CHIEF ESSENTIAL OILS AND
THEIR BENEFITS
Different essential oils work on different body parts and help cure several diseases. Here is a summary of some critical essential oils:
Ambrette Seed
Botanical name : Abelmoschus Moschatus
Plant part: Seeds
Properties: Warmth-giving, relaxing, stimulating, calming
Quantity: 2-3 drops
Application: Helpful in relieving anxiety, fatigue, depression or other stress-related conditions, muscular aches, pains, cramps and poor circulation. It is an aphrodisiac. Excellent for freshening up tired and hurting feet
Precaution: Use in low dosage. Avoid very frequent massages or baths.
Aniseed
Botanical name: Pimpenella Anisum
Plant part: Seed pod
Properties: Warming, stimulating
Quantity : 3-5 drops
Application: Helpful in treating coughs, bronchitis and catarrh.
Angelica
Botanical name: Angelica Archangelica
Plant part: Root, seed, fruit
Properties: Expectorant, digestive stimulant, relaxing
Quantity: 2-3 drops
Application: Useful for colds, coughs, flu, muscular pains and aches, and rheumatism. Helps in digestion. Also helpful in healing a smoker’s cough.
Precaution: Avoid during pregnancy. It can cause photosensitivity, so avoid exposure to the sun after use.
Basil
Botanical name : Ocimum Basilicum
Plant part: Leaves
Properties: Uplifting, refreshing
Quantity: 2-3 drops
Application: Good for students and executives. Helps in relieving nervous tension, stress, mild anxiety, nausea, indigestion, flatulence, and loss of appetite; temporarily relieves cough, sinusitis, flatulence, cold, fever, bronchitis, and earaches; eases muscular pains, spasms, rheumatic and arthritic pains. It also acts as an insect repellent.
Precaution: Avoid during pregnancy.
Bergamot
Botanical name: Citrus Aurantium
Plant part: Peel the fruit
Properties: Calming, refreshing, rejuvenating
Quantity : 3-5 drops
Application: Heals wounds, relieves ulcers, and treats eczema, psoriasis (stress-related) and PMT (Pre-Menstrual Tension). Works as an appetiser. Beneficial in treating oily skin problems. Relieves respiratory infections, bronchitis, sore throat and tonsilitis, colic, flatulence and indigestion. Beneficial in treating anxiety, depression, and mental and psychological disturbances. Acts as an antiseptic for urinary tract problems and cystitis. Effective in treating cold sores, chicken pox and shingles.
Precaution: Avoid using on sensitive skin as it can cause irritation. Avoid exposure to the sun, as it can increase the skin’s photosensitivity.
Black Pepper
Botanical name: Piper Nigrum
Plant part: Berry
Properties: Warming, strengthening
Quantity: 2-3 drops
Application: Helps in relieving muscular aches, pains, stiffness, and fatigue. Helpful in relieving physical and emotional problems. Gives temporary relief from arthritis, fibrosis, cold, flu, indigestion, respiratory infections, chills, and catarrh. Helps in curing colic, flatulence, indigestion, heartburn and loss of appetite. Helps to maintain peripheral circulation, eases chilblains and tones muscles. Increases concentration and alertness.
Precaution: Use in moderation
Camphor
Botanical name: Cinnamomum Camphora
Plant part: Wood
Properties: Relieving
Quantity: 2-3 drops
Application: Helps in treating coughs, colds, fevers, rheumatism, arthritis, constipation, insomnia, sprains, depression, acne and inflammed skin.
Precaution: Use in moderation.
Cardamom
Botanical name : Elettaria cardomumum
Plant part: Seeds
Properties: Warming
Quantity: 2-3 drops
Application: Helps in relieving nausea, coughs, headaches, aches, and digestion, and it is a tonic
Precaution: Use in moderation.
Chamomile
Botanical name : Matricaria Chamomilia
Plant part: Flowers
Properties: Soothes
Quantity : 3-5 drops
Application: Eases anxiety, anger and fear; helpful in treating insomnia, used for colitis, gastritis, diarrhoea, urinary tract infection, menopause and menstrual-related problems. Relieves stress, depression and irritability related to PMT. Helps to relieve muscular pains, inflammation of arthritic joints and swollen joints. It treats skin problems, viz. psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema. Mild children facing teething problems and earaches. Soothes burns, blisters, inflammed wounds, broken capillaries. It can be used to lighten fair hair.
Precaution: Avoid during pregnancy.
Clove Bud
Botanical name: Syzygium Aromaticum
Plant part: Buds
Properties: Warming and soothing
Quantity: 1-2 drops
Application: Relieves aches and pains (joints). Rheumatoid sprains, asthma, colds, flu, colic, dyspepsia, nausea, diarrhoea, toothache, ulcers, wounds, bronchitis, nervous tension, depression and stress. It is used as an effective antiseptic and analgesic anti-bacterial. Useful as mosquito repellent and in fighting acne. Helps relieve athlete’s foot and cuts.
Precaution: Use in low moderation. Avoid during pregnancy.
Cypress
Botanical name : Cupressus Sempervirens
Plant part: Needles, twigs
Properties: Refreshing, calming and strengthening
Quantity: 2 drops
Application: An astringent to circulation, haemorrhoids, varicose veins, cellulite; brings down external bleeding and, excessive perspiration and heavy menstrual flow; useful in asthma, bronchitis, dry cough, cold and flu. Helps to heal swollen breasts.
Precaution: Avoid during pregnancy.
Clary sage
Botanical name : Salvia Sclarea
Plant part: Flowering tops
Properties: Euphoric, sensual, warming and relaxing
Quantity: 2-5 drops
Application: Useful in dealing with anxiety, stress, tension and migraine, menstrual cramps and pains, PMT, muscular tension, and excessive perspiration. Being warming and relaxing nourishes conversation. Brings down high blood pressure and excessive sebum. Reduces post-natal depression and eases childbirth by encouraging labour. The immune system gets strengthened. Eases asthma.
Precaution: Can cause drowsiness; avoid when under alcoholic effect. Avoid during pregnancy and also if one suffers from epilepsy.
Eucalyptus
Botanical name : Eucalptus Globulus
Plant part: Leaves, twigs
Properties: Cooling and clearing
Quantity: 2-3 drops
Application: Clears stuffed nose and head. Acts as a decongestant; cures fever and cold. Relieves stress, fatigue, muscular pains, sprains, aches, rheumatism, headaches, sinusitis and mild respiratory infections. It is anti-inflammatory. Quite helpful in treating wounds, burns, boils, abscesses, blisters, cold sores, shingles, blemishes, and insect bites; anti-bacterial and is an insect repellent too.
Precaution: Can irritate the skin. Keep away from children.
Fennel
Botanical name : Foeniculum Vulgare
Plant part: Seeds
Properties: Calming
Quantity: 2-3 drops
Application: Useful in easing colic, constipation and digestion problems, fluid retention, cellulite, menstrual pain, PMT, menopause, nausea, flatulence and loss of appetite. Helps in fighting hangovers, increases the flow of breast milk and relieves bronchitis. Cures kidney stones and relieves intestinal spasms. Has a mild diuretic and laxative effect.
Precaution: Avoid during pregnancy.
Frankincense
Botanical name: Olibanum Boswellia Carterii
Plant part: Gum resin
Properties: Fortifying, soothing
Quantity : 3-5 drops
Application: Helps in meditation; slows and deepens breathing. Fortifies emotionally against nightmares, fear and grief. Balances and opens Crown chakra. It helps in healing ulcers and infected wounds. Treats dry, wrinkled, and inflamed skin. It also cures coughs, laryngitis, asthma, catarrh and bronchitis. It reduces scars and promotes healing. Aids in maintaining supple skin by toning it.
Geranium
Botanical name : Pelargonium Graveolens
Plant part: Leaves, stalk, flower
Properties: Calming, balancing, relaxing, refreshing
Quantity: 5-7 drops
Application: Helps to deal with nervous tension, anxiety, mood swings, depression, menopause problems, hot flashes, post-natal depression, PMT, and irregular menstruation. Treats swollen and painful breasts, fluid retention problems, emotional outbursts, irritability, and throat infections. It cures colds, flu, neuralgia, sciatica, acne, bruises, burns, cuts, dermatitis, eczema, burns, cuts, mature skin and mouth ulcers. Normalises skin imbalances. Works as insect repellant harmonises and calms. It also acts as an astringent and cleanser.
Ginger
Botanical name : Zingiber Officinale
Plant part: Root
Properties: Warming, stimulating
Quantity: 2 drops
Application: Relieves colic, cramps, flatulence, nausea, travel sickness and indigestion. Cures migraine, coughs, congestion, common cold, catarrh, influenza, sore throat, sinusitis, arthritic pains, rheumatism, muscular aches, sprains and strains. Helps in blood circulation and aids memory. It Heals bones and brings down temperature in fever also. Relieves morning sickness (if inhaled) in pregnancy and hangovers. Stimulates circulation, relaxes blood vessels and can also help ease angina.
Precaution: Use in low moderation. It may irritate sensitive skin.
Juniper Berry
Botanical name: Juniperus Communis
Plant part: Berries
Properties: Uplifting, refreshing, relaxing
Quantity: 2-3 drops
Application: Used to relieve stress, anxiety, pains of joints and rheumatic pain. Heals bruises, cramps, acne, colic, coughs, arthritis, menstrual pain, less menstrual flow, and swollen and painful breasts (premenstrual). Deals with fluid retention, cellulite, obesity, poor circulation, haemorrhoids, and loss of appetite. Tones the skin
Precaution: Avoid during pregnancy and if suffering from high blood pressure. It can irritate the kidneys if used in excess.
Lavender
Botanical name : Lavandula Angustifolia
Plant part: Flowers
Properties: Harmonising, soothing, balancing,
refreshing, relaxing, calming
Quantity: 5-10 drops
Application: Aids relieves irritability (in adults and children), anxiety, and stress. Relieves muscular aches and pains, bites and stings. Cures colds, flu, insomnia, headache, minor burns and scalds. It is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, so it is instrumental in treating wounds. It can be used directly to relieve the pain of minor burns and scalds. It balances and harmonises the body.
Precaution: Avoid during early pregnancy.
Lemon
Botanical name: Citrus Limon
Plant part: Peel fruit
Properties: Rejuvenating, enlivening, cooling,
uplifting
Quantity : 3-6 drops
Application: Helps in healing bronchial problems, colds, flu, fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers, hormonal headaches, poor circulation, high blood pressure, wounds, stress, nervous tension and counteracts acidity. Aids in clearing freckles and rid warts. Useful for students and executives. Helps in stopping hot flashes in menopause. It has an enlivening and refreshing aroma and is also an effective insect repellent.
Precaution: Causes photo-sensitivity on sensitive skin. Avoid using it when going out in the sun, as it may irritate sensitive skin.
Lemongrass
Botanical name: Cymbogen Citratus
Plant part: Grass
Properties: Tranquilizing, soothing, calming,
refreshing
Quantity: 1-3 drops
Application: Helps in relieving shock, grief, trauma, depression and stress. Helps to fight lethargy, irritability during PMT and menopause, insomnia, excitability in children, and chronic diarrhoea triggered due to emotional reasons. Improves skin elasticity, thread veins, stretch marks and scars. It gives relief from headaches, sore throat and mild respiratory problems. Helps in opening the skin’s pores, treating oily skin, curing acne and relieving indigestion.
Precaution: Avoid during pregnancy. It can also irritate the skin.
Marjoram
Botanical name: Origanum Majorana
Plant part: Flowers, leaves
Properties: Calming, warming
Quantity : 3-5 drops
Application: Relieves anxiety, stress, high blood pressure, arthritis, rheumatism, swollen joints, asthma, colds, flu, and sinusitis. Cures migraines, stomach and menstrual cramps, indigestion, constipation and flatulence. Calming to the nervous system. Reduces sexual urges and heals bruises.
Precaution: Use in moderation. Avoid during pregnancy.
Neroli
Botanical name: Citrus Aurantium
Plant part: Petals
Properties: Calming, soothing, refreshing
Quantity: 1-3 drops
Application: Relieves mental lethargy, headaches, and irritability caused due to menopause and PMT. It cures chronic diarrhoea due to emotional state and thread veins. Cures dryness, improves skin elasticity and sensitivity, and is also kind on mature skin. Calms excitable and restless children when used in baths before going to bed. Helps during shocks, trauma, grief and stress. Highly calming to those suffering from anxiety and fears. Helps lighten stretch marks and scars. Soothes palpitation, stress-related problems and depression. Helps during pregnancy and labour.
Orange (Sweet)
Botanical name: Citrus Aurantium
Plant part: Peel
Properties: Calming, refreshing
Quantity: 2-3 drops
Application: Effective in healing mouth ulcers, treats nervous tension, stress and anxiety. Gives relief from bronchial coughs, colds, flu and insomnia. Eases constipation and diarrhoea. It is very gentle on children and brings down the fever.
Precaution: May increase skin photo-sensitivity. Avoid use before going out in the sun.
Palmarosa
Botanical name: Cymbopogon Martini
Plant part: Grass
Properties: Clarifying, uplifting calming, refreshing
Quantity: 4-5 drops
Application: Stimulates cell regeneration, circulation, and appetite. It maintains supple skin, removes scars, is helpful in treating acne, and dermatitis, balances sebum production, relieves indigestion, colds, flu, and viruses and reduces fever.
Peppermint
Botanical name : Mentha piperita
Plant part: Leaves
Properties: Cooling, invigorating, comforting,
refreshing, calming
Quantity: 1-3 drops
Application: A decongestant that gives relief from asthma, colds, flu, fever, headaches, toothaches, sinusitis, nausea, travel sickness, stomach upsets and, indigestion, hangover. Cools skin inflammation, burns and sunburns as it is a very refreshing skin oil. Repels mosquitoes and rats.
Precaution: Use in moderation as it can irritate sensitive skin. Avoid during early pregnancy.
Patchouli
Botanical name: Pogostemon Cabin
Plant part: Leaves
Properties: Warming, exotic, calming, relaxing,
enlivening Quantity: 2-4 drops
Application: Exotic aroma often used in perfumery. Emotionally enlivening excites the senses. Helps in relieving anxiety, stress and depression. Helps to heal chapped rough skin, wounds and sores. Being anti-inflammatory, it helps cool inflammed skin. Effective in treating dandruff and scars. It is an antiseptic, astringent, anti-bacterial and insect repellent.
Precaution: Use in moderation as excess dose can cause sedation.
Petitgrain
Botanical name: Citrus Aurantium var Amara
Plant part: Leaves
Properties: Clarifying, soothing, uplifting
Quantity: 4-5 drops
Application: Useful to relieve mental strain, restlessness, anxiety, tension, stress, flatulence, dyspepsia and constipation. Helps in stimulating digestion and poor momory. Brings down acne. Reduces excessive perspiration and treats greasy skin and hair. Helps to build up resistance to illness.
Pine
Botanical name : Pinus Sylvestris
Plant part: Needles
Properties: Invigorating, refreshing
Quantity: 1-3 drops
Application: Relieves muscular aches, pains, Arthritis, rheumatism, poor circulation, asthma, bronchitis, coughs, catarrh, sinusitis, sore throats, colds, flu, nervous exhaustion, stress, fatigue, neuralgia, sciatica, poor concentration. Heals cuts and abrasions, excessive perspiration. It is also an effective insect repellent.
Rose
Botanical name : Rose Centifoda damascena
Plant part: Leaves and flowers
Properties: Exciting, balancing
Quantity: 1-4 drops
Application: Helps to ease depression, frigidity, nervous tension, headache and insomnia. Relieves asthma, shock, palpitations, poor circulation, dry coughs, and nausea. Treats PMT, irregular or heavy menstruation, menstrual pain, impotence, and irritability. Hormonally balancing. Also useful for dry, chapped, ageing skin and eczema.
Rosemary
Botanical name : Rosemarinus officinalis
Plant part: Leaves and flowers
Properties: Reviving, invigorating, focusing,
refreshing
Quantity: 2-4 drops
Application: Useful tonic for hair as it keeps dandruff at bay, clears lice, and adds lustre. Helpful in relieving stress, mental fatigue, anxiety, muscular aches and pains, rheumatism, arthritis, gout, sinusitis, migraine colds, flu, asthma, respiratory problem, poor circulation, fluid retention, cellulite, menstrual cramps, scanty flow during menstruation. Helps aid in better concentration and clarity while studying.
Precaution: Avoid during pregnancy if suffering from blood pressure or epilepsy.
Sandalwood
Botanical name: Santalum Album
Plant part: Wood Properties: Strengthening, sedating, calming,
relaxing
Quantity: 2-5 drops
Application: Helps to relieve nervous tension, depression, stress, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, dry coughs, sore throat, bronchitis, nausea, and travel sickness. Heals inflamed, cracked, dry, chapped, mature, ageing skin, acne, blemishes and scars. Acts as a deodoriser in case of excessive perspiration. Excites the senses. It is an effective insect repellent.
Tarragon
Botanical name : Artemisia Dracunculus
Plant part: Leaves
Properties: Calming
Quantity: 2-3 drops
Application: Useful for relieving stomach disorders, nervousness leading to butterflies or knots in the stomach, indigestion, flatulence, PMT, cramps, and constipation. It is anti-spasmodic, antiseptic and slightly diruretic
Precaution: Avoid during pregnancy. Use in moderation.
Tea tree
Botanical name : Melaleuca Alternifolia
Plant part: Leaves, twigs
Properties: Soothing
Quantity: 2-5 drops
Application: Helpful in healing fungal and yeast infections, colds, influenza, cold sores, warts, burns, shock, bacterial and viral infections, stings, herpes, nappy rash and hysteria.
Thyme (White)
Botanical name: Thymus Vulgaris
Plant part: Leaves, flowers
Properties: Stimulating, invigorating
Quantity: 2 drops
Application: Helpful in relieving tension, fatigue, anxiety, headaches, skin irritations, coughs, colds, and rheumatic aches and pains. Useful insect repellent. It is a very good stimulant and expectorant. Precaution: Avoid during pregnancy. Use in moderation.
Vetiver
Botanical name: Vetiveria Zizanoides
Plant part: Roots
Properties: Calming, balancing, grounding
Quantity: 1-3 drops
Application: Helpful in relieving nervous tension, stress, muscular aches, pains, sprains, stiffness, arthritis, rheumatism, vibration, and congestion. Heals acne, blemishes, cuts and wound.
Ylang Ylang
Botanical name: Cananga Odorate
Plant part: Flowers
Properties: Balancing, relaxing
Quantity: 2-3 drops
Application: Helps to relieve tension, uncontrolled anger, stress, anxiety, rapid heart rate, and rapid breathing. Useful in high blood pressure, menopause, PMT, insomnia, impotence, frigidity, and scalp conditioner. Beneficial for skin care.
Precaution: Avoid using after consuming alcohol or before driving. Use in moderation. It may cause headaches and nausea when taken in excess.