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Although aromatherapy has been around for centuries, it has only recently regained momentum. This practice uses extremely concentrated and volatile essential oils extracted from plants by steam or hydro distillation. But only some plants can be used in aromatherapy.
Plants that produce sufficient essential oil cost-effectively and efficiently while offering therapeutic or healing benefits are the best choice for aromatherapy. Some good examples include – jasmine, lavender, and eucalyptus.
Aromatherapy is a practice based on a plant’s essential oils. These agents in baths, massages, candles, and facials can offer therapeutic effects.
Various studies have confirmed that essential oils have antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. And since only some plants are best for the extraction of essential oils, we have come up with a list of the best aromatic plants along with the benefits that their essential oils can offer:
Bergamot
Bergamot is a Mediterranean citrus fruit known for its rejuvenating and lemony scent. The essential oil obtained from bergamot is quite valuable and is extracted from its peel. Its fragrance is trendy owing to its relaxing and mood-elevating effect.
It can help in reducing stress, depression, and anxiety as well. No doubt, bergamot is one of the most common choices as a top note in perfumes. Besides this, bergamot is a flavoring agent in Earl Grey tea for its distinctive taste.
Clove
Clove is known for its medicinal properties. But it is also quite famous for its potent sweet, spicy, and hot fragrance mix. For centuries clove has been used to ease toothaches, muscle pain, and respiratory issues such as asthma and cough.
Its essential oil also has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. When clove essential oil is used for aromatherapy, it can improve attentiveness and make you feel more energetic and active.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has a warm, sweet, and spicy aroma that boosts mood. The fragrance can easily transport you back in time to a fond memory. Other than elevating your mood, it can also ease pain, improve digestion, and even reduce lethargy and inflammation. The essential oil obtained from cinnamon can suppress the development of bacteria and fungi.
Peppermint
The fragrance that has and is still dominating the oral hygiene market all across the world is peppermint. Known globally for its camphoraceous, cool, minty-fresh, herbal, and clean scent, peppermint is used in many products. The essential oil extracted from it is also quite beneficial. You can use it to relieve flatulence and intestinal cramping. However, peppermint essential oil is not suitable for children.
Sage
Known as the ‘master herb,’ sage has been used as a traditional medicine for centuries. You can use essential oil’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties extracted from sage to treat ailments like asthma, coughs, angina, bronchitis, depression, inflammation, and digestive and circulation disorders.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus fragrance is well known as an insect repellent. However, the essential oil it extracts is also used to relieve congestion and treat colds, flu, and sinuses. It can be extremely effective as it can loosen the mucus in the bronchial tubes, thus helping you breathe better.
Other than this, it is also frequently used in certain medicines for a cooling and antiseptic effect. Besides the physical health benefits, eucalyptus essential oil can improve concentration, help you focus better, and reduce lethargy.
Ginger
While ginger is used for its medicinal properties, its essential oil is extracted from the rhizome with the help of a distillation process. It has a strong, warm, spicy aroma and astringent, anti-inflammatory properties.
Thus, it can be used on skin and hair in diluted forms to help with blemishes, hyperpigmentation, and stubborn scars or even reduce hair fall. However, ginger essential oil can help eliminate certain toxins from the body during aromatherapy, thus boosting digestion and clearing the respiratory tract.
Rosemary
This evergreen shrub is a kitchen garden staple. While it has a woody aroma, it is one of the most preferred food seasoning options. But rosemary essential oil is also used in aromatherapy and is known to lower the stress hormone – cortisol in the blood.
Thus, it can reduce stress and anxiety. Obtained from the flowering tops of the rosemary plant, the essential oil is also believed to have soothing, stimulating, and pain-relieving properties. And luckily, growing basil is also quite easy. And if you are planning to grow some herbs, This blog is perfect for showing you exactly how
Sandalwood
Its distinctive velvety and warm fragrances resemble a pheromone in male underarm perspiration. Thus, sandalwood is often associated with men and used in products like aftershaves and men’s perfumes.
The oil extracted from sandalwood has been used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. It treats the common cold, urinary tract infections, scabies, digestive problems, mental disorders, liver and gallbladder issues, and hemorrhoids.
Lavender
Everyone is quite familiar with the intense floral scent of lavender. This fragrance is known to pests away from plants. And for humans, it has a bunch of other benefits. Lavender oil can be quite relaxing and mood-elevating. It is believed to help people with insomnia.
Drops on your pillow or in your aroma diffuser can help you doze off quickly. Other than this, the essential oil derived from lavender is also used to treat allergies, fungal infections, eczema, nausea, and menstrual cramps.
Fennel
Fennel essential oil has a sweet aroma and is often said to have a flavor similar to licorice. Fennel is widely used for culinary purposes and has many health benefits as it comes packed with nutrients. So, it is not surprising that fennel essential oil also helps one cope with anxiety, improves concentration, treats respiratory issues, and improves digestion.
Tea tree
Tea tree oil is said to have antimicrobial, antiseptic, and disinfectant qualities making it a great ingredient for skin-cleansing cosmetics. It can help with skin burns, acne, and irritation. Other than this also treats cough and cold.
Moreover, it is used as a natural hand sanitizer as it is known to kill various viruses, such as E. coli, S. pneumonia, and H. influenza. Tea tree oil has many physical health benefits, like stabilizing heart rate and blood pressure. It can even improve memory, decrease stress, and maintain a balance between hormones.
Jasmine
Jasmine oil is a popular ingredient in various best-selling perfumes worldwide. This is because of its sweet and romantic scent. The scent of jasmine is said to have therapeutic effects. But other than just uplifting your mood, jasmine oil can even increase attentiveness and purify the air.
The essential oil is derived from the white flowers of jasmine and is usually used as an antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, and sedative.
Coriander
Coriander can be used far beyond the realm of cooking. Coriander oil is known to have a myriad of physical health benefits. It can soothe the skin, relax muscles and joint pain, detoxify, and even help digestion.
Other than this, it can also be beneficial in concerns like gout, spasms, or flatulence. The essential oil extracted from coriander is an analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and stimulant.
Basil
Known as the ‘royal herb,’ Basil has nourishing, protective, and reparative properties. It is widely used to treat headaches, breathing issues, and stomach discomforts.
Besides this, the essential oil derived from basil can help repel insects and remove bacteria that cause odor.
It is also a popular ingredient for various cosmetic products as it soothes and exfoliates the skin while brightening the complexion.
Chamomile
Camomile is an amazing medicinal plant; the essential oil extracted from it can work as a pain reliever. It also has anti-inflammatory properties to be an important ingredient in natural remedies for gastrointestinal disorders.
Chamomile oil has a rejuvenating and subtle scent known to unblock nasal passages. It can also help decrease inflammation of the sinuses or the mucous membranes in the mouth and nose. It can also have certain psychological benefits, like reducing stress and anxiety. Also, it can help one stabilize their emotions.
Lemon
Almost everyone is familiar with lemon’s bitter, citrusy, and zesty flavor. However, it is also known for its refreshing effect, and its essential oil is as intense as the fruit itself. The fragrance of lemon is known to repel moths and other pests.
But it can also be quite beneficial for the human body. Since the essential oil extracted from lemon is antibacterial and antiseptic, it can help kill bacteria, improve circulation, enhance mood, and improve concentration.
Calendula
Calendula has recently been one of the leading ingredients in products that dermatologists recommend. From the usual skin irritations to seborrheic eczema, you can use it to treat a wide range of skin issues and conditions. But it has a bunch of other benefits as well.
The essential oil extracted from calendula is antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It has a distinctive aroma and can be described as wooden and musky.
Conclusion on What Plants Can Be Used in Aromatherapy?
Although essential oil has several health benefits, you should also note that ingesting any essential oil may lead to certain harmful and potentially toxic side effects.
Common side effects can be rashes, skin irritation, or allergies. So, it is highly recommended that one should consult an expert before using essential oils. T
his needs to be taken care of, especially for people at higher risk, such as pregnant women, children, and unwell people. Certain essential oils might even be fatal for babies.
Aromatherapy can offer you many physical, mental, and emotional benefits. No wonder it is used for medicinal, religious as well as therapeutic purposes.
I hope this list will help you come across the right plant you will use in aromatherapy. So, are you ready to plug in your aroma diffuser and enjoy all the benefits of aromatherapy and essential oils?
Or you can make aromatic candles at your home. Watch the video below to learn how to make a 100-hour candle that will be a perfect way to start your aromatherapy journey:
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