Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Aromatherapy is the use of pure essential oils to enhance physical and mental well-being. Essential oils are aromatic, highly concentrated distilled essences of plants. These oils can have many different applications in our lives. They can sometimes be used as a natural adjunct to, or substitute for, prescription or over-the-counter drugs. We can also use them simply to make ourselves feel better. Aromatherapy uses the sense of smell to enrich our experience of the world. Smell plays a significant role in our daily perceptions and how we react physically, emotionally, and mentally to what is going on around us. Various scents help us orient ourselves to the season of the year, our location, and situations of danger. Essential oils not only affect the physical but also the mental and emotional aspects of our lives. The inhalation of certain essential oils has been associated with the release of brain chemicals that simulate various emotions. For example, lavender oil has the ability to evoke and increase the release of serotonin, thus producing a calming effect on the body. Some essential oils also have healing properties when applied topically to the skin. When purchasing essential oils, make sure they are 100percent pure botanical extracts, not chemical reproductions of different fragrances. Chemical reproductions are not effective in aroma therapy because they do not evoke the same biochemical response as natural, pure essential oils. Pure essential oils are extracted directly from various parts of different plants. The oils can be obtained by a variety of methods, including distillation, solvent extraction, carbon dioxide extraction, expression (pressing), and enfleurage (a process in which some type of odorless oil is used to extract essential oil from flower petals). The type and part of the plant being used determines which type of extraction process is appropriate. The following are some helpful hints to keep in mind when shopping for essential oils: - Read the label carefully and make sure it says "100% pure essential oil."
- Be aware that the availability of different plants and the extraction methods used affect prices, so there can be great variations in the costs of different oils. This is normal.
- Certain plant oils, such as apple blossom and peach blossom, cannot be extracted. If you find oils with such scents, they are not true essential oils.
Using essential oils is really very simple. Basically, you dilute a small amount of essential oil in a base of some kind (either water or another oil, termed a carrier oil, depending on the intended use), and apply or inhale it. For inhalation therapy, there are special devices available, including diffusers, simmer pots, aroma therapy lamps, and light bulb rings. We are inclined more toward cold air diffusers as heating delicate oils can change their chemistry. When using one of these devices, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Or you can inhale an essential oil directly from the bottle. For topical applications, you can use any of the following to dilute essential oils: - Almond oil.
- Apricot oil.
- Grape seed oil.
- Jojoba oil.
- Olive oil.
- Water.
The following are some suggested dilution ratios for topical applications: - Baths. Add 8 drops essential oil to 1 cup water and add to the bath.
- Body lotion. Add 25 drops essential oil to 8 ounces of unscented lotion.
- Carpet freshener. Add 25 drops essential oil to 16 ounces of water.
- Cleaning. Add 25 drops essential oil to 2 gallons of water.
- Facial oil. Add 6 drops essential oil to 1 ounce of jojoba oil.
- Hair conditioner. Add 1 drop essential oil to 4 to 6 ounces of unscented conditioner.
- Hair rinse. Add 10 drops essential oil to 16 ounces water.
- Massage oil. Add 25 drops essential oil to 2 ounces almond, apricot, grape seed, jojoba, or olive oil.
- Perfume. Add 12 drops essential oil to 1oz ounce water or jojoba oil.
- Room deodorizer. Add 25 drops essential oil to 16 ounces water.
- Shampoo. Add 12 drops essential oil to 16 ounces unscented shampoo.
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