What is an essential oil and what are its virtues?

Essential oil comes from aromatic plants. That is to say, from plants that contain small glands filled with an aromatic essence. These aromatic essences contained in the plant have the objective of protecting the latter from external aggressions whether parasites, infections, or insects.

Essential oil is therefore extracted from the plant by evaporation and it takes hundreds of kilos of plant to produce a few bottles of essential oil. This is why its price may seem expensive to you.

Essential oil is a mixture of molecules that have a particular biochemical structure. This is what will give the essential oil its therapeutic properties.

Essential oils, through their protective virtues of the plant, transposed to man, have the characteristics of healing and stimulating the body's defense systems in a natural way.

It is therefore important to be attentive and to buy quality essential oils. To recognize a quality essential oil you must find the following information on the label.

• the common name and the Latin name which is the scientific botanical name
• the distilled part (leaves, flowers, bark, etc.)
• the extraction mode
• the bottle should be dark or opaque in color, for better conservation

How to use essential oils

Each essential oil can have one or more modes of use which vary according to its composition and properties but also according to our needs.

• Orally , for a fast and strong action. To be practiced only under the recommendation of a therapist. It is ideal in case of infection

• By cutaneous application which allows essential oils to be absorbed by the skin and enter the bloodstream gradually. Always check that you are not allergic to them. To relieve local symptoms, to work on the energetic and emotional level

• Atmospheric diffusion that allows essential oils to come into contact with your nasal cells and then pass into your lungs to enter your body. You place or spray the drops of essential oil on a handkerchief, a pebble, or a piece of wood. Ideal for purifying the atmosphere, purifying breathing, working on the emotional and energetic levels.

Why use essential oils in Yoga?

Some yoga teachers combine essential oils with yoga. You will see teachers spraying essential oil to purify and clean the air in your room and promote breathing. But not only that, essential oil can help you focus, allow you to better connect between your body and mind, and even increase your energy.

Others will use it during Savasna, at the end of the class to encourage letting go. Very often, they apply it to the palm of your hands or on your temples.

And finally, it is recommended to clean your yoga mat by adding a drop of TEA TREE essential oil to your spray made up of water and a drop of vinegar to disinfect your mat naturally. In addition, this will give it a very pleasant scent.

Please note that on our site, Manduka offers carpet cleaners based on essential oils.