I think the internet is saturated or over-saturated with information about essential oils. Too much information makes it impossible to understand which oils to use. More often than not, people tout so many benefits; that essential oil begins to sound like snake oil instead! To break through the noise here is a quick and easy guide that lists which essential oils need to be essential in your home.
Just like peppermint, mint is a vasodilator that opens up blood flow and prevents constriction – which is perfect for when a headache strikes. A few dabs of oil with a cotton ball is okay, but using a rolling ball dispenser is the best way to apply the perfect amount of essential oil. To get quick, cool, and refreshing relief, rub the roller on the back of your neck, up to where your neck meets your head.
Feel like the piles of stress and paperwork are too much? Take a whiff of frankincense! Though there are many mood-regulating scents (chamomile, lavender, etc), frankincense takes the cake for combatting cortisol-related stress. Frankincense has a specific compound called incensole acetate that has proven antidepressant properties. To get the full benefits of frankincense, use a diffuser with just a few drops of the oil into water, and you’ll be calming down in no time.
Ginger supplements have been shown to reduce joint pain and alleviate arthritis symptoms, but what about ginger essential oil? Yep! Ginger oil has similar pain-busting properties! Mix one drop of oil into your normal body lotion and rub it into the achy spot, studies have shown this application works like fancy topical pain creams you’d find in the pharmacy.
Is your tooth throbbing, but you can’t get to the dentist anytime soon? Clove oil is to your rescue! This oil can be used topically on the surface to relieve tooth pain, simply dilute several drops of clove oil into coconut oil and rub it into your gums, it’s the perfect stopgap until you can get your tooth checked out.
Clove oil isn’t the only essential oil to mix with coconut oil, try making a mix of lavender essential oil and coconut oil. A blend of lavender and coconut works like aloe or chamomile and can heal and soothe burned skin. Just be sure not to use lavender oil, or else it’ll burn your skin more — a mere one to two drops is plenty!