An essential oil with a sweet, warm aroma, cinnamon essential oil is said to promote healing from head to toe. Widely used in aromatherapy, cinnamon essential oil is touted as a natural remedy for health problems ranging from cough and colds to chronic pain and fatigue.

Despite its long history of use in aromatherapy, cinnamon essential oil has been tested in very few scientific studies. While some preliminary research indicates that cinnamon essential oil may help control blood pressure and protect against the development of cavities when consumed, there's currently little evidence to support the claims for the health benefits of aromatherapeutic use of cinnamon essential oil.

Although research on cinnamon essential oil is lacking, there's some evidence that other extracts of the cinnamon plant may help enhance your health. For example, some studies show that consuming supplemental cinnamon may help regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels in people with diabetes. Read the full story: Cinnamon Essential Oil - What You Need to Know.

A type of therapy practiced in alternative medicine, polarity therapy is sometimes said to enhance health in people with cancer. A healing approach that involves balancing the flow of energy in the body to improve wellness, polarity therapy isn't thought to treat cancer itself. However, preliminary research suggests that undergoing polarity therapy may help protect against the negative effects of certain cancer treatments. For example, a number of small studies show polarity therapy may help relieve fatigue and improve quality of life among women undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Somewhat influenced by concepts of energy flow used in ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, polarity therapy involves a range of healing techniques (such as bodywork and chiropractic care). For help in finding a qualified practitioner of polarity therapy, ask your physician for a referral or contact the American Polarity Therapy Association. Read the full article: Polarity Therapy - What You Need to Know.

For natural relief of anxiety, some individuals turn to aromatherapy involving the use of lemongrass essential oil (a substance sourced from the Cymbopogon citratus plant). Inhaling the scent of lemongrass essential oil (or applying lemongrass essential oil to the skin in combination with a carrier oil) is thought to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety symptoms.

Although there's limited evidence on the effectiveness of lemongrass essential oil as an anti-anxiety remedy, one preliminary study published in 2011 found that mice treated with lemongrass essential oil experienced changes in brain levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (a type of chemical thought to occur at low levels in people with anxiety disorders).

For more help in relieving anxiety with aromatherapy, consider using lavender and rose essential oils (both found to reduce anxiety in scientific studies). Read the full article: Lemongrass Essential Oil - What You Need to Know

About 1.4 million Americans struggle with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a condition marked by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. In an effort to soothe symptoms of the two most common forms of IBD (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), some patients turn to natural remedies like Saccharomyces boulardii (a yeast sourced from the skin of such plants as lychee and mangosteen). Considered a probiotic, Saccharomyces boulardii is said to stimulate the immune system and restore gut health.

While research on the health effects of Saccharomyces boulardii is fairly limited, there's some evidence that it shows promise in the treatment of IBD. For more help reducing IDB symptoms naturally, consider the use of alternative therapies like hypnotherapy and acupuncture (both found to benefit IBD patients in scientific studies). Read the full article: Sacarromyces boulardii - What You Need to Know.