This article is an introduction to essential oils if you have never used them before or if you’re unsure of their various uses and benefits.

An essential oil is a liquid that is obtained through the distillation process or cold pressing. This liquid is extracted from different parts of a plant, i.e. its roots, its leaves, its stems, and its bark. Don’t let the name throw you; essential oils aren’t really oils at all, and they don’t leave you with an oily sensation either.

Because essential oils are extracted from plant material, they often contain the nutritional essence of the plants themselves. In concentrated form, these essential oils can impart incredible health benefits, if and when they are ingested into the body.

Some essential oils are combinations of several oils...