There are many wonderful stories about essential oils and how they can be used in skincare, health, and even household cleaning. Although they are versatile and natural, it is important people understand how to correctly use them. If used in the wrong way, you could encounter some severe side effects. There are also some essential oils that are toxic to pets, so should not be used when you have four-legged friends at home. As a skincare choice, we are looking into whether essential oils are the right choice for all women.
A Rich History
Essential oils fall into the category of alternative medicine. That is to say; when they are used as a health or beauty treatment, they are not endorsed by medical professionals. Some people may say they are used as old wives’ tales, but these remedies have many anecdotal recommendations and can be used quite safely as long as you understand the properties. Essential oil is made from a plant or flower and distilled to extract the scent. Lavender oil is one that you may have heard of or tea tree oil or even the more pungent eucalyptus which is often found in products like vapour rub. Such oils will turn to vapour at a relatively low temperature, which makes them a popular choice for oil burners. They blend well with carrier oils, but not so well with water. They certainly helped create some beautiful aromas around a house, and there are some remedies that when burned in an oil burner apparently clean the air because they are antibacterial and antiseptic.
Essential Oils for Skin
It is often these such properties, the antibacterial and antiviral nature of specific essential oils that makes them so attractive to be used in skincare. For example, you can use essential oils for eczema if you have one. There are plenty of essential oil-based face creams and washes specifically to target the problem of spots, for example. Generally, essential oils are never applied neatly, unless told otherwise you should always be using essential oils once it has been mixed into a moisturiser or carrier oil. One thing you must never do is ingest essential oils internally, they are not for drinking, and you can be seriously ill if you end up swallowing some. You can use neat essential oils dripped onto a tissue and inhaled, and in this case, you can often get relief from things like headaches and blocked noses. They are also purported to be able to calm people down and, on a tissue, offered at times when the person is under a lot of stress, for example, at an exam. Putting them in an oil burner and on a tissue has much the same effect, although it could be argued that the tissue will be more potent and therefore work faster as it is directly under the person’s nose.
Essential oils for Female Health
Another use of essential oils when they are blended is to assist with common female problems like premenstrual tension and period cramps. The oil can be massaged in a clockwise direction on the stomach once it has been premixed with a carrier oil. You will also find essential oil like lavender used in microwave wheat packs that can offer a gentle heat much like a hot water bottle with the added bonus of the aroma being able to soothe and lavender in particular encouraging sleep. You may well also find if you have a massage that the massage oil contains relaxing essential oils such as Ylang Ylang and Jojoba. If you find yourself battling a cold and have a particularly congested nasal passage, you will find that essential oils such as tea tree, eucalyptus, and Wintergreen may offer some relief when dabbed on a tissue and inhaled or massaged into the chest. Both tea tree and eucalyptus have antibacterial properties. Again, providing you follow the safety warnings on the bottle, you should have no problem when it comes to using essential oils. Obviously, if you have an allergy to any possible ingredients, you need to use extreme caution. And there are some oils that are not suitable for people to use who have high blood pressure or hypertension as it can actually exacerbate the condition and make it worse.
Over the last few years, the industry has gained an increased following and popularity, which does mean that unscrupulous people have snuck in and sold low grade or impostor oils rather than actual quality products. It is therefore important you do your research and try and buy from one of the recommended and endorsed brands. A final warning, you must not use essential oils if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you wish to use any in labour for massage or other function, it is vital to check the safety of this with your medical professional team.