Aromatherapy

Archive for August, 2008

It is fairly simple to concoct a hand essential oil recipe, and all that is needed is to use the ingredients according to instructions and follow the directions to the T. You may want to check out the different hand essential oil recipes by visiting aromaweb where is mentioned a recipe for hand lotions using essential oils.

Use Unscented Lotion Along With Patchouli, Sandalwood And Carrot Seed

To begin with, this hand essential oil recipe requires using eight ounces of unscented lotion, which can be sourced from a number of sellers that deal in natural products as well as aromatherapy products and who are usually found selling unscented lotions as well as shower gels and shampoos. Other ingredients include ten drops of Patchouli, twenty drops of Sandalwood and five drops of Carrot Seed. Once you have the right ingredients measured out, all that remains is to follow the directions given in the hand essential oil recipe.

You would be better served while blending the oils to use the lotion by pouring it into a bowl to which is added the oils and the whole should then be mixed well. After the mixing stage, you may want to add the lotion back to the bottle. For dry skin, use of Patchouli, sandalwood as well as carrot seeds are especially helpful. In addition, patchouli as well as sandalwood oils are well known to have an exciting as well as rich scent when they are blended with one another.

Use of carrot seed as specified in the hand essential oil recipe will help the skin since it has wonderful properties though the aroma can be a bit on the harsh side. If you want still more help for your skin you can use borage and Evening Primrose, which if you can afford the price, should be added in small quantities to the lotion so that your skin will get much needed nourishment.

Before you actually use the end product of your hand essential oil recipe, it would be wise to perform a skin patch first using the newly created blend so that you can ensure that your skin is not sensitive to the blend. There is no doubt a great sense of fulfillment achieved when one can successfully create a decent essential oil using a hand essential oil recipe since you will be able to create blends that will provide you with aromatic pleasure that is also most suitable for your personal fragrance needs. What you do need to focus on while using a hand essential oil recipe is to focus the blend on the final aroma, and not on the therapeutic properties.

Many people only think of herbs in the kitchen. Although, sometimes they think of them for medicinal purposes. And as far as Essential Oils are concerned, you may think – what’s that?

If you’ve never heard about this, keep reading and you will begin to understand. It’s not as complicated as it may seem. Let’s see what some of the possibilities are.

-In addition to adding extra flavor in recipes, herbs and food-grade essential oils can stimulate your immune system

- Using herbal teas and therapeutic essential oils can help your digestive systems. There are great sources if you are looking to detoxify your body.

- A lot of store bought cleaning supplies, cold remedies, digestion supplements, etc can contain chemicals that can cause toxicity to the body. You can avoid this with herbs and therapeutic grade essential oils.

If you think this is new-age hocus pocus, you’re wrong! The use of herbs and essential oils has been ongoing from the beginning of civilization. They have been vital to the preservation of food, among other things. Think of things that are mentioned in the Bible-frankincense, myrrh, bitter herbs-these natural things had a purpose then, and continue to be useful today. Pliny, a soldier of ancient Rome, wrote a Natural History, which references the use of many plants. He lived in the first century. Much of his knowledge is attributed to the research and writings of Mithridates of Eupator (120-66BC). So plants and their chemical properties have been important since the dawn of time.

Even today, herbs are uses in medicine. One example of the combining of herbs and medicine is foxglove. Scientists use this to make medicine that treat specific heart problems.

The advantage we have in modern society is that we have perfected agricultural methods, and ways of extracting the best out of the herbs and flowers that give us essential oils. We have been able to achieve purer, more potent, and more consistent results. Therapeutic oils are an example of this great scientific achievement.

You should be aware, as you learn about using herbs and essential oils, that not all essential oils are the same. Many are not to be ingested; if you want to use oils for recipes, you must seek out food-grade oils. And if you plan on using oils for aromatherapy, purchase only those labeled “therapeutic-grade.” Not all natural food stores or health food stores carry therapeutic-grade oils. They are different because they are more potent and effective than the every day store-bought variety. Since they are extracted and refined using the best methods available, you can expect much better results with therapeutic-grade oils than if you purchase inferior oils.

Start today and point your family on the path to better health and well-being by including herbs, herbal supplements and therapeutic-grade essential oils in your household. Chances are, your family will have increased energy and focus, and get colds and viruses less often. And keep in mind that history is the best teacher, which is how we can conclude today that the benefits of using herbs and essential oils are real.

Sometimes it is better to use a synergistic blend of essential oils to get relief from symptoms rather than use a single essential oil. Some of these synergistic oils include Blue Tansy, Spikenard, Rosemary and Lemongrass. In its basic form, it is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid that contains aroma compounds derived from plants. The word essential is used to indicate that oils have a scent (essence) that sets it apart even if such scent is not very important, or a fundamental matter.

Made With The Help Of Distillation As Well As Solvent Extraction

Essential oils are not known as a group to have any specific chemical properties that are common to the group other than the fragrance. To make them, use is made of distillation as well as solvent extraction. Essential oils are often used in perfumes as well as cosmetics, and also to add flavor to foods and drinks as well as for giving incenses more scents as too are used in cleaning products used in homes.

Essential oils are obtained from many different parts of certain plants and there are some such as orange oil that can be derived from different parts of the plant. Other plants include allspice, Juniper, Almond, Basil, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Camphor, Peppermint, Rose, Bergamot, Thyme and a lot more.

Essential oils have been used throughout history for their medicinal benefits such as skin treatment and providing relief from cancer. Of late, there has been growing interest in essential oils usage, especially because of the increased popularity of aromatherapy, which is an offshoot of alternative medicine that claims that different aromas contained in essential oils can be used for their curative properties.

However, one should not apply these oils directly to the skin because it has a concentrated nature that can cause severe irritation or even cause an allergic reaction if used in undiluted form. It would be better to blend them with a base or “fixed” oil before applying it, and some of the common base oils include olive, hazelnut, almond as well as grapeseed.

Those who use essential oils in an industry should read up their material safety data sheets to get to know the different hazards as well as how to properly handle the particular oils. Concern has also been voiced regarding the pesticide residues found in these oils, and more particularly in those that are used for therapeutic purposes. It is thus more advisable to use organic essential oils.

Busy parents are always on the lookout for natural, effective alternatives to support their children’s health and happiness. Invoking gentle calm in an otherwise hectic family life is especially appreciated. Essential oils can offer this support in a fun, safe and natural way. A few essential oils are particularly suitable for use with young ones, both for bringing soothing emotional calm and contentment healing the small wounds of childhood – here’s a quick primer to help you safely and effectively use five valuable essential oils with children.

There are several easy methods to utilize natural essential oils with children. These include topical application via caring touch massage; direct application to wounds; inhalation from cloth (like clothing or a pillowcase); room sprays and diffusers; and the all-purpose aromatherapy bath. The key difference in using essential oils with children, compared to adults, is that children will need smaller amounts of oil for the same effect. There are a few oils that shouldn’t be used with children; peppermint, most eucalyptus varieties, and red thyme, for example, are considered too strong. If in doubt about any oil consult a knowledgeable practitioner or reputable text.

The dosages and dilutions used for children are generally significantly lower than those used with adults. Dilutions for caring touch massage can start as low as 1 drop per ounce of carrier (hazelnut is excellent for most applications) for newborns, moving up approximately 1 drop per year, within a range of about 3 drops per ounce. For example, a massage blend for a four year old might contain anywhere from 3 to 6 drops of essential oil per ounce, depending on the oil and the child. Oils like Lavender, Roman Chamomile and Vanilla are exceptionally gentle – more could be used without worry. An oil like Rose, while wonderful for children, is fairly potent, and using a little less may be prudent. The child’s weight and overall condition can also be considered; a child that is big for their age could use slightly higher amounts of essential oil, whereas a child that is week from illness could use a little less.

And now for the oils! We’ll start with soothing the very little ones; comforting an infant can seem a full-time job for many parents, where support is always welcome. For this, there’s one indispensable tool: pure Vanilla essential oil. Mmmm! Who doesn’t like vanilla? Infants really respond to its calming, sweet scent. And it’s so easy to use. A belly, back or foot rub with a blend containing 1/2 percent vanilla in any quality carrier oil (jojoba, hazelnut or other seed or nut oil of your choice) works magic for many parents. To make a 1/2 percent Vanilla blend, purchase a small amount of pure Vanilla essential oil and add 4 drops into each ounce of carrier. Use as frequently as you like, as vanilla is completely non-toxic. You can even add a few drops to your favorite cookie recipe for an exquisite flavor, far surpassing that of the commonly found vanilla extracts.

Next up is Chamomile. There are several varieties of Chamomile, with an array of uses. German Chamomile is an exceptional oil for skin inflammation and rashes, applied in a 1/2 to 1 percent dilution in Hazelnut oil. Roman Chamomile is premier oil calming little ones over two years of age. The oil may be used in a number of ways; aromatherapy massage, in a diffuser or room spray (with this and other oils, dilute 10 drops per cup of water in a clean spray bottle – shake well and lightly mist the air), a drop or two sprinkled on bedding, or in a bath. According to Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt in Advanced Aromatherapy, “Even in very small concentrations, whether alone or in combinations with other oils (Roman Chamomile) has a soothing effect…it is appropriate to massage a few undiluted drops into the solar plexus.” It is noted as particularly suited to calming tantrums or bringing calm after nightmares.

Lavender essential oil is also highly regarded for its soothing qualities, along with a host of other healing actions. Lavender oil has been called ‘a medicine chest in a bottle’, as it is anti-inflammatory (good for small burns – apply directly as needed), relieves pain and supports wound healing. Clinical studies have proven Lavender oil’s effectiveness for improving sleep. For children, blend 2 to 1 with Roman Chamomile. Apply one drop of this blend to the pillow at nap or night time. Lavender works well in a bath, too. Additionally, Lavender can be mixed in equal parts with Tea Tree oil to add a soothing quality to Tea Tree’s antiseptic action. Really, every parent should have a bottle of Lavender on hand.

When sour moods are in need of a lift, citrus oils supply the aromas of choice. Tangerine and Sweet Orange are especially liked, and Mandarin has a certain calming effect not found in any other oil. Citrus oils are often cold-pressed from the peels of the fruit; these can be mildly irritating to the skin. Stick to using these in room sprays or diffusers. Steam distilled citrus oils, often made from the leaves or flowers of the citrus trees (like Neroli, Petitgrain, or Mandarin Petitgrain – an especially nice oil for young ones) can safely be used in topical applications like massages and baths. All these oils are known as antidepressants, and might just lift your mood as well as your child’s (not to terrible of a side effect!)

And for all those little abrasions of childhood, Tea Tree is highly regarded as a natural antiseptic for cuts and scrapes. Once a wound is washed, it may be covered with a Band-Aid which has a drop of Tea Tree placed on the gauze. Tea Tree may be a bit strong to apply directly to the injury, though when mixed with equal parts of Lavender, Tea Tree will prevent infection while the Lavender will relieve pain and actually speed wound healing. A few drops of the Tea Tree/Lavender mixture can be added to a warm cup of water to use as a cleansing wash. An effective, home made antiseptic spray can also be made: use 2 ounces water, 1/2 half ounce rubbing alcohol, 8 drops Lavender, 12 drops Tea Tree and 8 drops Roman Chamomile. Shake vigorously and store, shaking again before each use. Tea Tree is considered a ‘universal antiseptic’, with a great many uses in first aid and around the home. At 20 drops per cup of water, it can be used as a non-toxic (if not pungent!) general cleaner which you’ll be happy to use instead of many chemical laden household cleaners where your children will be crawling about – and you can mix with lemon oil for a more pleasing aroma.

This is just a quick overview on caring for children with essential oils. Once you get started, you’re likely to find these and other oils are a safe, effective means to naturally support your child’s health and happiness. As your knowledge and experience grows, you’ll find there are aromatherapy remedies for many common childhood ailments. In much of the rest of the world, essential oils are considered potent medicines, deserving a place in everyone’s medicine chest. There are many great books on aromatherapy, with loads of information and recipes to get you started. Just remember, when using essential oils with children start slowly, and with small amounts; their response to certain oils and concentrations will likely tell you about the oil’s effectiveness. When used with care and respect, essential oils can become a much appreciated part of your natural health and wellness lifestyle.

What is that apparatus of pipes and pots and tubes dripping into a bottle? Could it be a still? Yes, it’s a still, but not for making moonshine. It’s for making essential oil. Essential oil stills are the most popular way to make essential oils from the flowers, herbs or twigs of the original substance. The process used by essential oil stills can be similar to moonshine stills, but PLEASE don’t drink the oil!

Is There Still A Need For Stills?

It isn’t just the smell of an herb or flower that gives oil its medicinal properties; it’s the cells of the plant or herb itself. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple to just reproduce the scent. If you want to use the essential oil for health or mood changing reasons, you need the real deal, the spirit of the plant. It’s like the difference between your favorite kind of tea and the blander varieties. Sure, tea bags look mostly alike and may even smell alike, but there is a vast difference in taste from one bag of dried leaves and another.

Still Crazy After All These Years

Although the roots of aromatherapy are lost in antiquity, the modern practice can be traced to a 1920’s French chemist by the name of Rene’ Gattefosse’, who also came up with the name “aromatherapy”. He often used essential oil stills to make the oils he did research on.

There are two types of essential oil stills – steam stills and water stills. Both types are used today not much altered from the 1920’s. Steam essential oil stills are used more often because they are quicker. You put the fresh flowers or what have you in a container, which is then heated. The steam under pressure strips the oil – the spirit of the plant – away from the flowers. But some flowers and herbs cannot handle the pressure of steam distillation, so then water essential oil stills are used. Their vacuum-sealed containers are heated in water until vapor forms. This vapor cools and drips the prized essential oil into yet another container.

There are small essential oil stills for the home that are sold, but they are only for those with a lot of patience and access to huge fields of herbs or flowers. It takes a tremendous amount of organic material to make even one ounce of therapeutic grade pure essential oil. Each flower petal or herb can only give off a minute drop of the oil.