Essential oils benefits and what are the most used in Cyprus?
Cyprus has plentiful sunny days and rich soil, which gift us with very strong healing herbs. Thus, the Mediterranean herbs of Cyprus are extracted into essential oil. Aromatherapy essential oils benefits are well known and widely used worldwide. People from different countries use them in different ways, based on their traditional home remedies which are passed on from generation to generation. On our beautiful island, herbs are most commonly used for culinary purposes; seasoning for cooking and brewing tea. Nevertheless, essential oils are used in every modern Cypriot household today. Hence, this is your essential oil handbook of must have essential oils for your medicine cabinet.
1. Oregano Essential Oils Benefits
The essential oil of oregano is used as an alternative natural antibiotic. Many Cypriot families use this during cold & flu season. They use 2 drops of oregano essential oil mixed in a bowl of thick yoghurt and a teaspoon of honey. When consumed with a main meal, this can treat colds & flu and many other illnesses. Similarly, they also use one drop of oregano essential oil mixed in olive oil to rub the soles of their children’s feet to battle a cold or an upset tummy.
2. Lavender Essential Oil
Nowadays everybody knows about essential oils benefits. However, the must have cure-all essential oil in every household is undoubtedly Lavender. A natural antihistamine, lavender soothes insect bites, bruises, cuts and skin conditions. Furthermore, this gentle essential oil can be used neat to disinfect and close wounds, as well as burned skin. When visiting Cyprus in the Summer, you will notice that there are many mosquitoes around. Many mothers use lavender essential oil diluted in coconut or grapeseed oil to cover and protect their skin from mosquito bites. Cypriots love using lavender in aromatherapy diffusers to relax. Moreover, is added in lotions for after sun care and in face creams to treat blemishes and blackheads.
3. Eucalyptus essential oils benefits
Do you remember suffering from a blocked nose as a child? I remember when i was young, my mother would place an oil burner on my bedside table with eucalyptus oil in it. This would help me sleep and breathe better and relieve congestion. For bronchitis, eucalyptus oil is carefully diluted in a carrier oil such as coconut oil and rubbed on the chest.
4. Geranium essential oils benefits
Geranium is commonly known as “kiouli”and this rosey scented oil is used in the bath and in cosmetics. It has a sweet fragrance, just like rose and has amazing anti-ageing properties. At night, a relaxing bath with 5-8 drops of geranium relaxes the muscles and soothes the skin. Many cosmetics contain geranium essential oil, it rejuvenates and softens the skin. It regenerates skin cells, lightens the skin and gets rid of blemishes and blackheads.
5. Bay Laurel Essential Oil
Beyond cooking, essential oil gets extracted from the leaves of bay laurel. Wondering what are this essential oils health benefits? Two drops of bay laurel in a massage base oil relieves muscular, rheumatic and arthritic pain. Rub it diluted all over your belly to aid digestion and as a liver and kidney tonic. By adding 3-4 drops of this essential oil in your shampoo and shaking it well, will stimulate hair growth and strengthen hair follicles. When used in an oil burner or diffuser, the calming scent balances emotions and stimulates inspiration.
6. Rosemary Essential Oil
The uplifting and energizing effects of rosemary essential oil benefits are useful for days when we need a pick me up. Diluted in a carrier oil, it is used as a decongestant in colds, asthma and bronchitis. Use 3-4 drops to mix in your shampoo to stimulate hair growth. Rosemary in aromatherapy relieves headaches, migraines and mental fatigue. Just by inhaling it, it can boost memory and concentration. For massage, use 4 drops of rosemary essential oil in 5ml carrier oil. Using rosemary for massage relieves muscular pain, arthritic pain and it improves blood circulation.
7. Thyme Essential Oil Benefits
These essential oils benefits are well known from ancient times. Thyme is mostly used in facial steam baths. 1-2 drops of thyme at most can help open up the airways, tight lungs and relieve congestion. Moreover, thyme has antiviral, antiseptic and antibiotic properties and it can boost the immune system.
8. Lemon Verbena Essential Oil
This happy herb releases serotonin in our brain as soon as we inhale its scent. Using it in aromatherapy, lemon verbena is a natural anti-depressant and energy charger. Its fresh, energizing fragrance is used in cosmetics and perfumes. By diluting lemon verbena in 5ml carrier oil and rubbing it over the belly, it helps with indigestion, gas, diarrhea and constipation. If you need this essential oils benefits add 2-3 drops of lemon verbena in your night cream and notice how your skin will tighten and seal lines. It is recommended that Lemon verbena is used during only at night, because it contains limonene. Limonene causes photosensitivity and sensitive skin after use.
9. Pine Essential Oil
Pine trees grow in abundance in Cyprus. The essential oil of pine is very potent and fragrant and has many health benefits. It has powerful healing properties for chest infections, pneumonia and congestion. It is very useful when used in facial steam baths, a few drops in a hot bath at night or in an oil burner on the bedside table. Pine is a natural antiseptic, when absorbed through the sin it helps with blood circulation, relieves rheumatic and muscular pain. It is used in cosmetics, more commonly in deodorants and body lotions for its refreshing scent and long lasting deodorizing effects.
10. Sage Essential Oil
Sage is often used in the bath and mixed in body lotions or oils for massage. It is a natural antifungal, antioxidant, antiseptic and antimicrobial oil. By applying it all over the stomach, it can help with digestion and as a laxative. It is very helpful for relieving cold & flu symptoms.
11. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree essential oil is popular for treating acne and blemishes on the face. It is also used in shampoos for treating dandruff. One neat drop of tea tree in carrier oil can treat athletes foot, as it is a strong, natural anti fungal.
12. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
The ylang ylang essential oil is fantastic in cosmetics and aromatherapy uses. The sweet, exotic scent acts as an aphrodisiac. It is used in making perfumes and body creams. Add a few drops of this essential oil to your day/night cream, body lotion or a few drops in your bath to satisfy all your skin care needs. To make your home smell amazing, add 2-3 drops of ylang ylang in a difffuser or oil burner.
13. Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense is a very strong essential oil and needs to be carefully diluted before it can be applied on the skin. Frankincense is great for the skin for its antiseptic properties. Frankincense is safe to use by pregnant women, especially during their last trimester. By massaging frankincense topically, it relieves lower back pain, nerve discomfort symptoms and pain going from the glutes down to the legs. Its calming scent relaxes the mind, body and spirit. It is also used during meditation and yoga, elevating the spirit.
One essential oil can be used to kiss it better:
Remember that in each case, less is more. Use one or two drops of oil, at the most three to 5ml carrier oil.
Still wondering about essential oils benefits?
- Aching muscles: Lavender, Geranium
Acne: Tea tree to reduce bacterial infection and lavender to reduce acne. - Aphrodisiac: Ylang ylang
- Arthritis: Lavender and Rosemary for pain relief
- Athletes foot: Tea tree, use neat and also wash socks with it to kill microbes.
- Bruises: Lavender and geranium
- Black heads: Geranium and Lavender
Blood pressure: ylang ylang balances. Also use geranium to soothe the underlying stress - Sore breasts: geranium, use warm compresses
- Bronchitis: Eucalyptus, lavender, thyme
- Burns: Lavender, use neat
- Candida: Oregano, geranium
- Chicken pox: tea tree in a lotion with lavender to sooth the itching
- Circulation: geranium and rosemary
- Cold sores: tea tree, use neat and wash hands before and after.
- Concentration: rosemary
- Coughs colds and sneezes: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Rosemary
- Depression: lemon verbena, geranium, rose
- Dry skin: lemon verbena, geranium, frankincense
- Eczema: oregano, lavender. Dilute very well.
- Headaches: lavender and rosemary
- Hyperactivity: Lavender, geranium, frankincense
- Insomnia: Lavender
Nightmares/terrors: lavender, geranium in an oil diffuser - Oral thrush: Tea tree massaged onto the cheeks
- Psoriasis: oregano, lavender
- Relaxation: lavender, ylang ylang, geranium, lemon verbena
- Rheumatism: Lavender, rosemary and bay leaf for pain relief
- Sinusitis: thyme, eucalyptus
- Sore throats: one drop each of tea tree and lavender in a pint of water. Gargle it to help the pain and to wash away bacteria.
You can find all essential oils in our store and watch the extraction process in our distillation room!
On regulation and legislation:
The health and safety organisations protect the general public by restricting what aromatherapists and herbalists can and can’t say essential oils and herbs can do because they have not yet undergone these tests and come out the other side successfully. Therefore, we can’t state that we can cure anything. Cyherbia does not state that essential oils can be used as drugs to treat a condition. In practical terms this means, if cyherbia makes you a pot of cream for your eczema, whilst you would call it your eczema cream, Cyherbia would have to label it as lavender, chamomile and geranium or whichever oils are put in it.
Take into consideration that the following information has been used historically by patients who have seen positive outcomes. A herbalist or aromatherapist can help you choose which essential oils or herbs best suit you after a consultation appointment.
Even if you are sure about essential oils benefits, always ask your doctor for advice or help. This information does not suggest in any way to stop using your prescribed medicine, pharmaceutical medicine or doctor’s treatment. You are responsible for using this information in any way, for using essential oils and herbs in any way.