Essential Oils: 5 Different Uses for Health & Home

Posted: September 9, 2024 | By: Shanon Peckham

When it comes to health and wellness, your environment matters just as much as the nutrition you put in your body. Cluttered or dreary surroundings can make you feel depressed and separated from nature’s healing; synthetic or chemical ingredients can make your skin irritated and give you a headache; allergies and air quality can make or break your ability to relax – the list goes on. Today, we’re taking a look at how essential oils, the pure natural extracts of beneficial herbs and plants, can help you support your health and create the kind of atmosphere you need to thrive.

1 – Wellness and Energy

Looking for an easy way to wake yourself up in the morning or soothe yourself for sleep? Or maybe you’re struggling with daily stress or foggy brain at work? You may be surprised to learn that essential oils can actually help with these issues, and many more. According to Johns Hopkins, and other research, these 100% pure essential oil extracts have been demonstrated to exhibit stimulating, sedative, and psychogenic effects – which is a fancy way of saying they can help perk you up, fall asleep, and deal with mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, or insomnia.^1,2,3 For a morning or afternoon energy boost, we recommend Coriander, Carrot Seed, Marjoram, or any of the citrus oils (like Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon). For nighttime relaxation, earthy and herbaceous essential oils are better; think Lavender, Frankincense, Cedar, Ylang Ylang, Chamomile.⁴

How to Use: Though a quick flip through an aromatherapy guide will help you sort out which oil to use for which wellness concern, it may take you some trial and error to figure out what works best for you. We recommend taking it slow and following a “less is more” rule – even lavender, as calming as it can be, in too high a dose may be stimulating or even triggering. Check the warnings on the particular oil you want to use to make sure it’s safe for you, and have other resources available if you need something to emotionally ground you quickly. Lastly, essential oils can be a great addition to your self-care routine, but they’re not a replacement for professional help. If you have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, PTSD, or another mental health condition, we recommend consulting a therapist or other healthcare professional before trying essential oils.

2 – Physical Health

Beyond mental health and mood, essential oils also show promise for supporting physical health. From digestion problems and skin conditions, to pain relief and organ health, essential oils have been used to address all kinds of issues.⁴ For example, Tea Tree oil has been shown to help treat acne and other skin conditions, which can likely be attributed to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial qualities.^4,5,6 Have you ever tried mint tea for nausea? Peppermint essential oil may also help calm the GI tract and soothing IBS symptoms.^1,4,7 Lavender, Rose, Peppermint, and Lemon oil have even been studied for their ability to soothe pain, anxiety, and nausea during labor.⁸ Many other oils have also been used to address infections, wounds, breathing issues, heart health, brain health, muscle spasms, and more.⁴ With their long shelf life, pure essential oils should make a great addition to your medicine cabinet for years to come.

How to Use: So how can we tap into the benefits of these pure plant essences? Thankfully, there are many ways to incorporate essential oils into your daily health routine. In general, essential oils are intended for topical use by adults. Most are safe to enjoy in body lotions, a mister, or a diffuser with purified water, bath salts, and carrier oils – even directly on the skin in some cases. You can also add your favorites to a scent-diffusing necklace or aroma stick. Make sure to always research and dilute your essential oils before using, especially hot oils like Cinnamon, Clove, Thyme, and Oregano.

3 – Cleaning

Grab your essential oils for cleaning day! Many of these plant essences have antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal qualities, making them an ideal, sweet-smelling choice for cleansing or refreshing your home. The most popular oils for cleaning are Lemon, Tea Tree, Lavender, and Peppermint, which each have standout purifying features. They’ll also make your house smell AMAZING. Try Lemon for a fresh citrusy scent, Tea Tree for an herbaceous aroma, Lavender for a soothing floral scent, and Peppermint for a fresh minty aroma. You can add a few drops of oil into homemade cleaning mixes or a diffuser to help cleanse the air.⁴

How to Use: According to Breast Cancer UK, some non-toxic, chemical-free solutions you can use to make your own cleaners are salt, white vinegar, baking soda, and rubbing alcohol. Baking soda and salt both make a good grit for scrubbing; white vinegar fights mold and may help keep bacteria from growing on countertops; rubbing alcohol kills bacteria quickly and eliminates nasty odors.⁹ Be aware that even though some ingredients like this may be non-toxic or chemical-free, it does not mean they are mild, hypoallergenic, or automatically safe to mix. Always make sure to research the safety information of the DIY mixes you want to try ahead of time to make sure it is a safe option for you.

4 – Gardening

Did you know essential oils can help your garden thrive? It might seem redundant to spray plant extracts on your plants, but according to the experts, it’s the way to go for all-natural gardening. Some oils, like Geranium and Rosemary, support healthy growth and can attract pollinators.¹⁰ Lemongrass, Cedar, and Neem oil are great pest repellents.^10,11 Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Clove are especially good at fighting fungal infections, thanks to their natural purifying properties.^12,13 Bonus: the strong aroma of your essential oils should also keep away larger pests, like your housecat.

How to Use: Make sure to identify what needs or issues your plants have before applying essential oils. For mixing up your own DIY spray, the experts recommend diluting each oil with water and testing it on your plant to see how it reacts. Diffusing essential oils at home should benefit your indoor house plants nicely too, giving them added moisture and bolstering their health. Gardeners also recommend rotating out the essential oils you use to get the most out of each one’s benefits.^10,11,13

5 – Cooking

When used in small amounts, essential oils can also elevate your favorite (or new) dishes and cocktails with exciting herbal, peppery, earthy, or citrus flavors, giving you a fun new avenue to explore in cooking. We even have a few recipes listed as part of our YFast Intermittent Fasting Program that you can try! Professional chefs have been using essential oils for years – in fact, it’s one of the ways they can trigger your olfactory system (sense of smell), bringing out flavor subtleties and taking your dining experience to the next level. “Essential oils offer an unmatched variety of flavors,” told KTCHN Rebel.¹⁴ “Many aromas are not available at all or are difficult to get otherwise, for example, iris or magnolia.” If you’re ready to put on your chef’s hat and get to experimenting, take some essential oils with you!

How to Use: Before you go mixing some into your favorite Youngevity shake mix, it’s important to understand that not all essential oils are safe for consumption. Even familiar, edible ones can produce dangerous side effects if ingested incorrectly.¹⁵ This is because essential oils are made from concentrated plant oil, making them very potent. As the experts put it,⁴ “One drop of chamomile [essential oil] is the equivalent of 30 tea bags of chamomile tea.” As anyone can tell you, that’s WAY too much chamomile, not to mention a waste of tea bags!

If you are interested in cooking with essential oils, make sure to check the FDA’s safe essential oils list,¹⁶ research the right dose or ask a certified herbalist, and dilute it properly before use. If you’re not planning to mix it into a sauce or soup, aromatherapist Amy Galper recommends diluting your essential oils with an edible carrier oil or honey to prevent possible damage to your mouth, esophagus, or stomach lining.¹⁷

Before You Buy

To maximize your health benefits and enjoyment of essential oils, you’ll need to make sure you’re buying the real deal. As a general rule, the more info a seller has listed about the oil, the better! Here are some specifics to look out for while shopping:¹

Be wary of a price that seems too good to be true and any “grade” claims. There’s no official grading system and, because it takes so many plants to make one tiny bottle of oil, you won’t find fresh, high-quality essential oils at a discount store.
Because 100% pure essential oils are so potent, they are usually sold in dark glass containers to prevent degradation (of both the product and the bottle). Don’t buy anything in a clear plastic bottle!
Check the label for a purity percentage and any fillers or added perfumes. Unwanted ingredients may cause skin irritation and lessen the effectiveness of the plant essence.
Look for certifications, country of origin, and harvesting method. Our essential oils are National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) certified and Organic, Wildcrafted, or Ethically Farmed.

Safety: As much as we love essential oils, they aren’t for everyone. If you are pregnant, nursing, planning to use oils on/around children, taking medications, or have another health condition, check in with your doctor or healthcare provider before using essential oils.