Are you trying to stay away from harsh chemical products as you move towards living a more natural and Earth-friendly life?
Essential oils are probably the solution you’re looking for due to their incredible versatility. There’s a ton you can learn about using essential oils in your home and family, and this article briefly explores how seven of these oils could help you in different ways.
1. Lemon Oil
Let’s start with one of the three most popular essential oils on the market—lemon. Lemon is one of the most popular essential oils due to its helpful and reliable cleaning ability, coupled with a citrusy, fresh scent that everyone loves.
Furthermore, not only is it an incredible antibacterial agent but it can also help remove sticky residue from things such as bottles after removing their labels. You can do this to recycle them and use as a container for something else.
Pour a few drops on the sticky area, rub it in and let it sit for a minute or two and then just rub out the residue.Other popular uses for lemon essential oil are degreasing and paint stripping.
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2. Melaleuca
Melaleuca is also known as tea tree oil and can be used as a natural cleaner for your home. Although it has a particularly strong scent, it is a strong antifungal cleaner that can be used to kill off mold and bacteria.
The most popular use for melaleuca oil, however, is in the skin care area, specifically for acne treatment. In fact, many skin care products have tea tree oil added in order to make the product more effective.
3. Eucalyptus
A stuffy nose is one of the most irritating conditions you can have because it’s not only hard to breathe, but you can’t exactly sleep it off either. Eucalyptus essential oil is an excellent home remedy to clear those nasal airways and have you breathing again with no problems.
If the whole family is dealing with stuffy noses, diffuse 10 drops in a diffuser of your choice but if there’s just one unlucky person, pour 3 drops in their palm, have them rub them together and inhale. You can also add 3 drops to a tablespoon of coconut oil and rub into the chest and the back of the neck.
Photo by Pixabay
4. Clove
Clove essential oil has been shown to be an excellent mosquito repellent. There was even a study that showed it to be the best out of a list of 38 different oils, working for two to four hours on different species of mosquito.
The main active ingredient, eugenol, is also a great antiseptic for cleaning cuts and wounds to prevent infection.
5. Peppermint
Peppermint essential oil has a refreshing and familiar scent and like eucalyptus, it is a powerful decongestant. Furthermore, many small insects, such as spiders and ants, dislike menthol scents like peppermint essential oil.
To use it as an insect repellent, pour a few drops onto a cotton ball and rub it in areas where you’ve seen or expect to see insects. With ants, for example, you may see a trail of them walking along the wall—use this method to not only break up their scent trail (how ants let each other know where to go) but to keep them away as well.
To take it a step further, you can try this DIY ant killer solution, wait a few days for them to bring some of it back to the colony, then apply the peppermint oil.
Photo by Pixabay
6. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is another natural insecticide which works the same as peppermint, except that the effects are due to its active ingredient, cinnamaldehyde.
7. Lavender
Like lemon, lavender is one of the most popular essential oils due to its incredible versatility. It acts as a mild sedative to help induce sleep and is also a great anti-inflammatory for dealing with joint and muscle aches, as well as headaches.
For aches and pains, massage a few drops into the target area. For headaches, however, inhalation (whether directly or by diffusion) and a temple massage are recommended.
It has also been shown to help accelerate wound healing.
All information and resources provided are based on the opinions and experiences of the author, unless otherwise noted. Information is intended to encourage readers to do their own research and come to their own conclusions, and should never substitute or replace the recommendations of a qualified healthcare provider. Always consult your physician before making changes to your diet, exercise, or general wellness plan, even when using holistic methods.
Trysh Sutton is a wife, mother, attorney, interior decorator, strategic leader and teacher. She runs a website called Pure Path Essential Oils, a naturopathic wellness company that promotes healthy living and healing through the use of essential oils and sustainable living. You can follow her on social media to learn more about the benefits of essential oils, and healthy living practices.
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