Getting Started With Aromatherapy: Simple Ways to Use Essential Oils

Getting Started With Aromatherapy: Simple Ways to Use Essential Oils

For many individuals, starting "real" aromatherapy, which goes beyond lighting a scented candle or bathing in a nice pre-packaged bath salt mix, might be scary. How do you actually use essential oils to make yourself healthier, happier, and better? All those small bottles of expensive liquids, electric gadgets, and fancy-sounding mixtures. Getting started is easier than you would think. It can open you a whole new world of fun and powerful natural cures that can help you feel better, relax your nerves, and heal a lot of common problems.

Once you know a few key ideas, the principles of aromatherapy are easy to understand. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils, which are the fragrant parts of plants that are extracted through steam distillation or other processes. The oils protect and send messages between plants. There are hundreds of different "volatile" molecules in each essential oil. Most of these compounds are highly compatible with the way the human body works. What makes them so great is because they can do the same things for us that they do for plants: they can send chemical messages by changing our sense of smell and limbic system, and they can protect our bodies from germs and viruses. We'll talk about the mental and emotional consequences of aromatherapy in this article. We'll talk about the physical effects at a later time.

There are two easy methods to use essential oils: by inhaling them, which lets the oils directly activate certain parts of the brain, and by applying them to the skin, which lets the oils readily get into the bloodstream. (Oral intake is an option, but only with the help of a qualified medical professional. Also, some oils can be toxic, and some oils that seem harmless should not be used in specific situations.) If you are pregnant or have certain medical needs, talk to a trained professional before continuing.

Breathing in Essential Oils

When you breathe in essential oils, they have an immediate influence on the limbic system, which is the part of the brain that controls emotions. Researchers have shown that several oils can help you focus better, lower your stress and anxiety, and even make you less depressed. How can we get these great benefits? You can prepare essential oils for inhalation in a few simple and cheap ways that will give you these great effects. These include the "handkerchief method," producing your own "smelling salts," and making your own aromatherapy "mister."

The handkerchief approach is very simple: put a drop or two of an oil or mix on a tissue and breathe it in. Be careful with some oils, though; for example, peppermint can burn the sensitive skin around your nostrils if you put it directly on them. You can leave the tissue (or "handkerchief," "piece of cloth," "cotton," or whatever) in a room or your office and the oil will keep evaporating and working.

Making your own "smelling salts" is similar, but they will last a little longer. Fill a tiny vial (dark glass with a sturdy cap is recommended) with natural sea salt and add essential oils to the salt to form the salts. The amount of oil isn't very important. It should be enough to smell it, but not so much that the salt gets entirely soaked. Whenever you need a boost, just take off the cap and breathe in from the bottle. You may also leave the vial open in your space, like the handkerchief, and let the smell gently fill the room.

You may use a "mister" to make a room smell nice. Just mix essential oils with water in a small spray bottle, shake it up before each use, and spray!

Here are some simple formulas for the inhalation approach. Keep in mind that the number of drops of oil and/or carrier can be used as a ratio, which you can change as needed:

To elevate your spirits and clear your mind, use 4 drops of Rosemary Cineol, 3 drops of Lavender, 2 drops of Lemon, and 1 drop of Peppermint. Alternatively, use 3 droplets of Clary Sage, 2 drops of Bergamot, and 1 drop of Sweet Orange.

To reduce anxiousness, use equal portions of Roman Chamomile, Bergamot, and Orange, or 3 drops of Lavender, 2 drops of Neroli, and 1 drop of Bergamot.

To make a peaceful space, use 3 drops of jasmine, 1 drop of ylang ylang, and 1 drop of sandalwood, or equal portions of geranium, patchouli, and bergamot.

Massage with Aromatherapy

Now let's talk about how to use it on the skin. People usually call this aromatherapy massage. It's best to do it with a partner, but you can also do it on your own. Making your own massage oil is easy. Just mix 10 to 20 drops of essential oil with 1 ounce of carrier oil. There are many other carrier oils to choose from, but Sweet Almond is an excellent all-purpose oil that is good for general aromatherapy massage. Any technique will work for the massage itself; just follow your gut. If you want to take things to the next level, do some more research to find out how to combine particular essential oils with certain acupressure spots.

You can use the same blends for massage as you do for inhalation. Here are some more fun recipes:

For a sensual massage, add 8 drops of sandalwood, 6 drops of rose, 4 drops of lavender, and 2 drops of ylang ylang to every ounce of carrier oil.

You can open your heart by using 4 drops of Spikenard, 4 drops of Lavender, and 2 drops of Rose.

Lastly, for pure relaxation, use 2 drops of Bergamot, 4 drops of Neroli, and 6 drops of Lavender.

Don't be scared to make your own mixes! You will definitely find some oils that you like, just like with aromatherapy. The oils that you like the most are probably the ones that work best for you. The only thing I would suggest is that you vary the ratios of the oils you are mixing extremely slowly. Put one drop of each oil in a small vial and mix them together. Let them sit for a few minutes to blend before adding more oil, one drop at a time. Citrus oils like orange, bergamot, lemon, and lime tend to make you feel more awake and tranquil at the same time. Herb oils, like peppermint and rosemary, tend to wake you up, while flower oils, like lavender, chamomile, jasmine, and neroli, tend to calm you down. This is just a suggestion; many oils have complicated qualities and will affect people in different ways. Use your nose as a guide.

In conclusion

It's easy to get started with aromatherapy, and with these basic tips, you can make essential oil blends that are just right for you. This can make you love these great gifts from nature for the rest of your life.

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