By: Vesna Tomašević

How to select essential oil according to your needs

Prati nas i na društvenim mrežama!

Aromatherapeutic or essential oils make the aromatic essence of the plant.

These highly concentrated oils are the basis of the aromatherapy which is founded on a fact that essential oils have many healing properties.

When selecting essential oils, it is important to take their effect on you, its quality and price into the consideration. 

Sometimes it is hard to separate the oil from the plant and such oils are less available on the market and have a higher price.

Essential oil selection

Not all essential oils have the same quality. Some are mixed with synthetic compounds or are made of several different oils in order to achieve a certain scent.

There are three ways of essential oil production.

First, the most common one, is steam distillation. Industrial essential oils are made by distillation at high temperature and high pressure. 

Due to that, they have weak or no healing effects at all (although they can have a pleasant scent). In many so-called aromatherapeutic products we find industrial or synthetic essential oils, since those are the cheapest ones. 

The second way is distillation at low temperature and low pressure. This way, the most quality essential oils are produced (Primavera Life, Pranarom, Oshadi).  

This way hundreds of natural healing components are kept in essential oils. Their presence also makes essential oil scent milder and their true aroma preserved. 

The third way is cold pressing. This way, essential oils are separated from the fruit’s peel. 

The most famous examples are citrus fruits. In this way of production it is important to perform the process under low temperature and pressure in order to preserve valuable therapeutic compounds. 

Croatian market is dominated by a low-quality synthetic oils. That is why you should always strive to purchase essential oils from noted suppliers or at least check information on the label.

If you notice that Latin name is not included on the label, do not buy that oil.

For example, there are many types of lavender and each of them has a different Latin name. But only a handful of them contain essential oils with beneficent therapeutic effect. 

If you do not like the scent of certain oil, do not buy it since you will not use it if you do not like it.

If you cannot decide, use your own intuition when making the final choice.  Your intuition is one of the most valuable guidelines when making a choice of any kind.

The most popular essential oils

Today, we can find an abundance of essential oils on the market. Each of those has specific healing properties. It is important to know how to choose the best one for you. 

From a wide "arsenal" of essential oils we will mention only ten essential oils that are used most often.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus or Eucalyptus radiata) - helps with respiratory problem treatment, such as asthma, cough and the common cold. It is effective for strengthening the immune system and for relieving muscle tensions.

Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) – natural anti-fungi oil good for treating all kinds of fungal infections, including vaginal and groin infections and infections around feet areas. It successfully helps with immune strengthening. 

Lavander (Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula vera) – good for wound and burn treatment and skin care. It offers the unique relaxing effect.

Mint (Mentha piperita) – used for treating headache, muscle pains, digestive problems such as slow digestion, constipation or bloating.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) – enhances the mood and immune state and is a mental stimulus. Helps with alleviating pains in the muscles and enhances digestion.

Lemon (Citrus limon) – enhances the mood and relaxes at the same time. It is also used for wound and infection treatments. Furthermore, it is a great air freshener. 

Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) – can alleviate muscle tensions and has a relaxing effect. It is an excellent antidepressant.

Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) – very relaxing oil that can help with anxiety and insomnia. It is useful against muscle pains and tension. It can also be used for treating wounds and infections. 

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) – helps to balance women hormones and is useful for the skin. It has relaxing effect and contributes to mood enhancement. It is one of the best natural antidepressants. 

Muscat sage (Salvia sclarea) – a natural remedy for alleviating pain. It has a very relaxing effect and can help with insomnia. It is also effective in hormone balancing.

Application

Essential oils can be used in three basic ways – applied directly on the skin, by inhaling or by swallowing.

Each of these methods has several applications. Essential oils can be applied locally via wraps, sprays, and baths or by rubbing them into the skin.

The application depends on desired effect you seek to accomplish and selected essential oil. For example, some essential oils irritate the skin due to their chemical content. 

Such oils should be additionally diluted or used via inhalation. The application also depends on what we want to treat and desired effect we wish to achieve. 

For example, wound care or fungal infection treatment often includes local application. Mood effects can be achieved by inhalation or local application.

Inhalation is a much better choice if you need quick effects. 

Essential oil baths include inhalation and classic local application.

Safety measures

Aromatherapy has many benefits, but there are several safety measures to be taken while handling essential oils.

We give you a few advices:

1. Use only recommended quantities. If you suspect you have used excessive amounts of oil, drink a lot of water and breathe fresh air deeply.
2. Keep essential oils out of the reach of children, because they could try to swallow essential oils due to their pleasant aroma.
3. Read warning on the packaging. Some of them are not to be combined with medicines and alcohol.
4. Keep essential oils away from your eyes. If essential oils come into the contact with your eye, wash it with a large amount of water and contact your doctor. 

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