to a spray bottle with water and sprayed on the pillow or sheets, added to a diffuser before bedtime, or rubbed into the skin on the ears or feet. Lavender oil is an effective and natural insect repellent. It also helps promote healing the skin from cuts, burns and acne and is helpful in removing splinters. Remedy #1: Mix lavender with a carrier oil and apply it topically to the skin. Lemon essential oil LEMON ESSENTIAL OILS ARE ENERGIZING, REJUVENATING, DETOXIFYING AND DISINFECTING. IMAGE CREDIT: ANTONOVA ANNA / SHUTTERSTOCK 2. Lemon This is a highly versatile oil that has a long list of uses. Lemon is energizing, rejuvenating, detoxifying, and disinfecting. It is commonly used to boost energy and improve mental clarity, so apply it to the skin, inhale it, or add a couple drops of internal-grade oil in a glass of water when your energy level dips. It is also used to treat anxiety, either alone or in combination with lavender. Another common use for lemon oil is in homemade cleaning products. Lemon oil is widely praised for its disinfecting, degreasing and deodorizing properties. Remedy #2: Add a few drops to your latest batch of DIY spray cleaner, dishwasher detergent, oven cleaner, laundry powder and furniture polish. It has a great natural scent, unlike the synthetic fragrances that are used in many common household products. 3. Peppermint This popular essential oil can treat a variety of conditions and has an energizing and clarifying effect. Peppermint oil helps treat headaches, freshen breath, soothe digestive issues and relieve sore muscles. It is an antimicrobial, so it gets to the root cause of bad breath and doesn’t merely mask it. Beware that the oil can create skin irritation in some people, so it is recommended to use a carrier oil when applying it. Remedy #3: For headaches, massage a little oil on the temples, forehead, and base of the neck, taking caution to avoid the eyes. Remedy #4: To freshen breath, add a drop of the oil to toothpaste or rinse with a drop of oil in a bit of water. For an upset stomach, inhale a bit of the oil or rub some externally on the stomach. Remedy #5: When treating sore muscles, rub a drop or two of oil on the affected areas. Internal-grade peppermint oil can also be added to food to add flavor. 4. Tea Tree Oil This essential oil has a long list of properties, including being antibiotic, antifungal, and antiseptic. Tea tree oil is great for naturally minimizing an acne outbreak, as well as treating athlete’s foot, yeast infections, warts, bad breath, dandruff, nail fungus, head lice, ringworm, and cuts. Note that this oil should not be ingested internally and should not be used by pregnant women, babies under 6 months, or breastfeeding women. Because the oil has strong properties, it may cause skin irritation when applied in its concentrated form, so consider using a carrier oil or test a small patch of skin to see if you have a reaction. Remedy #6: To treat acne, nail fungus, athlete’s foot, ringworm, cuts or warts, simply apply a drop or two to a cotton swab and apply to the skin using great caution to avoid the eyes. Reapply a couple of times a day until the symptoms subside. Remedy #7: To treat a yeast infection, add a drop or two of oil to a carrier oil and apply to the affected area several times a day until the issue is gone. Remedy #8: To treat bad breath or inflamed gums, add a drop to toothpaste or rinse with a drop or two of oil in a bit of water. Be sure not to swallow the tea tree oil and beware that it will have a strong taste. Remedy #9: To treat lice, mix 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil to 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Apply enough to coat all the hair, especially near the roots of the hair. Put a shower cap on and let the mixture remain on your hair for at least 30 minutes. Rinse out the oil out and then try to comb your hair with a nit comb for lice. Repeat this procedure several times, as this treatment will likely kill the bugs but not necessarily the eggs. Remedy #10: To treat dandruff, add tea tree oil to your shampoo, so it is a 1 to 20 ratio of tea tree oil to shampoo. Use the shampoo once a week and keep it away from your eyes when lathering. Feature image credit: marilyn barbone / Shutterstock Editor’s note: Originally published on September 2, 2016, this article was updated in August 2018. You Might Also Like… DIY sinus and allergy relief Earth911TV: DIY Sinus & Allergy Relief Chase EzellJun 6, 2018 Young people do yoga indoors 6 Environmentally Friendly Products to Help You Relax Jenna CyprusMay 14, 2018 Natural medicine 7 Must Have Essential Oils To Stock In Your Natural Medicine Cabinet Chrystal JohnsonMar 31, 2015 Recent Posts Enter to Win a Complete Home Gym Giveaway by Donating to Charity Enter to Win Complete Home Gym by Donating to Charity Earth911Jan 2, 2021 Family wearing cloth face masks Washing Cloth Face Masks: Are You Inhaling Toxic Laundry Product Fumes? Sarah LozanovaJan 1, 2021 Earth911 Podcast Innovator Interview Earth911 Interview: Coastal Flooding in 2050 With Climate Scientist James Renwick Earth911Jan 1, 2021 Sarah Lozanova Follow me Sarah Lozanova Sarah Lozanova is a renewable energy and sustainability journalist and communications professional with an MBA in sustainable management. She is a regular contributor to environmental and energy publications and websites, including Mother Earth Living, Earth911, Home Power, Triple Pundit, CleanTechnica, The Ecologist, GreenBiz, Renewable Energy World, and Windpower Engineering. Lozanova also works with several corporate clients as a public relations writer to gain visibility for renewable energy and sustainability achievements. Never miss an update! Enter email address SUBSCRIBE At Earth911, We’ve Created A Community That Helps People Find Their Own Shade Of Green, Match Their Values To Their Purchase Behaviors, Adopt Environmentally Sound Practices And Drive Impactful Environmental Changes. We Are Dedicated To Increasing Recycling Rates And Helping You Choose Sustainable Options To Live A Happier, Healthier Lifestyle; One That Protects This Wonderful Planet We Call Earth. JOIN 100,000+ EARTHLINGS Type your email address GREEN LIVING NEWS, DIY TIPS, AND INFO ABOUT RECYCLING JUST ABOUT ANYTHING. SUBSCRIBE ADVERTISE WITH US Home Audience Products Partners Rate Card Contact Form ECO TECH HOME & GARDEN HOW & BUY WELL BEING INSPIRE BUSINESS QUIZZES PRIVACY TERMS OF USE ©2021. Earth911. All Rights Reserved Hosted on WPEngine - Enterprise Performance

All across the globe, people suffer from ailments such as headaches, anxiety, insomnia, nail fungus, minor cuts and more. Relief usually comes in the form of pharmaceuticals or, alternatively, essential oils. Derived from Mother Earth, essential oils can provide relief very quickly, often creating a desired response within minutes. If you’re new to essential oils, start small. Less is more. Try picking […]