A Professional Aromatherapist will look at you as a whole person and make an essential oil blend specific to your needs. He or she will consider health history, pre-existing conditions, medications, as well as symptoms in order to create a blend to safely support your body in healing.
Essential Oils are very powerful and concentrated plant essences derived from various parts of plants including leaves, flowers, or roots. These organic compounds work on all levels of the body; physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, through both their scent and the reactions that their chemical composition stimulate in the body.
Essential Oils are very potent and must not be used directly on the skin, nor should they be used internally unless prescribed by a doctor. When used on the body, essential oils must be diluted in a carrier oil...anything you use for cooking is fine. When we are diluting essential oils for general purposes and for a healthy adult, we want a 2% dilution, which is about 10-12 drops of essential oil in 30 ml of carrier oil. For children, seniors, or sensitive individuals, we need to lower that dilution by at least half.
- In a diffuser or electronic nebulizer (add water to the bowl and drop in a few drops of your undiluted essential oil).
- On a tissue, cotton ball, or Q-tip, 1-2 drops.
- In a personal inhaler
- In a body product such as soaps, creams, body lotions, shampoos and perfumes.
- In the bath - 3 - 8 drops (dilute in 1 tsp - 1Tbsp of carrier oil first) For more information on aromatherapy baths, see my Bathtime Bliss blog post
- In the shower - 1 - 2 drops on the shower cabinet floor.
- Steam inhalation - 2 - 3 drops added to bowl of water.
- Added to compresses and poultices
- Carpet fresheners and/or air fresheners
- Potpourri
The key to using Essential Oils and incorporating Aromatherapy into daily life is to choose oils that are safe for you to use and that are suited to your specific needs...which is where a Professional Aromatherapist can help! For more information, see Nature's Heart website.