Do you ever get overwhelmed looking at a long list of essential oils? There are SO many to choose from. And, many of them have multiple uses. So how do you know which ones are right for you? This list is a beginner’s guide on the best essential oils to always have on hand!
Lavender
Lavender is an incredible essential oil with a range of benefits. It’s most widely known for its calming properties. Lavender is used for anxiety and for sleep, both topically and diffused. Lavender also helps to soothe burns, insect bites, and can be used as an anti-inflammatory. It is also used as an insect repellant, especially for mosquitoes. Lavender can also be used to treat acne by adding a few drops of lavender oil to face washes and face creams. Lavender can be added into your yoga practice either by diffusing it during a yin or restorative practice or rubbing a drop or two into the bottoms of your feet before Savasana,
Tea Tree
Tea tree oil is primarily used as a disinfectant. It can be used to kill bacteria, fungus, and reduce allergic skin reactions. Tea tree can be used for acne, athlete’s foot, ringworm, lice, scabies, and nail infections. It can also be used as a local antiseptic for cuts, burns, insects bites, and other infections. Tea tree oil is a great asset for everyday cleaning. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to 4 parts water and 1 part vinegar for a homemade all natural cleaning solution!
Myrrh
Myrrh is one of the most widely used essential oils worldwide. It is known for being one of the gifts to Jesus from the three wise men in the Bible. Myrrh has a high antioxidant capacity and can be used to treat minor wounds and infections, such as acne, ringworm, athlete’s foot, and other skin infections. Myrrh can be added to skin care products to help moisturize skin. It is also used in many perfumes and aromatherapy. Myrrh can also help regulate hormones.
Peppermint
Peppermint oil has cooling and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be especially helpful in reducing fevers. Peppermint oil is also used for digestion, helps to relieve gas, helps with nausea, and can also help with IBS. Peppermint oil is often used in dental care, in toothpastes, gum, mouthwash, and can help treat toothaches. It can also relieve headaches and be used for respiratory issues such as coughing, asthma, bronchitis, and colds. This amazing oil can help reduce pain, improve circulation, and be used in hair and skin care.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is one of the most popular oils used in spas, especially in steam rooms. Diffuse this oil while you take a bath at home to make a typical bath feel a little more indulgent. Eucalyptus oil can also be used in healing wounds, burns, cuts, ulcers, and insect bites. Due to its antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties, eucalyptus not only helps with the pain of these wounds, but it also helps to prevent infection. Eucalyptus can be used to treat respiratory problems as it can be used as a decongestant, on top of its antibacterial properties. It is helpful with asthma, bronchitis. cough and cold, runny nose, and other respiratory issues.
Eucalyptus is also very refreshing and can help wake up the senses and stimulate the mind. It is a vasodilator, which means that by encouraging the blood vessels to relax, it allows more blood to circulate, stimulating the body. It can also be used in dental care, to relieve pain, can treat fevers, manage diabetes, remove intestinal germs, and much much more.
Oregano
Oregano oil can be used in cooking - though a little goes a long way! It is especially useful for boosting immunity due to its high Omega-3s, antioxidants, iron, and manganese. It has antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, and anti-parasitic properties. Because of this, it can be used to treat a wide array of illnesses, such as cold and flu, candida, staph infections, vaginal infections, yeast infections, and much more. It can be used to remove skin tags, or warts. Oregano oil is very potent and should be diluted before use.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit oil has a lovely aroma and smells great diffused. It can be used to help promote healthy weight by staving off sugar cravings, helping with appetite suppression, and boosting metabolism. It can be added to natural household cleaning supplies for its antibacterial properties. It is helpful with gut health, too! Grapefruit oil can be used for many food-borne illnesses such as salmonella and E coli and can also help with candida. Grapefruit oil can even be used in treating hangovers because it stimulates the liver and gallbladder.
Clove
Clove oil is most widely known for its uses in dental care. It is helpful with toothaches, numbs the pain of new tooth growth or wisdom teeth growth, and also helps to disinfect these area as new teeth grow in. Clove oil has antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiseptic, and antiviral properties which makes it useful in treating skin problems, treating infections, earaches, headaches, and digestive problems. Some studies suggest that clove oil can help to prevent cancer and control diabetes.
Rosemary
Rosemary oil can be used in cooking - though like Oregano, a little goes a long way! It can also be used for many digestive issues, such as indigestion, flatulence, constipation, and bloating. It can also be used as an appetite stimulant. Rosemary can be used in hair care to help stimulate hair growth and also to remove dandruff. Rosemary oil helps to stimulate the brain and helps with memory, increases concentration, and is great for cognitive function. Rosemary can also help relieve stress, boost the immune system, and can be used in skin care.
Lemon
Lemon oil has a pleasant scent that is great for household cleaning supplies. Add a few drops to a mixture of 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water. Experiment with adding a few drops of grapefruit or tea tree oil to find the scent that you like best for your home! Lemon oil can also help to remove crayon marks from walls, gum from carpet, and can get rid of sticky residue left from stickers. Lemon oil is a natural disinfectant with antibacterial properties. Lemon oil can also be used to relieve many digestive issues such as flatulence, indigestion, cramps, and acidity. Lemon oil is high in many vitamins including vitamin C which makes it useful in boosting the immune system. Lemon oil also helps to improve blood circulation. It can also help with skin irritation, as well as helping to soften calluses.
About the Author
Adriana is a yoga teacher and YogaClub Tribe Leader. She has been practicing yoga for over 15 years and teaching for five years. Budokon Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga are her favorite styles of yoga to practice. Her yoga practice has brought sweetness and authenticity into her life and her intention is to share that sweetness and help her students strive to be their own authentic selves. Adriana’s favorite YogaClub brands are Free People, teeki, and Niyama Sol.
