Aromatherapy uses essential oils but isn’t just about the scent!
Aromatherapy uses essential oils for emotional or physical benefit. Essential oils are highly concentrated, distilled from herbs and resinous woods. With some herbs and flowers, it can take hundreds of pounds of plant material to distill just one ounce of essential oil.
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All essential oils are highly antiseptic: Lavender essential oil can be used directly on cuts or burns (a drop or two only); Tea Tree oil has become well known as an antiseptic and antifungal for uses as varied as mouthwash and foot balm. The essential oils generally work in the same way that the original plant works. Lavender is calming, peppermint is stimulating.
The scent of the oil provides part of the effect received from aromatherapy. It can actually influence mood and memory in the limbic system. Essential oils can also have an indirect effect on hormone production. When applied to the skin and absorbed into the blood stream, the effect is far more direct. Oils vary in how quickly they are absorbed into the system as well as how long they remain.
So how are essential oils used? With very few exceptions, essential oils are only to be used externally. They should generally be avoided during pregnancy and should be used very carefully with children. Essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin. Always dilute these concentrated oils in a carrier oil such as olive or almond oil.
My preferred ways to use essential oils are:
- Diluted in carrier oil for massage or pulse point application
- Added to a bath
- Inhaled with steam
- Blended into lotions, salves or balms
- Potpourri
- Dream pillows and sachets
Here are a few specific ideas on how to use essential oils.
- To lift your spirits, use 20 drops of geranium and/or lavender essential oil in an ounce of massage oil. The massage helps too!
- Add 5 to 7 drops of eucalyptus oil to a bowl of steaming water and inhale the steam to help clear sinus passages. A towel over your head will help. (Never leave children unattended near a bowl of hot water.)
- For a colicky baby, try mild lavender oil (no more than 5 drops per ounce of carrier oil.) Rub across baby’s abdomen and on soles of feet for quick absorption into blood stream.
- To increase concentration and alertness, combine peppermint and rosemary in carrier oil and rub on pulse points.
- To calm frayed nerves, sink into a bath with 6 drops of ylang ylang and 2 of sandalwood.
Synthetic fragrances are used in many commercial products. They may smell nice, but they offer no therapeutic benefits like herbs or essential oils. Look for products that contain only pure essential oils.