Essential oils have been used since 4500 BC for many different purposes, most commonly in Egyptian society. The most common uses for these oils were in fragrant oils for incense, as medicine, and for massage, skincare and cosmetics.
Recently, aromatherapy with the use of essential oils has become a modern craze. Massage therapists use them in their sessions, many businesses use EO diffusers in lobbies as a fragrant refresher, and many people have EO diffusers at home. This is enough to make many people wonder: ‘What exactly are essential oils?’
An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing different chemical compounds from the extracted plant parts. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils or ethereal oils. In simpler terms, they are the oily, fragrant extract of the plant. EOs have often been found to contain different types of minerals, terpenes, and other natural chemical compounds. In addition, each oil has a vibrational frequency like all living animals and plants.
In modern day use, many people feel great benefits from using essential oils in diffusers or topically. Diffusing is a great way to fill a room with fragrant aroma, which can have some beneficial effects on mental and physical health. One of the most common desired effects is to refresh and energize the mind and body. Luckily, there are many single oils and some specific blends that can leave one with such a feeling.
Refreshing Oils
Citrus oils are the most popular oils used to energize the body and refresh the mind. The most common terpenes in citrus oils are limonene, pinene, terpinene, and cymene. These tend to be cleansing, and have a stimulating and enhancing effect on mood and cognitive health.
Mint oils tend to have the terpenes menthol, menthone, menthofuran, and isomenthone, which have been found to help diminish the increase in mental fatigue associated with extended cognitive task performance in healthy adults.
Some of the other best choices of essential oils to consider when wanting to revitalize the mind include the following:
- Peppermint
- Spearmint
- Rosemary
- Eucalyptus
- Sandalwood
Aromatic Blends
Oil blends tend to be effective because of their harmonious compounded effects of the various aromatic compounds they contain. Aromatic blends are usually formulated by professional chemists in order for the different ingredients to work together to achieve the best desired benefit.
It is best to opt for oil blends made by a professional because the order they are added and the amount of each one will determine the effectiveness of the final product. The frequency of each oil may also be taken into consideration in order to produce a potent harmonious mix.
Buy With Caution
Unfortunately, it is common practice for manufacturers to use synthetic compounds in place of plant extracts, which may have some benefits but not nearly as much as the natural plant extract. It is often those synthetic compounds that cause allergic reactions in humans and animals.
There are ways to steam distill oils at home, however, it is a lengthy and tedious process that doesn’t give much for the large amounts of plant material needed. Cold distilling is the most effective way to keep the nutrients and other natural compounds intact, but it requires expensive lab equipment to do so. That makes purchasing from a company the most convenient way to obtain pure essential oils. Some caution when doing so will only benefit you. It is highly recommended to do a decent amount of research into the manufacturer or vendor that you intend to purchase from.
Another thing to watch out for when shopping for essential oils are the so-called MLM companies. There are numerous brands out there that engage in questionable marketing tactics, promote false information and unproven medical claims, and push overpriced products, which unfortunately attract many simple buyers who know very little or even nothing about essential oils. Don’t be the next victim of such scams, be a smart buyer and do your due diligence.
Piran is the bestselling author of the Zobuz, TheHearus and other well known Blogs. Her books have sold hundred of copies and are published in different languages.
