Using Herbs in Aromatherapy

People use aromatherapy to help heal their bodies and mind through massage, inhalation or bathing. 

Aromatherapy means: "therapy by smell"

Essential oils are found in the small glands in various parts of aromatic plants.  You can extract them from the flowers, leaves, fruits, berries, seeds, wood, resin, roots, and the bark of a plant.

You can tell what area of the plant has the small glands by smelling the plant the area that the scent is the strongest that is the area that the small gland can be found.

Be sure when you go to purchase your oils from a store that you purchase them through a natural food store and not one that sells cosmetics, essential oils can be very expensive  but cosmetic oils have no healing power.

Massage:

When using essential oils be sure to dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil.  The reason for this is because the essential oils are highly concentrated and can burn the skin should you apply it by itself.

A good carrier oil is pure, has no scent and is cold pressed.

Examples: almond, apricot, kernel, or evening primrose. 

Mix 15 drops of your favorite essential oils with 2 fluid ounces of your favorite carrier oil.

You can find many different carrier oils in natural food stores.

Oils to Baths:

Be sure you are not running the bath water when you add the oil to the water or it will evaporate.

First fill your bath, and then add about 7-8 drops of your favorite oil to the water and swish around in the water.  This way the oil rises and mixes with the steam. 

Soak in the bath for 10-15 minutes, lightly splashing the oil over your body and breathing in the steam.

Inhalation:

Vaporization is the easiest method of releasing the aroma of the essential oils, the aroma is then absorbed into the body through inhalation.

No need to buy any special tools for this all you need to have is a bowl of steaming water and 6 drops of oil to 4 cups of water.

Lean over the steam with a towel covering your head and keeping eyes closed, deeply inhale through your nose for about 1 minute.

You can use small burners that heats the oil to release its aroma, but make sure the bowl is not porous, so it can be used with several different oils.

Popular Essential Oils and what they help alleviate:

• Basil:  anxiety, stress, respiratory problems

• Black pepper: stimulates circulation, muscular aches, colds

• Chamomile: Skin problems, insomnia

• Clove: toothache, infections, fatigue

• Eucalyptus: colds, cuts, insect bites

• Lavender: insomnia, infections, indigestion

• Lemon: stomach ache, water retention, acne

• Rosemary: bronchitis, memory problems

• Sage: menopause problems, fatigue

• Thyme: depression, muscular pain

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