❏ Beside their ultimate uses, very less is known about the effectiveness of essential oils in treating health conditions.
❏ Some of the common health problems are explained below that essential oils have been used to treat.
Stress, Anxiety and Depression
❏ It has been estimated that around 40% of people who suffer from stress and anxiety adopt some alternative treatment to help with their condition
❏ Regarding essential oils, results of initial studies are quite positive. Many have proven that the fragrance of some essential oils can work as a complementary treatment to treat anxiety and stress
❏ Interestingly, usage of essential oils while a massage may help to reduce stress.
Headaches and Migraines
❏ Two small studies were conducted in the ‘90s, and the results found that dabbing a peppermint oil and ethanol mixture on participants foreheads and temples relieved headache pain
❏ Recent studies have also shown positive effects against headaches when applying peppermint and lavender oil to the skin
❏ Application of a mixture of chamomile and sesame oil to the temples may effectively treat headaches and migraines. This is a traditional Persian headache remedy.
Sleep and Insomnia
❏ Fragrance of lavender oil has been found to positively affect the sleep quality of women after childbirth, as well as patients with heart disease
❏ Many studies on essential oils and sleep shows that smelling the oils (mostly lavender) has positive effects on sleeping habits
Reducing Inflammation
❏ Anti-inflammatory properties of some Essential oils may help to fight inflammatory conditions.
❏ One small study found that ingesting a combination of thyme and oregano essential oils helped induce the remission of colitis.
Antibiotic and Antimicrobial
❏ Increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria has gained interest in research for other compounds that can fight bacterial infections.
❏ Essential oils, such as peppermint and tea tree oil, have been examined extensively in laboratory for their antimicrobial effects.
