Essential oils can enter the body through three main pathways: ingestion, inhalation, and absorption through the skin. Here, we do not recommend the method of ingestion because it requires more advice from your doctor.
- Inhaling essential oil
Human are believed to have the ability to distinguish more 10 000 different aromas. Of all the senses, smell have the direct connection to the mind and effect on our emotions.
When essential oils are inhaled, they can be directly absorbed by the mucous membranes in the nasal passage and respiratory system, which contain millions of microscopic capillaries that conduct the molecules directly into the bloodstream. This is why inhalation is considered a very effective method of using essential oils .
2. Absorption through the skin
When essential oils are applied to the skin, they can pass through the outer layer of skin (the stratum corneum) and into the capillaries and bloodstream. Essential oil molecules are so small that they can easily be absorbed into the skin that is semi-permeable by simple diffusion. The sebaceous glands have an oily sebum that facilitates the dissolving of essential oils. The absorption of essential oils through the skin varies depending on the oil, the amount it is diluted, and the application technique .