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Essential oils are of great use to many people, as they have many healing properties across various areas. But how do you use essential oils, and what exactly can they help you with?
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are all-natural, highly concentrated, volatile plant extracts. The extraction method differs based on the plant that it’s extracted from. On average, essential oils are about 75 times more potent than if the herbs were dried and used that way.
This means that they go a long way. Only a few drops can offer the support that you need. There are many different benefits of essential oils, but it depends on which one you’re using what the benefits are.
Most people have a collection of different essential oils, and they use different ones for various purposes.
What Can Essential Oils Be Used For?
There’s pretty much an essential oil for everything these days. You can even find blends that help with specific things, like sleep or anxiety, as there are various essential oils that are good for each thing.
To Fall Asleep
If you have trouble sleeping, essential oils may be the cure that you’ve been looking for. Essential oils that help fall (and staying) asleep include:
- Lavender
- Vetiver
- Patchouli
- Sandalwood
- Ylang-ylang
- Chamomile
- Neroli
- Marjoram
- Cedar
- Bergamot
- Clary sage
- Frankincense
- Rose
You can purchase a blended essential oil or make a blend yourself.
For Anxiety
If you’re experiencing anxiety, many different oils can help relieve the tension throughout your body. Those oils include:
- Rose
- Clary sage
- Frankincense
- Lavender
- Bergamot
- Marjoram
- Ylang-ylang
- Lemon
- Geranium
- Orange
- Sandalwood
- Chamomile
- Vetiver
A lot of the essential oils that help with sleep also help with anxiety, as they have calming properties that can calm the mind and help you feel more at ease, managing stress and making you feel sleepy.
For Energy
Essential oils are a great alternative to caffeine. While they won’t offer the same energy levels, they can help boost your mood and outlook a bit. To increase your energy levels, consider the following essential oils:
- Lemon
- Orange
- Grapefruit
- Eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Ginger
- Rosemary
- Spearmint
- Black pepper
- Jasmine
For a Mental Boost
If your brain requires stimulating or you’re experiencing the typical mid-afternoon slumps, you may want to perk up your brain with some essential oils. To give your brain the boost it needs, try the following:
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Peppermint
- Helichrysum
- Cedar
- Vetiver
- Grapefruit
- Pine
- Juniper
Try these essential oils in combination with some of the oils that help with energy, and you’ll sail through the rest of your workday.
Do I Need to Dilute My Oils?
Yes. If you’re going to apply essential oils to your skin, they always need to be diluted in a carrier oil. If you’re going to use your essential oils in a diffuser, they need to be diluted with water diffused.
If you don’t dilute your oils, they can cause a reaction on your skin. The best carrier oils for essential oils are:
- Jojoba
- Sweet almond
- Olive
- Sunflower seed
- Avocado
- Grapeseed
How Long Do They Last?
You may be asking, how long do essential oils last? Because they’re diluted when used, one small bottle of oil can last a long time before you run out. Depending on your usage habits, they may last longer or shorter than average.
When it comes to shelf life, most essential oils are good for about two years before they need to be thrown out. Some essential oils can last up to 15 years, so most doctors suggest that you replace them once every 3 years to be safe.