Essential oils are substances that are derived from plants. The oils capture the fragrance and flavour of the plant, or “essence.” Special aromatic compounds give each essential oil its characteristic essence. Essential oils are obtained by distillation (through steam and/or water) or through mechanical means, such as cold pressing. After the aromatic chemicals have been extracted, they are mixed with the carrier oil to produce a ready-to-use product.
Each oil has great mental, physical and emotional health benefits. Essential oils are used for various reasons, such as detoxification, anti-viral therapy, anti-depressant, anti-bacterial and many more. Essential oils have often been used initially for medical purposes, but now they are also being used slowly in everyday life. With the ever-increasing cost of medical bills, using a few essential oils in everyday life will help prevent or treat illnesses in a cost-effective and natural way.

Here are 5 commonly used essential oils and their benefits:

  • Tea Tree Oil: The essential oil of the tea tree is derived from the Melaleuca alternifolia leaves, also known as the tea tree. This tree is located in Australia and has been used by the Aborigines for medicine for centuries. Tea tree essential oil has many advantages, namely:
    1. Can be used as Hand Sanitizer
    2. A Mosquito repellant
    3. Fights Acne
    4. Controls Dandruff
    5. Works as a deodorant
  • Lemon Oil: Lemon essential oil has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat various ailments for more than a thousand years. Lemon essential oils are produced by the method of cold pressing lemon peels and not the actual fruit, since lemon peels are considered to be the most nutrient-rich sections of the fruit with maximum phytonutrient concentration. Some of its benefits are:
    1. Hydrates Skin and Makes skin glow
    2. Improves Oral Health
    3. Improves digestion
    4. Works as a body cleanser
    5. Assists in weight loss
  • Peppermint Oil: Peppermint oil, considered to be one of the most versatile essential oils, comes with a wide range of advantages and applications. One of the few oils that can be used internally, aromatically and even topically, is peppermint oil. There are many incredible benefits to this nutrient rich oil, some of them being:
    1. Eases muscle and joint pain
    2. Prevents sunburn
    3. Prevents and help with itching
    4. Helps with headaches
    5. Improves hair growth
  • Eucalyptus Oil: Eucalyptus essential oil is known for its various medicinal properties produced by the leaves of eucalyptus trees being dried, crushed and then distilled. In many different medicines and other medical products, including mouthwashes, soaps, inhalers and much more, this oil is used worldwide. In everyday life, the many advantages of using eucalyptus essential oils include:
    1. Helps in asthma treatment
    2. Protects and nourishes hair
    3. Helps in treating wounds
    4. Improves functioning of Brain
    5. Helps to treat cold and cough
  • Clove Oil: A range of benefits are provided by Clove essential oil, whether it is pain-related, anti-inflammatory, boosting oral health or enhancing skin health. Some of the most significant benefits of essential oil for cloves include:
    1. Enhances oral health
    2. Boosts Immunity
    3. Protects Liver
    4. Cleans and nourishes Skin
    5. An excellent anti-oxidant

Kritika is a freelance content writer with Femsay.com