While essential oils are well known for their aroma, they also have many health benefits. If students want to use a natural remedy to aid them when in pain, essential oils would be very helpful. 

Essential oils, like peppermint and eucalyptus, can help congestion and nausea. While new variants of COVID-19 are being spread, congestion may be an uncomfortable symptom. In addition, it is also the cold season and nobody wants to go to sleep having to breathe out of their mouth. To help congestion, one can diffuse peppermint or eucalyptus oil in a diffuser. Not only that, being in the car may lead to motion sickness for individuals, peppermint oil can be really helpful to treat nausea. If one does not have a diffuser, the oil can be applied directly to the skin. However, allergic reactions may occur so it is important to proceed with caution. It is necessary to dilute with a carrier oil according to The Essential: 6 Uses For Peppermint Essential Oil. If one is unsure where to purchase essential oils, they can find a variety at doTERRA or Saje. If those stores are not appealing one does not like those stores, they also have many options at Amazon.

Another essential oil with great health benefits is lavender. This soothing oil helps not only with anxiety and insomnia, but also with nausea and cramps. Many students may have trouble sleeping due to school or other stressors in their lives. Lavender can help ease their nerves while providing the room with a relaxing fragrance. But, how does lavender have an effect on anxiety? According to an article from Hhealthline.org titled, “Lavender for Anxiety: The Best Way to Use This Calming Herb,” lavender affects the parasympathetic nervous system. This part of the nervous system controls bodily processes associated with feelings of anxiety, such as heart rate, breathing rhythm, etc. The article says that, “Lavender can help in regulating these bodily processes by restoring a neutral state.” 

Essential oils with a citrusy scent can boost the moods of students after a hard day. For instance, lemon essential oil can help clear skin, kill bacterias, and reduce inflammation. In addition, if one is looking for a natural household cleaner without chemicals, they can use lemon essential oil. 

Finally, tea tree oil can be used for killing bacteria, reducing swelling, reducing mights, and clearing acne. According to Tea Tree Oil – Uses, Side Effects, and More, “Applying a tea tree oil 5% gel appears to work as well as benzoyl peroxide 5% for treating acne. Tea tree oil might work more slowly than benzoyl peroxide, but seems to be less irritating to the face. When applied twice daily for 45 days, tea tree oil can reduce acne severity.” This method can be very helpful while many teens are dealing with acne. 

While there are a wide variety of essential oils, the ones that are listed above can be very beneficial to one’s mental health, physical health, and overall well-being. However, students should always test an essential oil before using it and if an allergic reaction occurs, they should completely stop using it. The website Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work? answers many people’s questions about health and allergic reactions.