As people become more and more aware of the concept of wellness, a holistic approach to life is gradually emerging and naturally occurring substances in their pure form are being incorporated more into one’s daily life. As a yoga teacher who loves to cook, I always use essential oils; from the moment I wake in the morning until I go back to sleep at night.
Essential oils are becoming more popular in use because of their antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used in practically every single aspect of life, from cleaning to disinfecting, skin and body care to mental and stress relief.
There are hundreds of essential oils with a myriad of uses – they can be used singly or in combination. Essential oils are the naturally occurring volatile aromatic compounds found in various parts of a plant and give them their distinctive smell. They are called volatile oils because they change state quickly, from a solid or liquid state to a gas at room temperature.
This ability to move quickly through the air and directly interact with your olfactory sensors makes essential oils ideal for aromatherapy and other applications.
There are three methods of using essential oils – aromatic, topical and internal.
Aromatic
The sense of smell can pull out strong emotional, mental and psychological responses and as essential oils are quickly absorbed by the smell receptors, they have a particularly powerful effect via the aromatic application. Some essential oils induce uplifting and invigorating effects (like citrus and peppermint), while others are calming and serene (lavender, jasmine or lemongrass for example). Using a diffuser is a simple way of using essential oils aromatically or you can simply place a few drops in the palm of your hand, cupping it around your nose and breathing deeply. You can also apply a few drops to a cotton ball and put it in your car’s air vents or mix oils in a spray bottle with water and mist carpets or linen.
Topical
Topical application is very effective as essential oils, by virtue of their makeup, penetrate the skin easily then stay in the applied area for a localized benefit. I use tea tree oil on pimples and scrapes and ginger for massaging sore muscles. To reduce the likelihood of developing a skin sensitivity, especially on young or sensitive skin, it is advisable to use a carrier oil, such as cold-pressed coconut oil, grape seed oil or another pure, light oil to dilute more potent essential oils. I like to add a few drops of essential oil to a warm bath or to my loofah for my morning shower, or add it to a moisturizer or lotion then apply to skin. Avoid broken or bruised skin and delicate facial areas around the eyes or nose.
This story originally appeared in Volume 9 #5 November-December 2017
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