What are the effects of the "slimming essential oil" popular in the weight loss circle?

Many people who want to lose weight have heard of "essential oil weight loss", the main method is to heat the essential oil and apply it to the abdomen and other areas, the purpose is to promote metabolism. There are various "slimming essential oils" on the market, so can these essential oils achieve the effect of weight loss? Are all essential oils effective? How to choose?

Essential oils are a general term for volatile aromatic substances extracted from aromatic plants or aromatic animals. The substances in essential oils are very small and can be easily absorbed into the human body through the skin or nasal mucosa. The aromatic molecules in the essential oils enter the human body through the sense of smell and transmit information to the human brain, so that the brain's limbic system will respond and regulate emotions and body. In addition, some essential oils have also been proven to help with weight loss, including grapefruit essential oil, cinnamon essential oil, ginger essential oil, etc. [1]

Take grapefruit essential oil as an example. Grapefruit essential oil is a citrus essential oil. Citrus oils generally contain limonene, which can induce lipolysis and dissolve body fat and protein. The natural compounds contained in grapefruit essential oil have been shown to help suppress appetite, promote metabolism, increase energy, and help reduce abdominal fat. Grapefruit essential oil also has the effect of preventing depression and helps relieve our cravings for sugar, thereby aiding in weight loss [1].

Grapefruit essential oil for weight loss is mainly absorbed by the body through massage. It should be noted that the essential oil should be diluted before use. Undiluted essential oil may cause inflammation and irritation. It is best to perform a patch test for the first time to ensure that there will be no skin reaction. The skin patch test is one of the experimental methods to study the toxicity of poisons to the skin. The original solution or diluted solution of the test substance is wetted with gauze and attached to the skin. A layer of oil paper or plastic film is covered and fixed with a bandage. Generally, it is untied after 12 hours or 24 hours to observe the local reaction. As for the storage of grapefruit essential oil, because the essential oil will oxidize quickly, it is recommended to buy a small amount and keep it in a cool place.

In addition to grapefruit essential oil, ginger essential oil is also a popular "slimming essential oil". Ginger is a thermogenic agent that helps the body burn fat. Massage with ginger essential oil can help reduce the appearance of subcutaneous fat. In addition, many essential oils have been proven to help lose weight, but when we use them, it is best to choose some scientifically certified essential oils and use them reasonably at safe doses, and do not rely too much on them. For some essential oils that need to be taken orally, they must be consumed under the guidance of a doctor. Only food-grade essential oils can be taken orally, and merchants should not be blindly trusted. Improper oral intake of essential oils may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, damage to the digestive tract, and even poisoning. The essential oils used for massage should also be moderate. Patients with endocrine diseases, skin diseases and other diseases should use them with caution. Normal people should also avoid using them on the eyes and their surroundings, lips and other parts.

Finally, essential oils can only play an auxiliary role in weight loss, such as helping emotional eating, relieving depression, promoting sleep, relieving body pain, improving digestion, etc. Weight loss still depends on a reasonable diet and exercise, combined with essential oil massage and other methods, to achieve a good weight loss effect.

References

[1] Belcher E. Essential oils for weight loss. Online Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 2021, 5(3):