Essential Oils, and some of their individual components, possess some pretty impressive health benefits. They have antimicrobial, antiviral, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Essential Oils have also been shown to produce psychogenic effects such as stress relief, aid in the treatment of depression, and assist in alleviating insomnia. If that wasn’t good enough, they smell amazing too!!!
The more I read about how toxic the chemicals in commercial air fresheners are the more I look for alternatives to freshen my home. Many common household air fresheners contain phthalates. These are chemicals that are used to prolong the length of time that scented products maintain their fragrance. Studies have shown that regular exposure to them can increase your risk of developing asthma by 30 to 50 percent.
Synthetic air fresheners have also been shown to emit significant amounts of terpene, a compound that can react with naturally occurring ozone in your home to create formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer? I don’t think any of us want to expose our families to these toxic chemicals.
Over the holidays I switched from burning scented candles to simmering potpourris to fill my home with holiday scents and to freshen the musty winter air in the house. Learn how you can naturally freshen the air in you home with a Simmering Potpourri using spices, fresh fruits, and herbs from your garden.
Are you like me, always looking for natural remedies to treat colds and coughs? What if I told you that you can alleviate a headache naturally using essential oils? Sleep better at night with the help of Lavender essential oil? Fight off the winter blues, improve your mood, and reduce some of the stress in your day naturally without medications or pharmaceuticals?
A while back I picked up a diffuser and started diffusing lavender essential oil in the bedroom. Lavender has been shown to promote tranquility, peace and calmness. It helps to relieve anxiety, depression, irritability, and stress. It’s perfect for the bedroom. Not only does it smell lovely, but its relaxing properties helps facilitate a restful nights sleep.
I love the benefits of diffusing lavender oil at night in the bedroom so much, I purchased a second diffuser to use in the main living area of the house.
Benefits of Diffusing Essential Oils:
- Improves mood.
- Supports a stong immune system.
- Supports the respiratory system.
- Reduces stress.
- All natural air freshener.
- Cleanses the air.
- Removes toxins from the air.
So how exactly do essential oils benefit you? How do they actually work? When you inhale essential oil vapor through your nose, the tiny nerve endings in your sinuses send signals to the brain. Different essential oils will trigger different responses in the body and in the mind.
The essential oil vapor that you inhale has the ability to pass through the blood brain barrier in the nasal cavity to reach the brain just seconds after being inhaled. That’s why it’s so important to purchase high quality, pure essential oils.
Not familiar with what essential oils provide what health benefits? Keep reading to find out the beneficial properties of some of the most popular essential oils.
Health Benefits of Some of the Most Popular Essential Oils:
| NAME | PROMOTES: | RELIEVES: |
| CEDAR | Focus, sharpness. | Anxiety, fear, insecurity. |
| CHAMOMILE | Calmness, relaxation. | Anger, anxiety, depression, fear, irritability, loneliness, stress. |
| CINNAMON | Concentration, memory, mental sharpness. | Fatigue, memory loss. |
| EUCALYPTUS | Optimism, concentration, memory. | Stress, sadness. |
| FRANKINCENSE | Peace, relaxation, satisfaction and overall well-being. | Anxiety, stress, depression, fatigue, fear, grief, insecurity, loneliness. |
| GERANIUM | Security, intimacy. | Anxiety, depression, mood imbalance, stress. |
| GRAPEFRUIT | Confidence, peace, happiness. | Depression, fear. |
| JASMINE | Feelings of joy, peace, self-confidence, harmony, delight, creativity. | Stress, depression, fear, fatigue, anger. |
| LAVENDER | Cognitive function, tranquility, peace, calmness. | Anxiety, depression, irritability, panic attacks, stress. |
| LEMON | Peace, happiness, memory, concentration. | Fear, fatigue, indecision, confusion. |
| ORANGE | Optimism, peace, happiness, confidence. | Anger, depression, fear, stress, irritability. |
| PEPPERMINT | Sharp memory, concentration, clear thinking, acuity. | Fatigue. |
| ROSE | Peace, happiness, romance. | Anger, anxiety, depression, grief, loneliness, panic. |
| ROSEMARY | Confidence, memory, concentration, clarity. | Fatigue, nervous tension. |
| TEA TREE | Strength, morale, calmness. | Stress. |
| VANILLA | Relaxation. | Depression. |
| VETIVER | Calmness, grounded-ness. | Anger, anxiety, fatigue, fear, grief, insecurity, stress. |
As you can see from the table above, different essential oils promote different health benefits. Instead of diffusing just a single scent at a time, try combining different essential oils to promote various healthful effects. Keep reading for a few recipes that you can try in your diffuser.
Air Freshener Formulas:
Ditch the chemical laden air fresheners and switch to an all natural essential oil formula instead. Try any one of these refreshing combination of scents to chase away any unpleasant odors in your home.
Relaxation Formulas:
After a long day, diffuse one of these formulas to relax and unwind before bed. They are sure to provide just what you need for a good night’s rest.
Energizing Formulas:
Do you have a grumpy teenager you have to deal with every morning? Try diffusing one of these energizing formulas to get them out of bed and get going in the morning.
Healing Formulas:
Are you or someone in the family suffering with a headache or allergies?
Do the kids have a stuffy nose, a cold or cough? One of these formulations should prove beneficial and provide some relief.
Mood Enhancing Formulas:
Are you suffering from the mid-winter blues? One of these formulations might just put a smile on your face.
Give any one of these essential oil recipes a try and see how they effect you. Not only do they smell terrific, I’ve noticed a remarkable improvement in my overall temperament since I started diffusing essential oils on a regular basis.
to only do they smell great but they make me feel great, and with no nasty chemicals that aren’t good for me. Have fun and try different combinations until you find one that you really love!!!
*Disclaimer, I am not a doctor and the information I am sharing with you is in no way intended to diagnose, treat or cure any diseases. Always consult with your doctor for any medical questions before trying any home remedies to ensure that it is safe for you to use. Discontinue use immediately if you experience any negative side effects from diffusing essential oils.
Did You Try Any Of These Combos?
Be sure to snap a pic and tag it @naturewayblog — I love, love, love seeing your creations! Don’t forget to comment and leave a review below, and tag me on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, or TWITTER!
May I ask a small favor? If you enjoyed this blogpost would you be so kind and like the page? It lets me know what you are enjoying the most. It also helps me focus my attention on creating content that will be most meaningful and beneficial for you, my readers. And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you never miss out on all the latest that’s happening here at Nature Way. Thank you!
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
Remember…Jesus ❤️’s you!
Awesome article on the many attributes of using essential oils! They have so many uses, but you have put together some great blends for everyday use. I need to pull my oils out and start using them….Thanks so much for the reminder!
I’ve been using essential oils for about 10 years now. I have used the allergy blend during allergy season with great results. I also have given my husband eucalyptus and cypress on his chest since his colds always go to his chest and his colds go away much quicker now. I use oregano oil any time I have been around someone sick or if I feel something coming on and that nips it in the bud. It smells strong so my husband won’t use it unfortunately. I also use a “thieves” type oil when I go out in public and now with masks I put some inside it. I also diffuse it when I have people over during these covid times. I swear by oils and believe they are why I never get sick.
I’ve diffused lavender oil in the bedroom for ages, but never understood how beneficial they can be to your health until recently. Now I try all different variations and I love not only how lovely they smell but how much better I feel overall.