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What You Need To Know About

Essential Oils

How Can Taking Essential Oils Benefit

Me?

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Essential oils are oils which contain volatile aroma compounds

from plants. These essential oils are extracted from plants

through expression or distillation and are used in perfumes,

cosmetics, for flavoring food, and for adding scents to incense

and other products used in the home. A wide selection of

essential oils has been shown medicinal qualities as well and

the practice of using them for treatments is referred to as

aromatherapy.

Although considered a traditional medicine, aromatherapy is

receiving a great deal of attention lately as more and more

people are becoming more partial to alternative medical

practices. Among the essential oils that are believed to have

medicinal properties is the evening primrose oil which is used

to treat eczema, rheumatism, and breast tenderness. The said

oil is used as treatment for eczema, rheumatism, and

discomforts felt a week or so before menstruation. Lavender

has been shown to be effective

against anxiety. Some researches

also suggest that that lavender, when

combined with other herbs, can be

used as hair growth oils. These hair

growth oils can be mixed to the

shampoo or conditioner you are already using, or as a custom-

made product from an aromatherapy store.

Frankincense is also said to relieve depression, and patients

who had osteoarthritis who were given preparations of this oil

showed significant improvement in their symptoms in as little as

seven days. The oil of frankincense is also used in oily skin

solutions because it prevents inflammation and excessive

sebum production. Tea tree oil, which is poisonous when taken

in by mouth, can be safely used on the skin. Just like

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frankincense, tea tree oil is used extensively in acne and oily

skin solutions. One study which sought to make comparisons of

tea tree oil's and benzoyl peroxide's efficacy discovered that

the latter performed slightly better but that tea tree oil had

significantly few side effects.

Women who do not want to

continue with unplanned

pregnancies also turn to essential

oils as a means to terminate the

pregnancy. They have this belief

that if they know how to cause a

miscarriage by using essential

oils they can end the pregnancy

in private. There are a number of

websites that offer details on how

to cause a miscarriage using

these oils. Medical professionals

strongly advise against the using essential oils though for such

a purpose because in case the attempt is unsuccessful, there is

higher possibility that the child will be born with anatomical or

psychological defects.

As with other complementary and alternative medicine

practices, it is best to inform your primary doctor of your intent

to use essential oils, to give him a clear picture of how to

manage your care.