Essential oils are highly concentrated liquids distilled from fragrant and medicinal plants. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, humans have used essential oils in medicine for at least 6,000 years. Today, health care providers classify the therapeutic use of essential oil as a form of complementary alternative medicine. Plant-based oils vary considerably in their safety, benefits and mechanism of action. Consult a qualified health care provider before using essential oils for any medicinal purpose.
Step 1
Consult your primary health care provider about your reasons for using essential oils as medicine. If you have certain medical conditions, such as asthma or cancer, your physician may advise you to avoid aromatherapy and related practices.
Step 2
Add mood-enhancing essential oils to a warm bath to facilitate relaxation and improve your state of mind. Popular anti-anxiety oils include lavender and chamomile, while frankencinse and ylang-ylang are regarded as antidepressants.
Step 3
Combine fragrant essential oils with a carrier oil, such as almond or olive, before applying them to the skin. Use these blends as massage oils or topical pain relievers. Effective pain-relieving essential oils include chamomile, eucalyptus, peppermint and clove. Note that essential oils can cause rashes when applied directly to the skin.
Step 4
Apply expectorant essential oils to a diffuser or humidifier to ease coughs, colds and lung inflammation. The UMMC acknowledges the common use of eucalyptus oil as a treatment for sore throat, bronchitis and sinus infections. This natural product can loosen phlegm while opening the airways and promoting a productive cough.
Step 5
Dilute essential oils in water for use in pest control. The National Institutes of Health reports that clove and eucalyptus can prevent bites from disease-carrying pests, including mosquitoes and ticks. Traditional practitioners may also recommend essential oils extracted from neem, tea tree and lavender.
Step 6
Take essential oils internally only under a physician's guidance. According to the National Institutes of Health, enteric coated peppermint oil capsules effectively relieve spasms in the colon and may reduce the symptoms of indigestion and irritable bowels syndrome. However, the UMMC warns that many essential oils are toxic, even in small doses.
Things You'll Need
- Essential oils
- Carrier Oil
- Diffuser
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