Aromatherapy is an alternative, holistic healing method that incorporates plant materials and essential oils into baths, massages and direct inhalation. It is often used to lift the mood, sooth the mind and body and in some cases even relieve pain.

While it may sound complicated, there are a few basic things you can try right at home with a handful of essential oils and only a smidge of knowledge—which I am about to impart to you.

Getting started, there are five essential oils you should have on hand: lavender, peppermint, tea tree, rosemary and orange.

• Lavender oil is a stress reliever, helping you relax. If you’ve ever been wandering through the bath and body section of your favorite department store, you’ve probably seen the scent of lavender added to a lot of calming lotions, body washes and linen sprays. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your bath or massage oil if you’re wound up and stressed out. It’ll help you let go of tension and make it easier for you to sleep. You may even want to consider adding a sachet of dried lavender flowers to your pillow.

• Peppermint oil is a super stimulator that wakes up the tired mind. Mixing a single drop of peppermint oil into your favorite unscented lotion, then applying a dab just under your nose and at your temples will help wake you up and recharge your mind. One thing to take into consideration before applying peppermint to your skin is that it can also be an irritant, especially if you’re sensitive. Make sure you test your skin before using it to make sure you don’t have a severe reaction, and never use more than a drop.

• Tea tree oil is excellent for helping relieve congestion and open your nasal passages. In fact, some herbalists recommend inhaling tea tree oil steam over eucalyptus, because you can use it more often. Tea tree oil is also an antiseptic that can be applied directly to cuts, scrapes and bruises to speed up the healing process. It’s antifungal too.

• Rosemary functions similarly to peppermint, in that it stimulates a foggy mind. If you’ve ever had one of those days when you just can’t think straight, try filling a diffuser with rosemary oil and spreading the aroma throughout the room to wake up your mind.

• Orange oil and other citrus oils like lime, lemon and grapefruit, are good for those days you feel like your in a funk. They are uplifting, and help lift your spirits, so add a drop to your bath (along with the lavender for a real treat,) and let your bad mood slip away. You can also diffuse it to add some cheer to your air. Now that I think about it, I bet that’s why a lot of cleaning products are lemon scented, to help us get over the depression of having to clean the house!

Not sure where to buy essential oils so you can get started? There are hundreds of reliable online retailers that will deliver them right to your house via mail, or you can check at your local health food or organic store.

You don’t have to be a certified aromatherapist to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy right in the comfort of your own home. You just need to be willing to experiment with something different. Hey, if you see a lot of sleepless nights, what do you have to lose?