Essential oils have been used for thousands of year, including extensive use by the Ancient Egyptians who knew the healing, restorative and rejuvenating powers of plants and aromatherapy. Whether inhaled, massaged, or, in some cases such as peppermint or chamomile, ingested, essential oils often replace popular drugs such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol, antacids, Vick’s, Pepto-Bismol, and many other common OTC and prescription drugs. As we embark on our winter post New Year cleanses, bear in mind, essential oils play an important role in detoxification whether it is to cleanse the liver, cleanse parasites, or even simply to uplift a mood caused by rapid detoxication.
Essential Oils for Detox
Juniper berry : This powerful, detoxifying oil is a purifier, helps avert nervous tension, and reduces cellulite. Juniper essential oil is an antiviral, antiseptic, diuretic, and can help relieve pain, the symptoms of rheumatism, and expel uric acid from the system. Juniper’s spicy aroma helps to strengthen and fortify the spirit during times of low energy, anxiety, and emotional overload. The oil can irritate some people’s skin, and should be avoided during pregnancy.
Helichrysum : Ideal for use during a drug or alcohol detox or a detox from estrogen dominance, helichrysum helps stimulate liver cells, thin mucous secretions, and acts as a free radical scavenger. It is non-toxic and non-irritating.
Lemon: A refreshing citrus oil, lemon stimulates white blood cells to defend the body against infection. Its detoxifying and regenerating properties are beneficial for the liver, and aid in bringing clarity to the mind and emotions. Lemon may irritate those with sensitive skin, and when used in a bath it must be used with a carrier oil.
Grapefruit: Having a detoxifying effect on individuals recovering from substance abuse, grapefruit is antiviral, antiseptic, diuretic, and can aid the digestive system and skin. It refreshes the mind, relieves anxiety, is reviving, uplifting, and helps disperse negative energy. It may, however, increase photosensitivity.
Laurel: Characterized by a fresh, sweet smell, laurel contains eugenol which makes it effective in thinning mucous secretions, as an expectorant, and as an anti-viral and anti-fungal. Laurel has a powerfully balancing effect on the lymphatic system. Rubbing a few drops of oil on swollen lymph nodes for an immediate effect. Laurel should be used in moderation, and avoided during pregnancy.
Below is a list of common symptoms and/or ailments along with body, skin and hair conditions along with the essential oils that balance them.
Essential Oils for the Skin
Acne: Bergamot, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Geranium, Grapefruit, Everlasting, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Neroli, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Ravensara, Rose, Rosemary, Petitgrain, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Thyme
Aging Skin: Bergamot, Cypress, Chamomile, Everlasting, Jasmine, Juniper, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Neroli, Palmarosa, Petitgrain, Patchouli, Ravensara, Rosewood, Rosemary, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang
Dry Skin: Bergamot, Chamomile, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Everlasting, Fennel, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Neroli, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Rosemary, Rose, Sandalwood, Thyme, Ylang Ylang
Normal/Combination Skin: Bergamot, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Geranium, Lavender, Rose, Chamomile, Geranium, Jasmine, Mandarin, Neroli, Orange, Patchouli, Palmarosa, Petitgrain, Rose, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang
Oily Skin: Basil, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Cypress, Geranium, Grapefruit, Geranium, Jasmine*, Juniper, Lemon, Lime, Lavender, Neroli, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Ravensara, Rose, Rosemary, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Thyme, Tea Tree, Ylang Ylang
Essential Oils for the Body
Breakdown of Fat and Cellulite: Basil, Cedarwood, Cypress, Fennel, Juniper, Lavender, Lemongrass, Fennel, Grapefruit, Lemon, Pine, Mandarin, Rosemary
Deodorizing: Bergamot, Cypress, Clary Sage, Lavender, Petitgrain, Lemon, Tea Tree, Patchouli, Peppermint
Eczema, Dermatitis & Psoriasis: Bergamot, Chamomile, Cypress, Cedarwood, Fennel, Geranium, Lavender, Juniper, Orange, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Rose, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Thyme
Herpes & Cold Sores: Bergamot, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Chamomile
Stretch Marks / Scars: Lavender, Rosehip, Rosemary, Rosewood, Patchouli, Chamomile. Also use, Calendula Wheat Germ Oil and Vitamin E as part of therapy but also as carrier oil.
Varicose Veins: Cypress, Everlasting, Lemon, Lavender, Juniper
Essential Oils for the Hair
Normal Hair: Lavender, Lemon, Geranium, Chamomile, Rosemary, Basil, Thyme, Palmarosa, Ylang Ylang
Dry Hair: Lavender, Rosemary, Geranium, Sandalwood, Chamomile, Cedarwood, Clary Sage
Oily Hair: Lavender, Rosemary, Cypress, Lemon, Basil, Thyme, Cedarwood, Juniper
Calming: Chamomile, Lavender, Lemon, Rosewood, Patchouli, Neroli, Sandalwood, Mandarin, Ravensara, Tangerine, Ylang Ylang.
Cradle Cap: Chamomile, Lavender
Dandruff: Basil, Cypress, Cedarwood, Rosemary, Patchouli, Juniper, Lavender, Mandarin, Thyme, Tea Tree
Hair Loss: Rosemary, Basil, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Cypress, Cedarwood, Thyme, Juniper, Geranium, Neroli, Chamomile, Ylang Ylang
Essential Oils for Health
Antibacterial: Bergamot, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Cypress, Everlasting, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Patchouli, Palmarosa, Pine, Ravensara, Rose, Sandalwood, Eucalyptus, Thyme, Basil, Tea Tree
Antifungal: Cedarwood, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Lemongrass, Patchouli, Peppermint, Sandalwood, Thyme, Tea Tree, Basil
Anti-Inflammatory: Chamomile, Citronella, Everlasting, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Ginger, Lavender, Rose, Patchouli, Spearmint, Peppermint, Sandalwood
Antiviral: Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Palmarosa, Ravensara, Tea Tree, Thyme, Tarragon
Anti-Yeast/ Anti-Candida Growth: Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Geranium, Patchouli, Rosemary, Thyme, Tea Tree
Basil, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, Geranium, Ginger, Jasmine, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Orange, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Peppermint, Pine, Rosemary, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Thyme, Mandarin, Neroli, Petitgrain
Circulation: Cypress, Ginger, Juniper, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Neroli, Peppermint, Rosemary, Rose, Thyme
Depression: Angelica*, Anise, Bergamot, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Cypress, Everlasting, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Lavender, Jasmine, Juniper, Lavender, Neroli, Orange, Patchouli, Peppermint, Tangerine, Ravensara, Rose, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Spearmint, Spruce, Ylang Ylang, Pine Needle
Endometriosis: Clary Sage, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Ravensara Menopause Angelica, Basil, Bergamot, Cypress, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Fennel, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Orange, Sandalwood, Ravensara, Rose
Fatigue: Basil, Bergamot, Cypress, Cinnamon, Lavender, Geranium, Grapefruit, Juniper, Neroli, Orange, Rose, Mandarin, Palmarosa, Peppermint, Ravensara, Rosemary, Tangerine, Thyme, Tarragon, Lemon, Petitgrain, Eucalyptus, Ylang Ylang
Headache: Eucalptus, Helichrysum, Roman Chamomile, Peppermint, Spearmint, Nutmeg
Hormone Balancing: Angelica, Bergamot, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Fennel, Geranium, Lavender, Ravensara, Sandalwood, Spearmint, Ylang Ylang
Hot Flashes: Clary Sage, Chamomile, Fennel, Geranium, Lavender
Immune System Adaptogen: Cinnamon, Everlasting, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Ravensara, Rose, Rosemary, Tea Tree (These boost or calm the immune system depending on the body’s needs.
Inflammation and Swelling: Chamomile, Cypress, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Rosemary, Peppermint, Rose, Juniper, Petitgrain, Ylang Ylang
Insomnia: Chamomile, Basil, Citronella, Clary Sage, Juniper, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Neroli, Orange, Ravensara, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Mandarin, Petitgrain, Tangerine
Memory: Basil, Bergamot, Cinnamon, Juniper, Rosemary, Thyme, Ylang Ylang
Nausea: Basil, Chamomile, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Rose, Peppermint, Dill, Sandalwood
PMS: Clary Sage, Fennel, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Jasmine, Juniper, Neroli, Orange, Pine, Ravensara, Rose, Sandalwood, Tarragon
Refreshing: Cypress, Eucalyptus, Juniper, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Peppermint, Ravensara, Tangerine, Mandarin, Rosemary, Ylang Ylang
Relaxing: Angelica*, Chamomile, Citronella, Geranium, Jasmine, Basil, Bergamot, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Mandarin, Neroli, Orange, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Peppermint, Rosewood, Tangerine, Ylang Ylang.
Sensual: Anise, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Jasmine, Lemon, Neroli, Patchouli, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang
Stress: Angelica, Basil, Cypress, Cedarwood, Everlasting, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Orange, Tarragon, Mandarin, Petitgrain, Chamomile, Patchouli, Palmarosa, Pine Needles, Neroli, Tangerine, Rose Jasmine, Ylang Ylang
Essential Oils for Pregnancy
Pregnancy: Ylang Ylang, Neroli, Mandarin, Petitgrain, Tangerine, Lavender
Labor and Delivery: Geranium, Lavender, Jasmine, Neroli, Rose, Ylang Ylang
Postpartum: Bergamot, Clary Sage, Fennel, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lavender, Patchouli, Ravensara, Rose
Stretch Marks / Scars: Lavender, Rosemary, Rosewood, Patchouli, Chamomile. Also use Wheat Germ Oil and Vitamin E.
A word about carrier oils:
NEVER apply essential oils directly to skin. For aroma therapeutic benefits use a diffuser or for application on the skin use a carrier oil. A few of my favorites are calendula, almond, jojoba and olive.
Grapeseed, Olive, Macadamia, and Avocado Oils are also a good way to go.
Argan and Tamanu oils are good choices but quite pricey.
Sunflower and Safflower oil must be organic and cold pressed.
Castor oil (should be sustainably sourced and high quality) can be used for very oily skin.
Wheat germ oil mixed with Vitamin E is a great carrier base for stretch marks and scarring. Calendula is great for this too.
Rosehip oil is pricey but very high in Vitamin C. It is not, in my opinion, neutral smelling though. I use it diluted with calendula oil, 4 parts calendula to 1 part rosehip oil and my favorite essential oils.