Are you looking for natural ways to boost your health, ease stress, or support your immune system? You’re not alone. More people than ever (especially people who are interested in holistic healing) are turning to essential oils for their natural health benefits.These plant-powered oils offer a wide range of physical and emotional wellness support—from calming anxiety and improving sleep to supporting digestion and reducing inflammation.

But with so many oils and options out there, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. In this post, I’m breaking down the my 5 favorite essential oils for health, how to use them safely, and why choosing pure, high-quality oils is crucial for getting the most out of your natural wellness routine.

Why Purity Matters When Using Essential Oils

When it comes to essential oils, purity is everything. Not all oils are created equal—and unfortunately, many on the market today are diluted, adulterated, or made with synthetic ingredients that can actually do more harm than good. Using impure oils may lead to skin irritation, allergic reactions, or ineffective results.

High-quality oils, like those from trusted companies such as doTERRA, are third-party tested, sourced from sustainable farms, and extracted without harmful chemicals. This ensures that what you’re putting on your skin or diffusing into the air is safe, potent, and therapeutic.

Choosing certified pure therapeutic grade (CPTG) or equivalent oils helps protect your health while giving you the most powerful benefits from the plant’s natural compounds. Always look for transparency, testing results, and ethical sourcing when selecting an essential oil brand.

Essential Oil Safety Tips for Beginners

While essential oils are a natural solution, it’s important to remember they’re highly concentrated and need to be used properly. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind before diving into your essential oil routine:

• Dilute properly when applying oils to the skin, especially if you’re using citrus or hot oils like oregano or clove. A good rule of thumb is to use a carrier oil (like coconut or jojoba) to reduce the risk of irritation.
• Do a patch test before using a new oil topically to check for any skin sensitivity.
• Avoid direct contact with eyes, ears, and mucous membranes.
• Use caution around pets and children. Not all oils are safe for them—so always do your research or consult a professional.
• Do not ingest oils unless under the supervision of a certified aromatherapist or healthcare provider.

To dive deeper into safe usage, I’ll link to this helpful safety guide by doTERRA on essential oil safety best practices.

My Favorite Essential Oils for Health

1. Lavender Oil

I think when most people think about lavender oil, their mind goes to better sleep. Little lavender rolls in hotels, lavender scented sleep spray, and much more. But lavender offers so many more benefits than just helping with relaxation and sleep.

According to Healthline and WebMD, research suggests lavender oil can have some of the following health benefits:

• Helps with insomnia
• Helps with hair loss
• Helps with better sleep
• Would healing
• Helps with anxiety
• Helps with headaches
• Helps with dry skin/eczema
• Helps with mood issues

2. Frankincense Oil

Frankincense oil has been one of my absolute favorites over the years. Using it for aromatherapy not only smells great and makes the room refreshing, but it truly feels like it clears your mind.

Healthline and WebMD both had articles with research suggesting other health benefits such as:

• Reducing arthritis symptoms
• Improves oral health
• Anti-microbial
• Anti-inflammatory
• May help improve the symptoms of asthma
• Analgesic (pain-relieving)
• Helps with skin health
• Anti-cancel properties

3. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is one of my all-time favorites. One I always have on me. My favorite reasons to use peppermint oil is to help with a headache, as well as clearing out my sinuses (by breathing it in). WebMD and Healthline both explain many other health properties such as:

• Helps with GI issues, such as IBS, nausea, and other digestive issues
• Can help with headaches
• Can potentially help with the common cold and general immune system
• Can help with pain
• Mild antimicrobial properties

Fun fact: I also use peppermint oil in a natural cleaning solution (for counters, floors, furniture, etc)

4. Yarrow Oil

According to DoTERRA, “Yarrow essential oils are a potent botanical combination, Yarrow|Pom can help soothe and rejuvenate skin when applied topically. And though confirming research is still needed, preliminary studies also suggest the primary chemical components of Yarrow|Pom—including punicic acid (an omega-5), β-Caryophyllene, and chamazulene—have the potential to assist healthy metabolic, cellular, immune, and nervous system function when taken internally.”

VeryWellHealth put together research on some of the other major health benefits of Yarrow Oil such as:

• Wound healing
• Antioxidant
• Anti-inflammatory (especially for skin)
• Helps with IBS symptoms
• Helps with painful menstrual cycles
• Could potentially help with MS symptoms

Some other common uses of Yarrow essential oils:

• Helps with anxiety
• Helps chemo related toxicities
• Helps with bacterial infections
• Helps with regulating blood sugar

5. Bergamot Oil

Bergamot not only has an incredibly homey and earthy scent, it also has many other health benefits. WebMD and Healthline listed benefits such as:

• Reducing stress
• Could help with symptoms of food poisoning
• Helps lower cholesterol
• May help with joint pain
• Reduce inflammation (and in turn, joint pain!)

Whether you’re new to essential oils or looking to expand your natural wellness toolkit, these powerful plant extracts offer an incredible way to support your health—naturally and holistically. From boosting mood and energy to improving sleep and immune function, the benefits are endless when you use pure essential oils safely and intentionally. Remember to always prioritize quality, follow safety guidelines, and start small as you explore which oils work best for your unique body and lifestyle. Be sure to check out the linked resources throughout this post to help you on your journey to natural healing with essential oils.