Did you know that about 2 billion adults around the world are overweight, and more than 600 million are obese [1]?
People who are overweight are in risk of type-2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. They may also develop heart disease, stroke and fatty liver disease [2].
Of course, this doesn’t make it alright to rely on fad diets. This type of diet won’t keep the weight off in the long run but would only put your health at risk [3].
The key to weight loss is a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise. [3]
Don’t worry. Losing weight isn’t any rocket science. You can rely on some natural remedies if you’re overweight.
Besides, medical studies suggest that some essential oils for weight loss may prove to be effective.
13 Potential Essential Oils for Weight Loss
1. Grapefruit Oil
Struggling to drop some pounds? Grapefruit essential oil can help.
Study showed that exposure to the scent of grapefruit oil could reduce food cravings. Thus, it could help you in losing weight [4].
The subjects were rats, which had to inhale grapefruit oil for 15 minutes, three times a week [4].
The oil contains an active compound called limonene. It may have appetite suppressing effects on the body [4].
Grapefruit contains an active component called nootkatone. It can tone down high-fat diet and fat accumulation in the abdomen, as well as boost the energy metabolism [5].
How to use grapefruit oil for weight loss:
- Pour 2 drops of grapefruit oil in a glass of water. Mix well.
- Drink solution in the morning for one to two weeks.
2. Peppermint Oil
Evidence shows it can treat bloating, indigestion, and diarrhea. The oil is particularly good on that’s caused by irritable bowel syndrome [6].
Peppermint oil can improve digestion and allow your body to digest food much faster [7].
Along with caraway oil, peppermint may have relaxing effects on the gallbladder [7].
The oil also slowed down transit in the small intestine. It is a boon for people who suffer from digestion problems [7].
Its ability to help out in digestion issues can do so much for your weight loss goals.
It ensures proper digestion of what you eat so that it doesn’t get stuck inside your body to convert into fat.
How to use peppermint essential oil to lose weight:
- Pour 2 drops of peppermint oil to a glass of water.
- Drink before each meal.
3. Lemon Oil
If you’re having trouble losing weight, try using lemon essential oil. It’s not a surprise at all since lemon is often recommended for those who want to get rid of excess weight.
Study shows lemon oil activates the sympathetic nervous system. It in turn promotes lipolysis and reduces weight gain [8].
Lipolysis is the process that breaks down. Then triglycerides turn into free fatty acids and glycerol.
That’s not all, lemon also has a wonderful effect on the mood, alleviating stress and making one feel much better [9, 10].
It can help you avoid stress eating, which is one of the most common causes of weight gain [11].
How to use lemon essential oil to lose weight:
- Put 3 drops of lemon oil on a cotton ball.
- Inhale the scent before each meal.
4. Ginger Oil
Ginger is a medicinal remedy in China and India since the ancient time.
It can cure a wide range of ailments including a sore throat, vomiting, and indigestion. You can also use this oil if you have fever, cramps, pains, sprain, arthritis and more [12].
This is why ginger is often found in the homes of people who make use of natural remedies.
As it turns out, ginger oil can also help in one’s weight loss program.
Study shows ginger worked amazing on diabetic rats. It lowered the blood sugar and decreased their weight [12].
Learn how to take a ginger oil bath for weight loss:
- Mix 5 drops of each of ginger oil, lemon oil, and sandalwood oil.
- Add oil mixture to 1 cup of apple cider vinegar.
- Pour vinegar and oil combination in warm bath water.
- Soak in the bath for 30 minutes. Do this once a day.
5. Bergamot Oil
Bergamot oil won’t boost your metabolism or suppress your appetite.
But, it has its way of helping you drop unwanted pounds.
Inhalation of this essential oil has a positive effect on people’s mood and spirit [13].
It can thus help you overcome negative emotions that can cause you to overeat.
So whenever you’re feeling down and craving food, get a bottle of bergamot oil and use it to avoid stress eating.
How to use bergamot essential oil for losing weight:
- Combine 5 drops of bergamot, and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil Use this to massage skin.
- Add a few drops of the mixture to your bath.
6. Fennel Oil
In an animal trial performed in Korea in 2006, 90 rats received different essential oils. One of these is fennel [14].
Application of fennel oil could result in a lower food efficiency rate [14].
Moreover, fennel contains melatonin. According to a study, melatonin can reduce weight gain by decreasing amount of food intake [15].
The component can also help lower the risk of obesity-induced heart disease [15].
All these are good reasons to consider including fennel oil in your weight loss program.
A simple way to lose weight using fennel oil:
- Smell 1 drops of fennel oil before eating.
7. Cinnamon Oil
Cinnamon is something you usually find on your pastries and desserts. So, it’s hard to imagine that it can help you lose weight.
Here’s how cinnamon works:
There’s a hormone in our body that metabolizes carbohydrates and fats. Insulin resistance is a condition where your body can’t respond to that hormone [16].
What it does to the body is to store fat instead of burning it [16].
The unpleasant result is weight gain.
Cinnamon oil is useful in boosting insulin sensitivity. It helps metabolize carbs and fats as they should, inhibiting weight gain in the process [17].
How you may use cinnamon essential oil for losing weight:
- Add 2 drops of cinnamon oil and 1 tsp of honey to a glass of warm water.
- Drink before each meal.
8. Cypress Oil
If you’re looking to drop off some pounds, expect that you’re going to have a few stretch marks on your skin.
Don’t worry. You can get rid of these using cypress essential oil.
Topical application of cypress oil can decrease the appearance of stretch marks [18].
It’s because it helps make the skin more elastic. Thus it can reduce breakage and tear.
Although it won’t help you lose weight, it does have an important role to play in your weight loss program.
Learn how you can use cypress oil for weight loss:
- Add 5 drops of cypress oil to 1 tsp of olive oil.
- Use oil mixture to massage the skin.
- Massage areas with cellulite and stretch marks.
9. Lavender Oil
Aromatherapy with lavender is a favorite stress-reduction technique.
For years, this oil has been effective in calming the senses and uplifting one’s mood.
It is through this way that lavender oil can promote weight loss.
Its anxiolytic effects have a positive impact on mood and behavior [19, 20, 21, 22].
With this, it can help prevent stress eating, also called emotional eating.
Instead of eating food like you usually do when you feel like you could use some mood boost, make use of lavender oil.
Try lavender oil to lose weight:
- Hold lavender oil bottle close to your nose.
- Inhale the scent for three to five minutes each day.
10. Orange Oil
Weight loss supplements such as ephedra have become very popular in the market.
More and more people turn to these products to achieve the figure that they’ve always wanted. But there’s a growing concern over the safety of these products.
Some people who have tried using these supplements have reported side effects.
A safe alternative to ephedra, according to a 2004 study, is orange oil [23].
It may have lipolytic effects in the fat cells of the body [23].
It means that it can help burn fats, and assist you in losing weight.
How you can burn your fat using orange oil:
- Combine 10 drops of orange oil and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Massage areas in the body where fat accumulates.
- Do this several times a day.
11. Sandalwood Oil
Sandalwood oil is a fragrant wood oil. It’s a popular ingredient in the cosmetic and food industries [24].
It has over 100 active compounds. But santalol can be responsible for most of its pharmacological effects [24].
When it comes to weight loss, this oil may reduce emotional eating and food cravings.
It can also improve digestive function and prevent fat buildup.
How accurate are these claims?
An animal trial shows that the use of sandalwood oil resulted in significant weight loss [25].
But researchers note that the mice in the study gained back their weight after a few weeks [25].
So if you use sandalwood oil for weight loss, you should maintain regular workout and diet as well.
This essential oil will only aid your weight loss efforts. But you can’t completely rely on it if you want to drop pounds and maintain ideal weight.
Try this sandalwood oil recipe as an aid for weight loss:
- Mix 5 drops of sandalwood oil and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl. Put in a glass jar.
- Every day, pour a few drops on your stomach and forehead. Massage these areas. Sniff into the bottle before each meal.
12. Rosemary Oil
Most people love rosemary for its enticing scent and flavor.
While the herb makes food more tasty and delicious, its oil extract can help you lose weight.
In 2010, a team of researchers from the USA, France and Spain assessed the effects of rosemary on mice. They were on a high-fat diet [26].
After 16 weeks of treatment with rosemary, the mice had a significant reduction in body weight [26].
The carnosic acid in rosemary possesses anti-obesity properties. It boosts fat excretion and reduces fasting glycemia [26].
But, it does not influence the intake of food. It may not have appetite-suppressing effects as other essential oils.
How to use rosemary oil to lose weight:
- Add 3 drops of rosemary oil to a glass of water. Mix well.
- Drink the solution.
- Do this remedy once a day for two to three weeks.
13. Eucalyptus Oil
Refreshing and woody scented eucalyptus essential oil contains strong sedative and anti-depressant properties.
Thus, eucalyptus oil is an effective remedy for stress, anxiety, and mental fatigue. The oil can boost your energy and uplift the spirit.
When we are anxious, and stressed about life, we resort to overeating for some relief. Eating is the easiest but temporary option to escape from harsh, stressful life. Overeating due to anxiety may result in weight gain.
The gentle, sweet aroma of eucalyptus oil can relax you and invigorate your mind. Thus, you need not eat food for pleasure. Thus eucalyptus oil contributes to weight loss by relieving stress and anxiety.
How to use eucalyptus oil for weight loss:
- Pour a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil on a handkerchief. Breathe in the refreshing aroma to relax and calm your mind.
- Additionally, add 10 drops of eucalyptus oil to your shower water and soak in.
- Regular practice of this treatment can inhibit emotional food craving. It means you can lose weight without any side effects.
Do You Need to See a Doctor?
You don’t usually need to go to a doctor for obesity. But this condition may lead to other chronic diseases if you’re not careful. Diabetes, blood pressure, arthritis, and heart disease are the issues connected to overweight.
Sometimes, you may gain weight due to some diseases, or the side effects of some medications. You will have difficulty losing weight in that situation. Discuss with a doctor before you start any weight loss program.
Final Thoughts
Don’t put yourself at risk of ailments related to excess weight.
Eat the right diet, exercise, and follow safe weight loss tips to get closer to your weight loss goals.
And don’t forget to make use of the essential oils that are good for weight loss. These oils can help suppress your appetite, burn more calories and help you lose weight.
