Essential oils are incredibly popular right now. By some online accounts, it seems like these oils are miracle workers in a bottle that can fight off all health conditions.
But wait, before you shell out $60 for a 10mL bottle of the currently trending essential oil, you might want to give this article a read. It’s an objective, evidence-based look at some of the purported health benefits of essential oils.
What are essential oils?
If you’ve ever taken in the enchanting smell of a fresh bouquet of roses or immersed yourself in the woody fragrance of fir trees in winter, then you’ve been exposed to essential oils.
You see, essential oils are natural oils that exist in plants as minuscule droplets and are responsible for giving a plant its unique scent and chemical makeup. You can think of these oils as concentrated ‘plant extracts’ that retain the natural flavor and smell — or ‘essence’ — of their source.
Common uses of essential oils
Many people use essential oils for a myriad of purposes. Typically, they’re used as an anti-inflammatory, stimulating, or relaxing substance. But others also believe that these oils can cure more severe health issues, such as cancer and mental disorders.
Do essential oils work?
So, do essential oils work? It’s a tough question to answer because there are so many natural oils available and they each have their own claimed health benefits. To cover them all would require a book, so for brevity’s sake, I’ll cover the ones that have gotten most of the attention in recent years.
#1 — Improves sleep quality
Think of lavender essential oil: what’s the first thing that comes into your mind? I’m willing to bet that it has something to do with sleep, or with relaxation. It’s a common belief that essential oils can facilitate improvement in sleep, and current scientific research supports this theory.
