Give Yourself a Natural Boost: The Best Essential Oils for Energy

May 31, 2021

Want to know how to use essential oils for energy to give yourself a natural boost? Keep reading to learn about the best essential oils for energy and how to use them.

by Stacy Mosel, LMSW

Getting a good night’s sleep, eating right and making sure to exercise regularly are all great ways to ensure that you have enough energy to face the day ahead.

But sometimes, we need a boost of energy, and we might not want to have another cup of coffee or an unhealthy sugary snack to get that extra kick.

This is where essential oils can step in — they’re the concentrated plant compounds that are extracted from different parts of plants for their various beneficial properties. Here are some of the top essential oils for energy and tips on how you can best use them to increase alertness and focus.

1. Rosemary

Rosemary has been used for thousands of years for its stimulating and energizing properties. The ancient Greeks often burned rosemary as an offering to the gods because they viewed it as a sacred herb. Nowadays, it’s not just useful as a fragrant flavoring for your chicken dinner, rosemary essential oil is believed to promote energy and increase feelings of alertness. In fact, one study shares that people who inhaled rosemary essential oil reported feeling “fresher” and more vitalized. This may be because rosemary contains terpenes such as pinene and limonene, which are believed to be beneficial compounds that may have energizing and focusing properties.

Best Way To Use It

Two of the best ways to use rosemary essential oil for energy are taken as a tincture directly under your tongue or through inhalation preparations. You can breathe in essential oil or products designed for inhalation directly from the bottle (hold it a few inches from your nostrils), or place a few drops of essential oil in a diffuser to disperse the aroma whenever you need some extra energy support.

2. Coriander

The leaves and seeds of the coriander plant, also referred to as cilantro, have been used in culinary and folk medicine practices for thousands of years. Native to the Mediterranean, its use spread to India, China and the rest of the world over the centuries. Herbal practitioners believe it can help with digestion, may help maintain normal cholesterol levels, and can stimulate the nervous system.

Best Way To Use It

People often use coriander essential oil internally to aid with healthy digestion; while it’s generally considered safe, you should not ingest it without checking with your doctor or a qualified herbalist first. Coriander essential oil has a unique aroma that can take some getting used to, but you might try adding a few drops to a diffuser to experience its energizing benefits.

3. Ginger

You might use it for cooking or making tea, but ginger is another plant that has been used in traditional herbal medicine practices for many years. Herbal medicine practitioners believe that ginger has a number of benefits, such as helping to alleviate nausea and promoting healthy digestion. The aroma of ginger essential oil is best described as fresh, spicy, warming and pleasing, and it is thought to have stimulating and energizing properties that may help fight fatigue.

Best Way To Use It

Incorporating a tincture containing ginger, like our GO tinctrure, can be an easy way to reap the benefits of this powerful plant. You can also apply ginger essential oil topically after diluting it in a neutral carrier oil like almond or grapeseed oil; massage a few drops on to your neck or wrists. Or you can put a few drops of essential oil into a bowl of steaming water and allowing the aroma to disperse throughout your room.

4. Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a subtropical citrus fruit that has a very distinctive flavor and aroma. We’re all familiar with the pink- or yellow-colored flesh of the grapefruit, and you probably know it boasts very high amounts of vitamin C. But what you might not know is that the scent of grapefruit essential oil may help fight fatigue, boost energy and improve your mood.

Best Way To Use It

It’s best to avoid ingesting grapefruit essential oil, as it can be toxic in large doses. Instead, use a few drops in a warm bath or in an essential oil diffuser. If you want to use it topically or as a massage oil, make sure to dilute it well in a carrier oil first.

5. Peppermint

There’s nothing like the aroma of mint to give you a quick pick-me-up when you feel your energy start to lag. Peppermint is an aromatic herb that’s a cross between the spearmint and water mint plants. While it’s originally native to Europe, it’s grown around the world today for a variety of culinary and medicinal uses. Research has shown that peppermint may help reduce fatigue, increase alertness and improve mental clarity.

Best Way To Use It

Peppermint can be irritating when applied directly to the skin, so it’s best to use with caution or when strongly diluted with a carrier oil as a topical preparation. You can avoid the hassle of mixing oils yourself by trying REPAIR, our topical preparation designed to provide relief to stressed skin. You can also use a few drops in a diffuser or one drop in a steam inhalation preparation. You might try a drop or two in a warm bath as well, but make sure to first mix it with a carrier oil or a cup of Epsom salts.

6. Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is an evergreen plant that is used throughout the world for a variety of purposes. It has a characteristic, unmistakable aroma that might remind you of certain over-the-counter cold and flu preparations. There’s a good reason for this — Australian indigenous peoples chewed the bark and drank tea made from the leaves to help fever and fight colds. Today it’s often used in herbal medicine to encourage the clearing of mucous and promote healthy respiration. It’s also known for its invigorating, stimulating and focusing properties.

Best Way To Use It

Eucalyptus essential oil is highly concentrated and can cause severe irritation if applied directly to the skin. Use a few drops in a diffuser or add to a carrier oil and massage it into your skin. Never use eucalyptus essential oil internally.

7. Cardamom

If you’ve had Indian food, it’s likely that you’ve had cardamom. Cardamom is a spice that’s native to tropical and subtropical Asia. Indigenous people have used cardamom there for hundreds of years both in cooking and as a medicine. With a distinctive, sweet aroma, cardamom is believed to have stimulating and energizing properties; which, like rosemary, are thought to be produced by the wide range of terpenes present in cardamom, all of which are thought to have therapeutic benefits. Cardamom is also thought to help maintain normal blood circulation.

Best Way To Use It

You could use cardamom essential oil for flavoring certain foods, like ice cream or yogurt, but make sure you don’t overdo it — a drop or two is more than enough. Use it in a tincture or diffuse a few drops of cardamom essential oil in an electric or candle-warmed diffuser. Cardamom also blends well with other essential oils, like orange or cinnamon, so look out for a tincture that contains a mix of essential oils, like one from The Root of it All. try experimenting to come up with your own energizing blend.

8. Geranium

Geranium is a flowering shrub — the essential oil is extracted from its leaves, stems and branches. It’s believed to have numerous wellness benefits, including supporting skin health, promoting a normal inflammatory response and alleviating tension and stress. Herbalists also recommend using it to relieve fatigue and support emotional balance.

Best Way To Use It

Geranium essential oil can be applied topically by adding a few drops to your shampoo or conditioner when washing your hair or by adding a few drops to a carrier oil. It’s also a pleasing floral aroma to diffuse throughout the course of the day or whenever you feel fatigued or low on energy.

Caveats To Consider

The FDA maintains a list of essential oils that are “generally considered safe,” but that doesn’t mean you should ingest them. Generally speaking, it’s possible to ingest some pure essential oils safely but there are some that can be toxic and some that you should avoid altogether. If you’re interested in using pure essential oils orally, you should always do so under the guidance of a qualified herbalist. As far as topical applications go, the rule of thumb is to dilute 3 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil. To take the guesswork out, you might want to consider our hemp-infused essential oil products, so you don‘t have to experiment with different formulations on your own!

Stacy Mosel, LMSW, is a health and wellness writer as well as a licensed social worker, yoga enthusiast, certified Reiki practitioner and musician. She received a bachelor’s degree in music from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1999 and a Master of Social Work from New York University in 2002.

References:

Healthline - What Are Essential Oils?

Scientia Pharmaceutica - Effects of Inhaled Rosemary Oil on Subjective Feelings and Activities of the Nervous System

New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center - Top Foods That Improve Circulation and Vein Health (Updated 2021)

Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine - Essential Oils Used in Aromatherapy: A Systemic Review

Clinical Phytoscience - Zingiber officinale Rosc. Essential Oil, a Review on Its Composition and Bioactivity

Medical News Today - What Are the Health Benefits of Cardamom?

NDTV - Cardamom for Hypertension: Benefits And Uses of Elaichi for High Blood Pressure Patients

Florida Citrus - Florida Grapefruit Nutrition

Healthline - 6 Benefits and Uses of Grapefruit Essential Oil

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Does the Fragrance of Essential Oils Alleviate the Fatigue Induced by Exercise? A Biochemical Indicator Test in Rats

Keeper of the Home - Peppermint Detox Bath Soak