Today there is a massive movement to go back to natural medicine and practices as a means of prevention and healing and only use big phrama when utterly necessary. In many instances, the use of essential oils and aromatherapy can be used in conjunction with modern medicine providing the patient with a vast array of wellness remedies.
Natural medicine works in harmony with the body, gently nudging it back into alignment, balancing energy and the body's natural functions to help boost overall health and mental wellness. This is the reason why many people are going back to the roots of natural or alternative medication and products such as essential oils, especially for women's health.
Aromatherapy is the medicinal and topical use of pure flower essences to heal and nudge the body back into a state of harmony and well-being. The soothing and calming properties of naturally sourced essential oils can help treat many ailments in addition to the more traditionally thought of uses such as helping to prevent colds, flu and illnesses. In fact, essential oils have been used by health practitioners to help bring the body back into harmony and improve a sense of well-being, not just physically, but mentally and emotional as well.
Many health practitioners prescribe oils to help minimise the effects of PMS, menopause, including stress and anxiety. These are just a few ways women can tap into non-medical means of improving their well-being and taking an active role in their health. Used in conjunction with healthy lifestyle habits, essential oils can be a real game changer for many. The use of oils can help ward off common illness, dispel unease and alleviate chronic stress by strengthening the body's immune system, calming the nervous system and providing a opportunity for self-care and improved body awareness.
Although essential oils are typically inhaled for their therapeutic properties by using a room diffuser or mini mist diffuser, you can also use them in the bath, your beauty products, as well as diluted with a carrier oil such as Sweet Almond, Fractionated Coconut or Jojoba and directly applied to the skin. Below are the many ways you can start using essential oils for aromatherapy at home.
Aromatherapy Essential Oils
These are essential oils gathered from various parts of plants such as flowers, fruits, leaves, spices, roots, and woods that are highly-fragrant, complex, and bursting with healing substances. Since they are derived from different plant extracts, essential oils have varying degrees of fragrance, complexity, and potency.
Many oils have wonderful and stimulating fragrances. The most common plant derivations include Lavender, Jasmine, Sweet Orange (Neroli), Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Patchouli, and Clary Sage. Aside from for massage, essential oils can also be used as a subtle perfume, room sanitiser, spa bath and footbath, or steam facial. You can browse hundreds of all natural oils here and shop room diffusers here.
Aromatherapy Diffusers
Diffusers are a plug-in device that breaks essential oils down into smaller molecules, dispersing them into the air for a pleasant or calming effect. Aromatherapy diffusers come in different shapes, sizes, colour, and appearance depending on the need and preference of the person using it. You can find ones that use bamboo sticks or reeds suspended in oil, a candle burning dish or light-ring, plug-in stone and ceramic misters, nebulizers made up of a motor and glass, or ultrasonic which work on electronic frequencies. The most common by far are the easy to use electric plug-in room diffusers and misters. Just add 6-8 drops to these diffusers. Or use a Mini Mister Diffuser on-the-go, my favourite.
For a stimulating, refreshing diffuser blend, choose oils such as Bergamot, Ginger, Lemongrass or Sweet Orange to boost energy, mood and immunity. These can be used on their own or combined in a blend to support a variety of needs. For instance, to ward off cold and flu, try ECO. Little Strength or Protect & Calm Trio.
For a calming effect, choose oils such as Geranium, Lavender, Lemon and Lavender used as a trio blend like this one. Vetiver oil is another essential oil to try; it is used to help treat anxiety, runaway emotions and even ADHD with its earthy, grounding properties. Try this Zen Blend or the Harmony Trio.
To induce sleep and reduce anxiety symptoms, choose oils with calming properties such as Lavender, Chamomile, or Rose. These can used individually or blended to create a unique scent with some very powerful and calming effects. Or try a pre-blended oils combination such as Slumber Collection, Deep Sleep Trio and Dream Drops.
Incense Burning
Just like the traditional incense that is known to help veer bad spirits away, aromatherapy incense is now being used to calm the senses. Aromatherapy incense and incense sticks can capture exotic fragrances and exude soothing scents that greatly helps in relaxation.
By burning this high quality, raw, and aromatherapy natural incense; you can achieve a feeling of openness, self-discovery, tranquillity, and peacefulness in the comfort of your own abode. Common scents include Sandalwood, Ginger, Rose, Jasmine, Cedarwood, Patchouli, and Lavender. These incense packages usually come with ceramic incense holders.
Candles
Since scent is the strongest sense tied to memory, aromatherapy candles are probably the most popular aromatherapy product out there next to diffusers. Known to enhance a person's mood as well as her senses, aromatherapy candles come in various sizes, styles, and hundred fragrances. You can even make your own!
There many different kinds of candles such as taper candles, floating candles, pillar and jar candles and purposed for abundance, health, harmony, and the like. Aromatherapy candles can also help you celebrate the innate beauty of the by stimulating and inspiring the senses and the mind. They are wonderful when used as part of your self-care routine and can provide a grounding activity by burning scents such as Geranium, Lavender, Ginger, Rose, or Zen Blend.
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Aromatherapy Carrier Oils
Aside from candles, diffusing, essential oils can be used in a carrier oil and applied directly to the skin for massage or other healing purposes. Carrier oils are usually vegetable-based oils derived from kernels, seeds and the nut of plants with little to no smell. They do not evaporate and help to dilute essential oils for safe application to the skin. The most commonly used carrier oils are Sweet Almond, Coconut and Jojoba.
Sweet Almond Carrier Oil
This is my favourite and is rich in vitamin E and can help soothe dry and irritated skin. It acts as a barrier against elements and is a great all round natural skin moisturiser. The oil's fatty acid content dissolves excess oil on the skin, while the retinoids present in the oil can reduce the appearance of acne and help improve cell turnover. Most people can use Sweet Almond Carrier Oil to apply essential oils to the body without any risk of irritating the skin.
Try this DIY Body Oil: To 95ml Sweet Almond oil add 20 drops Lavender and 20 drops Lime essential oil.
Fractionated Coconut Carrier Oil
Fractionated coconut oil is virgin coconut oil that has been distilled, allowing long-chain fatty acids to separate and solidify for removal. What remains is an ultralight, odorless coconut oil that stays liquid in form at cooler temps. This soothing oil will allow you to use your essential oils in a new range of ways. Use Fractionated Coconut oil to hydrate the skin or apply essential oils to the body without irritation. Great for use as a body moisturiser, for massage or local topical application.
Try this DIY Perfume: In a 10ml rollerball add 4 drops Jasmine, 2 drops Bergamot and 1 drop Ylang Ylang. Fill with Fractionated Carrier Oil and apply to wrists as desired.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil has many healing properties making it a preferred oil in treating skin conditions such as acne, eczema, sun spots and psoriasis. It is easy to use as a cleanser, moisturiser, or spot treatment. You can use almost anywhere on the body, including the face, without having to dilute it. This oil is also renowned for its hydrating and regenerative qualities. It is suitable to all skin types and can help improve skin suppleness and elasticity due to its similarities with human sebum. It also acts as a great makeup remover or a natural skin cleanser. Jojoba Carrier Oil will allow you to use your essential oils in a new range of ways asp art of your beauty or self-care routine.
Try this DIY Face Cleanser: To a 30ml dropper bottle add 2 tablespoons of Jojoba Carrier Oil with 5 drops German Chamomile essential oil and 5 drops Sandalwood. Apply to dry skin and emulsify with water.
Recommended Essential Oils
To fight off cold and boost immunity, apply Rosemary and Eucalyptus, both are useful to clear the sinuses and treat flu bugs, influenza, throat infections and bronchitis. Peppermint is can be used for headaches, as a lymphatic stimulant and can give sinus relief from colds.
To boost creativity, efficiency at work or with tasks, Ginger is very useful if you are experiencing a lack of motivation and passion, or are feeling burnt-out or emotionally distant. Its warming properties will help rebalance your energy and mood, and be more productive.
Three of my favourite essential oils to help unwind and destress are Lemongrass, Lemon and Lavender used as a trio blend like this one. These three essential oils can help alleviate stress, clear the mind and uplift mood. You can use them together in a room diffuser, mini mister diffuser like this one, or as a blended oil in a rollerball applied on your wrists.
For depression and anxiety suffers, my recommendations are Jasmine oil, which soothes ragged nerves and may help you with depression. Tangerine oil which is like a sensory refresher for the mind and can also help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Or try the trio blend, Mindful Moment or Anxiety Blend used in a mini mister diffuser or rollerball application. You can find a full list of my recommended anxiety and calming, emotional destressing oils here.
Self-Care Essential Oils
Part of managing stress every day is practicing regular self-care. Using a mini mist diffuser, inhale a custom blend from the Women's Wellness Collection, focus on yourself for that 2-5 minutes and breathe. It literally takes less than 5 minutes to shift your mood, release stress and recharge.
Blended oils can be a powerful tonic used to ease the effects of stress, irritability and anxiety. An oil such a Anxiety Blend, combines Sweet Orange, Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Frankincense essential oils which help reduce nervous tension, squash the grumps and relieve symptoms of mild anxiety.
Chamomile, Lavender, and Sweet Orange (Neroli) are another three primary essential oils that bring calm to your body and mind. Although they can be used separately, combine them for an ultimately potent mix of powerful oils that will remove your irritability almost instantly. Each of these essential oils are highly revitalizing even without the combination of the others. However, using them in combination can create a potent effect to help you deal with emotional issues and remove the irritability that can bring more stress into your life.
Getting Started With Essential Oils
Practising a little at home aromatherapy using essential oils offers so many wonderful health benefits from self-care to stress relief. To recap, the most common way to use essential oils is to inhale them, either directly out of the bottle or by using a room diffuser or humidifier. You can also dilute essential oils with a carrier oil and apply it directly your skin. Just be sure tread lightly with essential oils, especially when you first start using them. Less is always more, and watch out for any adverse reactions.
