If you have been looking for more natural ways to treat anxiety, pain, and more, read on for my top 10 list of essential oils.

I started using essential oils over a year ago to treat lingering pain and anxiety. Lyme disease often brought with it a long list of symptoms that were difficult to treat. I was always a skeptic of the power of oils until I went to a yoga retreat in the Berkshires. My arms had been breaking out in rashes for months Nothing seemed to clear them. I tried creams, changing soaps, and using organic detergent to wash my clothes. The warmth and sweat from the summer heat made them worse and I did everything to cover them up – even using foundation!

At Kripalu, I booked an appointment for a massage and told my therapist about the rashes on my arms. I said, “they aren’t contagious! I just don’t know how to get rid of them.” She asked if she could apply Lavender oil to the rashes on my arms and I obliged. When the massage was over, she gave me a small bottle of the Lavender essential oil and told me to apply to the rash daily until they went away. I had doubts that this would ever work, but I was willing to try ANYTHING.

Within days, the Lavender essential oil cleared the rashes on my arms and they never came back. I became hooked and started researching the powerful medicinal benefits of essential oils and became a Young Living member so that I could share my knowledge with others.

If you’re on the fence and thinking about using essential oils to help treat various ailments, here is my top 10 list of essential oils to start with:

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LAVENDER

One of the most popular and versatile essential oils.

Benefits and Uses:

• Promotes relaxation
• Anxiety and Depression
• Insomnia
• Eczema
• Fungal Infections
• Allergies
• Nausea
• Menstrual Cramps

How to use Lavender essential oil: Diffuse in a diffuser, mix with an organic carrier oil and roll on your wrists, massage into the soles of your feet, add to your lemonades, marinades, or chocolate! Young Living’s Vitality collection is safe to ingest.

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EUCALYPTUS

This is my absolute favorite of all the oils. I spray it in the shower, in my office, and around the house to help clear my thoughts and lift my spirits.

Benefits and Uses:

• Relieves cough symptoms
• Clears congestion
• Keeps the bugs away
• Treats wounds
• Improves respiratory conditions such as asthma
• Controls blood sugar
• Soothes cold sores
• Eases joint pain

How to use Eucalyptus essential oil: Diffuse in a diffuser, add to a small pot of steaming water and inhale with a damp towel over your head to help with breathing and congestion, add to a carrier oil to roll on the back of your neck or spray in your bathroom when you need a pick-me-up.

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THIEVES

Thieves is a MUST-HAVE. It is a combination of Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Eucalyptus, Lemon, and Rosemary.

Benefits and Uses:

• Great all-purpose cleaner – Cleans microbial bacteria off surfaces
• Neutralizes and purifies the air
• Immune booster
• Promotes respiratory health
• Antimicrobial properties to promote healing

How to use Thieves essential oil: Diffuse, add 1 drop of oil for each ounce of water for an all-purpose spray solution for cleaning or add to a carrier oil and massage into the soles of your feet.

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COPAIBA

We have just started using Copaiba and have been amazed at all of its powerful medicinal properties.

Benefits and Uses:

• An Anti-inflammatory
• Promotes wound healing
• Provides pain relief
• Treats a variety of infections, including bladder infections, and strep throat.
• An aphrodisiac

Studies showed that Copaiba lowered the production of some molecules that are associated with inflammation and lowered the number of oxygen radicals which can lead to cell damage in mice with Multiple Sclerosis.

Studies have also shown that Copaiba was able to inhibit bacterial growth of Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause skin and wound infections.

How to use Copaiba essential oil: Diffuse or apply topically for inflammation, pain, or wound healing but make sure to properly dilute in a carrier oil.

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THYME

This is a new one for me, but my meditation practitioner highly recommended Thyme essential so I looked into it.

Benefits:

• Protects your home from mold
• Reduce foodborne bacteria
• Supports heart health
• Alleviates inflammation in the body
• Reduces acne
• Used to prevent hair loss when mixed with other oils
• Fights breast cancer
• Oral Health

How to use Thyme essential oil: Diffuse, Acts as a barrier for mold or use topically by diluting 1 drop of oil with 4 drops of carrier oil.

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FRANKINCENSE

The “King” of all essential oils and another one of my favorite oils that keeps me grounded.

Benefits:

• Rejuvenates skin
• Reduces appearances of skin imperfections
• Promotes cellular health and immunity
• Produces a healthy inflammatory response
• Promotes feelings of peace, relaxation, and overall wellness

How to use Frankincense essential oil: Diffuse, apply topically when diluted in a carrier oil, take Frankincense Vitality internally for immune support.

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LEMON

I love the smell of citrus and this family of essential oils is a family favorite.

Benefits:

• Reduces anxiety and depression
• Eases morning sickness
• Improves skin
• Improves cold symptoms
• Treats acne and heals wounds
• Energizing

How to use Lemon essential oil: Place 3-4 drops in a diffuser or use it topically by mixing with a carrier oil of your choice. Put a small drop or two of Lemon vitality in your water to drink.

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PEPPERMINT

I use Peppermint a lot for upset stomachs and nausea but there are so many more benefits of this essential oil. Peppermint oil is antibacterial and antiviral as well.

Benefits:

• Kills germs
• Relieves headaches
• Stops itching
• Relieves pain
• Prevents or reduces vomiting
• Reduces symptoms of digestive conditions
• Helps the body eliminate mucus
• Reduces muscle spasms
• Boost blood circulation
• Improves athletic performance

How to use Peppermint essential oil: The Menthol in Peppermint can cause serious side effects in children so you should not apply to a child’s skin or allow them to inhale or ingest it. To use topically, add a few drops of peppermint oil to carrier oil. Add a few drops to steaming water to inhale or diffuse.

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TEA TREE

Benefits and Uses:

• Treats acne
• Treating athletes foot and nail fungus
• Insect bites
• Repels insects
• Lice
• Hand sanitizer – kills several common bacteria and viruses
• All-purpose cleaner

How to use Tea Tree Oil: Combine 20 drops of tea tree oil, ¾ cup of water, and ½ cup of apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle for an all-purpose cleaner apply topically by mixing 10 drops of tea tree oil with a carrier oil, diffuse.

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OREGANO

Benefits and Uses:

• Natural antibiotic
• Lowers cholesterol
• May treat yeast infections
• Powerful antioxidant
• Improves gut health
• May have cancer-fighting properties

How to use Oregano Oil: Apply topically by adding 5 drops of Oregano oil to 5 teaspoons of carrier oil. Do not take orally unless you have talked to a doctor. Put 1-2 drops of Oregano Oil in a diffuser to treat cold and flu symptoms.

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