For many years now, people are using essential oils to treat minor scrapes to anxiety and depression. Nowadays, these essential oils gain popularity because individuals seek an alternative option to prescription medications.
Essential oils are made from plant extracts. This is done through a steam distillation process or cold pressing. Oils can be diffused through the air or used topically to help with certain health problems.
Benefits of Essential Oils
They soothe stress, fight infection, and can affect positively our minds and body. Essential oil lowers side effects related to many health conditions, this also includes diabetes.
These essential oils have calming effects on the body and mind, and they come with many medicinal benefits.
For instance, some oils help lower the side effects of certain health complications like skin elasticity and ulcers. Also, oils help fight infections, which might be more frequent in those with diabetes.
Other Benefits Are:
- Increasing concentration;
- Treating coughs and colds;
- Soothing anxiety, tension, and stress;
- Relieving joint pain;
- Helping to fall asleep more easily;
- Helping with respiratory issues;
- Lowering blood pressure;
- Helping indigestion.
Research
According to research, there isn’t any medical evidence that supports using essential oils as a diabetes treatment. However, we can use oils to treat related complications, and this includes weight gain and gastrointestinal problems.
Remember that essential oils need to be used carefully and in conjunction with the recommended treatment from a doctor.
Rosehip
In case we want to maintain a healthy weight we should consider rosehip essential oil. Researchers made a 12-week study with 32 participants. These participants had BMI, i.e., body mass index from 25 to 29.
They received either a placebo or rosehip extract. The result of this study was that body fat, BMI and the total abdominal fat area had lowered notably more for the participants that used the extract.
Cinnamon
Researchers in a 2013 study came to the discovery that those with diabetes and prediabetes who ate cinnamon had decreased diastolic and systolic blood pressure.
This study focused only on spice, but we might experience the same with oil. On this topic, there are only a small number of studies, therefore, bear in mind not to use it to control blood pressure.
Mixture of Oils
In one 2005 animal study, researchers came to the discovery that one oil mix of oregano, fenugreek, cumin, and cinnamon oils boosted insulin sensitivity in animals with a chronic condition.
The researchers concluded that this mix reduces systolic blood pressure and glucose levels.
How to Properly Use Essential Oil
In one study on lab animals with diabetes and people with high BMI, essential oils were administered through oral droplets. The typical advice of doctors is to avoid the injection of essential oils because the long-term risks are not yet known.
This is true when it comes to individuals with this chronic illness since it is still not known how injection affects blood glucose levels. In general, it is safe to use essential oils topically or to diffuse oils in the air.
In case we want to put it on our skin, we should make sure to dilute it with carrier oil such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil.
There is a rule when it comes to diluting an essential oil with a carrier oil, and that is to add a one-ounce carrier oil to every twelve drops of essential oil. This is essential to prevent inflamed or irritated skin. If you want to improve your sleep cycle, try using live resin cartridges for vapes.
Warnings and Risks
Undiluted essential oils might lead to inflammation and skin irritation. Also, those essential oils are not regulated by the FDA, i.e., the Food and Drug Administration.
Remember to read the labels and search for added ingredients that might act as allergens. Always do a patch test on a small part of the body before applying diluted essential oils to a larger area.
In that way, we will see whether we will have any irritation. Remember that it takes 1 day to see if there will be any redness or patchy skin.
In case we use a diffuser, we should clean it frequently with a water and vinegar mixture. Clean it to get rid of any residual buildup of precious essential oils. By cleaning and maintaining our diffuser, we will extend its life.
Source Health Line | Pubs | Healthline | Naha | American Diabetes Association | Sepalika
