Aromatherapy comes from the greek words 'aroma' meaning 'a characteristic smell' and 'therapy' which means 'to nurse or cure.' Thus the two words combine to mean treating disease with a characteristic odour. Aromatherapy has been used since ancient times, but it is important to remember to use pure essential oils as fragrant oils are not the same thing.
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How to Use Essential Oils
There are several ways of using essential oils.Massage
This is by far the most effective way of using aromatherapy. The essential oil needs to be diluted into a carrier oil such as Sweet Almond oil before being massaged.
The Book Of Massage: The Complete Stepbystep Guide To Eastern And Western Technique
This book is an excellent guide for how to perform a massage.
Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 12/03/2008) 
Baby Massage: The Calming Power of Touch
Different techniques for massaging babies, this really helps the bonding between baby and parent.
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 12/03/2008)
Burners or difusersAnother common way of using essential oil is in a burner or difuser.
Burners are available in all different designs and are fantastic, but they cannot be left unattended as they can present a fire risk.
Diffusers do the same job as burners, but are definately a safer alternative.
Aromatherapy Diffuser Ultrasonic
This is a great way to add aromatherapy to the office as well as at home. Leave the diffuser on at work with oils such as lemon burning if there are colds going around and hopefully you will be able to stay well.
Leave lavender or chamomile in the diffuser overnight in the bedroom and have a wonderful night's sleep.
Amazon Price: $80.00 (as of 12/03/2008)
Essential Oils
This lens isn't big enough to cover all of the oils so I have just included my top five. These are lavender, lemon, chamomile, tea tree and peppermint.
For more information Valerie Ann Worwood has a number of fantastic books available.
Valerie Ann Worwood
I used on of her earlier books before embarking on studying Aromatherapy. Even after studying the subject myself I still find that I look in her book regularly.
The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Over 600 Natural, Non-Toxic and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health - Beauty - a Safe Home Environment
This book covers the use of essential oils for everything from basic first aid and treating common ailments to natural cosmetics and body care, fragrances for the home and office, and more.
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/03/2008)
This guide will help you to explore even more essential oils and will leave you feeling fantastic!
Lavender Oil
Lavender can be blended with most other oils as it loves company and actually seems to enhance the healing ability of any oils it is combined with.
Lavender oil is also good for the respiratory system. It will help to ease sinuitis, asthma, influenza, bronchitis, whooping cough and fevers.For sinus problems use a drop on your finger and massage the sinuses for relief.
For chest problems you can add a few drops of lavender to a bowl of hot water and hold your head over the bowl with a towel over your head and bowl and inhale. You could also put 5 drops of lavender oil in 10ml carrier oil (such as sweet almond) and rub onto the chest.
Combine with tea-tree or eucalyptus and use in a diffuser for relieving congestion at night when sleeping.
Lavender oil is also very helpful for the reproductive system. Using a diffuser during childbirth will help to even out contractions, as a massage oil it also has analgesic properties.
Lavender also helps to harmonise and regulate menstuation. Putting 20 drops in a bath or using it in a massage oil on your stomach are good applications.
Lemon Oil
Lemon oil, as with all of the citrus oils, does not last as long as the other essential oils.It is a very uplifting oil and as mentioned above helps concentration so is very good for use on long car journeys. You can purchase aromatherapy diffusers which plug into the cigarette lighter in cars and diffuse oils throughout the car. If you do not have one of these then put a couple of drops of oil onto a tissue and place the tissue over the air vent to let it waft around the car. This will keep you alert when driving.
Lemon oil has incredible bacteriacial and antiseptic properties which ahve been proven by the works of Morel and Rochaix "that vapours of the essence of lemon can neutralise the meningoccocus in 15 mins"
typhus bacillus in 5 mins
staphyloccus in 5 mins
diptheria bacillus in 20 mins.
According to Susanne Fischer-Rizzi in Complete Aromatherapy Handbook it also kills the germs causing pneumonia in 3-4 hours. It's antiseptic properties will last for 20 days. It is perfect for destroying air-borne germs in hospital rooms, waiting rooms and schools. In England, where aromatherapy is extensively used in hospitals, this oil , among others, is used in patients' rooms. It is particularly effective in neutralizing unpleasant body odours of patients suffering from cancer, and it is psyhologically strengthening to usually depressed and fearful patients.
Chamomile Oil
AURA CACIA, Precious Essentials Oil German Chamomile w/Jojoba - .5 fl oz
Amazon Price: $7.29 (as of 12/03/2008)
Chamomile oil is so mild it is often used on babies. Out of the essential oils I would only recommend chamomile or lavender to be used during their first year and NEVER neat.
Use a couple of drops in the bath water and your baby will be very relaxed and will drop off to sleep a lot easier.
If your baby has colic then use 3 drops of chamomile oil in a cold pressed vegetable oil such as sweet almond and massage their tummy in a clockwise direction. The chamomile has anti-spasmodic properties so will help settle the colic. The massage aspect helps with bonding and has been proven to help a baby thrive.
Chamomile has a middle note and a refreshing and relaxing effect.German chamomile oil with it's primary consituent Azuleme has great bacterial efficiency. Infected wounds have been healed using a concentration of between 1 to 85,000 and 1 to 170,000.
At a strength of 1 to 2,000 it is effective against haemolyptic streptoccocus which is an agent of scarlet fever and acute rheumatoid arthritis.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree oil is also handy around the home as part of your cleaning kit.Add 1 teaspoon of Tea Tree to 1 1/5 gallons of water when washing windows and floors.
Add 2 teaspoon of Tea Tree oil to the washing machine for a fragrant wash, this also helps to reduce the build up of soap scum in the washing machine.
If you need to remove scuff marks from the floor then put a few drops of Tea Tree oil onto a damp cloth and give them a wipe. Easy peasy! Do the same if you have cellotape stuck to glass.
Alot of household pests such as ants and cockroaches detest the smell of tea tree oil. Putting a few drops of the oil at the entry points will encourage them to visit elsewhere. I also make a solution of 5 drops tea tree to 2 1/2 cups of water and use this to wipe out my cupboards regularly.
Peppermint Oil
Several sports rubs or arthritis creams contain peppermint oil because it helps with muscular aches and pains. If you are suffering from sore muscles after exercising then put a drop of peppermint oil into a little body lotion before applying it to the area.As well as helping aches and pains Peppermint oil is very refresh which makes it perfect for tired feet. If you are standing all day then a few drops of peppermint oil in a foot bath will refresh, soothe and cool those feet right down.
Your Say
Has this lens been helpful to you?
I hope you have found this lens informative, please leave a comment.
lou16 wrote...
Thank you Julie. Not only are essential oils good for you, but they just smell fantastic as well!!
Posted September 04, 2008
JaguarJulie wrote...
Yep, count me in as a fan of aromatherapy and essential oils. Your lens is quite informative. 5*****
Posted September 02, 2008
The Power of Aromatherapy
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