Herbal medicine exploits the properties of medicinal plants to maintain a state of general well-being, let's see together how to use essential oils.
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousHerbal medicine exploits the properties of medicinal plants to maintain a state of well-being of the organism.
Herbal teas, mother tinctures and essential oils are examples of products used in herbal medicine to restore or guarantee our psycho-physical health.
- essential oils they are particularly interesting because they boast numerous properties and different possibilities of use, they represent a very useful remedy for various ailments: they can be used as active ingredients in cosmetic formulas, but also in aromatherapy for problems related to the respiratory system, digestion, physical and mental fatigue .
Herbal medicine at the service of our well-being
Herbal medicine is the science that studies properties and use of medicinal plants for well-being: this is the oldest medical discipline, already exploited by primitive men who collected berries, leaves, flowers, roots to treat diseases and wounds.
With the appearance on the market of synthetic drugs and the related "marketing" starting from the second half of the twentieth century, the use of natural remedies has suffered a sharp decline but, to date, herbal medicine is growing again, thanks to the fewer side effects it exerts on the human body.
Unlike pharmacology, in fact, herbal medicine does not make use of the single active ingredient - natural or synthetic - but uses a set of compounds present in the plant, called phytocomplex.
These compounds work in synergy with each other, guaranteeing on the one hand the restoration or maintenance of the state of health and well-being and on the other hand a greater tolerability of the remedy by our body.
Herbal medicine uses a large variety of natural remedies for health including dried herbs to prepare herbal teas, mother tinctures prepared by macerating whole fresh plants in alcohol, and essential oils obtained by extraction from plants.
Essential oils are particularly interesting for their beneficial effect on the psyche and body and for their countless properties that can be exploited in various fields, from aromatherapy to cosmetics. used for inhalation in aerosol, in fumes or by diffusion into the environment, applied to the skin or ingested.
As for the cutaneous use, in general the essences are not used pure but diluted in vegetable oil to the extent of one or two drops for each tablespoon of oil.
internal useAs these are very concentrated products, it is recommended instead to consult your doctor or herbalist for information on the quantity and timing of administration.
Essential oils: what they are and how they are used for well-being
There is a very wide range of essential oils, but it is important to know how to distinguish the quality and 100% pure ones, which you can only find in the best herbalists or in the best eco-bio online shops, which are synonymous with guarantee and safety, such as BioVeganShop.com .
Essential oils are essences produced by plants for defensive purposes, to communicate or to attract pollinating insects.
They are extracted from flowers, fruits, leaves and barks by various methods, including steam extraction, squeezing and solvent extraction.
These are very concentrated products used in herbal medicine, herbal medicine and aromatherapy for them antibacterial and antifungal properties, for its relaxing or stimulating action on the nervous system and for the treatment of various ailments, from skin to respiratory diseases, from menstrual cycle disorders to indigestion.
In fact, each essential oil has a characteristic composition that gives it specific properties useful for maintaining or restoring the well-being of the organism.
Some essential oils should never be lacking in our homes. Among these we certainly find the essential oil of lavender, an essence with a relaxing action on the nervous system and useful for all skin problems: Can be used for acne, insect bites, hives, skin irritations and skin inflammations.
Tea tree or malaleuca essential oil should also always be present in our natural remedies cabinet. This essence has a strong antifungal and antibacterial activity and is indicated for the treatment of many skin and mucosal infections including Candida albicans, athlete's foot, cold sores, acne, seborrheic dermatitis and head lice.
Le balsamic essences such as those obtained for example from pine, eucalyptus, rosemary should always be kept with us especially during the winter months, for their expectorant and decongestant action which makes them indispensable in case of cough, cold and respiratory system problems.
In case of digestive disorders, instead, we rely on the essences of star anise, fennel, cumin, ginger and mint to be used in case of abdominal swelling, intestinal colic and nausea.
If, on the other hand, you have problems with insomnia and it is difficult to fall asleep and rest well, you can use the essential oil of lemon balm, in addition to the aforementioned essential oil of lavender.
Many essential oils, including camphor essential oil and cinnamon essential oil, are then used for massages in case of muscle and joint pain or after intense sporting activity.
Let's not forget the essences used for the menstrual cycle disorders: PMS, period pains and menopausal disorders are effectively treated with essential oils of lavender, rose, jasmine and sage.
Essential oils obtained by squeezing from the peel of citrus fruits, such as those of lemon and sweet orange, are widely used in cosmetics for their anti-cellulite effect and in aromatherapy for their stimulating ability, able to increase concentration at work and during the study.
As we have seen in this quick rundown, these precious substances have numerous uses and each of us can build our own personal kit of essential oils based on the health problems that are most often faced.
