Essential oils for weight loss

The growing interest in alternative medicine is pushing many people to indulge in aromatherapy. It is a therapy using essential oils for the purposes of prevention, care and/or well-being. Today it is impossible not to recognize the many properties of essential oils. Is it then possible to use essential oils to lose weight?

What is an essential oil ?

An essential oil is a liquid plant essence, concentrated, obtained by distillation of the volatile aromatic compounds of a plant . Distillation can be carried out using steam (this is called liquid distillation) or dry (solid distillation). There is an exception: citrus essences ( lemon , grapefruit, orange, bergamot, etc.), which are obtained by simple cold pressing of the fruit peel.

Plant aromatic compounds can be found in the leaves or flowers of a plant, as well as in a bark, a bud, a root or a fruit . They are a complex and powerful alliance of biochemical molecules (terpenes, phenols, esters, oxides, ketones), with multiple properties: calming, deodorizing, slimming, purifying, healing, antifungal… These aromatic compounds are therefore collected in the form of essential oils. , to benefit from their preventive and curative properties.

An EO is not an oily body. Rather, it consists of a liquid solution of varying density (fluid, viscous, sometimes thick and pasty), volatile and penetrating. It is characterized by a strong smell. It should generally be stored away from air and light, to avoid any risk of oxidation and alteration of its properties.

How to choose an essential oil?

The use of essential oils being very fashionable, it is possible to find them in many shops. However the quality can be very random. To ensure that you have a quality product, you must always check that the EO is integral or chemotyped  : this means that it is 100% natural and pure. This purity often has a price: the rarity of certain essences and the quantity of plant (whether flowering tops, buds or bark) necessary to manufacture the essential oil can indeed affect the cost of the final product. For example, to make one kilo of Damask Rose EO, you need 4 tons of petals. No wonder essential oil is so expensive!

What are the benefits of essential oils?

The benefits of essential oils are multiple , because these plant elixirs can be used to treat many minor everyday ailments (colds, acne, burns, sinusitis, etc.). In addition, HE can also “play on the mind”. Some essences are ideal for promoting concentration or falling asleep, while others will be energizing and energizing.

Also, we are entitled to wonder if essential oils can help lose weight . Some are great for:

• Reduce cellulite : Juniper, Cistus ladaniferous, Citrus litsea, Evergreen cypress,
• Reduce water retention : Virginia cedar, Christe marine, Patchouli, Camphor rosemary, Italian helichrysum.

But some essential oils are even more interesting because they have lipolytic properties  : they encourage the elimination of fat. 

The 5 best essential oils for weight loss

1- Lemon essential oil 

Lemon essential oil is invigorating and purifying. It stimulates the immune system, tones the digestive system and facilitates weight loss. It can be taken orally: just pour 1 drop of lemon HE and 1 drop of rosemary verbenone HE on a neutral tablet (in organic stores, made from acacia gum) and leave the tablet melt under the tongue. A 20-day cure, at the rate of 2 lozenges per day, can help to lose weight.

2- Grapefruit essential oil

Grapefruit essential oil can be used in synergy with lemon essential oil. It is invigorating, detoxifying, diuretic and lipolytic, as it increases the ability to destock fat. It is possible to take it orally, as for lemon essential oil. It can also be an ingredient of choice for a slimming oil. To prepare an effective slimming treatment , simply emulsify:

• 27 ml of natural vegetable oil (sweet almond, sesame, macadamia)
• 35 drops of Grapefruit EO
• 35 drops of Menthol Eucalyptus EO
• 35 drops of Virginia Cedar HE

 3- Atlas Cedar essential oil

 Atlas Cedar essential oil is very interesting for losing weight, because it combines lymphotonic action (it promotes drainage) and lipolytic action. It can thus be used in synergy with other essential oils such as lemon, grapefruit, christe marine and fennel. Added up to 2% in an oily solution, this EO will help promote the destocking of subcutaneous fat, while stimulating their drainage by the lymph.

4- Yuzu essential oil

Yuzu is a small citrus fruit from Asia. Yellow, acid and very fragrant, it is used in cooking. But its essential oil can be used for slimming and cellulite removal purposes. Yuzu HE can therefore be used to prepare a slimming and anti-cellulite massage oil . To do this, simply mix:

• 95 ml of natural vegetable oil (jojoba, hazelnut, touloucouna)
• 70 gouttes d’HE de Yuzu
• 35 drops of Juniper HE
• 35 drops of menthol Eucalyptus EO

5- Sweet Fennel essential oil

This essential oil is traditionally used as a digestion booster . Its purifying qualities give it a slimming power. It can therefore be used as an ingredient in a slimming oil, to be applied daily:

• 30 ml of natural vegetable oil of your choice
• 20 drops of sweet fennel essential oil
• 20 drops of Christe marine
• 20 drops of Virginia cedar

Are essential oils enough to lose weight quickly and permanently?

EOs make it possible to place the body in optimal slimming conditions. However, the use, even daily, of essential oils alone cannot allow you to lose weight. It must be accompanied by basic hygiene and dietary measures:

• Healthy, varied and balanced diet – including lean proteins, low glycemic index complex carbohydrates, unlimited fruits and vegetables
• Sufficient hydration, essentially water -based
• Regular sports activity , at the rate of 2 long sessions per week
• Daily physical activity, with walking sessions of at least 30 minutes
• Avoidance of toxins (tobacco, alcohol , sugar, salt) and oxidative stress 
• Sufficient, good quality sleep

To go further: how to use essential oils?

1- General principles

The use of essential oils should be done with care and caution . Indeed, handling essential oils is not trivial, because as explained above, they are powerful chemical concentrates. In addition, they have the characteristic of being lipophilic  : they easily cross the different layers of the skin and thus penetrate the body.  

Essential oils are therefore never used pure , but always with a carrier or dispersant. Each HE can have one or more modes of use, depending on its properties. Thus, an essential oil can be administered:

• By mouth : this mode of use is delicate and requires the advice of a health professional. If it is a culinary use, 1-2 drops of essential oil can flavor a dish or a pastry.
• By the skin : it is advisable to use a fatty substance, such as a natural vegetable oil or a vegetable butter, in which a few drops of essential oil will be diluted.
• In aromatic bath : a dispersant must be used, so that the essential oils, which are not soluble in water, disperse well. There are liquid dispersants based on alcohol or glycerin. Failing this, coarse salt with vegetable oil can also act as a carrier.
• In atmospheric diffusion : the diffusion in the open air of essential oils can be done using a solid support, such as a wax, a porous material (clay, terracotta, wood) or fabric, but also with using a diffuser – in which case, it will be necessary to dilute the essential oils in a neutral alcohol-based liquid base.

2- Precautions for use

Additional precautions must be taken before regularly using EOs:

• Never use an essential oil for a prolonged period without medical advice.
• Never exceed the doses recommended by a recipe
• Do not ingest an HE, if it is not administered orally
• Never apply an essential oil to the mucous membranes (nose, mouth, eyes, etc.)
• Citrus essential oils are photo-sensitizing and can cause reactions following sun exposure
• Some essential oils are allergenic. Also, it is essential to test your reactivity to its biochemical components by testing each HE, diluted in a fatty substance, on a small surface of skin.
• EOs are not recommended for fragile people, especially pregnant women and children
• Keep essential oils out of reach of children and pets.