Essential Oil Descriptions and Uses

Essential Oil Descriptions, Uses, and Contraindications

 

Caution: Essential Oils are concentrated essences from plants, and should always be diluted before application to the skin to avoid irritation. We do not promote or encourage the use of Essential Oils internally but more for their aromatic and topical benefits. Ensure that you are aware of the contraindications of the oils that you are using and consult with your doctor or a certified aromatherapist if you have health concerns or questions.
How to Use Essential Oils

Inhaling Essential Oils
  • Diffuser - car, electric, ceramic, light ring, glass 6-8 drops
  • Mister (Environmental) - 45 drops per 30 ml water
  • Mister (Body/Face) - 15 drops per 30 ml of water
  • Tissue - one drop and inhale, avoiding eye area
Massaging Essential Oils
  • Must be diluted in cold pressed vegetable oil or lotion or cream base
  • For healthy adults 7-15 drops per 30 ml of massage base
  • Older Children or Seniors half the amount 3-7 drops per 30ml
Bathing with Essential Oils
  • Bath tub - add up to 8 drops of essential oil to a full tub
  • Foot bath - add up to 4-6 drops of essential oil
  • *Use very little citrus in the bath, could tingle the skin

Essential Oil Descriptions & Contraindications

Aniseed Essential Oil

Uses: An essential oil suggested for the digestive system, could stimulate a tired mind, muscular aches and pains. Helpful for colds, coughs, and bronchitis.
Origin: Spain
Latin name: Pimpinella anisum
Note: Top
Extraction: Distillation from seeds
Applications: Inhalation, Massage
Contraindications: Avoid during pregnancy, can cause dermatitis, best to use in small doses.

Basil Essential Oil

Uses: Headaches, digestive upsets, sharpens the senses, sluggish/congested skin.
Origin: India
Latin name: Ocimum basilicum
Note: Top
Extraction: Distillation from flowering herb
Applications: Inhalation, Massage
Contraindications: Avoid during pregnancy, can irritate the skin

Benzoin Essential Oil

Uses: Calms the mind, helps relieve symptoms of coughs, colds, bronchitis and flus, cuts or chapped skin.
Origin: India
Latin name: Styrax benzoin
Note: Base
Extraction: Solvent from resin
Applications: Widely used as a fragrance fixative. Also can be used in massage, bath and body care products.
Cautions: May be an irritant to people with extremely sensitive skin

Bergamot (FCF) Essential Oil

Uses: Very uplifting oil, good for depression, anxiety, eczema/psoriasis, cold sores, sluggish digestion.
Origin: Italy
Latin name: Citrus bergamia
Note: Middle
Extraction: Expression from the rind
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Skin irritant, bergaptene has been removed from this essential oil, which causes sun photo-sensitivity.

Black Pepper Essential Oil

Uses: Muscular aches and pains, helpful with bruising, stimulates the mind, stimulates the digestive system.
Origin: India
Latin name: Piper nigrum
Note: Middle
Extraction: Extraction from peppercorns
Applications: Inhalation, Massage
Contraindications: Skin irritant, could over stimulate kidneys.

Cajeput Essential Oil

Uses: An excellent antiseptic for the respiratory tract. Good for muscular aches and pains, colds, flus, sinusitis, insect bites.
Origin: Indonesia
Latin name: Malaleuca cajaputi
Note: Top
Extraction: Distillation of leaves & twigs
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: May irritate the skin

Camphor (White) Essential Oil

Uses: Good for infections, muscular aches and pains, calms the digestive system.
Origin: China
Latin name: Cinnamon camphora
Note: Top Extraction: Distilled from wood & branches
Applications: Inhalation, Massage
Contraindications: White Camphor is said to be less toxic than yellow or brown camphor. Powerful Oil, avoid during pregnancy, epilepsy and asthma

Carrot Seed Essential Oil

Uses: Cleanses the body, tonic on hormonal concerns, great for skin adding elasticity and toning.
Origin: Hungary
Latin name: Daucus carota
Note: Middle
Extraction: Steam distilled from dried seeds
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Best to avoid during pregnancy

Cedarwood Atlas Essential Oil

Uses: Good for acne, eczema, greasy skin (astringent), respiratory conditions asthma, bronchitis, calming good for stress.
Cedarwood Origin: Morocco
Cedarwood Latin name: Daucus carota
Cedarwood Note: Middle
Cedarwood Extraction: Distilled from the wood
Cedarwood Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Cedarwood Contraindications: Best to avoid during pregnancy, could irritate skin

Chamomile (Roman) Essential Oil

Uses: Calming, good for stress and anxiety, anti-inflammatory good for muscular aches and pains, soothing and healing for the skin
Origin: UK
Latin name: Anthemis nobilis
Note: Middle
Extraction: Distilled from flower heads
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Best to avoid during beginning of pregnancy

*There are two Chamomile varieties used in Aromatherapy - Roman and Blue. The Blue has more anti-inflammatory properties. Maroc (Ormenis multicaulis) it is not a true Chamomile and cannot be considered a replacement.

Champa Essential Oil

Uses: Calming, balancing, can be used as a personal perfume. Aphrodisiac.
Origin: India
Latin name: Michelela champaca
Note: Base
Extraction: Solvent extracted from flowers
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Best to avoid during pregnancy

Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil

Uses: Good for exhausted states, strong antiseptic, eases muscular aches and pains, warming
Origin: Sri Lanka
Latin name: Cinnamonum zeylanicum
Note: Base
Extraction: Distilled from leaves, twigs
Applications: Inhalation, Massage
Contraindications: Skin irritant, best to avoid during pregnancy

 

 

Citronella Essential Oil

Uses: Oily skin, greasy hair, insect deterrent and for colds & flus in soaps and candles.
Origin: Indonesia
Latin name: Cymbopogon nardus
Note: Top
Extraction: Distilled from the grass
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Best to avoid during pregnancy. Could cause skin irritation.

 

Clary Sage Essential Oil

Uses: Calming nerves, PMS / menopause-balancing. Used for high blood pressure, oily hair and skin, for dandruff.
Origin: Hungary
Latin name: Salvia sclarea
Note: Top
Extraction: Distilled from leaves/flower tops
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Very sedating, avoid during pregnancy.

Clove Bud Essential Oil

Uses: muscular aches and pains, good for the digestive system, disinfectant, aphrodisiac, strengthens memory and the mind, helpful with depression.
Origin: Madagascar
Latin name: Eugenia caryophylatta
Note: Base
Extraction: Distilled from the buds
Applications: Inhalation, Massage
Contraindications: Very strong oil, could cause skin irritation

Coriander Essential Oil

Uses: Uplifting, refreshing to memory, good the digestive system, warming analgesic for muscular pain, arthritis and a general cleanser of the body.
Origin: Russia
Latin name: Coriandum sativum
Note: Top
Extraction: Distilled from seeds
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Said to be stupefying in large doses.

Cypress Essential Oil

Uses: Calming, great for varicose veins, balancing action on skin (oily skin) good for muscular aches and pains, for coughs, bronchitis
Origin: Austria
Latin name: Cupressus sempervirens
Note: Middle
Extraction: Distillation of needles and twigs
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Best to avoid during pregnancy

Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil

Uses: Said to be useful for clearing congestion, aiding in construction of new skin cells and preventing bacterial growth. It is reputed to have a healing action on burns, blisters, wounds and insect bites, and has been used to combat sore muscles and joints.
Origin: China
Latin name: Eucalyptus Globulus
Note: Top
Extraction: Steam Distillation
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Caution: Avoid use with young children. Best to avoid during pregnancy, with high blood pressure and epilepsy.

 

Eucalyptus, Lemon

Uses: Same as other Eucalyptus. It is said that Eucalyptus Lemon can assist with ailments such as arthritis, bronchitis, colds, coughs, flu, and poor circulation.’
Origin: China
Latin name: Eucalyptus citriodora
Note: Top
Extraction: Distilled from leaves
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Same as other Eucalyptus’

Eucalyptus, Radiata

Origin: Australia
Latin name: Eucalyptus radiata
Note: Top
Extraction: Distilled from leaves
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Same as other Eucalyptus’
Uses: Same as above, this is a better choice for kids, not as stimulating

Fennel

Uses: Bruising, cellulite, rheumatism, good for detoxifying the body, increasing mother's breast milk
Origin: Hungary
Latin name: Foeniculum vulgare
Note: Middle
Extraction: Distilled from crushed seeds
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Best to avoid during pregnancy, with epilepsy, can be a skin irritant

Fir Needle

Uses: For colds, flus, coughs, bronchitis, muscular aches and pains, grounding effect on the mind
Origin: Austria
Latin name: Abies siberica
Note: Base
Extraction: Distillation from needles/leaves
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Not known

Frankincense

Uses: Great for meditation, slows things down and is comforting, wonderful for congestion, drying effect. Tonic to the skin, healing for wounds, sores…
Origin: France
Latin name: Boswellia thurifera
Note: Base
Extraction: Distillation of bark
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Not known

Geranium

Uses: Wonderful balance, great for PMS, menopause, depression. For skin, healing and helps balance sebum.
Origin: China
Latin name: Pelargonium graveolens
Note: Middle
Extraction: Distillation from flowers/leaves
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Best to avoid during pregnancy, may irritate sensitive skin.

 

Ginger

Uses: Great for nausea, warming and good for muscular aches and pains, sharpens senses and aids memory, colds and flus
Origin: India
Latin name: Zingiber officinalis
Note: Middle
Extraction: Distilled from the rhizome (root)
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Could irritate sensitive skin.

Grapefruit, White

Uses: Good for depression, headaches, cellulite, congested and oily skin, water retention, nervous exhaustion
Origin: Israel
Latin name: Citrus paradisi
Note: Top
Extraction: Expressed from the peel
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Could increase photo-sensitivity (burn easier in the sun)

Jasmine, Absolute

Uses: Good for depression, great for child labor, uterine tonic, aphrodisiac, coughs, laryngitis, loosens up stiff limbs
Origin: India
Latin name: Jasminum officinale
Note: Base
Extraction: Solvent extraction
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Best to avoid during pregnancy.

Juniper Berry

Uses: Clears the mind, effective diuretic (increases urine flow) cellulite, detoxifying the body, regulates periods. Good for congested or oily skin, acne…
Origin: Croatia
Latin name: Juniperus communis
Note: Middle
Extraction: Distilled from the berries
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Prolonged used could overstimulate the kidneys, best avoid during pregnancy.

 

Lavandin

Uses: Refreshing oil, good for aches and pains, coughs, colds and flus and helps heal wounds.
Origin: France
Latin name: Lavandula hybrida grosso
Note: Middle
Extraction: Distillation from flowering tops
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Similar to lavender, not as relaxing oil

Lavender

Uses: Good for high blood pressure, insomnia, wounds/cuts rejuvenating to skin, helpful for colds, flus, coughs, helps regulate periods, insect repellant.
Origin: France
Latin name: Lavendula angustifolium
Note: Middle
Extraction: Distilled from flowering tops
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Best to avoid during the first two trimesters of pregnancy and if you have low blood pressure.

Lemon

Uses: Refreshing, uplifting to the mind, tonic to the circulatory system, helpful with infections, colds, flus, used for wart treatments, for headaches.
Origin: Italy
Latin name: Citrus limonum
Note: Top
Extraction: Expressed from rinds
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Photosensitive
Uses: Stimulating, energizing, antiseptic for colds, flus…headaches, tonic to the skin, encourages appetite. Insect repellant
Origin: Guatemala
Latin name: Cymbopogon citratus
Note: Middle
Extraction: Distillation from grass/leaves
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Could irritate skin

Lime

Uses: Refreshing, uplifting, eases coughs, congestion, sinusitis, tonic to immune system and helps with rheumatic pain.
Origin: Italy
Latin name: Citrus aurantifolia
Note: Top
Extraction: Expressed from the rind
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Increases photosensitivity

Litsea Cubeba

Uses: Good for acne, greasy skin conditions, indigestion, antiseptic for immune system.
Origin: China
Latin name: Litsea cubeba
Note: Top
Extraction: Distilled from the fruits} Note:
Applications: Inhalation, Massage, Bath
Contraindications: Could irritate sensitive skin

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