Have you ever smelled an aroma that simply stopped you in your tracks, making you pause and breathe it in deeply? Perhaps its fresh-baked cookies in your mother’s kitchen around the holidays, or orange blossoms blooming in spring. Scents can make us nostalgic for bygone times, or can remind us to engage more fully in the present moment. There’s an important message to be gleaned from the old adage, “take time to stop and smell the roses.”When we stop moving for a second and take a deep breath, that simple mini-meditation relaxes us. When the aromas we breathe in are the pleasing scents of nature, we get the added benefit of being either energized or soothed by those botanicals. The notion of using essential oils isn’t new; for thousands of years people have been taking advantage of their cosmetic and medicinal benefits, as well as using them in religious and spiritual ceremonies. A modern revival however, has put essential oils on the map for everything from all-natural pet care to non-toxic cleaning supplies.

Essential oils are created by distilling parts of the plant material, including the leaves, stems, bark, roots, flowers, resin, and peels. In ancient times, this plant matter was soaked in oil and then strained through a linen bag. The resulting oil contains concentrated amounts of the antioxidant, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties contained in the plant in nature. The idea that these oils can act as natural medicine without any harmful side effects is a large part of the appeal of adding these oils to your daily regimen.Essential oils have so many uses—both obvious and innovative—that we could easily devote dozens of pages to the subject. Instead I thought I’d highlight some of the most advantageous and surprising ones below.

Who would have ever thought essential oils could be useful against fighting cellulite? You heard that right: simply massage two teaspoons of coconut oil mixed with five drops of grapefruit oil onto dimpled areas. Grapefruit helps eliminate toxins from the body, so continued application is useful for making those unsightly fatty deposits under the skin disappear.

Want a natural way to thicken your hair? Try adding rosemary oil to your shampoo. Researchers found it to be even more effective than prescription hair growth solutions, without any of the harsh side effects. (1)

Or make a paste from fresh strawberries, coconut oil, and lemon essential oil and rub it onto your teeth for a whiter smile in two minutes. Lemon oil is an antiseptic that strengthens your gums while working in conjunction with the mildly abrasive quality of the strawberries to make your teeth gleam. (2)

Certain essential oils have an instant effect on brain activity, which has been demonstrated by monitoring that activity via electroencephalograms. Feeling foggy-headed? Try deeply inhaling from a bottle of peppermint or bergamot oil instead of grabbing that third cup of coffee.

Essential oils can even be useful for depression. A study in the journal of Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice found that women with postpartum symptoms who inhaled rose oil twice weekly for a month saw a marked increase in their moods, as well as a lower occurrence of anxiety. (3)

Similarly effective for easing stress is lavender oil, which has also been shown to relieve insomnia. (4) Simply sprinkle a few drops on your pillow at bedtime and experience a better night’s sleep.

You can also utilize lavender’s soothing properties—and/or those of chamomile—and rub them on your child’s stuffed animals to help calm them when they are upset. Chamomile oil has even been shown to elevate mood and reduce anxiety in children with ADHD. (5)

When it comes to a clean, fresh-smelling living environment, essentials oils can play many roles from simple aromatherapy diffusers to homemade, non-toxic cleaning products.

Eliminate that stale smell that so often accompanies your vacuuming chores by simply dropping a cotton ball soaked with 5-10 drops of your favorite oil into the vacuum bag or dust container.

Use another cotton ball at the bottom of your trashcan. Simply adding a few drops of tea tree oil to your oil diffuser has the ability to kill black mold and other pathogens in the air, as it is a natural fungicide. (6)

And my absolute favorite trick for welcoming the holidays is to add a drop or two of pine, sandalwood or cedar oil to a fire log about 30 minutes before burning.

To learn more about these amazing oils and the myriad ways they can benefit you, attend our Essential Oil Talk next Wednesday 8/30 at 7pm. Space is limited, so call In8Love at 310-477-3335 and reserve your spot today!

And, don't forget to visit In8Love Chiropractic & Acupuncture this weekend at Fiesta La Ballona at Veteran Park in Culver City for the Centennial Celebration! For more information you can visit http://www.fiestalaballona.org/