Essential oils are produced from plants, usually by a process of steam distillation.
They are made up of very small molecules, much smaller in size than regular oils. So they can diffuse into the body and get absorbed into the blood stream even when they are applied on the skin. When they are inhaled, they can diffuse through the nasal passages into the brain, thus helping with emotional and mental health.
Some precautions to remember with essential oils:
When you are using the oil for the first time, always dilute with a carrier oil (like Coconut oil or Olive oil) and apply to the inside of the arms to check for sensitivity.
They cannot be applied directly into the eyes or ears. They can be diluted with a carrier oil and rubbed around the ears.
They should be stored in a glass bottle instead of a plastic container as pure essential oils are very powerful and can leach through the plastic.
Do not add Pure essential oils to the water in your humidifier. The oils molecules can block the pores in the humidifier. They should be used only in an Essential oil diffuser which is made of special plastic that is not leached by the Essential oil.
Some Essential oils can affect hormones and hence cannot be used during pregnancy.
Most Essential oils are OK to be used around babies, especially in a diffuser.