Essential Oils: What They Are, And How To Use Them
By Isabella Scala
Lately, essential oils have been popping up all over the place - ads on Instagram, influencer’s blogs, and even along the isles of your local pharmacy. If you’re someone who is unfamiliar with essential oils or the benefits associated with using them, have no fear! Here is a handy guide to what essential oils are, what benefits are associated with using them, and how to incorporate them into your life here at school.
What are essential oils?
According to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, essential oils are defined as, “a product made by distillation, with either water or steam or by mechanical processing of citrus rinds or by dry distillation of natural materials”. These products are made from plants found in nature and the act of distillation is thought to, “...be processes of removing the spirit from the plant”, which produces an oil that contains the aroma of said plant. In nature, these plants used their unique odors to turn away prey, act as an attraction for pollinators, and protect the plant from diseases, but in oil format, these scents are used in a holistic way to treat a variety of common illnesses. This treatment is called “aromatherapy”.
How do people use essential oils?
Essential oils are used in a variety of ways to combat life’s everyday issues, and each oil has a unique purpose. Below are some of the more commonly used essential oils and what they are used for:
Lavender: used to treat anxiety, calming
Lemon: antioxidant, increases energy, anti-stress, uplifting, enhances the immune system
Peppermint: relieves nausea, headaches and migraines, energizing
Orange: calming (used like lavender)
Eucalyptus: decongestant (great for the upcoming flu season!), energizing, clearing the mind
Clary Sage: used for relaxation and the treatment of menstrual cramps, relieves anxiety/stress
Rose: nourishing the emotions, relieves stress and anxiety, treats symptoms of PMS
How you use these oils is entirely up to you! My personal favorites are lavender, lemon, and peppermint because they are most useful for relieving stress and providing me with the energy I need to go about my day.
How do I incorporate essential oils into my everyday life?
So, now you’ve seen that incorporating essential oils have great benefits for your everyday life, especially as exam and flu season is upon us in just a few short weeks. So how do you use these oils in your dorm room?
Personally, I have a small oil diffuser for my room. These, in my opinion, work incredibly well because they use a small metal plate to heat the oil so that its scent permeates your entire room, which provides you with a sense of relaxation. The best part about oil diffusers is that you don’t have to break your bank to get a good one! My oil diffuser for my room is actually from 5 Below and works great, and there are many cheap cute options on Amazon as well. Just remember to check university rules and guidelines for having diffusers like these in your room.
Another option for using essential oils is to get an oil stick. Sold at stores like CVS, these oil sticks have a rollie-ball applicator that you can use to rub the oil on your forehead, the insides of your wrists, or wherever else you choose to apply the oil. Specifically, rubbing the essential oil on your temples with the oil stick is a surefire way to get the effect of the oils faster. For headaches, I rub a few drops of peppermint oil on the temples of my forehead, and this helps reduce the effects of my headache!
Finally, if you just need a quick pick-me-up in the middle of your week, you can simply put a few drops of your preferred essential oil in your hands, rub your hands together, and inhale the scent. By cupping your palms around your nose and allowing yourself to inhale for about 3 seconds, you can quickly achieve the calming, stress-reducing, or energizing effects of the oils on the go. You can keep an oil in your purse for in-between classes as well!
Essential oils are a great natural way to relieve some of the stresses associated with a busy college schedule, and they work wonders for people who use them regularly. By incorporating the use of essential oils into your daily routine, you might find yourself less stressed out and more productive as your year goes on. Enjoy your aromatherapy!
https://naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/most-common-base-oils-used-in-aromatherapy/
