What Are The Benefits Of Using Essential Oils?

May 22, 2020 3 min read

Essential oils

The Amazing Uses and Benefits of Essential Oils

The amazing beneficial properties contained within essential oils is all too frequently underestimated; they have wonderful scents and are therapeutic too.  They are well worth introducing into your life through personal care products, cleaning products and diffusing them in your space and home.

Essential oils are good for all the family; they have the ability to support your health and boost your immune system year-round due to their natural and highly potent properties.

Many extensive scientific studies have demonstrated the efficacy of essential oils including as anti-viral and anti-bacterial agents.

Circle of essential oils and herbs

We are only just beginning to unlock the power and secrets of essential oils and how beneficial they really are in helping to fight diseases both mental and physical.  They aren’t oils as such but complex mixtures of compounds extracted directly from plants, whether that’s the leaf, flower, stem, bark or peel.  

One huge advantage of using essential oils is that they easily pass through our cell membranes and into our bloodstream either when inhaled or used topically.

When inhaled, essential oils penetrate the cells of the respiratory system, i.e. your nose, sinuses, throat, bronchial tube and lungs.  Our slow burning, essential oil candles are perfect for this!

Kiwi fruit and essential oil

Essential oils with anti-viral activity are rich in a class of molecules called ‘monoterpenes’.  They are effective in inactivating enveloped viruses - the annual flu is an enveloped virus. 

Interestingly, scientists have found that essential oils act directly on the viruses themselves and will inactivate them by inhibiting their ability to replicate and/or inhibiting their ability to fuse to cell walls and infect a host cell.  

They have also been shown to positively support our immune system and enhance its ability to ward off infecting microbes.

As no single essential oil alone will be totally effective against all viruses, a blend of essential oils is beneficial such as our Tea Tree blend Soy candle with Tea Tree, Eucalyptus and Rosemary essential oils. 

Pestle and mortar and essential oils

Studies have also found that the entire essential oil make-up is more effective at inactivating viruses than just extracting and using just the isolated compounds of these oils, i.e. Tea Tree essential oil is said to be approximately ten times more effective than terpinen-4-ol alone - the compound in tea tree essential oil thought to be the most active antiviral constituent! 

This has also been shown to be true for other essential oils that have been researched for their anti-bacterial properties. Accordingly, we have also included an anti-bacterial Sweet Orange essential oil candle in our product range. Not only does it release a lovely scent that children also enjoy, Sweet Orange has powerful anti-microbial properties and other health benefits, such as alleviating anxiety, promoting positivity and alertness. We also use Sweet Orange essential oil in our shampoo barsmulti-purpose cleaners, wet wipes and more.

Through inhaling essential oils either through diffusers or burning candles with these anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, we can get an active amount of these effective compounds throughout our respiratory system and even into our bloodstream.  Using products which contain these essential oils on a daily basis will also be hugely beneficial.

Marigolds and essential oils

Some essential oils with these properties include Lemon (in our anti-bacterial soaps), Tea Tree (in our anti-bacterial soap packs, candles, cuts and scrapes balm), Sweet Orange (soaps, hair shampoo bars, candles) Eucalyptus & Rosemary (in our herbal shampoo bars and soap bars), Lemongrass, Peppermint and Niaouli (in our awesome bug repellent bars), Cinnamon and Clove (in our muscle balm). 

Be sure to check out the full range of shampoo bars here.

Best wishes,

Rebecca and The Solid Bar Company Team

 

PS. While you are here why not check this illuminating information on the dangers associated with using wet wipes and how to simply make your own eco wet wipe.

 

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