7 Essential Oils for Health & Wellbeing

I love essential oils. The way they smell, the way they make you feel. I use them personally as well as part of a massage protocol for clients when I was a practicing massage therapist.

Besides smelling them did you know that there are actual healing properties associated with certain oils?

Lavender is probably the first essential oil that pops into your head, right? But, there are others that can also be used for general health & wellbeing.

Here are 7 very versatile essential oils for natural health and wellbeing:

Note: Never apply undiluted essential oils to skin. Make sure they are diluted well in a carrier oil such as olive, almond, evening primrose, jojoba, coconut, or avocado oil. Avoid mineral oil, which is a byproduct of petroleum production – it’s synthetic, clogs pores, prevents the skin from breathing naturally, and prevents essential oil absorption. Do not overuse essential oils as all essential oils have the possibility of causing adverse reactions such as headaches and nausea when overused.  Never ingest essential oils without proper consultation with a qualified professional such as a certified clinical aromatherapist. If used as a mouthwash or gargle ensure proper dilution as well as proper spitting techniques are utilized to ensure minimal swallowing.

1. Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)

If you like the smell of apples you will like the scent of Roman Chamomile. Its properties include analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antiviral.

Roman Chamomile oil has been used to help relieve nausea, vomiting, headaches, and anxiety. It can also help with skin conditions like inflammation from cuts or hemorrhoids on the skin, eczema, and insect bites.

2. Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Peppermint oil has analgesic, anesthetic, and antiseptic properties.

The main component of peppermint oil is menthol, which may help with such conditions as colds, coughs, bronchitis, and respiratory and sinus congestion. It is a soothing oil and is also known to improve your concentration and help reduce anxiety associated with depression.

Blend it with the carrier oil of your choice and use it to either gargle to relieve toothaches, bad breath, and gum infections or rub into your temples for tension headaches.

If you have morning sickness or motion sickness the scent of this oil will work well for you.

3. Ylang Ylang (pronounced ee-lahng ee-lahng) (Cananga odorata)

Some of the properties of this sweet smelling oil are antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and antifungal. It also is an aphrodisiac, an antiseptic, disinfectant, and may be used as a sedative. All of these components make this oil an excellent choice to help with panic, fear, depression, anxiety, cuts, abrasions, burns, low sex drive or impotence, hypertension, fatigue, and insomnia.

4. Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

Frankincense makes a great choice of oil for the holidays thanks to its woody and spicy aroma. Its properties include analgesic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiseptic.

It makes a wonderful skin tonic and is effective as an anti-aging regimen and reducing oily skin. It’s been used in healing scars, sores, wounds, and other skin inflammation. It can also help soothe and calm the mind.

A separate extract form of frankincense (known as Boswellia serrata) can be found in capsule/tablet form to use to aid in digestion disorders such as Crohn’s and colitis.

5. Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

Bergamot essential oil is part of the family of citrus oils, which makes it phototoxic and gives it its citrus scent.

Being phototoxic means that using bergamot on your skin, even diluted, can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Try to stay out of the sun as much as possible when using this oil. Despite this small precaution, bergamot oil has many wonderful properties including antidepressant and antibiotic. It may help with conditions such as depression (including postpartum and seasonal affective disorder), stress management, tension, fear, eczema, oily skin, acne, and PMS.

6. Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Tea tree has a spicy, but pungent scent and is antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antiviral. It can be used to green clean and also makes a great addition to soaps, creams, lotions, and deodorants.

You may benefit from using tea tree oil if you have conditions like the flu, a cough or a cold, cold sores, and dandruff. It’s also helpful for acne, burns, oily skin, blemishes, sunburn and infected wounds.

Blend it with some coconut oil for gum infections, gingivitis, and overall good oral health.

7. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

With its strong scent, rosemary oil is an analgesic, antiarthritic/antirheumatic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiseptic, a decongestant, and an aphrodisiac! This powerful oil may help clear the mind, stimulate the brain, and improve memory. It can also help headaches and/or migraines, muscle pain, aches, and spasms.

More Resources for You

The Truth About Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils

Aromatherapy: NYU Langone Medical Center

National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA)

Aromatherapy: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

International Federation of Aromatherapists

Essential Oils for Pain Relief: Massage Today