Excerpted from Stephanie Tourles’s Essential Oils: A Beginner’s Guide by Stephanie L. Tourles. Used with permission from Storey Publishing.

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

An essential oil can contain millions of molecules (some of which are quite aromatic and others not so much). These molecules easily penetrate the skin whether applied “neat” (undiluted) or diluted in a carrier, and they rapidly penetrate the mucous membranes of the respiratory system when inhaled. Through both application and inhalation, the molecules travel quickly through the capillaries and into the circulatory system, which transports them around the body.

The aromatic vapors stimulate the olfactory nerve—the only nerve in the body that is in direct contact with the external environment—and act directly on the limbic system of the brain, the area that houses memories, emotions, desires, and appetites. As the molecules travel through the body, the oils’ complex array of components interact with the body’s own chemistry, exerting therapeutic effects, sometimes profound ones. Their action stimulates various physiological and psychological responses, such as relief from pain, renewing of damaged skin tissue, reduction of inflammation or fever, invigoration or relaxation of the senses, release of hormones, or a positive boost in mood or cognitive ability.

The Benefits of Essential Oils

The compelling benefits of pure essential oils are often nearly immediate, and you may find yourself surprised by the speed at which they work. Direct inhalation of lavender oil can quickly quell a bout of anxiety, for example, while breathing in a combination of Roman chamomile and peppermint oil can deliver blessed relief from a tension headache within minutes. All this amazing soothing plant energy conveniently packaged in a tiny bottle! That’s my kind of medicine.

Interestingly, unlike with synthetic drugs or chemicals, there is evidence that essential oils do not accumulate in the human body but instead are excreted in the perspiration, breath, urine, and feces. If you constantly use the same essential oils or blends, however, it is strongly recommended that you occasionally take a break to allow your body sufficient time to properly metabolize and excrete those particular chemical constituents.

Essential Oil Application/Inhalation Basics

For ongoing application or inhalation, use the oil(s) or blend for 5 days, then take 2 days off. Depending on the method of administration, the particular oils used, and the genetic makeup, age, size, dietary intake, lifestyle, and overall metabolism of the individual, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to 12 hours for essential oils to be fully absorbed and 3 to 6 hours for them to be metabolized and expelled from a normal, healthy body. For an unhealthy and/or obese body, increase that to 12 to 14 hours.

Toothaches, gingivitis, and other oral ailments can be a real pain... literally. Common herbs—and the essential oils derived from them—are surprisingly effective for treating some of our stickiest tooth and gum complaints.

Herbs for Dental Health

• Calendula

  Calendula (Calendula officinalis) has antibacterial properties and reduces oral inflammation associated with gingivitis. Mouthwash made with calendula helps heal wounds and trauma to gums following tooth extractions.

• Goldenseal

  Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is helpful for treating infections in the mucous membranes and for reducing bacteria that cause everything from gingivitis to strep throat. When used as a mouthwash it can help treat periodontal disease and thrush.

• Lavender

  Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a strongly scented shrub of the mint family. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It promotes wound healing, so it may be helpful following oral surgery.

• Myrrh

  Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) is resin from trees native to Northern Africa. It has pain-relieving and antimicrobial properties. It’s especially useful for treating gum disease, mouth ulcers, and sore throats, and is often found in natural mouthwashes.

• Peppermint

  Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is particularly helpful as a topical anesthetic for the treatment of toothache. Menthol—a volatile oil—and peppermint essential oil, both derived from the peppermint plant, have antibacterial properties. Peppermint adds a pleasant, refreshing taste to mouthwashes.

• Tea tree

  Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is one of various species that share the name tea tree. A member of the myrtle family, tea tree is known for its antimicrobial activity and is especially powerful against drug-resistant fungal and yeast infections in the mouth. It’s also useful for treating gingivitis and mouth ulcers.

• Xylitol

  Xylitol is a low-calorie sweetener, equal in sweetness and volume to table sugar. Research supports using xylitol to prevent cavities, plaque, and tooth decay. Bacteria cannot utilize xylitol to grow; therefore, fewer decay-causing bacteria survive on the tooth’s surface over time, reducing plaque formation.

Tips and Precautions

A refreshing, minty mouthwash can be made by combining mineral water with one drop each of peppermint, tea tree, and myrrh essential oils. Use it twice daily and don’t swallow.

Natural remedies can go a long way toward providing relief for minor discomfort, but serious pain and infections should be treated by a dental health professional. Unless otherwise indicated, essential oils shouldn’t be swallowed.  

It’s time to put the green in your clean! Common household cleaners contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to your health. You can create safe, eco-friendly cleaning products using essential oils and other natural and inexpensive ingredients you can find at any natural grocery store. 

Sure, essential oils smell great—who doesn’t love a hint of lemon in the kitchen and lavender in the bath or bedroom—but they can do more than just freshen the air.

“Essential oils have potent antimicrobial effects along with their clean, pleasant natural aromas,”  says Anne Rierson, manager of public relations at Aura Cacia, an essential oil brand.

Essential Oils for Household Cleaning

According to Rierson, these are the essential oils most useful for household cleaning. Creating your own natural cleaning products is as simple as adding these potent essential oils to natural cleaning products. Baking soda, a gently abrasive scouring powder and odor absorber is an excellent base for making your own cleaning preparations.

• Lemon Oil

  In addition to its clean, uplifting scent, lemon’s acidic properties provide antibacterial and antiseptic cleaning actions. It can help remove stains. Add a few drops to a gallon of water when mopping white floors. Other citrus oils helpful in cleaning are orange and grapefruit.

• Peppermint Oil

  This essential oil purifies air and acts as a mild pest repellent. Mix peppermint with lemon for a refreshing smell! It also blends well with lavender, eucalyptus, and rosemary.

• Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Oil

  These distinctive-smelling oils work as air and surface sanitizers. Tea tree oil works well on mold and mildew, as well as musty smells.

• Pine Oil

  Pine is inexpensive and clean smelling, and acts as both a disinfectant and a deodorizer.

• Lavender Oil

  It has a pleasing scent, is anti-bacterial and deters insects such as moths.

DIY Cleanser Recipes

Natural Carpet Cleaner

Make your own carpet cleaning product by mixing 15- 20 drops of any essential oil into a cup of baking soda.

Let the mixture sit overnight (so the oil can be absorbed into the baking soda), then sprinkle on the carpet before you vacuum.

Toilet Bowl Cleanser

You can make a quick and easy disinfecting toilet bowl cleanser by combining these in a 22-ounce spray bottle:

• 1 cup of water
• [q:1/4] cup of liquid Castile soap
• 20 drops of white lavender or lemon essential oil

Anyone who has had an herb garden can attest to the power of the oregano plant: A few pinched leaves from this aromatic perennial can add potent flavor to all kinds of dishes and prove a nice addition to pizzas or tomato sauces or any-thing in need of Mediterranean-style flair.

Origanum has been revered for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks used it for wounds, headaches, and venomous bites.

But that’s just the beginning. The oil from oregano (which is also pungent) is highly regarded outside of the kitchen for its ability to boost immunity during cold and flu season. And now this: There is some evidence—albeit preliminary—that oregano oil can help relieve skin conditions like acne, athlete’s foot, cold sores, and dandruff.

In fact, the antibacterial and antifungal properties of this Italian-food favorite may one day make it a must-have medicinal. Until then? Here’s the latest on oil of oregano, and a few reasons why it’s earned its place in the beauty aisle.

The Science Behind Oregano Oil

Oregano contains numerous phenolic and other chemical compounds (including carvacrol and rosmarinic, oleanolic, and ursolic acids) that have beneficial biological effects. One in-vitro (test tube) study, as well as an in-vivo study on mice, demonstrated these compounds have antimicrobial properties and are effective against Candida albicans, a type of yeast that is a common cause of fungal infections.

You can use oil of oregano for certain dermatological conditions. Dilute a few drops of the oil with a tablespoon of olive, coconut, or grapeseed oil, and massage it into your skin at the site of inflammation or irritation.

Oregano oil can also be mixed and applied with chamomile, eucalyptus, tea tree, or spearmint oil. Do not apply the oil to sensitive areas or open wounds, and consult a healthcare practitioner before using the herb for any therapeutic reason if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Oil of Oregano for Cold and Flu

Although its name is derived from a Greek word that means “joy of the mountains,” most of us think “joy of the pizza” when it comes to oregano. Its wild cousin, Origanum, has been revered for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks used it for wounds, headaches, and venomous bites. It preserved food during the Middle Ages, and to seventeenth-century Brits, it was the go-to remedy for head colds.

Oil of Oregano v Infection

In the twenty-first century, research has discovered oil of oregano’s antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, and antiviral benefits. Its essential oils have demonstrated antimicrobial properties that may help prevent or treat antibiotic-resistant infections. Research from the UK has found that Himalayan oregano fights MRSA, the contagious staph infection that’s considered a superbug because it is hard to treat.

One of oregano’s chemical components is carvacrol, a compound that appears to fight infection as effectively as traditional antibiotics. Other components of oregano also have antibiotic properties, and carvacrol is found in other oils such as thyme. 

Symptom Relief

Used in a steam inhalation, oil of oregano can help relieve coughs and other upper respiratory cold and flu symptoms. Add a few drops to hot water and then breathe in the steam to help clear the sinuses and bronchial passages. If you’re allergic to basil, mint, hyssop, marjoram, or sage, avoid this oil. Pregnant women should also avoid it, since it has traditionally been used to help expel the placenta following birth.

To relieve a sore throat related to colds, coughs, or flu, make a throat spray with a few drops of oregano oil in a half cup of distilled water in a spray bottle, or use as a gargle. An integrative healthcare provider can offer advice for your symptoms.

Slipping into a warm tub feels wonderful. If you are blessed with a bathtub (and doubly blessed with a deep one), try taking your soak to another level by adding one of these healing elements.

Ingredients for Therapeutic Baths

• Essential Oils

  Perhaps the easiest way to add a benefit to your bath, aromatherapy doesn’t just smell good; studies show it can influence how you feel. Organic pure essential oils can be purchased at natural products stores, and one bottle will last a long time.

  Be sure to mix the oils into the bath water before stepping in, as undiluted essential oils can irritate the skin.

  • Add lavender, chamomile or clary sage for a calming bath.
  • Add peppermint or rosemary to energize.
  • Eucalyptus and tea tree will offer purifying benefits.

• Sea Salt and Minerals

  To relieve stress, add sea salt to a bath to turn an ordinary bathtub into a mineral pool. The trick is to add quality sea salt that contains naturally existing minerals.

  Sea salt has a purifying and healing effect. How much salt to add to a tub depends on the condition of your skin; start with a small handful and increase until you are comfortable.

• Oatmeal

  Fill an old sock with about 1 cup of oats and then tie the end. Toss this into the water and squeeze occasionally. The sock will release cloudy “oat” water that is rich in amazingly calming and healing natural emollients.

  • Try not to make the water too hot, as that dries the skin.
  • If you have dried lavender, you can add that to the oatmeal.
  • Discard when done.

• Tea

  Tea bags or loose tea work in the tub. Use four to six teabags or a large tea ball and add at the beginning, running just-hot water.

  • For a relaxing bath, add chamomile tea bags. Sip a cup of chamomile tea at the same time for extra relaxation.
  • Green tea has many antioxidants that benefit the skin.
  • A citrus tea will create a refreshing soak.

• Milk and Honey

  The lactic acid in milk acts as a gentle exfoliator to remove dead skin. The higher the fat of the milk you use, the more moisturizing it will be. Honey is moisturizing and softening, and it smells great.

  To a warm tub, add 2 to 4 cups of milk and ½ cup of honey. Mix with your hand.