How To Use Essential Aromatherapy oils at Home
Aromatherapy essential oils have been used for many centuries simply and effectively at home as well as professionally.They can be used in a variety of ways, both for their wonderful scents as well as their medicinal and cosmetic qualities.
Aromatherapy essential oils can be used as perfumes, room scents in pot pouri or oil burners, added to the bath and used as individual beauty preparations. They can also be used for minor first aid to help prevent and relieve many common complaints such as headaches, aching joints, minor burns and insect bites.
Aromatherapy essential oils, to be kept in the best possible condition, should be stored in a cool place in a dark bottle to protect them from photo-oxidation, with as little contact with the air as possible, as well as out of the reach of children.
Although essential oils are a natural substance some of them can have harmful effects if not used as specified. Apart from lavender and tea tree, there are few oils which can be applied directly to the skin. And as a general rule they should not be ingested, the exception being those that can be taken as a tea, for example peppermint. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should always seek professional advice before using any essential oil, as many can have harmful effects on the pregnancy.
There are several different ways to use essential aromatherapy oils at home, one being massage. Although this method is preferred by professionals, it is very easy to do in your own home. Massage is a relaxing and skin nourishing experience that ensures that the oils are absorbed through the skin into the blood stream.
Specific essential oils should be chosen for the condition you wish to treat and this should then be blended with a base oil, such as sweet almond or grapeseed oil. The essential oil content in your blend should be between 1 per cent and 3 per cent, depending on the disorder. A general guide is 20-60 drops of essential oil to 100ml of base oil. 7 to 25 drops of oil to 25ml of base oil and 3-5 drops of oil to 5ml of base oil.
Hot and cold compresses are another home use of essential oils. This is a very effective way of using aromatherapy to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. A hot compress can be made by carefully filling a bowl with very hot water, then adding 4 or 5 drops of your chosen oil. Dip a piece of cloth or face towel into the bowl and squeeze out the excess water, then place the cloth on the affected area. These are particularly useful for backache, rheumatism and arthritis, earache and toothache.
Cold compresses are made the same way using cold water. This type of cold compress is very useful for headaches, applied at the back of the neck or forehead. It is also useful for minor injuries such as sprains.
Probably one of the easiest and most common home uses of essential oils is to simply add some to your bath water. This can give a feeling of well being and relaxation. It can also be used to treat certain skin conditions, muscular aches and pains. Selecting the right oil is very important to get the correct result.
Vaporization is a delightful way to use essential oils. Oils can be used in a diffuser or oil burner, note that only a few drops are necessary. A small bowl placed on a radiator is an inexpensive way to vaporize your room. Specific oils can be used to create different atmospheres.
Steam inhalation is especially suited to sinus, throat and chest infections. Add about 5 drops of an oil such as peppermint or eucalyptus to a bowl of hot water, cover the head with a cloth or towel and breath the vapours in deeply for about a minute, then repeat.
Finally neat application of essential oils. As already stated there are few oils which can be applied directly onto the skin in an undiluted form. Lavender is one of the exceptions and has been shown for centuries to have many healing properties. Lavender can be applied directly to the skin to treat minor burns, cuts or insect bites. Tea tree can also be used directly onto the skin to treat acne and minor cuts as well as insects bites.
Using essential aromatherapy oils at home has many purposes and the benefits are very clear. If using oils at home it is best to do your research to use the correct oils in the safest and most effective way to get the best results.
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