If you’re like most nature lovers, chances are you have at least one bottle of essential oil lying around your house. And while essential oils are best known for their role in aromatherapy, it’s important to note that their benefits go way beyond their pleasant smell. In fact, reflexologists even recommend using certain oils under your feet to help you get a good night’s sleep. Here’s how it works.
How Your Feet Absorb Oils
The soles of your feet have five layers of skin and no hair follicles. The pores found in this area are particularly absorbent and can quickly pull the essential oil into the bloodstream. When applied to the entire foot, traces of essential oil can be found throughout the body in less than 20 minutes (1).
This is because your soles and palms are the only sites on your body without sebaceous glands (2). Sebum, which is produced by sebaceous glands all over the skin, is an oily substance that functions as a protective shield and weakens the skin’s ability to absorb foreign materials. Because the palms of your hands and soles of your feet do not have sebaceous glands, these areas have no barrier between the essential oils and your pores.