10 Essential Oils That Will Give Your Mind, Body And Spirit A Boost

Rejuvenate and inspire your mind, body and spirit: Essential oils provide a natural approach to grooming, healing and your overall well-being.

Essential oils have therapeutic properties that can be incorporated into your daily routine -- from adding drops to your morning cup of tea, to de-stressing after a crazy workday in your bath.

These oils are a natural source and can be used to alleviate allergies and sleeping issues.

When used correctly, essential oils can even replace over-the-counter medicine to help heal your body and improve your mind.

According to Young Living, the purest essential oils are much stronger than their botanical roots. One small bottle of oil can last a very long time; in many cases you only need to use one to two drops.

When incorporating essential oils into your diet, Essential Oil Cookbook suggests stirring them in toward the end of your food prep, or even after your meal is cool. Do not add when hot, as heat will evaporate the oils.

If you’re leery about the taste of essential oils, the cookbook also points out that whenever you brush your teeth, treat yourself to a box of chocolates or chew your favorite pack of gum, essential oils serve as the flavoring agent.

These are some of the most common essential oils to incorporate into your routine along with their benefits:

Lavender (lavandula angustifolia)

Lavender contains anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties and can help heal scrapes and bites. Lavender’s floral aroma is absolutely magnificent. Its soothing effect can also help with sleep and relaxation.

Lavender can be applied to your body or even added to bath water. Young Living says you can add lavender essential oil to your shampoo, skin products and body lotions.

Eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus)

Eucalyptus is perfect for colds and coughs, and a few drops in steaming water can assist in clearing and disinfecting your lungs and nasal passages. Eucalyptus is your go-to oil to clear dreaded stuffiness and congestion.

De-stress after a long workday by adding a few drops of eucalyptus to your hot bath water. Uncle Harry’s suggests including 10 drops of eucalyptus oil in your bath to relax the joints and muscles.

Peppermint (mentha piperita)

Peppermint is a cooling oil and can bring down a fever when a few drops are added to a carrier oil (a vegetable oil) and rubbed on your chest, back and neck. Smelling peppermint also helps with nausea or even motion sickness. Combined with lavender oil and applied to temples, it can reduce a bad headache.

Young Living says peppermint is one of the most useful herbs for aiding digestion and suggests adding one drop of peppermint oil to a cup of herbal tea to help your digestive system.

Lemon (citrus limonum)

Lemon has so many home uses and applications. When added to olive oil, it makes a great furniture polish. It can also be added to baking soda and coarse salt to use as an antibacterial scrub for butcher-block surfaces or cutting boards.

Add lemon essential oil to water to alleviate bad breath, to shampoo to help eliminate dandruff and to your bath to lower anxiety levels.

According to the Essential Oil Cookbook, rather than buying a whole lemon, using just one drop of lemon essential oil does the trick, producing the same amount of flavor.

Roman Chamomile (anthemis nobilis)

Roman Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory and perfect for sensitive skin or acne. It is also great to help you relax. When combined with coconut oil, roman chamomile is soothing for eczema.

Soothe the mind and body with roman chamomile. This essential oil is extremely beneficial when complementing massage oil for your aching muscles after a workout.

Tea Tree Oil (melaleuca alternifolia)

Tea Tree Oil makes a spectacular natural, safe home cleaner. Simply add two teaspoons to two cups of water. Also, a few drops mixed with a carrier oil (such as coconut oil) can treat warts, fungus and dandruff.

Carrot seed (daucus carota)

Carrot Seed will aid in pampering and smoothing skin. This oil can help to tone skin and with scar reduction. It is known for it’s anti-aging and wrinkle prevention.

According to Mercola, carrot seed doesn’t get enough loving out of the essential oils. Among its many benefits, this oil nourishes and refreshes the skin, eases menstrual pain, sparks the appetite, alleviates hiccups.

Oregano (origanum vulgare)

Oregano is used to treat arthritis pain, tendonitis, cysts, sprains and herpes. This essential oil also acts as a soothing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-allergenic and more.

Clove (syzygium aromaticum)

Clove is a handy, natural treatment for toothaches, canker sores and cold sores. It must be diluted when used. This oil is extremely strong; if you have sensitive skin, it should not be used.

Clove essential oil is highly recommended for acne patients and often found in anti-aging products that refresh the skin.

Grapefruit (citrus paradise)

Grapefruit is known for its uplifting qualities... and amazing scent.

It can be used to help treat cellulite, acne and oily skin. It can also be mixed with baking soda, unrefined coconut oil and arrowroot powder for an awesome DIY deodorant.

**Use essential oils safely and wisely. If you are pregnant, nursing or have a medical condition, you should check with your physician before changing or adding anything to your normal routine.

Note that essential oils (natural) are different than fragrance oils (synthetic), which do not have natural healing abilities.

Healingscents says the skin easily absorbs essential oils, although advises caution. Some of them may cause discomfort or irritation, according to Now Foods.