5 Basic Essential Oils Every Mom Needs Around the House

When a person hears the term essential oils, the first thing that probably pops into their heads is something connected to fragrance. They might think of using essential oils with an aroma therapist, or they might think of how these are used in soaps or in perfumes. And it is true that essential oils have very a nice aroma and some can actually improve a person’s mood. However, there are other less well known benefits that essential oils provide. The following are five basic essential oils that every mother should have in their home. Lavender Oil Lavender has been used in medicine for millenniums. If a person wanted to purchase just one essential oil, it should be this one. Lavender can be used topically to treat things like insect bites, skin irritations, and even minor burns. It has disinfectant properties, and so it can be used on minor cuts and scrapes. A few drops of lavender can help a person sleep, remove a headache, treat sinus and respiratory issues, and minimize stress. It can also be used as a laundry detergent, to freshen up the smell of the home, and as a cleaning agent. Many people around the world, including Young Living Essential Oils founder Gary Young, use this frequently. Tea Tree Oil Tea tree oil is so powerful that some people have referred to it as all of the medicine a person needs in one bottle. It is an effective way to treat just about any topical ailment a person has. It can effectively treat athlete’s foot, acne, nail fungus, cold sores, and eczema. While a person would never ingest tea tree oil on its own, it can be added to water and used as a disinfectant, or it can even be sprayed on pets to keep fleas away. Lemon Oil Lemon oil can be used for more things than just about any other essential oil out there. It can polish your furniture, it can wash your dishes, it will serve as a laundry soap, and it can be used to clean your floors. When it is mixed with baking soda and salt, it is an effective cleaning agent for cutting boards and can be used as a spray cleaner. If a person has bad breath, a few drops of lemon oil and water will clear that right up. Add a little bit of lemon oil to shampoo and dandruff disappears. A few drops of it in bathwater, especially with a few drops of lavender, can clear anxiety right up. It can also serve as a hand sanitizer. Peppermint Oil Peppermint oil has been used for thousands of years as a way to alleviate stomach problems. You can ingest it to calm an upset stomach or it can be massaged on the abdomen. If a tick crawls underneath your pet's skin, simply applying peppermint oil is a great way to get it to come out so that it can be removed. Peppermint oil is great for battling respiratory illnesses and chronic coughs. Grapefruit Oil Grapefruit oil has many benefits. When mixed with baking soda and water, it can serve as a natural deodorant. People who are fighting with acne, oily hair, or excessive cellulite can use this product successfully. It can be used around dogs to keep fleas away or dropped into a wash machine to give clean clothes a fresh scent. There are many other essential oils to explore, including oregano oil, frankincense oil, chamomile oil, clove oil, and many more. When used properly and when put in the hands of someone who understands their use, these oils serve as a powerful curative agent, disinfectant, and tool to improve a person’s mood.