Cinnamon, Clove, Rosemary, Lemon: Thieves is my favorite essential oil |
Admittedly, I wasn't keen about visiting this new Silver Lake
massage place, especially after I learned the owner heavily promoted a crappy
supplement line (decidedly not Thorne
Research) and, even worse, essential oils.
Full disclosure: I had long ago dismissed essential oils as
un-scientifically proven.
But I did remember something about their use in the recovery of my friend JJ Virgin's son. An MD that we know had brought them in to help Grant heal from his life-threatening injuries
That massage actually ended fabulously. I felt
more relaxed and focused than I had in ages, convinced the essential oils my therapist used contributed to that Zen calm fabulousness.
That massage actually ended fabulously. I felt
more relaxed and focused than I had in ages, convinced the essential oils my therapist used contributed to that Zen calm fabulousness.
That was a few years ago. As essential oils became mainstream,
I've learned what a fabulous add-on to your supplement regimen that promotes
relaxation and much more.
Call me a little bit closed-minded, but I subsequently
discovered a plethora of research supporting how essential oils contribute
to a wide range of uses and applications.
Keep in mind these studies use pure essential oils, entirely
different from synthetic scents. They are highly concentrated oils produced by
distilling a large amount of plant material into a small amount of volatile
oil.
Especially as an athlete, I became curious about how essential
oils can benefit your game in and out of the gym. Scouring PubMed, I found
these seven science-based benefits.
1. Clear skin. Whether you want to clear acne, get rid of dandruff, or remove
that pesky plantar wart, tea
tree essential oil can help. Tea tree oil is
easy to use and applies directly onto your skin. You might also want to add a
few drops to your cleaning solution since it carries demonstrated strong
antimicrobial properties.
2.
Weight
management. Especially
with the upcoming holiday gorge-fest, we need all the help we can here, right? Aromatherapy could help reduce hunger. Preliminary research
suggests the scent of lime essential oil may increase
satiety and help control weight gain (at least in mice). To give it a try, add some lime essential
oil to a diffuser in your home or office and watch those peppermint-bark
brownies become a little less tempting.
3.
Boost your
mood. Feeling
cranky after your early morning workout? The fragrance of essential oils like lavender, bergamot, lemon,
and sweet orange can help
relieve stress and anxiety. These
scents stimulate production of mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters like serotonin
and dopamine. These oils can be used in a room diffuser or added to carrier oil
and dabbed on your skin.
4.
Sleep soundly. I've written exhaustively about sleep's benefits and effective ways to correct the worst sleep problems. Studies show the aroma of some essential oils can improve
mild to moderate sleep disturbances. Lavender is the most-studied essential oil for sleep, but rose
damascene may also be helpful. To
make your own by pillow spray, combine essential oils like lavender, rosewater,
and witch hazel.
5.
Fight fatigue. Feeling tired or burnt out? Instead of guzzling a gargantuan
sugar-caffeine bomb, try a mist of essential oil. A combination of peppermint,
basil, and helichrysum can help
reduce fatigue and stress.
6.
Reduce pain and
inflammation. Sore from your killer 7 a.m.
workout? Essential oils can
reduce pain and inflammation.
Marjoram, black pepper, peppermint, lavender, and neroli have all demonstrated
anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Make massage oil by adding a few drops to anti-inflammatory
sesame oil or create a relaxing bath and put a few drops directly into the
water.
7.
Enhance adrenal
function: Aromatherapy can help optimize
adrenaline production. If you need a boost before a
workout or presentation, try pepper, estragon, fennel, or grapefruit oils.
When purchasing essential oils, be sure to purchase high quality
100 percent pure essential oils that do not contain added “fragrances.” If you
want to apply an essential oil topically, remember most should be added to
carrier oil and not applied to the skin directly.
Most importantly, choose aromas you
enjoy and they can become a luxurious, relaxing part of your daily routine.
If you’ve ever used essential oils,
what benefits did you derive from them? Were you initially as skeptical as I
initially was? Share your thoughts below or on my Facebook page.
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Fitness expert and strength coach Jini Cicero, CSCS, teaches intermediate exercisers how to blast through plateaus to create incredible transformations. Are you ready to take your fitness to a whole new level? Find out now! www.Jinifit.com.
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Wow Jini... I was thrilled to see this about essential oils. I've been a believer and user for quite some time. I use a "Breathe" blend for my grandson when he's sleeping... he was having trouble and I could hear it when he was asleep. I've noticed after a couple weeks his lungs sound great!!! I use a diffuser that is timed throughout the night, and put a few drops on the soles of his feet when he's bad.
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