10 Essential oils and their potent health benefits

Healing Potions: 10 Essential oils and their potent health benefits

MF editorial team

06 Sep 2016

updated the Tuesday, September 6, 2016

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Chamomile
Chamomile is one of those well-known essential oils, and for good reason. Its familiarity stems from the fact that it’s a popular ingredient for tea. Its essential oil counterpart has similar relaxing effects for its users. Like lavender, it has been widely used for aromatherapy.
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Eucalyptus
As you probably know, eucalyptus helps ease coughs and colds because it relieves sore muscles and clears sinuses. In addition, it has antibacterial properties to help improve your immune system. Its essential oil form, however, can be very potent, so it’s best not to ingest it and to dilute it with water first before applying to affected areas to avoid irritation.
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Lemon
Any citrus extract automatically rises up the ranks due to their natural properties as an immune system booster. Citrus essential oils like lemon oil can be used as bug repellent, help stimulate lymph drainage, and rejuvenate dull skin. Beyond that, lemon oil has the added benefit of containing antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its ability to fight pathogens found in food.
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Rosemary
Aside from the usual beauty and calming benefits of some essential oils, rosemary stands out for its ability to normalise blood pressure. Historically, rosemary has been used to treat anything from muscle pains to hair loss. One study reveals that apart from normalising blood pressure, it can also significantly improve overall mental and physical quality of life.
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Lavender
Even without knowing a lot about it, the ubiquity of lavender, not just in wellness products, already informs you of its soothing properties. Because of that, it has become a favourite spa and aromatherapy ingredient. According to experts, lavender helps reduce stress hormones, but is also effective in treating cuts and bruises, including skin irritations. To get a good night’s sleep, spray some on your pillow to soothe your tired and stressed out body.
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Clove
Clove is a natural oral antiseptic for its antibacterial properties. Microbes such as e. coli, Staph aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa–known to cause digestive problems, pneumonia, and skin infections—were found to be particularly sensitive to clove essential oil.
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Frankincense
If you’re religious, you’d probably associate frankincense as that gift offered by one of the Three Wise Men during the birth of Jesus. The symbolic significance of frankincense in that story is tied to the usefulness of the substance. It has soothing properties to ease a stressed mind, it can be used to treat cuts and bug bites by reducing swelling and inflammation, and it can improve a person’s immunity. Some scientists are even studying the properties of frankincense that could possibly be used to stop the spread of cancer.
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Peppermint
Peppermint oil is a versatile treatment. Healthcare professionals cite, among others, its purifying and stimulating effects to the mind and aide to indigestion. It is relatively safe for oral intake to help improve your mental alertness.
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Tea tree
You can typically see tea tree oil as an ingredient for various cosmetic products because of its acne-clearing properties. It is extracted from the Australian plant melaleuca alternifloria. Apart from being a topical treatment for blemishes, it can also do wonders in treating skin problems like fungus. So if you want healthier and clearer skin, give this essential oil a try.
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Ylang-ylang
It would be easy to dismiss the importance of Ylang-ylang as the tree bears cheap flowers ubiquitous throughout Southeast Asia. In fact, the beauty industry has been known to incorporate this essential oil into their products because of its skincare benefits. It helps reduce skin inflammation and regulates oil production of the skin.

They aren’t just for making the room smell lovely – they can pack powerful first aid and alternative medicine punches too.

Essential oils are potent organic oils extracted from different plants, herbs, flowers, and seeds. These oils are widely used for various healing and purifying properties, depending on their source. Some essential oils also contain antioxidants which help prevent or mitigate cellular damage. As such, health and wellness products make use of essential oils to utilise their health benefits.

Among the many medicinal uses cited for certain essential oils include treatment for joint pains, digestive issues, stress, and fatigue. However, it goes without saying, before using any of these essential oils, you need to do your research thoroughly especially if you have sensitivities or are prone to allergies. To help you get a general idea, here is a rundown of some widely used essential oils and their benefits.

Alicia Tham

Photos: Getty Images

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