The Benefits of Essential Oils

It always amazed me how a certain smell can bring you back to a certain place and time. I know when I smell wood burning, it always reminds me of my vacations in Costa Rica when I was little. The smell of fresh cut grass reminds me of our house where I grew up in Los Angeles for some reason.

Vick's reminds me of my grandmother. Fresh laundry reminds me of my mother. Smells also soothe me. Believe it or not, rubbing alcohol makes me feel better if I am nauseated or have a migraine. Lavender relaxes me and mint energizes me.

A few years ago, my sister introduced me to essential oils so I could have access to scents that would help me relax and relieve my stress. I had no idea what aromatherapy was but I gave it a shot.  I loved it. Her suggestion to buy certain essential oils really helped me relax and feel better.

Essential oils can be used in a variety of ways. I mainly use them for the aromatherapy benefits. I take a little drop of oil and place it on a light bulb in the bedroom or living room to allow the scent to permeate the room. I found that lavender was my favorite because the smell made me feel tranquil. To this day, I keep lavender oil in my house for stress. I also have used essential oils for massage, as a beauty treatment and for overall wellness.

My grandmother used to take rosemary leaves and seep them in hot oil and then dip a cotton ball in the oil. She would then take the cotton ball and stick it in our ears. She used this when we had ear aches and it worked. To this day, I use this treatment. When I have muscle pain, I use eucalyptus leaves in oil to rub on the affected area. This is another remedy I got from my abuelita! Eucalyptus oil is also great for chest congestion.

There are a few sites that can help you get more information on the benefits of essential oils like LiveTru. You can also visit local shops in your area. I know when I lived in Boynton Beach, I was a regular at a little shop in our neighborhood because they had such a wide selection of essential oils and the store owner was so knowledgeable on the subject.

I am not a doctor and can only say what works for me but essential oils are a great alternative treatment to regular medicine with chemicals. As I move toward a cleaner and greener way of life, I am glad there are alternatives out there. And I am glad that I grew up in a family that used alternative methods of healing. As I get older, I find that becoming more and more important.