Healing With Aromatherapy: Part I

We all love having our senses stimulated. Watching a gorgeous sunset, eating a scrumptious meal, listening to enchanting music, even feeling some fluffy carpet beneath our feet. Our sense of smell is no different, and no doubt there's many different ways to have our noses tickled with our favorite aromas: scented candles, scented oils, scented lotions...just about everything you can think of comes scented now (there's even scented markers and crayons, apparently, which is a little weird but also pretty cool). But aromas can be much more than just a pleasant smell.

A form of alternative medicine, aromatherapy is becoming increasingly popular. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy defines aromatherapy as "the therapeutic application or the medicinal use of aromatic substances (essential oils) for holistic healing." It is widely believed that inhaling the aroma from these "essential" oils stimulates brain function. Pain relief, cognitive stimulation and mood enhancement is just a few of the various applications that aromatherapy has. Essential oils (concentrated oils extracted from herbs, flowers, and other plant parts) come in many varieties, each with its own healing properties.

Modes of administering essential oils

There are four main ways by which essential oils can be absorbed:

Source: athenabeautyspa.co.uk 

1. Topically e.g. massages, baths, compresses. This is a popular form of therapy, although caution should be exercised with application to damaged skin which is more absorbent, as over-absorption can lead to adverse reactions.
2. Inhalation e.g. diffusers, humidifiers, aromasticks (like an inhaler), aromastones. This is the most commonly used method non-clinically due to the relative ease of administration.
3. Internally e.g. mouthwashes, douches, suppositories. This method finds relevance in nursing and medical care, and should not be performed without proper administration knowledge.
4. Orally e.g. gelatin capsules, diluted in honey water. This method is not widely recognized as poisoning could occur if administered incorrectly. Only qualified practitioners who are knowledgeable about the risks should ever prescribe oral administration of essential oils.

Some common ways to use essential oil

Cotton balls: apply 1-5 drops of essential oil(s) to a cotton ball and inhale for 5-10 minutes, repeating as necessary.

Source: thinkoily.com

Direct inhalation with steam: Remove contact lenses/glasses for this method. Add 1-5 drops of essential oil(s) to a bowl of steaming water, and inhale steam for 5-10 minutes with a towel over the head to avoid excessive steam escape.

Room fresheners: Add 1-5 drops of essential oil(s) to a bowl of hot water, placing in an unobtrusive space, where the essential oils will be allowed to evaporate gradually with the water. This works well in dry atmospheres like air-conditioned rooms.

Source: rd.com

Diffusers: Each diffuser comes with its own specific instructions depending on its capacity, but they generally work by circulating mists containing micron-sized essential oil droplets throughout the room.

Baths: To promote incorporation with the bath water, use a mixture of your chosen essential oil(s) and a pure carrier oil (e.g. olive oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil), with 7-12 drops of essential oil(s) per oz of carrier oil. Mix into the warm bath, and sit in the bath for 15-20 minutes.

Massage: Similar to baths, this method requires an essential oil-carrier oil mixture. Use 3 drops of essential oil(s) per tablespoon of carrier oil. Ensure that the skin is warm and dry, then self-massage onto skin or have someone perform the massage on you.

Today we looked at the basics of aromatherapy, but look out for Part II coming soon, where we'll be looking more closely at different essential oils and their uses. Do you currently use essential oils in your daily routine? What has your experience been like? Leave a comment below!

Stay peaceful,

Lexxie