Antimicrobial & Wellness Properties Of Certain Essential Oils & Tips On Use

Gradually I have learned more about the amazing properties contained in pure essential oils. In fact, it is a fascinating topic overall. For years I shirked the idea of aromatherapy because I associated the various aromas with an attempt to cover up what is in the air. My glib notion was to think – Hey, open the window, I prefer fresh air – not air laden with “artificial” cover ups.

Little did I realize there is a huge difference between those free breeze type air fresheners, or worse yet, those small green trees that used to dangle from the rear view mirrors in the cars of smokers. Apparently those little green trees were loaded with toxins. The same can be said for many different types of bug sprays and bug repellants.

The world of true essential oils is one to be appreciated in a way that is the polar opposite of those little green toxic dangling trees. They are invigorating, therapeutic and quite exotic. In fact some of them cost a small fortune. True rose, jasmine, and sandalwood are among the pricier essential oils. They can cost hundreds of dollars for a small 10 ml. bottle.

However, the jasmine and rose can be purchased diluted in oil for much less, so you can still enjoy the beautiful aromas.

As a matter of personal preference, I don’t tend to diffuse the aromas into the air. I use them in the bath, for foot rubs, neck rubs, and on my hands. Throughout the day, I will frequently shake a few drops on my hands and then inhale the essential oil full strength by cupping my hands close to my face. This gives a strong and direct aroma of whatever essential oil you choose. It also means you are populating the nasopharyngeal passages with the antimicrobial properties contained within the essential oils. It serves to sanitize the hands without damaging or drying the epidermis or outer layer of the skin.

The problem with most commercial hand sanitizers is that they contain alcohol. Some of them also contained toxic ingredients that were later recalled. Since our skin is an organ, and first line of defence against certain pathogens, it is important to keep our skin intact. If our hands become chapped and cracked, we are more vulnerable to infection.

Although I have used a small amount of hand sanitizer during the covid era as required upon entry to many places of business, I still carry some essential oil. I prefer to carry a small 10 ml. bottle of an essential oil with strong antimicrobial properties in my pocket when I go out. In fact I would use it after using hand sanitizer, because in my opinion, the tops or pumps on those hand sanitizer bottles must be contaminated a thousand times over.

The best essential pocket oils include oregano, marjoram, rosemary, cypress, juniper, tea tree oil, and many others. If you take it out before entering a place of business or transit, and put a few drops in your hands, then cup it and inhale it, you have added a layer of protection, or at the very least, a slight change to the immediate environment, which may help to deter pathogens.

Recently I learned cedarwood essential oil is a natural sedative. Both cedarwood and lavender aid in calming and relaxation. These too, are key contributors to stress relief and sleep, and thus will help the immune system do its job. Now I keep a small bottle of cedarwood essential oil on the nightstand for when I wake up in the middle of the night.

The polarized opposite example of this whole smelling concept, would be the old-fashioned smelling salts. Only those were used to revive a person, not put them to sleep! The smelling salts contained ammonia or some other acrid smell that would actually wake a person up. This does confirm in a rudimentary way, that the sense of smell can have a rapid communication with the conscious part of the brain.

It was something known and understood as far back as the Roman Empire with a resurgence in the Victorian era, probably because it was common for women to faint due to the use of tight corsets and constrictive clothing. A word of warning – do not confuse any kind of smelling salts with the use of essential oils.

Essential oils can be added to coconut oil to do oil pulling, which is a method of cleaning toxins from the mouth and teeth by swishing oil in your mouth for fifteen or twenty minutes a day. It also helps prevent or reduce the build up of plaque on the teeth. Peppermint, clove and cinnamon essential oils are good ones to add for oil pulling.

Various essential oils can be added to coconut oil to make a hand cream. The ones with strong anti fungal properties can be used for foot soaks and foot creams, and for those who tend to get athlete’s foot. Most of them can also be rubbed directly onto your feet full strength after foot soaks. Peppermint and eucalyptus oil are refreshing as a liniment or balm for sore feet or joints.

Essential oils are made from plants, and have very concentrated aromas. The juniper, cedar and cypress oils trigger memories of being in the forest on a fresh spring morning after a light rain. It is similar with the roses, transporting you to the fullness of the blooms in the middle of a garden. The echos and recollections embodied in fragrance, is another incredible and holistic factor, especially in how they relate to stored memories and associations in the brain. To this day, I still associate the smell of chamomile with pulling the wild plants out of the grass as a child. I would sit on the ground, examine the yellow centres, and inhale the aromatic smell of chamomile.

The olfactory nerve is the shortest of the cranial nerves, and is part of the peripheral nervous system. It makes me wonder if the consistent use of a variety of essential oils, by inhaling them directly into the nasal passages, can change neurochemistry.

Once the aroma is processed through the nasal passages, it is forwarded to the frontal lobe of the brain first. The amygdala of the brain, which is the fear/reaction section of the brain is more mid-brain. Clearly, what we smell and breathe in, is processed in the brain.

The Internet has many reputable sites with in-depth information about essential oils. Some claims have been definitively proven, and some things are anecdotal. One thing for certain, is they are helpful in many ways, from a preventative perspective.

The cautions relating to the everyday use of essential oils, revolve around doing your own careful research. Many of them cannot be ingested at all. None of them are safe to get in, or too close to  your eyes. Some can cause allergies or skin reactions for certain people. They should be kept away from small children.

However, the benefits of these intriguing gifts of nature, bring us an endless array of possibilities and enjoyment. In my opinion, they are a lifestyle enhancer with many therapeutic advantages.