Photo 5/9
To Take Your Mind Off Your Mind
In a diffuser, peppermint essential oil can be used to help with headaches and fatigue, says Trattner. Applied topically (mixed with a carrier oil, remember!) peppermint has been shown in studies to be as effective as pain relievers.
Image via Getty
Photo 6/9
To Set the Mood
Essential oils don't just combat bad energy; they can also create good feelings. Vetiver is deeply relaxing and comforting, and creates a homey, cozy vibe when diffused throughout your environment. But this essential oil won't make you so comfortable you fall asleep. In one animal study, diffusing the oil created significant feelings of alertness.
Image via Getty
Photo 7/9
When You Need an Inner Cleanse
You know the feeling: you feel stuffy, clogged, generally terrible -- you have a cold. That's where eucalyptus steps in. "Eucalyptus oil also has anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial effects," says Trattner. If you have a cold, she recommends adding a few drops to a diffuser or bowl of warm water, then put a towel over your head to inhale, creating your very own Vick VapoRub situation.
Image via Getty
Photo 8/9
When You Run Out of Coffee
Feeling low and listless? When you're being taken under by the 3 p.m. doldrums, add a little bergamot to your environment. The essential oil is instantly uplifting and energizing. Studies show that it can also reduce stress and anxiety, which can't be said for your jitter-inducing espresso.
Image via Getty
Photo 9/9
When Everyone in the Office Is Sick
You might know it for its skin-clearing abilities, but in the air you breathe, tea tree oil has an immunomodulatory response, says Trattner. An immuno-what, you say? Basically, it stimulates the immune system. Always a good thing when you're fighting off coworkers' colds left and right.
Image via Getty
