Do essential Oils work?

Do you often find yourself wondering if there’s something more natural that you can use to improve your overall wellbeing? Perhaps you’re beginning to re-think some of the mild medications and harsh chemical- based products that are sold everyday by big pharmaceutical companies?

Well, we did too – and upon reflection we discovered the beauty of essential oils and their purpose as an alternative, holistic medicine.

What exactly are essential oils?

Essential oils are a concentrated plant extract that retains the plants original smell, resulting in a potent ‘essence’. Each plant produces its own unique aromatic components and is obtained through distillation (steam or water) or mechanical cold pressing, followed sometimes by the inclusion of a carrier oil (jojoba oil, coconut oil, etc.). An important thing to note is the way the oils are made and what they’re blended with.

An easy way to identify if an essential oil is pure, is through its packaging or a ring test on a white paper. If there is a visible ring of residue on the paper once it has dried, it isn’t pure and has likely been blended with additional synthetics, fillers or additives. Often some companies will dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil or artificial substance to allow greater absorption into the skin, however that is unnecessary and often results in an oiler, greasier feel on the skin. A pure essential oil has been minimally altered during the entire extraction and blending process, resulting in a purer form. Now, how exactly do essential oils work?

Aromatherapy for Better Sleep:

Predominately used in aromatherapy to promote greater health and wellbeing, essential oils work through inhalation via different methods such as essential oil diffusers, or direct application to the skin. Through inhalation, it has been found that some essential oils can actively stimulate the limbic system of your brain where your emotions, behaviours and sense of smell reside (Rajmohan, V., & Mohandas, E., 2007).

Ever found yourself walking through a park, smelling a particular scent and being transported back to a distant memory?

That’s your limbic brain associating a certain scent with a memory that belongs within the unconscious mind. Generally speaking, many people who try essential oils claim that the simple scent can immediately generate a sense of calm and relaxation. This is due to the effect on brainwaves and how certain scents create positive behavioural reaction.

Other Uses for essential Oils:

Some scientific evidence has also concluded that essential oils can act as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent (Lis-Balchin, M., 1997). As pure essential oils are concentrated, we recommended you follow the instructions for each oil and only apply a few drops at a time. Essential oils are also used in massage blends, perfumes or in a warm bath.

Furthermore, you can minimise household cleaning products by using essential oils like lemon, tea tree or eucalyptus to concoct a DIY cleaning spray. Getting crafty at home can also mean using essential oils to make your own candles or homemade soaps.

See, essential oils don’t just heal your body and mind, they're also a diverse substitute for cleaning or craft supplies.

A jack of all trades really! Therefore, we’ve curated a list of our essential oil blends to help you decide which one works for you.

Our Top Essential Oils

Each of our essential oil blends are 100 percent pure and free from any extra additives or nasties. We also don't use any carrier oils. This means you get more bang for your buck by only having to use a few drops per use. We also recommend using them with an oil burner or essential oil diffuser to create a calming ambience throughout the house.

Here are some of our favorites;

Sleep Soundly Essential Oil Blend:

Our Sleep Soundly Essential Oils Blend includes many therapeutic properties to get the mind and body ready for sleep. The four essential oils included in this blend are Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Marjoram and Orange.

The key ingredient for sleep, is lavender. Proven to be a remedy for insomnia and stress, lavender oil improves sleep quality and assists in reducing mild anxiety. Studies show that lavender oil has a very positive effect on those with sleep disturbances (Lillehei, A., & Halcon, L., 2014).  A staple scent and favoured plant, lavender is the most popular essential oil especially for those that struggle to sleep.

Mindfulness Essential Oil Blend:

The Mindfulness Essential Oils Blend calms the mind and allows the body to become more present in the moment. It's a perfect way to compliment your mindfulness practice. Within this blend you will find Ylang Ylang, Pink Grapefruit, Amyris, Jasmine, Frankincense, Cedarwood and Cistus essential oils.

The key ingredient is the Ylang Ylang oil as research shows it boosts moods, reduce depression and alleviates anxiety. It also eases stress, while lowering your blood pressure and heart rate. Ylang Ylang contains a compound known for its antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties (Whelan, C., 2020).

Note: Ylang Ylang contains allergens. Caution is advised before use.

Want to know more about mindfulness and easy ways to begin practising? Click here to learn more.

Now that you know the facts, hopefully you can begin substituting harsh pharmaceutical drugs with nature’s own remedy. Whether you want to begin sleeping soundly, practise meditation or boost your wellbeing and immunity, we’ve found something for you. Click here to view our range.

Importance of Sleep:

You might now have understood how important sleep is for health. Sleep is not only important for proper hormone function but also for blood sugar regulation, cell regeneration, and much more. If you have sleep problems, essential oils can help you to wind down and attain the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

🌿 Essential oils have relaxing or sedative properties that act as natural sleep remedies and may help you get a good sleep.

🌿 Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that include the essence of scent or flavour. Inhaling or mixing essential oils with a carrier oil may provide some health benefits such as calming or relaxation, which may help a person to achieve a better night's sleep.

Sleep has been a hot topic for a long time now. People often use medications to get the seven to eight hours of recommended sleep.

Sleep essential oils, or just essential oils, are natural compounds that are extracted from plants and are becoming more popular among people facing such problems. It has healing and calming effects when used for aromatherapy. When essential oils enter your body, they affect your olfactory system and limbic system, causing the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, the hormone responsible for making you sleepy at night. Hence, you get a good sleep.

Precautions:

Essential oils don’t work for everyone and can cause reactions in rare instances. Please always seek and follow medical advice and do your own research on each individual product.

Reference

• Lillehei, A. S., & Halcon, L. L. (2014). A systematic review of the effect of inhaled essential oils on sleep. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York), 20 (6), 441–451. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2013.0311
• Lis-Balchin M. (1997). Essential oils and 'aromatherapy': their modern role in healing. Journal of the Royal Society of Health, 117 (5), 324–329. https://doi.org/10.1177/146642409711700511
• Nordqvist, J. (2018). The health benefits of eucalyptus. [online]. medicalnewstoday.com. Available at https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266580 [Accessed 13 August 2020].
• Rajmohan, V., & Mohandas, E. (2007). The limbic system. Indian journal of psychiatry, 49 (2), 132–139. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.33264
• >Whelan, C. (2020). About Ylang Ylang Essential Oil. [online]. Healthline.com. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/ylang-ylang [Accessed 12 August 2020].