Essential oils date as far back as the birth of Christ. Frankincense was one of the gifts the Wise Men were said to have carried with them to Bethlehem. Although essential oils have been used by many cultures for therapeutic and medicinal effects, they’ve only recently become popular in the United States. Since their rise to popularity, you may be wondering what essential oils even are, what they consist of, and if they really work. If you are curious about essential oils, you can have your questions answered here.
Q and A:
Question: What are essential oils?
Answer: Essential oils are 100 percent natural plant oils with no added chemicals. They are distilled from the flowers, leaves, stems, roots, or bark of the plant using water or steam. Other processes of extracting the natural oils from the plant include cold pressing, resin tapping, solvent extraction, absolute oil extraction, and expression, all of which produce a highly concentrated version of the fragrant and healing properties of the plant. Essential oils are used in:
- Soap
- Cosmetics
- Perfume
- To flavor foods and beverages
- Incense
- Household cleaning products
- Lotions
Question: Do they really work?
Answer: One example of essential oils being used in a commercial medical product is Vicks VapoRub. Vicks is a combination of essential oils suspended in petroleum jelly, although the company does not specify whether the oils are naturally or synthetically produced.
Each plant has its own fragrance and medicinal properties. Certain essential oils have been shown to have antiseptic properties against drug-resistant bacteria and can be used to aid antibiotics. Many are believed to help relieve anxiety and depression and have an uplifting effect on your moods. The most common therapeutic application is to achieve the healing effects of the oils by breathing in their fragrances via aromatherapy. Other therapeutic uses include, but are not limited to:
- Lavender: Known to induce sleep, help to alleviate stress, anxiety, irritability, mental fatigue, panic attacks, depression, and can be used to treat bruises and stretch marks.
- Peppermint: Known to help relieve nausea, headaches, vertigo, and exhaustion.
- Frankincense: Helps stimulate the immune system, relieves coughing, and reduces symptoms of asthma and bronchitis.
Learn More
You can learn more about essential oils here at Urban Vybe by taking our Back to Balance Essential Oils Class. Learn about the many benefits essential oils have to offer and receive free oils! Check our studio flyer for specific class topics.
About Urban Vybe of Flower Mound, TX
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