Suggested Uses:
Massage Blend:
Blending a total of 7 to 10 drops of essential oil into 1 oz of carrier oil makes a blend which is suitable for most healthy adults. The dilution of essential oil should be halved for children, the elderly and women who are pregnant or nursing.
Bath:
Dilute up to 8 drops of essential oil in a dispersant, this could be a carrier oil, bath dispersing oil, or a spoonful of honey and stir into the water. You may also use epsom salt as a dispersant. 1 cup of Epsom salts to 8 drops of essential oil in bath tub.
Diffusers:
There are various types of diffusers on the market, with different advantages and disadvantages:
Compress:
Place 7 to 10 drops of essential oils in a bowl of 4 oz of warm or cold water, soak a clean flannel or sterile gauze in the water and apply to the desired area. This is particularly good for easing inflammation. Good for bruises, wounds, muscular aches and pains, dysmenorrhea, skin problems.
Foot bath:
Soak feet in a bowl of warm water with 4 to 5 drops of essential oils stirred in, preferably diluted in a carrier before being added to the water. This is a great way to treat athlete's foot naturally.
Inhalation:
Inhaling certain essential oils heightens the senses and can have many positive effects on the body.
Try these ideas to use essential oils for inhalation:
Topical Application:
Many essential oils are safe to use directly on the skin (topically):
Internal Consumption:
Some essential oils make excellent food flavoring or dietary supplements. There are recipes that use the oils for cooking or baking.To take essential oils internally, try these tips:
IMPORTANT: Only use Pure Therapeutic-grade Essential Oils internally. Use only as directed.
Storage:
Store essential oils in dark glass bottles, upright, at room temperature and away from sunlight.
Storing carrier oils in the fridge may prolong their shelf life.
Store essential oils out of reach of children and pets.
Precautions:
Massage Blend:
Blending a total of 7 to 10 drops of essential oil into 1 oz of carrier oil makes a blend which is suitable for most healthy adults. The dilution of essential oil should be halved for children, the elderly and women who are pregnant or nursing.
Bath:
Dilute up to 8 drops of essential oil in a dispersant, this could be a carrier oil, bath dispersing oil, or a spoonful of honey and stir into the water. You may also use epsom salt as a dispersant. 1 cup of Epsom salts to 8 drops of essential oil in bath tub.
Diffusers:
There are various types of diffusers on the market, with different advantages and disadvantages:
- Candle diffusers
- Usually a heat resistant vessel for water and essential oils, and a heat resistant platform that holds the vessel over a small candle.
- Advantages: very simple to use; provides a light background fragrance
- Disadvantages: does not produce strong concentration for therapeutic benefits.
- Electric heat diffusers
- Small absorbent pads are placed inside of a heating chamber with ventilation that allows the aromatic compounds to evaporate into the surrounding air.
- Advantages: easy to use; minimal maintenance; can diffuse thicker oils.
- Disadvantages: heat damages some aromatic compounds.
Compress:
Place 7 to 10 drops of essential oils in a bowl of 4 oz of warm or cold water, soak a clean flannel or sterile gauze in the water and apply to the desired area. This is particularly good for easing inflammation. Good for bruises, wounds, muscular aches and pains, dysmenorrhea, skin problems.
Foot bath:
Soak feet in a bowl of warm water with 4 to 5 drops of essential oils stirred in, preferably diluted in a carrier before being added to the water. This is a great way to treat athlete's foot naturally.
Inhalation:
Inhaling certain essential oils heightens the senses and can have many positive effects on the body.
Try these ideas to use essential oils for inhalation:
- Inhale directly from the bottle
- Diffuse the oils using a diffuser, which disperses the oil in a micro-fine vapor into the air. The diffuser will not heat the oils, thus ensuring full benefits, as extreme heat can damage important constituents in the oil.
- Use with a humidifier. Sprinkle a few drops of oil on a tissue or small cloth and place in front of the escaping vapor. (Do not put essential oils in your humidifier. The oil will float on top and the water instead of rising with the water vapor, will not be effective, and may damage your humidifier.)
- Carefully pour hot water into the bowl and add a few drops of essential oil. Cover your head and bowl in a tent-like fashion with a towel. Breathe deeply and slowly.
Topical Application:
Many essential oils are safe to use directly on the skin (topically):
- Carefully tip the oil bottle and place 2-3 drops in the palm of your hand or directly on the desired application area
- If dropping oil in your hand, rub palms together in a circular motion and then massage oil onto the desired point of application. If applying directly to the desired area, use your hand to massage the oil in a circular motion onto the skin.
- Use an essential oil roll-on to attain targeted application.
Internal Consumption:
Some essential oils make excellent food flavoring or dietary supplements. There are recipes that use the oils for cooking or baking.To take essential oils internally, try these tips:
- Place several drops into a gelatin capsule and swallow it with water.
- Add 1-2 drops to a glass of water or milk.
- Put 1-2 drops onto a piece of bread or add to your meals when cooking.
- Add 1-2 drops onto a teaspoon of Young Living Blue Agave and swallow.
IMPORTANT: Only use Pure Therapeutic-grade Essential Oils internally. Use only as directed.
Storage:
Store essential oils in dark glass bottles, upright, at room temperature and away from sunlight.
Storing carrier oils in the fridge may prolong their shelf life.
Store essential oils out of reach of children and pets.
Precautions:
- Do not take essential oils internally unless directed by aromatherapist.
- Avoid contact with the eyes and mucous membranes.
- Seek professional/medical advise before use if you are pregnant or if you have a medical condition (such as epilepsy, high blood pressure etc).
- Do not use essential oils neat on the skin (unless advised that is it safe to do so by a professional, i.e. onto insect bites or burns etc).
- If you experience an adverse reaction to an essential oil, stop use immediately and seek professional/medical advise.
- Seek advise from a qualified Aromatherapist before using essential oils on babies and young children.
- Some essential oils have specific contraindications, always follow these instructions and use the recommended dilutions.
Benefits of Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a holistic therapy that treats the mind, body and spirit. When essential oils are applied to the body during a massage, the essential oils enter the skin through the hair follicles where they are absorbed in to the blood stream and circulated around the body.
Aromatherapy has many benefits to the person being treated and can:
How Aromatherapy works
People respond to the sense of smell on an emotional level more strongly than any other sense. A single aroma can trigger forgotten memories. The Limbic system is the area of the brain associated with smell and memory. The olfactory nerves are located within the nasal cavity and respond to particular aromas. This information is sent to the Limbic system which connects with another part of the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary gland) which governs the hormonal systems. These aromas trigger a variety of chemical actions within the body, including the release of specific chemicals that relaxes, calms, stimulates and creates a general feeling of well-being.
Aromatherapy can:
Aromatherapy has many benefits to the person being treated and can:
- Enhance mood and general feeling of well-being through massage and the use of essential oils.
- Improve blood and lymphatic circulation through massage and the use of essential oils.
- Depending upon the essential oils used the blood vessels will either constrict or dilate thereby raising or lowering blood pressure.
- Balance the hormone production by the endocrine system. Essential oils such as clary sage can mimic oestrogen.
- Strengthen the immune system by helping to kill viruses, bacteria and fungal infections.
- Reduce pain.
- Encourage restful sleep.
- Improve digestion.
How Aromatherapy works
People respond to the sense of smell on an emotional level more strongly than any other sense. A single aroma can trigger forgotten memories. The Limbic system is the area of the brain associated with smell and memory. The olfactory nerves are located within the nasal cavity and respond to particular aromas. This information is sent to the Limbic system which connects with another part of the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary gland) which governs the hormonal systems. These aromas trigger a variety of chemical actions within the body, including the release of specific chemicals that relaxes, calms, stimulates and creates a general feeling of well-being.
Aromatherapy can:
- Calm and relax
- Distress
- Soothe and balance
- Stimulate and refresh
- Energize and uplift
- Maintain healthy joints and muscles
- Create a tranquil, sensual and seductive ambience
- Revive both mind and body
History of Aromatherapy
The modern history of aromatherapy has seen procedures with non toxic plant oils once again integrated into medicine and nursing as concern has grown over use of more toxic materials as first line treatments.
In the 1990s thousands of nurses and midwives trained in the UK with Shirley Price Aromatherapy a process repeated in the USA in the 2000s where thousands have trained with RJ Buckle Associates, where aromatherapy has been integrated into many hospitals and there has been an extraordinary growth in research into aromatherapyand holistic approaches to medicine. The use of plant materials, massage and acupressure has always formed a part of asian medicine.
Plants and raw vegetables of course form an important part of our nutrition. Aromatherapy can be traced back to prehistoric times to ancient tombs when Juniper berries were used as an antiseptic and to flavor food. Plants and herbs for medicinal, culinary and cosmetic purposes have been used by civilisations throughout for centuries. It is fair to observe that the higher the civilisation the greater the use made of aromatic plants.
The Egyptian
The Egyptians used plant resins and oils during the mummification process. Myrrh was used during the embalming process and jars of Frankincense have also been found in tombs. They also used a number of fragrant oils for cosmetics and rituals. The Kyphi incense included fragrant oils such as, Juniper, Frankincense, Myrrh, Lemongrass and Cardamom. Frankincense, benzoin and myrrh were regarded so highly that in some cases they were considered more valuable than gold.
The Ancient Greeks
The ancient Greeks obtained much of their knowledge on the use of plants in medicine from the Egyptians. The Greek physician Hippocrates used chamomile as a way of reducing fever and recommended daily massage with aromatic herbs for general good health. Another Greek physician Galen recommended the use of cypress to ease stomach complaints.
The Medieval Period
During the Medieval period a Persian physician and philosopher Avicenna discovered the process of distillation. Not only is he acknowledged as contributing a great deal to both past and present medicine but he documented detailed instructions on massage and how to use plants and essential oils to aid good health.
Essential oils were an important part of Roman culture and were used to fragrance public baths.
China and India
Both China and India have a long history of using plants and herbs as medicine. Chinese physicians used sandalwood to treat cholera and courtiers held clove buds in their mouth when addressing the Chinese emperor to ensure their breath was sweet. The earliest record the Yellow Emperors Book of Internal Medicine dates back more than 2000 years B.C. Chinese medicine is still used today throughout the world ranging from Herbalism to Shiatsu. Traditional Indian herbal medicine - Ayurvedic medicine is aimed at treating the whole body - body, mind and spirit. History shows us that India used sandalwood to heal wounds and it was also burned for exorcism rites.
European knights returning from the Crusades brought back information and the benefits of using plants and herbs to treat ailments. People began to experiment and use plants as remedies. Bergamot was used in Italian folk medicine and in England frankincense and benzoin was used to make Friar's Balsam for respiratory and skin conditions.
During the Middle Ages people protected themselves against infections by wearing herbal bouquets known as "tussy-mussies" and threw herbs on the floor to not only ward off infection but perfume their homes.
Herbal remedies and essential oils were classed as the medicine of the people as the women of the household would make these remedies for their families.
In 1649, the English physician Nicholas Culpeper published his herbal that became a standard reference for plant remedies. Later during the Great Plague, physicians, and apothecaries wore masks filled with herbs and spices to protect then from the disease.
In the 18th Century apothecaries started to add essential oils to there herbal remedies and eau de Cologne was invented containing rosemary, bergamot, neroli and lavenderessential oils.
In 1910, a French chemist and perfumier Rene Maurice Gattefosse was working in his laboratory when he burnt his hand and stuck it in a vat of lavender oil and rediscoveredthe healing properties of lavender oil. Following this Gattefosse went on to treat soldiers with essential oils in military hospitals during World War 1. He began to research and experiment using essential oils and reported his findings in a scientific paper in 1928. This is where the term "Aromatherapy" was first used.
Another scientist Dr Jean Valnet continued the research into the antiseptic and healingproperties of essential oils by using the oils to treat battle wounds during the IndochinaWar. Valnet's work established aromatherapy as a therapy.
An Austrian biochemist, Marguerite Maury followed the work of Valnet and discovered
that when she applied the essential oils to the skin, the oils were absorbed. Maury
brought massage treatments using essential oils to the UK and in 1961 the Secret of
Life and Youth was published that pioneered the modern use of essential oils in
massage.
In the 1990s thousands of nurses and midwives trained in the UK with Shirley Price Aromatherapy a process repeated in the USA in the 2000s where thousands have trained with RJ Buckle Associates, where aromatherapy has been integrated into many hospitals and there has been an extraordinary growth in research into aromatherapyand holistic approaches to medicine. The use of plant materials, massage and acupressure has always formed a part of asian medicine.
Plants and raw vegetables of course form an important part of our nutrition. Aromatherapy can be traced back to prehistoric times to ancient tombs when Juniper berries were used as an antiseptic and to flavor food. Plants and herbs for medicinal, culinary and cosmetic purposes have been used by civilisations throughout for centuries. It is fair to observe that the higher the civilisation the greater the use made of aromatic plants.
The Egyptian
The Egyptians used plant resins and oils during the mummification process. Myrrh was used during the embalming process and jars of Frankincense have also been found in tombs. They also used a number of fragrant oils for cosmetics and rituals. The Kyphi incense included fragrant oils such as, Juniper, Frankincense, Myrrh, Lemongrass and Cardamom. Frankincense, benzoin and myrrh were regarded so highly that in some cases they were considered more valuable than gold.
The Ancient Greeks
The ancient Greeks obtained much of their knowledge on the use of plants in medicine from the Egyptians. The Greek physician Hippocrates used chamomile as a way of reducing fever and recommended daily massage with aromatic herbs for general good health. Another Greek physician Galen recommended the use of cypress to ease stomach complaints.
The Medieval Period
During the Medieval period a Persian physician and philosopher Avicenna discovered the process of distillation. Not only is he acknowledged as contributing a great deal to both past and present medicine but he documented detailed instructions on massage and how to use plants and essential oils to aid good health.
Essential oils were an important part of Roman culture and were used to fragrance public baths.
China and India
Both China and India have a long history of using plants and herbs as medicine. Chinese physicians used sandalwood to treat cholera and courtiers held clove buds in their mouth when addressing the Chinese emperor to ensure their breath was sweet. The earliest record the Yellow Emperors Book of Internal Medicine dates back more than 2000 years B.C. Chinese medicine is still used today throughout the world ranging from Herbalism to Shiatsu. Traditional Indian herbal medicine - Ayurvedic medicine is aimed at treating the whole body - body, mind and spirit. History shows us that India used sandalwood to heal wounds and it was also burned for exorcism rites.
European knights returning from the Crusades brought back information and the benefits of using plants and herbs to treat ailments. People began to experiment and use plants as remedies. Bergamot was used in Italian folk medicine and in England frankincense and benzoin was used to make Friar's Balsam for respiratory and skin conditions.
During the Middle Ages people protected themselves against infections by wearing herbal bouquets known as "tussy-mussies" and threw herbs on the floor to not only ward off infection but perfume their homes.
Herbal remedies and essential oils were classed as the medicine of the people as the women of the household would make these remedies for their families.
In 1649, the English physician Nicholas Culpeper published his herbal that became a standard reference for plant remedies. Later during the Great Plague, physicians, and apothecaries wore masks filled with herbs and spices to protect then from the disease.
In the 18th Century apothecaries started to add essential oils to there herbal remedies and eau de Cologne was invented containing rosemary, bergamot, neroli and lavenderessential oils.
In 1910, a French chemist and perfumier Rene Maurice Gattefosse was working in his laboratory when he burnt his hand and stuck it in a vat of lavender oil and rediscoveredthe healing properties of lavender oil. Following this Gattefosse went on to treat soldiers with essential oils in military hospitals during World War 1. He began to research and experiment using essential oils and reported his findings in a scientific paper in 1928. This is where the term "Aromatherapy" was first used.
Another scientist Dr Jean Valnet continued the research into the antiseptic and healingproperties of essential oils by using the oils to treat battle wounds during the IndochinaWar. Valnet's work established aromatherapy as a therapy.
An Austrian biochemist, Marguerite Maury followed the work of Valnet and discovered
that when she applied the essential oils to the skin, the oils were absorbed. Maury
brought massage treatments using essential oils to the UK and in 1961 the Secret of
Life and Youth was published that pioneered the modern use of essential oils in
massage.