Essential oils
have their place secured in a natural beauty routine: They’re natural,
chemical-free alternatives to everything from traditional cosmetics to
potentially toxic fragrances. But many can do a lot more than just
smell good: While we can’t say with authority the 10 oils highlighted
here are miracle cures, throughout history they’ve been credited with
treating problems including digestion issues and acne; increasing
concentration; killing germs and much more.
Peppermint
The bright scent of peppermint does more than freshen your breath: It is also used to soothe nausea
and other stomach issues, help stop itching, and cool overworked
muscles (thanks to the menthol).Add drops of peppermint oil to a bowl of
hot water and breathe in the steam to fight congestion, or rub diluted
oil into sore muscles. And that’s not all: Peppermint
is a key ingredient in oil mixtures that fight PMS, act as an
all-natural alternative to VapoRub, cool sore throats, and quiet
headaches — and it’s often credited with increasing concentration, so
ideal for a mid-afternoon alternative to coffee pick-me-up.
Lavender
For Anita Boen, who runs an organic farm that provides herbs and oils to upscale spas, lavender
is a go-to oil for almost any situation: Not only is it one of the few
oils that is gentle enough to use undiluted, it’s a “virtual first aid
kit in a bottle.”The antibacterial properties allow it to fight germs (which is why it’s also such an important ingredient in many all-natural cleaning products for home and body), and, like peppermint, it’s often credited with aiding digestion and helping fight headaches.
Lavender oil’s soft scent is said to help calm the nervous system,
improve sleep quality, combat joint pain, and fight everything from
urinary disorders and respiratory problems to high blood pressure and acne.
Sesame
Sesame oil may be best known for its moisturizing qualities, which make it a favorite ingredient for hair and skin treatments.But
the health benefits go beyond beauty: Sesame oil has a slight SPF
factor, contains fatty acids believed to lower stress and blood
pressure, and has been shown to help slow the growth of cancer in cells.
Rose
Geranium
Planet Green suggests including geranium oil
as an ingredient in a PMS-fighting solution, but it’s also well-known
for its astringent properties — which allow it to refresh skin — and
its styptic aspects, which calm inflammations and stop
hemorrhaging.You can also use geranium oil
to treat acne, and oily skin, boost circulation, and decrease
bloating. The oil can reduce the appearance of scars and blemishes, get
rid of body odor, and contract blood vessels to diminish the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
Pine
The sharp tang of pine oil
may call up Christmas trees and rugged aftershaves, but this tree’s
needles also offer antiseptic, antibacterial, and analgesic properties
that make it a favorite of holistic health experts.Pine oil is said to
help treat skin issues — including psoriasis, eczema, and pimples;
speed up metabolism; act as an antidote to food poisoning; ease joint
pain and arthritis; kill germs; and battle respiratory problems that
go along with cough and cold season.
Clove
Spicy clove oil is one of the main ingredients in Tiger Balm,
an all-natural remedy said to temper hangover headaches — but holistic
health practitioners find other uses for it, too.It’s a popular choice
for dental issues, including tooth and gum pain, and some sites
recommend using it for bad breath (although whether you’d rather have
your breath smell like cloves is up to you).
Clove oil
is also antiseptic, so diluted versions can treat bug bites, cuts, and
scrapes; other suggested treatments help clear up earaches, digestion
problems, nasal congestion, stomachaches, and headaches. As an added
bonus, it’s an aphrodisiac — and therefore a popular form of stress
relief.
Black Pepper
It might not be as sweet-smelling as the more floral entries on this list, but black pepper oil
still has its place in your natural health arsenal.Pepper had its day
as one of the world’s most valuable spices, in part because of its
healing properties, which include aiding digestion, undoing cramps and
convulsions, warming muscles to ease joint pain and arthritis, and
curing bacterial infections.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm essential oil, also known as Melissa essential oil after the plant’s Latin name, Melissa officinalis,
doesn’t look like much, but it has plenty of benefits. It’s an
antidepressant, it keeps your nervous system working smoothly, it calms
anxiety and inflammation, it counteracts insomnia, it heals ulcers, it
fights bacterial infections, and has been credited with treating
herpes, headaches, and high blood pressure.
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