From fighting inflammation and boosting immunity to thickening your hair - it seems there is an oil for everything. Essential oils, organic compounds that are extracted from a plant's bark, roots, leaves, stems, flowers, or blossoms, can be a powerful wellness solution for many.
But as with anything that becomes popular so quickly, it’s increasingly important to have a firm grip on how essential oils could benefit you, and how to spot the high-quality ones. First, let’s get you the rundown of some of the main benefits you can expect:
6 Main Benefits of Essential Oils
1. Targets Occasional, Temporary Discomfort
Many essential oils have the ability to nourish and nurture your body while releasing discomfort. For example, peppermint and menthol oils are cooling and comforting while eucalyptus oil is refreshing and energizing.
2. Inspires Feelings of Serenity & Relaxation
Essential oils can help to improve your mood and reduce symptoms of occasional or temporary discomfort and tension. For example, lavender oil promotes a sense of peace and clarity, bergamot oil elevates your mood, and chamomile oil promotes relaxation.
3. Revives & Refreshes
Essential oils, like rosemary oil and eucalyptus oil, have the ability to be uplifting and stimulating, helping you find greater daily balance, elevate your mood, promote positive energy, and help you to feel calm.
4. Promotes Calm
Some essential oils have relaxing properties, which can be helpful for people who have trouble unwinding and relaxing. Lavender oil, for its relaxing properties and chamomile oil, which promotes relaxation and calmness.
5. Boost Skin Health & Hydration
Essential oils can have a calming, hydrating effect. This can support irritated skin, reduce signs of aging, like age spots, improve acne, and even protect your skin from sun damage. For example, Argan Oil is rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids which hydrates the skin and safflower seed oil is deeply hydrating and packed with essential vitamins.
Seed to Seal: Who Can You Trust?
With the vast majority of essential oils on the market today being used in the food and perfume industry, quality standards for therapeutic essential oils have fallen by the wayside. To help you develop a discerning eye for who to trust, here are the top five questions to ask before you buy:
Are Business Practices Trustworthy?
It’s absolutely crucial you select your essential oils from a company you trust, and who is committed to transparency and quality. Find one that not only understands the nuances associated with growing, harvesting, and extraction but one who tests for the highest quality in each of their products.
Any Additional Oils or “Filler” Are Added?
Because it takes a lot of plants to produce some essential oils, companies can be quick to add other chemicals or fillers to offset the cost. Not surprisingly, cutting corners with carrier oils in production alters the quality and purity of the final product.
Safe for Human Consumption?
The secret to safety is found both on the farms where the plants are cultivated and harvested as well as in the production process. Consider the behind-the-scenes information of your essential oil of choice and check if at any stage of the growing, harvesting, extraction or production process if any pesticides or chemicals are used. Also make sure the oils are food grade, non-soy, GMO-free, cruelty-free, and have zero trans fats.
Do You Source From Indigenous Regions?
Plants grown in traditional or indigenous environments yield better results because the natural elements specific to that region promote a more therapeutic profile of the aromatic compounds produced by the plant.
Do You Test for Potency, Consistency, and Purity?
Find out what kind of batch testing is done to determine if the claimed compounds are present and that all impurities and pesticides are absent. Some of the fancy names for this kind of quality testing include gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and chirality testing.
Wherever you decide to purchase the tiny little bottles of oil themselves or find them included in other products and get the best of both worlds, it’s crucial that you feel confident you’re getting the best and most natural high-quality essential oils for you and your family.
Becoming an avid label reader will not only empower you on that journey, but it will help ensure that you’re spending your money on the products that will meet your wellness goals. Try adding quality essential oils to your personal wellbeing routine, it could make a world of difference, with every drop of oil packing an almighty wellness punch.
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