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• Method 1 of 2: Using essential oils as a natural medicine
• Method 2 of 2: Using essential oils at home
• Warnings

Essential oils are pure distilled substances extracted from fruits, skins, twigs, leaves or flowers. They are used in aromatherapy for emotional and physical well-being. Essential oils have numerous uses and can be applied, inhaled, or ingested in a variety of ways. The most commonly used applications and methods are described below.

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Method 1 of 2: Using essential oils as a natural medicine

1. To relieve headaches. Essential oils can relieve mild headaches. You can mix a few drops of the essential oil of your choice with a base oil, such as jojoba or sweet almond, and rub this mixture on your forehead, temples, and neck. Massage the oil into your skin with gentle circular motions, while inhaling deeply. The best essential oils for headaches include:
   • Lavender oil has an anti-inflammatory and calming effect. This is a good oil to relieve headaches that come on in the evening and at night.
   • Peppermint oil contains a significant amount of menthol, which is known to relieve headaches and muscle pain. Peppermint oil has a stimulating effect, so keep in mind that it is better to use it during the day than at night.
   • Eucalyptus oil is anti-inflammatory and expectorant, making it a good choice for relieving a headache from a cold.
2. With acne. Essential oils can be an effective acne treatment and are a good alternative to the harsh chemicals found in many anti-acne creams and prescription medications. The most common essential oil used in acne treatments is without a doubt tea tree oil. According to the medical journal Medical Journal of Australia, tea tree oil is just as effective as benzoyl peroxide (a common ingredient in anti-acne creams) in treating acne.
   • You can apply tea tree oil directly to the skin with a cotton swab or cotton ball, or you can combine the oil with a few drops of honey or aloe vera for a gentler treatment of blemishes.
   • If daily use of tea tree oil is too intense for your skin, you can alternate it every other day with a different oil. Geranium oil is a good choice because this oil has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. Other options include vetiver, cedar, German or Roman chamomile, patchouli, eucalyptus radiata, rosewood, or orange.
   • Other essential oils that help against acne are clove oil (to treat infected blemishes) and lavender oil (to prevent acne scars).
3. For insomnia. Essential oils do not cure insomnia or its cause, but using calming and soothing essential oils before going to sleep can help you fall asleep faster and continue sleeping until the alarm rings. Three of the best essential oils to help with insomnia are lavender (for relaxation), Roman chamomile (a natural sedative), and sage (an anesthetic).
   • Sprinkle a few drops of the oil of your choice on your pillow or on a cotton ball that you place in the pillowcase.
   • You can also take a bath with a few drops of the oil before going to sleep. Or give your legs and feet a massage with the oil before going to sleep.
   • Some essential oils, such as rosemary, cypress, grapefruit, lemon and peppermint, can be stimulating and uplifting, so you shouldn't use them before going to sleep.
4. To reduce tension. Essential oils are probably the most used for stress relief and relaxation, which is good for our emotional well-being. Essential oils have been scientifically proven to have a positive effect on our emotions, because the olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity communicate with the limbic system in the brain, which provides emotions, memory and sexual arousal. The top five essential oils that are very effective for stress relief:
   • Lavender, with a calming, earthy and sweet floral scent, is loved worldwide for its relaxing and balancing effect on both a physical and emotional level.
   • Frankincense essential oil has a soothing, warm and exotic scent and is mainly used for its relaxing properties.
   • Rose oil is often used against stress and also helps against depression and sadness.
   • Chamomile essential oil, especially the Roman variety, tackles stress caused by mental turmoil and also helps with paranoia and hostile feelings.
   • Chamomile essential oil is known for its therapeutic effect. Many people perceive vanilla as a soothing scent, and some aromatherapists argue that it is because vanilla oil is the closest to the scent of breast milk. Vanilla provides tranquility and promotes mental clarity.
5. When snoring. Essential oils can help with snoring. The most commonly used oil for snoring is thyme essential oil, which is applied at the beginning of the big toe. Traditional reflexology tables describe this spot as the reflex of the neck. Many snorers (and their partners) have reported success with this method. Other oils that can be used in place of thyme oil are cedarwood oil and marjoram oil.
   • You can use a plant sprayer to spray essential oils on your pillows and sheets to prevent snoring. Try a mix of 50 drops of geranium oil, 50 drops of lavender oil, 50 drops of marjoram oil, 20 drops of cedarwood oil, 15 drops of eucalyptus oil, and 15 drops of sweet basil oil. Add half a cup of clean water and shake the spray bottle to mix well.
6. As a pesticide against insects. Many store-bought insect repellants are full of harsh synthetic chemicals, which smell unpleasant and can irritate the skin. Essential oils are a great (and nice smelling) alternative to keep bugs away. The oils can be mixed with a base oil and applied directly to the skin, or you can put the oils in a spray bottle or burner in front of an open window. Some oils are very effective against insects:
   • Geranium repels mosquitoes. Put a few drops in a spray bottle or mix them with almond oil and rub the oil into the skin.
   • Lavender repels moths. Put a few drops on a cotton ball and put it in the wardrobe. This also works well against bee and wasp stings.
   • Polei repels fleas on cats and dogs. Put a few drops on the animal's collar and let it dry before putting it back on.
   • Cedarwood repels rats and insects. Put cotton balls with 2-3 drops of cedarwood oil on the problem areas or put it in a spray bottle.
   • Other insect repellent oils include lemon, camphor, patchouli, rosewood, eucalyptus, and Atlas cedar.
7. For earache. Essential oils can help naturally heal ear infections and relieve ear pain, eliminating the need to resort to antibiotics in most cases. The oil should not get into the ear, but is applied on the neck and behind the affected ear.
   • Tea tree essential oil, also known as melaleuca, is one of the best oils to relieve ear pain. Apply two drops behind the painful ear and massage gently. For small children, it is better to dissolve the oil in a tablespoon of coconut oil or almond oil first.
   • Other essential oils used to treat earaches are eucalyptus oil to open the eustachian tube, rosemary oil to fight infection and lavender oil to relieve pain. The oils should only be used externally, not in the ear itself.
8. For dizziness. Essential oils can relieve symptoms of vertigo. Peppermint is often hailed as the most effective essential oil to treat vertigo. It is often used for nausea and dizziness because it contains menthol, menthyl esters and menthone, ingredients that provide a cool and refreshing effect. Put a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball or handkerchief and breathe it in when the dizziness sets in. Other oils that help with vertigo:
   • Cedarwood Oil: Cedar has a fresh woody scent. This oil helps to stimulate blood and oxygen circulation to the brain and also helps open the airways, reducing dizziness.
   • Basil Oil: Basil oil is often used as a traditional aromatherapy treatment for dizziness. Inhaling steam with the slight sweet scent of basil can help reduce symptoms by taking away the feeling of spinning.
   • Sage: Sage oil can reduce the symptoms of dizziness caused by anxiety by calming your nerves.
   • Myrtle: Like sage essential oil, myrtle oil also has nerve-calming properties that help balance when the dizzy spells begin. Myrtle oil stabilizes the nervous system and is therefore used in the treatment of vertigo and other similar conditions.
9. To relieve sunburn. Certain essential oils have been used to treat sunburn for thousands of years because of their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The best oils to treat sunburn are lavender, strawflower, rose, and Australian blue oil (a mixture of a number of different essential oils). The most effective way to apply essential oils is to mix them with a little aloe vera gel (from the plant) and spread it on the burned area.
   • You can also make your own sunburn relief spray by mixing the following ingredients together:
     • 1 cup + 1 tbsp aloe vera juice
     • 1/4 cup of coconut oil
     • 1 tsp vitamin E.
     • 8 drops of lavender essential oil
     • 8 drops of tea tree essential oil
     • 8 drops of Roman chamomile essential oil
   • Mix all ingredients together in a spray bottle and shake well.
10. To care for minor injuries. Lavender can be used in the treatment of minor wounds, such as cuts or insect bites, thanks to its antibacterial effect. Other useful oils include tea tree to fight infection, straw flower to stop bleeding, rosa melrose to promote healing, and geranium to combat scarring.
    • Apply the oils 2 to 5 times a day, diluted as needed. After you apply them, you can keep a cold compress on the wound to prevent bleeding and swelling and to allow the oils to work.
11. With stomach complaints. You've probably heard that peppermint tea can relieve stomach pain. For example, a few drops of peppermint essential oil can help with nausea and digestive problems. Rub a few drops of the oil on your stomach to relieve stomach pain.
    • Other oils that can help with this include ginger, nutmeg, and spearmint essential oils.
    • You can help relieve the pain and discomfort by holding a warm compress against your stomach after applying the oils.
12. With sinus inflammation. Eucalyptus oil can help relieve sinus symptoms. Eucalyptus oil opens the sinuses and provides oxygen-rich molecules that aid in detoxification. You can mix the oil with a base oil and rub it under your nose and on your chest. However, if you are most bothered at night, put a spray of eucalyptus oil in the bedroom so that you can continue the treatment while you sleep.
13. With excessive sweating. Sage is known for stimulating the body's metabolism and glandular function. Sage used to be widely used to treat people who suffered from night sweats. Sage still has a good reputation for tackling excessive sweating. The reason why sage is effective is that its ingredients have a normalizing effect on both the sweat glands and the nervous system.
    • Take a vegetable capsule, add 7 to 10 drops of sage essential oil and fill the rest with base oil, such as olive oil. Swallow the capsule with some food.
14. With a cold sore. You can't get rid of the cold sore virus, but the symptoms can be treated effectively with essential oils if you use them as soon as the cold sore appears.
    • Any oils that have antibacterial or antiviral properties help treat cold sores, but the most commonly used oils are tea tree oil, bergamot oil, and geranium oil.
    • Put a drop of an essential oil of your choice on a cotton ball soaked in water and apply it to the affected area. Repeat this treatment 3 or 4 times a day.

Method 2 of 2: Using essential oils at home

1. Buy good quality essential oils. It is important to obtain information before purchasing essential oils. There are many poor quality or counterfeit essential oils offered in stores and online. These oils can irritate your skin or simply not work for the purpose you bought them for. Look for therapeutic grade essential oils from licensed suppliers.
   • The label must include 100% essential oil and the botanical name must be listed under the common name. For example, clove essential oil should read "Syzygium aromaticum" on the label.
   • Beware of names like "fragrance oil", "perfume oil" or "natural oil".
   • The price can also give an indication of when to buy essential oils, as they are not cheap. The more difficult it is to extract oil, the more the essential oil costs.
2. Put the oil in a spray bottle. Put a few teaspoons of water in the bowl at the top of the atomizer. Light the candle at the bottom of the atomizer and then sprinkle a few drops of an essential oil of your choice over the water. The scent of the oil will sweep through the room.
3. Pour a few drops of essential oil into candle wax. Light a candle and wait two minutes for some wax to melt. Blow out the candle and pour a few drops of the essential oil into the melted wax. Then carefully light the candle again. Be careful not to get any oil on the wick as essential oils are highly flammable.
4. Drizzle a few drops of the oil in a bowl of water. Fill a small bowl or deep plate with boiling water and add a few drops of the essential oil. The steam will spread the scent of the oil throughout the room.
5. Use essential oils in room fresheners. Fill a small spray bottle with water and add ten drops of an essential oil of your choice. Spray this room freshener around the room and on furniture and sheets, but avoid waxed surfaces.
6. Drizzle essential oil on pillows and pillows. Drizzle two drops of essential oil on living room pillows and bedroom pillows. You can then enjoy the essential oils every time you sit or lie down. You can also sprinkle a few drops on cotton balls and put them in the pillowcases.
7. Add essential oils to incense sticks or bundles. Add three drops of essential oil to incense sticks or bundles. Use them in the normal way.
8. Use essential oils with an aromatic massage. Essential oils can be used in a relaxing or therapeutic massage. Add a few drops of an essential oil to a base oil such as jojoba oil, coconut oil or almond oil and gently rub it into the skin.
9. Add essential oils to unscented products. Add a few drops of essential oil to odorless lotions, soaps and bath soaps to enjoy the scent of the favorite oil in your daily routine.
10. In Bath. You can sprinkle a few drops of the essential oil in a bathtub full of warm water before stepping in. In this way you benefit both by inhaling the scent in the form of steam and by absorbing the oil through the skin of the essential oils.
    • Essential oils are not water soluble, so you must first dissolve the selected oil before adding them to the bath water. You can use whole milk or bath salts for this.
11. Use essential oils in a compress. Dissolve an essential oil of your choice in water and use this solution to dip a cloth into it to use as a compress on your forehead or other areas. The compress can be cold or warm, depending on the purpose for which you are using it.
12. Mix different essential oils together. Different essential oils can be mixed together to create a unique fragrance or to combine the therapeutic properties of certain oils. Before mixing, it is important that you understand how essential oils work in general, as well as the specific properties and aroma profile of the oils you intend to use.
    • Essential oils can be classified into different groups according to their fragrance, for example floral, woodsy, earthy, spicy, medicinal, etc.
    • Oils from certain groups mix well with each other. Oils generally blend well with other oils from the same fragrance group, but floral scents also blend well with spicy and woodsy oils, minty oils combine well with citrus and earthy oils, and woodsy oils generally blend well with all other categories.

Warnings

• Be careful when using atomizers, candles, matches, and lighters.
• Be careful when you come into contact with essential oils as they are highly flammable and can damage your skin.
• Some oils should not be ingested because they are deadly poisonous, but they are harmless if used externally topically.
• Get professional advice from a pharmacist or one competent aromatherapist before using essential oils.