Why Essential Oils Matter, And How to Use Them

Why Essential Oils Matter, And How to Use Them

Today’s wellness spotlight is a guest post from our friends over at EO Products, who are breaking down the benefits of essential oils and providing a few tips for working them into your daily routine.

Our lives are a constantly moving and intimately connected experience these days. We are all doing, seeing, and hearing more than ever before. The combination of our busy lives and the steady stream of information we encounter every day can leave us tired, worried, and restless.

Essential oils are the vital extracts of plants, and we’ve evolved alongside each other for millennia. We respond to plants in subtle and implicit ways that make their effects seem magical at times. Our interconnectedness is undeniable.

Our sense of smell is directly linked to the limbic center of the brain, which is the part of our brains connected to emotion. When we smell something, we actually feel it before we even register what we’re smelling. This direct link to the emotive part of our brains allows essential oils to deliver their mood-enhancing benefits directly to the part of us that needs them.

Essential oils retain components of the plants they were extracted from such as terpenes, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, and other compounds that are able to interact with our bodies and minds in a synergistic way. When we breathe in an essential oil, we’re bringing the transformative power of nature into our bodies and minds.

Essential oils affect our moods: some wake us up, some make us happier, others calmer. Using them is as easy as breathing – just opening a bottle of essential oils (or using a body care product made with them) and taking a deep breath can have an effect on our mood instantly. Here’s a short list of feelings and the essential oils that can help lift and soothe your moods:

Stress: When life gets to you, try a little Lavender, Rose, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang, or Bergamot essential oil to calm your nerves and leave you feeling ready to take on the day.
Upset: Find your calm with Ylang Ylang, Lavender, Chamomile, Orange, or Geranium. All of these oils can help you get centered.
Tired: Can’t stay awake? Eucalyptus, Lemon, Basil, Peppermint, and Rosemary can all help perk you up.
Anxious: Mind racing? Breathe in a little Lavender, Rose, Bergamot, Geranium, Frankincense, or Elemi. These soothing oils can help you find your calm in the midst of the chaos.
Unfocused: Can’t seem to keep your mind on the moment? Try a little Cedarwood, Frankincense, Lemon, Rosemary, Peppermint, or Sandalwood to help you pay attention to the moment at hand.

Here are four easy ways to use aromatherapy every day:

In your body care! Choose products that are made with essential oils or add a few drops to an unscented body oil, lotion, or body wash to get the benefits of essential oils in your daily self-care rituals.
A couple of drops on your shower floor is a wonderful way to start the day, the hot water helps turn the essential oils into a steamy world of relaxation.
Diffusers are a great way to get the benefits of essential oils, just add a few drops to your diffuser and fill any room with mood-enhancing benefits of essential oils.
Put a few drops on a cotton ball and keep it on your desk, in the cup holder of your car, or wherever you need a little boost.

A huge thank you to our friends at EO Products for today’s guest post!