The 3 Most Versatile Essential Oils

You love essential oils, but need help determining which ones you should use the most. I remember the resulting information overload figuring out where to begin, or which oils had which benefits. I stumbled across some foundational information that discussed the 3 most versatile essential oils, which turned out to be the best information for getting started.

With so much to learn about essential oils, having a good starting point proves invaluable. Since the 1980’s when essential oils first hit the mainstream market, in soaps and lotions, a wealth of of information on their many uses has surfaced.

Today, essential oils are used by nutritionists, massage therapists and wellness coaches to heal the body. As I discussed in a previous article, essential oils offer us so much more than their fragrance.

“Is there an essential oil that will help me understand how to use all of my essential oils?”

Essential oil overwhelm

As a fan of essential oils for quite some time, I value their benefits and incorporate them into my daily wellness routine. But I have to admit it took years for me to fully begin to understand how to use them and the nuances of each oil.

Due to their popularity, you can find countless articles on the internet about their uses, which only led to overwhelm for me.

A researcher by nature, I kept looking, reading and experimenting, but honestly in the end, I kept running from one essential oil to the next without much success. I had a pile of information, but no real foundation for effectively using essential oils.

Finally I stumbled upon information on the 3 most versatile essential oils, which enabled me to build a foundation for incorporating them into my wellness routine.

Why Versatility Matters

There exists as many essential oils as there are reasons to use them. In addition, people have varied needs and preferences, which can complicate essential oil choices.

This can lead to confusion as everyone has an opinion on which essential oils are, “essential”. However, with a good foundation, the possibilities are literally endless.

If you start with the 3 most versatile essential oils, you can build from those ways to incorporate an even larger variety of oils into your lifestyle needs. That’s exactly what happened to me; once I learned about these specific essential oils, I then customized oil blends and usages.

The greatest benefit to me came from the versatility aspect of the oils. This enabled me to see uses I had not realized before, enlarging my perspective on how I could use and benefit from other essential oils.

A Foundation to Build Upon

As with anything worth doing, having a good starting point, or foundation is crucial. As I mentioned above, when I focused only on information gathering, I ended up with just that, information.

The problem with a wealth of information is often little direction or practical application. Once I placed the foundation, direction and application became clear.

The versatility of these essential oils allows you to grow in knowledge and expertise as you experiment and implement them in areas needful for you.

“We can use the scent of essential oils to help us respond with a clear head and heart.”

peppermint essential oil

Peppermint essential oil is one of the most versatile oils in the world. You should always have a bottle of peppermint essential oil on hand. This oil is more concentrated than most other essential oils, so lasts a long time.

With its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, the benefits are numerous and it blends well with other oils.

Uses and Benefits of Peppermint Oil

• Improve bloating & indigestion. Well known for its digestive benefits, this oil can be taken internally in the form of tea or by putting a drop or two in a glass of water.
• Improve immune system function. With its antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties, peppermint oil can strengthen weak immune systems.
• Protect against Alzheimer’s disease & Dementia. Peppermint oil increases blood circulation and oxygenates the brain resulting in higher cognitive function. This can protect against degenerative diseases of the brain.
• Repels mosquitoes, ants, spiders, wasps & bees. An excellent oil base for household bug spray. Insects do not like the smell of peppermint oil.
• Stimulates hair growth, thickens & nourishes damaged hair. due to the stimulating properties of peppermint oil, studies found when this oil was rubbed into the scalp hair follicles were stimulated and hair regenerated.
• Relieve muscle & joint pain. Peppermint oil is a natural muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory. It also works well to relieve tension headaches.
• Anti-itch. When mixed with lavender oil it works extremely well to relieve itchy rashes or dry skin.
• Relieve allergies. Since peppermint oil is a muscle relaxant, it relaxes the muscles in the nasal passages removing the pollen and congestion. Adding clove and eucalyptus oils enhances the effect.

lavender essential oil

Clearly the most popular essential oil, lavender oil has earned its spot on our 3 most versatile essential oil list for more than aromatherapy.

Lavender essential oil has many practical, medicinal and cosmetic uses making it another essential oil you won’t want to neglect from your essential oil foundation.

Uses and Benefits of Lavender Oil

• Promotes Sleep. Arguably the most famous usage for lavender oil. Due to this oil’s calming effects it relieves anxiety and stress allowing you to relax and fall asleep.
• Promotes wound healing. Strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties speed wound healing. Additionally, lavender oil is very soothing for minor burns, especially sunburn.
• Repels insects and soothes insect bites. Numerous studies speak to the effectiveness of using lavender oil in homemade bug repellent. Insects, specifically mosquitoes do not like the smell of lavender oil! For insect bites already present, it helps soothe and heal.
• Soothes and relaxes sore muscles. Long favored as a massage oil, lavender’s relaxation properties help to loosen sore muscles, while it enhances blood circulation.
• Helps relieve headaches and migraines. Medical research indicates significant reduction of pain in patients inhaling lavender for 15 minutes.
• Helps balance blood sugar. Promising research shows lavender oil balancing blood sugar and preventing oxidative stress on the cellular level.
• Encourages healthy skin. lavender oil’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties come to the rescue of skin plagued with acne. It also works as a great cleanser and moisturizer for dry skin.

frankincense oil

Frankincense is famously known as “the king of oils” because it is powerful, effective and incredibly therapeutic.

Due to these characteristics alone, it is one of the most prized and precious essential oils; a must have for your 3 most versatile essential oils.

Uses and Benefits of Frankincense Oil

• Cancer fighting properties. Frankincense oil has shown promising results in the ability to kill cancer cells; specifically breast cancer cells.
• Helps reduce stress. With its ability to reduce the heart rate it helps relieve anxiety and stress levels upon inhalation.
• Boost immune system function. Frankincense exhibits strong immunostimulant type activity, boosting immune system health.
• Decreases pain and inflammation. Highly anti-inflammatory, frankincense oil provides relief from arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome.
• Improves cognitive health. Frankincense oil has the ability to improve both short-term and long-term memory. Often used with Alzheimer and dementia patients to slow disease progression.
• Heals skin and reduces signs of aging. Excellent for use in skin care products for its ability to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as the appearance of scars and stretch marks.

endless essential possibilities

In the sea of essential oils, I find these 3 most versatile essential oils incredibly valuable to have on hand at all times.

No matter what health or wellness need comes up for me or my family, having these oils in my essential oil “cabinet” leaves me well prepared. I don’t have to worry about having a specific oil, as any one of these will most likely manage the issue.

Another great benefit of these oils is that they mix well with each other or any other essential oil you may want to try. Additionally, when you mix essential oils, it enhances their properties and effectiveness.

While there is much to learn about how to properly mix essential oils, having a good foundation of effective, versatile oils will allow you endless possibilities to enhance your health and wellness routines.

Feature Image Photo by Brittany Neale on Unsplash