Essential oils are volatile oils that come from herbs, flowers, or trees. They are generally extracted by means of distillation, although other processes are employed such as mechanical expression, or solvent extraction. These volatile oils can be used on their own or as a component of certain products. For example, it is no longer uncommon to find perfumes, beauty, hygiene, and household products that contain them. They are also often used to flavor food and drink.

The therapeutic use of these oils is called aromatherapy, which is widely considered as a form of alternative medicine. The curative effects of essential oils are theorized to result from the effect of odorant molecules on the brain’s emotional center, the limbic system. Some of these aromatic oils, like those of frankincense and lavender, are known to exert antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects.

In addition, frankincense essential oils have been used for many years as a treatment for diseases such as ulcerative colitis. Some studies also suggest that the aroma of Frankincense essential oils can help treat depression and lessen anxiety. Lavender essential oil has shown calming effects too, and is actually used as an ingredient in certain anti-anxiety medications. Vaporized lavender essential oils have also been used to alleviate stress-related headaches and cure cough.

Topical essential oils are usually diluted since their concentrated versions have been reported to bring about varying degrees of dermal irritation, and at times, even set off a hypersensitivity reaction.

Use of lavender essential oil has also been pointed out as a possible contributory factor to gynecomastia, which is the enlargement of breasts among males. Though non-life threatening, it can still cause problems in terms of the person’s self confidence. There have been reports as well of consumers suffering from mild to moderate bouts of GI upset after taking or using products which contain frankincense essential oils. Given the probability of experiencing adverse reactions, it would be prudent for you to discuss your plans of taking or using essential oils so that proper modifications to your healthcare management can be made and to determine if there are no pre-existing conditions or current therapeutics that will contraindicate its use.

Therapeutic-grade essential oil products can be found from web-based and brick-and-mortar health product vendors. Those you can add to food and non-food items are typically sold by the manufacturing company or their dealers. There are several organizations involved in the regulation of the manufacturing, sale, and marketing of essential oils. For instance in the US, aromatherapy products do not need the approval of the FDA. Instead, buyers check if the product passed ISO or AFNOR manufacturing standards to evaluate its quality. Regulation of the sale and marketing of industrial-grade products containing these aromatic oils is typically governed by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The use of lavender and frankincense essential oils has many health benefits. Both of them can help in reducing your anxiety. Click this link to get additional info about lavender essential oil.