Essential oils have been getting a lot of buzz recently for helping witheverything from headaches to sleep to sore throats. But do theseconcentrated plant-based oils work?

Essential oils can make a positive impact on your health and well-being as long as you use them in a safe way.

Want to give essential oils a try? Learn what conditions they may helptreat and how to find quality essential oils, since not all products arecreated equal.

Essential oils are basically plant extracts. They're made by steaming orpressing various parts of a plant (flowers, bark, leaves or fruit) tocapture the compounds that produce fragrance. It can take several pounds ofa plant to produce a single bottle of essential oil. In addition tocreating scent, essential oils perform other functions in plants, too.

Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils for therapeuticbenefit. Aromatherapy has been used for centuries. Wheninhaled, the scent molecules in essential oils travel from the olfactorynerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala, theemotional center of the brain.

Essential oils can also be absorbed by the skin. A massage therapist mightadd a drop or two of wintergreen to oil to help relax tight muscles duringa rubdown. A skincare company may add lavender to bath salts to create asoothing soak.

Although people claim essential oils are natural remedies for a number ofailments, there's not enough research to determine their effectiveness inhuman health. Results of lab studies are promising one at Johns Hopkinsfound that certainessential oils could kill a type of Lyme bacteriabetter than antibiotics but results in human clinical trials are mixed.

Some studies indicate that there's a benefit to using essential oils whileothers show no improvement in symptoms. Clinical trials have looked atwhether essential oils can alleviate conditions such as:

The quality of essential oils on the market varies greatly, from pureessential oils to those diluted with less expensive ingredients. Andbecause there's no regulation, the label may not even list everythingthat's in the bottle you're buying. That's why essential oilsshould not be ingested.

Johns Hopkins also advises against using essential oil diffusers, small householdappliances that create scented vapor. Diffusion in a public area orhousehold with multiple members can affect people differently. For example, peppermint is often recommended forheadaches. But if you use it around a child who's less than 30 months old, the childcan become agitated. It could have a negative effect. Additionally,someone with fast heartbeat can react adversely to peppermint.

The safest ways to use essential oils include:

A small number of people may experience irritation or allergic reactions tocertain essential oils. You're more likely to have a bad reaction if youhave atopic dermatitis or a history of reactions to topical products.Although you can experience a reaction to any essential oil, some are morelikely to be problematic, including:

Because pure essential oils are potent, diluting them in a carrier oil isthe best way to avoid a bad reaction when applying directly to the skin. Ifyou get a red, itchy rash or hives after applying essential oils, see adoctor. You may be having an allergic reaction.

There are dozens of essential oils, all with different fragrances andchemical makeups. Which essential oils are best depends on what symptomsyou're looking to ease or fragrances you prefer. Some of the most popularessential oils include:

The most important thing to consider when shopping for essential oils isproduct quality. But figuring out which oils are the best ischallenging, since there's no government agency in the U.S. that provides agrading system or certification for essential oils. A big problem? Manycompanies claim their essential oils are "therapeutic grade," but that'sjust a marketing term.

Unfortunately, there are lots of products you might find online or instores that aren't harvested correctly or may have something in them thatisn't listed on the label.

Here are some tips to help you shop for pure essential oils:

Essential oils can lift your mood and make you feel good with just a whiffof their fragrance. For some people they may even help alleviate thesymptoms of various conditions. For more information on how to incorporatethem into a healthy lifestyle, consult an integrative medicine expert.

Read more:
Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work? - Hopkins Medicine