Long before doctors handed out prescriptions for pills to solve every ailment, healers used a wide variety of herbs to gently bring healing to a wide variety of conditions ranging from sleeplessness to constipation to cuts, burns, bruises and scrapes. As the list of side effects for many modern medications grows longer than the healing they bring, many people are turning back to ancient remedies. Unlike the past, however, where you might have had to grow your own garden to have access to a range of herbal remedies, today people are discovering the therapeutic power of essential oils. Essential oils offer some of the most tried and true ancient remedies in an easy-to-use form. Not all essential oils are the same. While pure oils sourced and processed properly have vast health and medicinal value, only a few companies truly produce oils with these qualities. Here are 5 of the best essential oils and what they can be used for.

1 - Lavender Oil

Lavender is one of the most versatile and popular essential oils because of the range of treatments it can be used for. Lavender has natural calming effects, which makes it perfect for everything from promoting sleep to minimizing stress. You can drop a few drops of lavender essential oil into an evening bath or on your pillow to help you sleep, or diffuse it throughout the night. Many essential oils are not safe for use directly on the skin, but lavender oil is one of the few that can be. In fact, lavender oil is one of the best remedies for minor burns and can be applied directly to the skin.

2 - Lemon Oil

Lemon oil is another of the most versatile essential oils there is. Lemon oil makes an excellent aromatherapy oil, since citrus oils are natural mood boosters. Lemon oil also has strong antibacterial properties, which means you can use it in the kitchen to safely clean counters or even wood cutting boards. Not only will the oil eliminate any bacteria, but it will also condition the wood. Since lemon oil comes straight from a food, when processed properly, it can even be dropped directly in tea or water to aid digestion and even speed weight loss. It is highly important, however, before ingesting any essential oil to ensure that it is a food grade essential oil.

3 - Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil, like lemon oil, is unique in that it is used both to invigorate and to sooth. This means that you can use it as an aromatherapy oil both to give you energy and when you need to calm down and relax. Because essential oils come directly from living things, they are biocompatible. Unlike chemicals and pharmaceuticals that come from a laboratory, essential oils contain all the same compounds found naturally in nature. The human body has been processing natural plant life for centuries, so when you apply an essential oil compound, your body knows exactly what to do with it and how to use it, unlike modern pharmaceuticals. Peppermint oil is often combined with lavender and lemon oils to create a "holy trinity" of oils that can combat a wide variety of respiratory ailments, including allergies, asthma and cold and flu-related symptoms. Peppermint oil is also a natural pain reliever that can be used on the temples to combat headaches.

4 - Eucalyptus Oil

The use of Eucalyptus traces all the way back to ancient Egypt and is still used today in modern balms used to treat chest congestion. Pure eucalyptus oil, however, is far more effective than store-bought balms, but you can make your own balm using coconut oil as a base. Unlike many other types of oils, it is not recommended that you apply Eucalyptus oil directly to the skin or ingest it. Eucalyptus oil combined with steam is one of the very best ways to combat chest or nasal congestion, but it is important to note that the therapeutic compounds in eucalyptus break down at high temperatures. The best way to get therapeutic value from Eucalyptus is to use a diffuser and humidifier together or place a few drops on a towel, then hold your head over a pan of warm, steaming water.

5 - Thieves Oil

Thieves oil is actually a blend. It combines five oils. These include rosemary, cinnamon, lemon, clove and eucalyptus. It has strong immune boosting properties and also helps support healthy lung and sinus function. It can help alleviate minor aches and pains and can even be used to clean and disinfect around the home. Unlike many toxic chemicals, not only will thieves oil fill your home with a delicious aroma when you clean, it is also non-toxic for children and pets. Thieves oil can also be used to make a wide variety of personal care products ranging from hand soap to toothpaste.