Skip to main content

BlissMark may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

These popular essential oils can help with a variety of ailments

Essential oils have become a popular natural remedy for a variety of ailments, quickly becoming one of the most well-known holistic medicinal treatments. Essential oil makers extract the oil from various leaves, flowers, and plant seeds, and these oils retain the scent, or “essence,” of its origin. People often use essential oils in aromatherapy, but use extends to perfumery, food preservation, and even pest repellant.

So, what’s the science behind it? Essential oils stimulate the sense of smell. The scent molecules from these oils travel from a person’s nose to the amygdala, part of the brain’s emotional center. This can help calm nerves, assuage negative feelings, aid sleep, and even boost the immune system response.

Related Videos

While there is not widespread clinical research around essential oils as a cure for all of these ailments, some studies and anecdotal research concluded it can improve conditions such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. So while it might not be a cure-all, if you’re feeling drowsy, stressed, congested, or have some other physical or mental pain, essential oil use may be worth a shot.

Read on to learn more about the 11 most beneficial essential oils for aromatherapy.

Peppermint

Not only can peppermint oil make a room smell fresh, but it can also make you feel refreshed. This popular oil, derived from the flowering parts and leaves of a peppermint plant, is known for improving memory and alertness, so it’s highly recommended for those who work long hours. Studies have also found it can boost athletic performance, reduce headaches, soothe muscle aches, and, as a limited amount of research shows, may also aid with irritable bowel syndrome.

Buy Peppermint Oil

Lavender

One of the most common essential oils, lavender, comes from the iconic purple plant and is often found in perfumes and soaps. A whiff of this oil can be a soothing sensory experience — it’s no wonder hotels like to lightly spray it on linens and spas decorate waiting rooms with it. A 200-person study showed that lavender oil effectively lessened patients’ anxiety in a dental office, suggesting it can be a great remedy for relaxation and stress relief.

Buy Lavendar Oil

Jasmine

Derived from the white flowers of jasmine plants, this essential oil is also frequently mixed into perfumes, including the timeless Chanel No. 5. Jasmine has a sweet, romantic smell, making it a noted aphrodisiac. It’s a mood-booster that can help reduce stress, anxiety, fatigue, and depression, and is even recommended for menstrual cramps and menopausal symptoms.

Buy Jasmine Oil

Sage

This essential oil packs a punch– it’s full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals like Vitamin A, zinc, and magnesium. In small doses, these vitamins aid in improving physical and mental wellbeing through fighting infection and improving memory. Sage emits a strong, spicy scent that is relaxing, reducing blood pressure, anxiety, and inflammation.

Buy Sage Oil

Orange

A fresh cup of orange juice may bring back happy memories of childhood breakfasts or summer soccer games. In fruit form, it’s famous for its immune-boosting properties, but it also packs a whole lot of punch as an essential oil. Orange is a mood-enhancing scent that can help reduce anxiety and stress. A small study also showed inhaling a bit of orange can help improve running times, and another showed it’s potential to aid in weight loss.

Buy Orange Oil

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a popular ingredient for cooks, bakers, and drink-makers, and it’s also a go-to aromatherapy for improving focus and energy. This essential oil improves blood flow to the brain, giving a much-needed pick-me-up when you’re feeling bogged down or distracted.

Buy Cinnamon Oil

Eucalyptus

This essential oil’s benefits make it popular during the cold and flu season. Derived from eucalyptus plants, this oil contains eucalyptol and alpha-terpineol, which help to break up congestion and reduce headaches. To use this essential oil, you can diffuse it or put a few drops on your hand and inhale after taking a hot bath or shower.

Buy Eucalyptus Oil

Chamomile

Drinking chamomile tea has long been a favorite pre-bedtime routine. While chamomile is known to help promote good sleep, drinking too much tea before bed can cause a midnight bathroom run. As an alternative, consider chamomile aromatherapy. In addition to helping you catch some extra zzz’s, a 2018 study showed this essential oil also calms feelings of anxiety.

Buy Chamomile Oil

Rosemary

Mental fog is real, especially if you’re prone to an afternoon slump or have had trouble sleeping. Suggestion: ditch the third cup of coffee and diffuse some rosemary next time you’re feeling out of it. This essential oil stimulates the brain to promote clarity and improved memory function.

Buy Rosemary Oil

Tea Tree

This essential oil isn’t actually derived from a tea plant but rather from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a tree native to Australia. Tea tree oil is known for its benefits to the immune system and is also praised for its anti-fungal properties. Further, this essential oil is a popular ingredient in shampoos as it can help clear up pesky issues such as lice, dry scalp, and dandruff.

Buy Tea Tree Oil

Lemon Oil

Lemony fresh smelling rooms is often a gold standard in cleanliness. It’s no surprise — lemon may taste sour, but it smells fresh, often putting people in a better mood and flexing its anti-stress powers. When diluted, lemon oil has a high D-limonene concentration, which helps reduce wrinkles and firm up skin, making it a great addition to your skincare routine.

Buy Lemon Oil

Disclaimer: BlissMark provides information regarding health, wellness, and beauty. The information within this article is not intended to be medical advice. Before starting any diet or exercise routine, consult your physician. If you don’t have a primary care physician, the United States Health & Human Services department has a free online tool that can help you locate a clinic in your area. We are not medical professionals, have not verified or vetted any programs, and in no way intend our content to be anything more than informative and inspiring. 

Editors' Recommendations

Items to help you heal and recover
woman massaging neck

You want to have items in your home that can help you recover your body and clothes. You want to prevent a mess from happening or prevent future injuries. You want the items to finally fix that loose button or prevent yourself from making a mess on your shirt while eating a delicious dinner. You are an active person with an active lifestyle. You enjoy working out, and your job relies on you lifting heavy packages. You need the items that can help you heal, recover, or prevent you from injuring yourself. The five items listed below will make your path to recovery easier.

You are a person who is looking for the perfect equipment for someone in the hospital recovering from surgery. You want to make their path to a recovery run smoothly. The five items listed above are what you will need for that person. The elbow and calf braces are perfect for someone who is doing physical therapy. The adult bids will make it easy for the person in a hospital bed to prevent future food and drink messes. The batteries are a great way to add some night light if the person reading a book at night, and does not want that bright hospital light. If the person is wearing their favorite button-up shirt, their supplies to fix any buttons that had fallen off.

Read more
Healthy lifestyle items that you need
Soybeans

Our body is our temple, and it is a matter of importance to take of your temple. Many choices can help your body heal and recover. Your body recovery is important to you, and you want to prevent yourself from possible injuries. You might be someone who's recovering from surgery, and you need something to help you recover and give you the chance to take your daily shower. You need to listen to your body on what it needs. There are alternative ways that the medical system recommends for you that will make it easier for your body to recover or change your diet plan.

The five items listed above are ways to recover, change, and heal your body for the better. The knee brace and back brace help relieve your pain. You are someone whose job is to lift above twenty pounds, and it is common for you to injure your back and knees. You might be a person who's changing their caffeine habit, who is tired of afternoon burnouts. You want a healthier alternative rather than drinking daily caffeinated beverages. You want to continue taking your daily showers, but it can be stressful if you have a disability or have an injury that prevents you from showering. The five items listed above will make your life easier for your mind and body.

Read more
5 products that will make life easier for all new parents
brain damaging habits man baby multitasking

Becoming a new parent means adding a whole lot of new 'stuff' to your household. Babies may be tiny but they sure do need a lot of stuff! It can be easy for your house to feel crowded and cluttered once you start to amass all the things that come with having a new baby, from bottles and baby dishes to diapers and wipes, toys, and the neverending pile of clothes that they seem to grow out of as soon as they grow into.

It can seem very overwhelming to new parents to try to keep track of all the new baby items, but there are some really great products that can help keep even the most frazzled new parent organized. Check out these 5 products that will help make life easier for all new parents.

Read more