Aromatherapy is the art of using natural plant essences to maintain and promote a healthy body. When used correctly, the pure aromatic essences of plants convey physical and psychological benefits. Aromatherapy incorporates plant essences, essential oils, and vegetable oils extracted from the fatty portion of plants. Synthetic fragrances do not provide the same therapeutic benefits.
Recipes
Start with a base blend, and infuse it with different essential oils to create different therapeutic fragrances. Carrier oils like avocado, sweet almond and jojoba are used to dilute essential oils. Experiment with different essential oils to create your own blends.
Bath Oil Base: The bath oil base consists of 2 ounces of a carrier oil and 20 drops of lavender or compatible oil.
Bath Salts Base: Start with 3 cups of sea salt (there are different varieties); add 15 to 24 drops of your selected essential oil and 1 tablespoon of carrier oil.
Massage Oil Base: Begin by Infusing 8 to 10 drops of your own essential oil blend, with 1 ounce of carrier oil.
Essential Oil Properties
Lavender, mandarin, rose, sandalwood and Roman chamomile are essential oils with calming properties. Orange, geranium, lemon, grapefruit and bergamot are used to promote happiness and peace. Basil black pepper, rosemary, cypress and peppermint are good for memory and concentration. All of these oils can be added to base blends according to individual preference. According to AromaWeb.com, there are thousands of recipes available for aromatherapy use. The site lists more than 100 essential oils along with a profile for each one.
Precautions
Essential oils are concentrated liquids that can be harmful without proper use. If you are unsure of the proper technique, consult with a certified aromatherapy practitioner or a physician. Here are a few safety guidelines:
Never use undiluted essential oils on your skin.
Check for contraindications: You should not use certain oils during pregnancy or if you have certain health conditions.
Use only the required amount of essential oil needed for blending. If a recipe calls for one droplet, don't increase the amount to two.
Use diluted essential oil on a small patch of skin to determine level of sensitivity.
There are some essential oils--including camphor, sassafras, onion and wintergreen--that you should not use in aromatherapy recipes.
Do not ingest essential oils unless prescribed by a trained aromatherapy practitioner.
Essential oils are flammable and should never be used near flames.
Keep all essential oils away from children.
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