I was raised on essential oils. Between my homeopathic doctor aunt, and oil-filled-bathtub obsessed mother, I was well on my way to being an oil connoisseur myself. For the longest time I was strictly a lavender girl–it was easily accessible and just about everything comes in a lavender scent. But here’s the thing, there is a whole great big world of oils out there beyond lavender. Don’t get me wrong, if you’re new to this whole hippie-dippie essential oil thing you may find yourself gravitating to the only familiar name on the shelf (ylang ylang?? pronounced “lang lang” fyi), but not to worry, I have broken down some of my favorite oils and why. Oh, and they are all super amazing for women in particular.
ROSE OIL: Aside from having a severe rose obsession this past year (and I mean severe), rose oil actually uses its natural properties to boost self esteem and work as an antidepressant. It can help with anxiety as well, which might secretly be why my body is craving so much rose.
BASIL OIL: Basil is a great source of Vitamin A, magnesium, and potassium, which help treat nausea, motion sickness, constipation, and diabetes.
LAVENDER OIL: Everyone’s fave. The name derives from the Latin word Lavare, meaning “to wash,” and that is exactly what it does. It cleanses your soul in a way that eases tension and helps calm the body.
ROSEMARY OIL: Rosemary is valued for its ability to strengthen the entire body. It was used in many medicinal ointments in the 16th century, and today is often used to stimulate hair growth. It is also believed that rosemary can heal delicate organs such as the liver and brain.
WILD ORANGE: Wild orange can disinfect or kill fungus and pathogens. It eliminates toxins from the body, which often pollute the digestive system. PLUS, it also supports collagen formation in the skin keeping that youthful complexion.
GINGER OIL: Used to soothe the digestive system discomforts. Ginger oil is great for upset stomaches.
LEMON OIL: An antioxidant that contributes to clear skin, deep sleep, and positive energy. It awakens every sense in the body, giving you the ultimate natural boost.
GERANIUM OIL: Geranium oil has the ability to balance hormones and is often used to reduce the side effects of menopause.
CLARY SAGE OIL: While clary sage is considered an aphrodisiac oil, it has an even greater health benefit–it helps clear vision. It has the ability to brighten eyes, improve vision, and prevent loss of eyesight.
TEA TREE OIL: HUGE in Australia–where is was derived–and made its name in the US back in the 90’s when it was cool to only use products made of tea tree oil. My mom can vouch for this one, tea tree is a life savor! It’s like a magical oil that cures inflammation, infection, irritation, the list goes on. Keep a bottle handy at all times.
YLANG YLAN OIL: Pure and simple, it helps with dandruff. It actually helps with a lot of dermal dryness and eczema. Many beauty companies today are using ylang ylang oil to infuse a touch of moisture to their products.