Aromatherapy: Scents Worth Savoring

My friend Lauren has an oil for everything. Got a bug bite? Her answer is eucalyptus oil. Can’t sleep? Lavender is her go-to rescue. Allergies? She’s got a blend for that too.

Aromatherapy has been around since ancient civilizations. By definition, it is the therapeutic use of plant-based, aromatic essential oils to promote well-being. Aromatherapy works through your sense of smell and through its absorption on the skin. Whether you’re like Lauren and use essential oils in lieu of medicine or harsh household cleaners, or if you’re like me, and use them for their scent or full flavor, these three oils are worth having at home.

1. Tea Tree

Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca, has a host of healing properties. Whenever I’m struggling with nasal congestion, thanks to Lauren, this is my go-to essential oil. It is perfect to use as a steam treatment or in a vaporizer. It’s also commonly used in hair care products because it is known to help prevent thinning hair and dry scalp and increase shine. Tea tree oil can be used as an antiseptic when applied to small cuts or insect bites, and that’s just the beginning of its benefits. Find more ways to use tea tree oil here.

2. Lemon

What’s not to love about lemon oil? Its fresh scent is so clean! I love the citrus smell so much that I will often add a few drops to unscented hand soap in the kitchen. Lemon oil works as a natural antimicrobial agent, so it’s a natural way to keep things clean. What I like most about lemon oil is its flavor. Rather than using fresh lemon in water, I’ll add a drop or two of lemon oil. It’s useful at home and on the go since a small bottle fits easily into my purse. My favorite way to use lemon oil, though, is for cooking. In almost every recipe that calls for lemon juice or lemon zest, I swap it out for lemon oil. Lemon oil is strong, so a few drops will do!  Learn how to incorporate lemon oil and other essential oils into your cooking with a little help from Taste of Home. If you want to use lemon oil to do more than flavor your food, you can explore other benefits here.

3. Peppermint

Thankfully, I don’t suffer from chronic headaches, but when I have a one, peppermint oil is a quick fix. A few drops to the temples, and relief is on its way. For stubborn headaches, you can also add a few drops to bathwater or a diffuser. Follow this simple guide and learn how many drops to add to your diffuser. That’s just the beginning of how I’ve learned to use peppermint oil. Recently, I got creative in the kitchen, and I added two drops to my afternoon chocolate protein shake. The result is like being able to drink a Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie. It’s also ideal for hot chocolate and other specialty drinks. For more inspiration on using peppermint oil, check out this article that offers 15 creative recipes.

If you’d like to know more about incorporating essential oils into your life, sign up for our Aromatherapy short course. It will focus on the restoration of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health through the application of various oils. To register call 405.377.3333. To find out about more courses like this sign up for our monthly e-newsletter. View all of our upcoming courses in our digital catalog.

*Any information or advice given here is meant to help educate and inform, not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. When using essential oils in food or drink, always make sure they are safe to ingest. Information on this is typically available with the oil manufacturer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also lists substances generally recognized as safe for consumption.

Cara Adney is the Marketing and Media Relations Coordinator at Meridian Technology Center.