Aroma for wellness

Aside from his addiction for trekking, bikes and adventure sports, 28-year-old Nikhil Goyal has found himself another obsession. This one spells itself out as ‘’ylang ylang’’.

The software engineer has off late been adding a few drops of ylang-ylang essential oil to his bath water as he feels “it helps to soothe the nerves”. He also uses a drop or two on his wrist for that perfumed effect. And to relax frayed muscles, he gives himself a shoulder massage with ylang-ylang oil, which is extracted through steam distillation of flowers from the ylang-ylang tree that grows in the rainforests of South East Asia.

After getting to know that ylang-ylang has antidepressant properties, lowers blood pressure and anxiety, Goyal been using it on a regular basis. “Ylang Ylang does have a calming effect on my mind and body, especially after a strenuous day at work. Simply adding it to the diffuser and relaxing amidst its fragrance with light music in the background works wonders,” says Goyal.

Like him, many others are today regaling in the wellness benefits that essential oils provide. Essential oils are mainly extracted from the flowers, leaves, barks, peels, and roots of various plants and are created through distillation, a process that separates the oil and water compounds of the plant through steaming.

Says Sham Kumar, education manager, Kiehl’s India, “An essential oil is a concentrated liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. They are very important in beauty and skincare due to their natural aroma and benefits.”

But nowadays, the multiple health properties of essential oils, such as their stimulating, antibacterial, antiviral, soothing, relaxing and detoxifying effects, are getting highly recognised, making the category popular not just with the beauty conscious, but also those with a regard for good health.

Estimates from Statistics Market Research Consulting predict the global market for essential oils to reach $12.85 billion by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 11.7 percent.

“Essential oils can be used effectively through our sense of smell; in diffusers, candles, incense sticks, or just sprinkled on bowls of water,” says Blossom Kochhar, chairperson, Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies, adding that many essential oils have an uplifting effect on the mind.

Goyal feels that ylang-ylang eases tension and anxiety. “I have also used cardamom oil to address stomach issues and indigestion and heart burn,’’ says Goyal. Like cardamom and ylang-ylang, neroli is another exotic variety of essential oil, which is extracted from orange blossom petals. Neroli oil, say experts, calms palpitations and comes in handy for skin problems like acne and eczema. “Likewise, rose oil also cures skin problems while toning up the body and relieving stress. Then there is juniper, which is effective in combating muscle weakness and joint problems. The health benefits of these oils are now being understood by more and more people,” say wellness experts.

Kochhar says essential oils are designed to heal from within. “When used in massage and bathing, they are absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. When inhaled, the fine molecules of the oils pass through the skin directly into the bloodstream.” Kochhar says that besides using essential oils for massage, diffusers or during bath time, they can be used in multiple other ways such as compresses. “Cold compresses are used for sprains, bruises, fevers, headaches, etc. Hot compresses are used for abscesses and menstrual pain. You need to add a few drops of the essential oil to half a pint of water in a container. Soak a towel in the water, wring out the fabric and place it over the area to be treated,’’ says Kochhar.

SCENT OF HEALTH

• Health properties of essential oils are getting recognised, making it popular with those who are beauty, health conscious
   
• Besides using essential oils for massage, diffusers or during bath time, they can be used in multiple other ways such as compresses