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Essential Oils: Effective or Myth?
- FMPW Bloggers
- Apr 6, 2023
- 4 min read
Imagine you can prevent your risk of cancer, prevent dementia, or receive many other health benefits through a natural source. All of these may sound too good to be true but guess what? You can receive all of these benefits through essential oils! Well, not really, but people believe you can. Many essential oil companies make these promises that their essential oils can give all of these stellar health benefits but in reality, are they as effective as promised? Or, more importantly, do they even work? To understand this, let’s explore the uses and myths of essential oils.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are naturally extracted from plants such as lavender, jasmine, or more depending on the type of oil. This oil is made through a distillation process where various parts of a plant are distilled to create a concentrated, liquified version of the plant. This essentially creates the oil. Essential oils are used as a type of alternative medicine to improve physical and emotional health. They can be applied to the skin or they can simply be inhaled and they will (allegedly) give multiple health benefits.
Each oil is different and they can give different health benefits. For instance, peppermint can increase energy, lavender can calm you down, and jasmine can cheer you up. Aside from this, many oils claim to even prevent cancer symptoms, heart disease, diabetes, and many more diseases.
All of these claims may sound amazing, and in a sense, receiving all of these from essential oils would be great! However, some of you may be thinking this sounds too good to be true. Unfortunately, yes it is. There are many myths surrounding essential oils that must be addressed on whether they work or not.
Do essential oils actually work?
There have been numerous studies conducted on this topic and there have been varying results. According to the National Institute of Health, there is currently no evidence backing up the fact that essential oils can cure any illnesses. However, the effects of essential oils on one’s mood are more mixed.
There have been some studies showing that essential oils can lead to positive effects on the human body. For instance, one study from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry showed that balm from lemon oil reduces agitation in patients with dementia. Other studies showed that tea tree oil can help treat acne, thyme and rosemary oils can treat hair loss, and oils containing citrus can inhibit bacterial growth. Despite all of this, the majority of these studies have not been performed in clinical trials. So, more research will be needed to determine the effects of essential oils and the best uses for them. But as of now, the effects of essential oil are indeterminate.
Safety of essential oils
For the most part, essential oils are completely safe to use. However, there are still some health concerns when using them. For instance, essential oils cannot be ingested. These oils are often used by rubbing it on the skin or sniffing, NOT for consuming. Additionally, some people may experience allergic reactions or irritation from essential oils. Some people may break out in itchy rashes or hives after applying it to the skin. However, keep in mind that many of these side effects may only occur through misuse of the product. That being said, some people still have to be wary when using these oils such as young children and pregnant women.
Should you use/try essential oils?
After learning a bit about the use and effects of essential oils, we must now determine whether you should use them or not. Well, sure! But, maybe not for any specific health reasons. Essential oils are harmless so unless you have any allergies or other concerns, they are safe to use. It is possible that their sweet scent can help you relax or boost your mood! Additionally, you don’t have to apply the oil to your skin, you can add some to your clothes or sheets to give them a nice smell. However, keep in mind that if you do choose to try using essential oils, it is not guaranteed you will be receiving any major health benefits. Nonetheless, it wouldn’t hurt to give them a try if you choose to.
Conclusions
While essential oils may seem like a solution to many of your health needs or problems, it is best to be wary of whether they work or not. Sure, their sweet scent may be beneficial for one’s mental health, but its effects on physical health is more unknown. Additionally, if you do choose to give essential oils a try, be wary of where you get it from! Some companies may be trying to scam you by telling you all of the amazing health benefits that essential oils come with, but they may have negative effects or no effects at all. Nonetheless, it is crucial to keep in mind that essential oils may not result in the health benefits it claims to have and further research will be necessary.
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