Aromatherapy

Archive for December, 2008

Most people who are interested in using essential oils for their home or on their body will simply purchase the oils already in a container. They won’t worry too much about how essential oils are made, as long as they smell great and work well. However, the way that essential oils are made is quite interested and if you ever feel like making your own, you will probably wonder what to do. Here is a quick look at the way that essential oils are extracted.

Steam Distillation: Steam distillation is the most popular and quickest way that essential oils are made. When you see essential oils made from steam distillation, you will see that it is highly effective and economical. When steam distillation is used, the plant material is placed in a cooker that resembles a pressure cooker—this is called the sill. The plant is then steamed as pressurized heat and water passes through the material. The heat will then cause the oil in the plant to rupture and evaporate. The vapor from the oil is passed through a pipe and cooled until it condensed back to the oil form. It sounds quite complicated, but with the right tools, it is not. You will find most of the oil you buy made this way.

Cold press: A cold press is another way that essential oils are made. In fact, if you like to make your own essential oils, you can try this method. It works basically as the name suggests. The oil is extracted by pressing the material in a press. The oil and liquid will separate over time. This is not the way all plant material can be handled when making essential oils, but it works best for large plant material such as fruit rinds or large plants. It does take longer for this method to work.

Maceration: Maceration won’t create your pure essential oils, but instead will give you infused oil, which simply means the oil isn’t in its purest form. When maceration is used, the plant material is soaked in another type of oil, usually vegetable oil, then heated and strained. Macerated essential oils are widely used for massages.

Solvent Extraction: This is another very popular method for deriving essential oils from plant material. A type of hydrocarbon is added to the plant material to help dissolve the oil. When it is filtered and concentrated by distillation, the resin will be left over. At this point, the resin is mixed with alcohol to continue the oil extraction process. While it is not the best way to extract essential oils, it can be used. The oils may be left in the purest forms and some residue from the extraction method may be left over. A new solvent extraction method has recently been developed using carbon dioxide to get the oils ready for use. This seems to be quite effective and is being used more.

As you can see, there are a variety of methods to extract essential oils for use. If you are serious about making your own essential oils, then do further research on these methods.

There are so many uses for essential oils in your everyday life. If you have never considered using these oils, then what are you waiting for? Essential oils have been used for centuries and many of these can not only help improve your body, but can help give you a mental boost as well. In fact, there are several essential oils that you should know if you want to improve your state of mind.

Have anxiety? How many of us have suffered from anxiety a least a couple of times in our lives? Some people certainly have more anxiety than others and those who don’t have it very often, will feel it at least here and there. Essential oils can calm your anxiety and help you get ready to face your fears or problems without having to take medications that are so often prescribed. Of course, you must not allow severe anxiety out of hand. If you are not responding to essential oils and aromatherapy, then get medical help. Try adding a few drops of lavender, bergamot or cedarwood to your bath or add to a carrier oil for a massage. You can also place these oils in a diffuser for added benefit.

How about irritability? There is not a one of us that can say we have never felt irritated at someone or something from time to time. There is no reason to stay irritated though when you can use essential oils to help you out. Lavender is a great choice as are chamomile, and neroli. When you use these essential oils in your home, or even in a good deep tissue massage, you will forget whatever it was that was bothering you and making your irritable in the first place.

Any new mother will tell you that post partum depression can really make life difficult. After all, it is hard to adjust to the changes in hormones and caring for the new baby. Post partum is a serious medical condition that should get proper care. However, if you are dealing with post partum depression, you can aid your healing with aromatherapy. Again lavender is a good choice. Essential oil mixtures that are for this exact purpose can also be purchased at stores that carry a good selection of aromatherapy products. Use these oils in a diffuser, in candles around your home and in a massage. You will feel more relaxed and ready to care for that new baby.

Stress is one of those things that everyone feels from time to time. Even if you are not facing a huge stress factor in your life, you may feel a little tension on and then with your children, paying the bills or just keeping up with your daily workload. Stress in the workplace is also very common. Look no further than essential oils to help alleviate some of that tension and stress. If you work, look for small candles made with lavender, juniper and sage. Rose is another great option. The great scents of these essential oils will help melt away the day’s stress factors.

Looking to expand your knowledge of aromatherapy and essential oils? Are you interested in finding out how essential oils can help heal your body and your mind? Then it is time you take a closer look at diffusion. When it comes to essential oils and aromatherapy, diffusions is very important. Diffusion is the way in which the scents from the oils are delivered and there are many ways you can go about doing this.

One of the fastest and easiest ways to diffuse essential oils is to use a tissue. This is mess-free, cheap and simple to do. In fact, many people who practice aromatherapy on a regular basis will tell you that the tissue method is portable and works well for kids, too. How do you do it? It is simple. All you need to do is to place a few drops of your favorite essential oils on a tissue and place it near you where you can breathe in the vapors. When the air gently blows or movement occurs in your room, it will help activate and stir around the scents. This is a perfect way to get the benefits of your favorite oils while you are at work, in your car or in a hurry. 

Steam is another popular method of diffusion for essential oils and aromatherapy. You can get fancy store bought steamer that is especially made for this purpose. You can also go simple. Boil a couple of cups of water in a pot. Pour the water into a glass bowl and add your favorite essential oils to the water. About ten drops is all you will need. This will fill your environment with the great smelling aroma of the oil and it will help relax your mind and body. This is a great method if you are using the oils to help you break up congestion in your chest. You may want to use fewer drops of strong-smelling oils, too. One word of caution: if you opt for this method, you should know that as soon as the water cools, the scent will fade as well.

You can also use a neutral smelling or non-scented candle to help you diffuse your favorite essential oils. It is easy to do, too. Simply burn your candle for about ten minutes and distinguish the flame. Immediately place a couple of drops of your favorite oil INTO THE MELTED WAX (not the wick) and relight the candle. You must be very careful if you opt for this method. Oil is flammable, so you have to use extreme caution. Watch the candle and never leave unattended. This is a good way to use up your non-scented candles and will leave your home smelling great.

Using essential oils when you practice aromatherapy is great for you. You will find scores of uses for the oils and will find that not only will you feel better, but everything around you will smell great, too. Look for oils in your favorite scents and find a diffusion method that you like the most.

When you start into the world of essential oils, you may be quite confused. As a novice, you will see a whole host of interesting aromatherapy products on the market. You know that essential oils are the basis of aromatherapy, but there are so many of them. When you start looking at the label, they leave you even more confused. What is the difference between the grades of oils and which ones are better?

As you shop for essential oils to use, you need to remember that just as with any product you buy, there are some that are better than others. You can buy cheap essential oils and if all you want to do is to make your home smell nice, then they may be okay. However, if you want the full benefits of the essential oil, then you should probably spend the extra cash on therapeutic grade essential oils.

What are therapeutic grade essential oils? These are oils that are top-notch. If you go to a skilled massage therapist and they use essential oils, then they know to use the best. These are the ones that are distilled to have the highest level of healing powers possible. In other words, these are the oils that are made with the best quality and are the purest on the market.

How do you know if they are the right grade? When you buy essential oils, it can be confusing. When you get right down to it, only about two percent of essential oils that you can buy are truly therapeutic grade. That means that if you want the best, you better be ready to shop around. There are actually standards that must be met in order to become the top grade. These are the oils that are going to work the best at fighting off germs, healing the mind and body and treating a whole host of other ailments and problems.

When you shop, you must get ready to read the labels. You need to know how the oil was distilled. Therapeutic graded oils are distilled using a proper steam method. These are the ones that will pass the gas chromatography purity testing. These oils will not have residue left after the distillation process is over. When plants and plant material are steamed, you will find that there are many factors that affect the outcome. Proper distillation methods are very important to the final product when it comes to essential oils. Make sure you know what you are buying before you spend your money.

Buying your essential oils make take a little research. Many people who love essential oils and want the best will build a good relationship with the oil company. They will trust a company that sells good essential oils. Ask questions and make sure you read the fine print on all oils before making a purchase. Do your research before buying so that you know you are getting the top of the line. You will be glad you did.

Essential oils are great to use around your home, but before you run out to your local health food store to buy a bunch of these bottles, you need to know a little more about how to use them. When you purchase any essential oil, you will first notice that you are buying a very little bottle. You might wonder how you could possibly make good use of such a small amount of oil. That is where carrier oils come into play.

Carrier oils are very important to people who use any type of essential oils. Almost all essential oils are too concentrated and powerful to be used alone. If you do put straight and undiluted essential oil on your skin, you will probably notice an immediate reaction. It could be a very mild tingling of the skin, or it could burn. Carrier oils are used to extend the use of your essential oils and to make them suitable to use on your skin. Here is a closer look at some of the more popular types of carrier oils that you can purchase.

Sweet almond oil: Sweet almond oil is probably the most popular carrier oil you can use with essential oils. That is because it is relatively inexpensive and easy to find. It has a nice, light aroma that will not interfere with the essential oils that you are using. It also absorbs well into the skin without leaving an overly oily feeling. It is a general purpose carrier oil that you should be able to find at any store that carries a good selection of essential oils.

Cocoa Butter: You have probably heard of cocoa butter before, or even seen it in lotions or crèmes. Cocoa butter can also be used as a carrier oil for essential oils. It has a strong almost chocolate-like smell and can be mixed to blend well and room temperature. This carrier oil is also very easy to find and will work well if you want to mix your essential oils into a good lotion for your skin.

Shea butter: Shea butter is very similar to cocoa butter. You can also use this as a carrier for your favorite essential oils and works well for crèmes and lotions. Shea butter will leave an oily residue on your skin and it does not soak in as well as sweet almond oil. You will want to use this sparingly when used in a massage.

Apricot kernel: Apricot kernel is also very popular and it has a very clear appearance and almost no scent. This makes it perfect for anyone wishing to use their essential oil without the carrier oil taking center stage. Apricot kernel oil has a slight oily feel, but it will absorb into the skin very well and it will not leave an oily feeling on the skin. This is perfect for everyday use as a lotion or in a massage.

There are many other types of carrier oils that you can use besides these—soybean, grapeseed, avocado and even vegetable oil can be used.