Essential oils are mostly used in aromatherapy as a form of alternative medicine. Extracted from plants, the oils capture the plant’s scent and flavor also called essence. The unique aromatic compounds give each essential oils its characteristic essence. Essential oils are obtained through distillation or mechanical methods such as cold pressing. Essential oils are used mostly with a carrier oil to have a better effect. Since its advent, essential oils have stay unknown to most people, if you are one of those people, then here are 10 essential oil that you always need to have at home.
- Lavender – This is one must have essential oil to have at home. Lavender is used for medicinal and home care purposes. It is one of the most versatile essential oils you can get. Therapeutically, lavender can be applied to alleviate skin rashes, acne, insect bites, minor burns. It is also an effective disinfectant for cuts and scrapes. Lavender essential oil in a bath can be used to soothe frayed nerves and help you get a good night’s sleep. It can also relieve you from headaches and also as a deodorant. A few drops can help alleviate sinus issues and respiratory infections when steam inhaled. At home, sachets of dried lavender with some extra oils can keep moths away, and adding a few drops to your laundry can oust odors from stinky socks and sweaty gym clothes. You can also add lavender oil to wash your floor in order to freshen up your living space.
- Tea Tree – One of the most beneficial and useful essential oils to have at home, tea tree is an essential oil with a good cause. It is often called a medicine cabinet in a bottle because it can be used to treat almost any common ailment. You can use it to treat Athlete’s foot, dermatitis/eczema, acne, cold sores, nail fungus, warts, and insect bites. You can add a few drops of tea tree oil to alleviate dandruff, psoriasis, and lice as well. You can add a teaspoon of tea tree oil in water to create a disinfectant spray for counter tops, door handles. Tea tree oil can be used around your pet’s bed basket, it keeps fleas at bay.
- Lemon – Mostly appreciated for its home use, the lemon essential oil has more applications than most other oils have. A few drops of lemon essential oil added to olive oil makes a furniture polish. You can also add lemon to dish detergent, homemade laundry soap, floor cleaners, and spray cleaners. Lemon essential oil has therapeutic uses such as a couple of drops in a glass of water and uses it to gargle helps to relieve bad breath, a few drops added to shampoo can alleviate dandruff. Lemon essential oil can be added to a bath or diffuser to help in coping with anxiety. It also acts as an anti-microbial hand sanitizer. Wait for at least 12 hours before exposing a lemon-daubed skin to sunshine as it makes your skin photosensitive.
- Peppermint – You might have used peppermint to alleviate yourself from nausea or an upset stomach, but it has more uses. Massage your abdomen with a carrier oil that has a few drops of peppermint essential oil added to relieve stomach cramps and queasiness. If your pet or yourself has a tick under your skin, a drop or two of undiluted peppermint essential oil will draw the insect out. Blend peppermint, pine, and eucalyptus in a carrier oil and apply it to the chest and throat to calm coughing fits. It also helps in bronchial congestion. Peppermint is also a great foot soak to soothe tired and overheated feet. In your home, spray undiluted peppermint oil into stinky shoes and boots to eliminate odors. Add a teaspoon of essential oil to the floor-washing water to add a fresh scent. Peppermint oil has antibacterial properties as well as it can be used around cracks in walls that will prevent rodents and spiders as they can’t stand the scent of it.
- Eucalyptus – Hailed from Australia, this essential oil is easily recognizable by its scent. Eucalyptus essential oil is great in alleviating chest congestion and it also helps in easing in asthma attacks when spread on the throat and chest. Eucalyptus essential oil helps in the pain of fibromyalgia if rubbed into the affected area a few times a day. If your skin is affected by shingles a few drops added to a compress will do the job. Eucalyptus can be used as a disinfectant spray which is ideal for kitchen and bathroom. You can diffuse the oil in your bathroom to eliminate germs and odors.
- Clove – Been in use for centuries, clove is one of the best treatments available for toothaches, gum disease, cold sores, and canker sores. It should not be used on super-sensitive skin and should always be diluted when in use. Use the diluted oil for Athlete’s foot, prickly heat rash, wounds and cuts, fungal infections, insect bites or stings, bruises, and earaches. For your home, diffuse clove oil in bedrooms to repel mosquitoes. Add a few drops to baking soda to sprinkle over carpets before vacuuming to get rid of fleas.
