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Aromatherapy: Holistic Healing with Essential Oils


Table with two small bottles with essential oil in them and some herbs and flowers scattered around the table. Small votive candle burning in the background.


Aromatherapy is a holistic healing modality that uses natural plant extracts called essential oils to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Often associated with complementary and alternative medicine, aromatherapy is believed to help improve mood, alleviate stress, relieve pain, and enhance the immune system, among other benefits. Essential oils are typically extracted from parts of plants like flowers, leaves, bark, or roots, and each oil has unique properties that are thought to support specific health goals (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health [NCCIH], 2020).


Aromatherapy with Essential Oils works in two primary ways:


A swirled brown and light brown essential oil diffuser with steam coming out of the of narrowed spout . It has a pink band around the center of the diffuser and two buttons. It is sitting on a brown tabletop. The background is black,and grey with white circles on either side of the diffuser. One circle is to the left, and five circles to the right. One of the of five circles is half covered by the diffuser above the pink band.

  1. Inhalation: When you inhale essential oils, the scent molecules stimulate the olfactory system, which connects directly to the limbic system—the part of the brain involved in emotions, memory, and mood. This is why certain scents, like lavender, are associated with relaxation and others, like peppermint, with energy and focus. Diffusers are devices that can evaporate the selected essential oil into the environment. There are different types of diffusers: atomizing, vaporizing, or humidification, fan, and heat (The Essential Life, 2017).


  2. Topical Application: Essential oils can also be applied to the skin (often diluted with carrier oils like coconut or almond oil). They are fat-soluble and readily absorbed into the bloodstream when applied. For this reason, it is important to select a quality oil. They have better efficacy and reduce the possibility of irritation. Some products may say they can be applied directly to the skin without dilution. This is called NEAT, and the most common place where it is used is at the bottom of the feet.  However, please refer to the directions for the correct application or work with a licensed healthcare practitioner who is well-versed in using essential oils (The Essential Life, 2017). If you have sensitive skin, allergies, or certain products irritate your skin, you should dilute them and do a patch test to ensure they are safe to use (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2024).

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Common Essential Oils and Their Uses in Aromatherapy

Here are some popular essential oils and their common uses in aromatherapy:


Lavender plant with purple flower and green stems

  • Lavender: Promotes relaxation, sleep, teeth grinding, reduces anxiety, and can soothe bug bites.



Peppermint plant with a small, tubular, and pink to lavender color flower.

  • Peppermint: Boosts energy, relieves headaches and muscle pain, and can help with cravings.



Blue gum eucalyptus plant.

  • Eucalyptus: Supports respiratory health, helps with sinus congestion, and can be made into a cleaning disinfectant.



Green Tea Tree leaves in a mesh, wicker basket

  • Tea Tree: Antimicrobial, supports skin health, add to your shampoo to help with dandruff.



Lemon tree

  • Lemon: Uplifting helps with concentration and mood. Mix it with water and use it as a degreaser or furniture polish.



Ginger root pieces, on a brown table and one piece with four slices cut from a piece of root

  • Ginger: sore muscles, nausea, sinus congestion, and motion sickness.


Yellow Frankincense

  • Frankincense: depression, wound healing, wrinkles, or focus

    (The Essential Life, 2017).


    The list of essential oils is endless. Many towns have stores specializing in essential oils, so check out your local bookstore for reading material on this topic. Remember, quality matters, so look for oils that are:

    • 1. Packaged in dark-colored glass bottles

    • 2. Genuine - meaning it is 100% natural with no other substances added

    • 3. Authentic - meaning the oil is equal to the plant specified on the label

    • 4. Is the company reputable

    • 5. Avoid ones that say they are fragrance oils - these are not suitable for aromatherapy

    • 6. Cost - you don't need to spend a lot of money for a quality oil, but if the price is too good to be true - buyer beware

    (The Essential Life, 2024; Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2024)


    If you want assistance finding quality essential oils, leave us a comment below. We would be happy to help you. This is a great gift idea for the holiday season, or treat yourself to some essential oils to relax and unwind. Find the right essential oil for you and enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy. Let us know what oil you selected, why, and how it helped you. We look forward to hearing from you.


    References


    Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2024). Aromatherapy: Do essential oils really work? https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/aromatherapy-do-essential-oils-really-work


    National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2020). Aromatherapy. NIH: NCCIH. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/aromatherapy


    The Essential Life. (2017). The essential life. A simple guide to living the wellness lifestyle (3rd ed.). Total Wellness. ISBN: 9 781513 618265




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