Aromatherapy Guide » Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy Guide: Table of Contents

miranda sterman — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:57:44 +0000

What is Aromatherapy?
History of Aromatherapy
How are Essential Oils Produced?
What are Essential Oils?
What are Absolutes?
What are CO2s?
What are Carrier Oils?
What are Fragrance Oils?
Storing Your Essential Oils
What are Resins?
Favorite Essential Oils
Essential Oil Safety Information
Using Your Essential Oils
Aromatherapy Tips for Beginners
Diffusion Aromatherapy and Essential Oils
The Art of Perfume Blending
Blending Basics
Harmonizing Your Blend
Perfume Recipes
Therapeutic Blending
Substituting Oils
Aromatic Substitutions
Therapeutic Substitutions
Aromatherapy Baths
Aromatherapy Massage
Massage Oil Recipe
Aromatherapy for Stress
Aromatherapy During Pregnancy
Aromatherapy for Children
Measurements for Aromatherapy

Measurements for Aromatherapy

miranda sterman — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:42:17 +0000

As we have used a combination of drops, ounces and millilitres in this guide, we have included an approximation chart. This is only a guide, as oils with differing viscosities will have a slightly different measurement.

20 drops = 1 ml

75 drops = 1 teaspoon

75 drops = 1 dram

450-600 drops = 1 ounce

15ml = 1/2ounce(.5 ounce)

1 dram = 1/8 ounce(.125 ounce)

1 dram = 3.7 ml

1 ml = .033 ounce

1 ml = .27 dram

3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon

16 tablespoons = 1 cup

1 cup = 8 ounces

2 cups = 1 pint

4 cups = 1 quart

4 quarts = 1 gallon

Aromatherapy for Children

miranda sterman — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:40:20 +0000

Like the advice for pregnancy, we recommend consulting a professional aroma therapist or doctor before using essential oils on children. Treat essential oils like medicine and use reduced potency for children.

Oils that are generally reported to be safe to use on children, in extremely low dilutions, for external uses and for short periods of time include Lavender, Neroli, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Sweet Orange, and Tea Tree.

The Next Article: Measurements for Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy During Pregnancy

miranda sterman — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:35:41 +0000

As there is great debate to what is safe and unsafe to use during pregnancy, we don’t recommend the use of oils without first consulting your doctor or a qualified aroma therapist.

The following, however, is a list of oils that have a reputation as being generally safe to use during pregnancy. Use any of these oils during pregnancy at your own risk and under the care of your medical professional:

Benzoin
Bergamot
Grapefruit
Lavender
Lemon
Neroli
Orange
Patchouli
Sandalwood
Spearmint
Tea Tree
Vetiver

The Next Article: Aromatherapy for Children

Aromatherapy for Stress

miranda sterman — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:32:10 +0000

Most people turn to Aromatherapy to alleviate stress. There are many types of stress in our busy lives, there is positive stress, normal stress and distress. Positive stress is that high you get when working hard, it is the energising feeling you get when accomplishing a goal. It is this stress that gets us through a day with enjoyment. It is energising and does not require essential oils to treat. Normal stress is where the body performs its functions for survival in response to a situation. This is also a normal function and again there is no need for oils to treat this type of stress. Then there is distress. Distress is where healthy stress transforms itself into a chronic state. You lose the will to go on, energy levels are low and every day pressure becomes too much. This is where oils can be useful. Briefly, we have included a breakdown of the different types of distress and the oils that can assist in helping you through the hard times.

Environmental Stress

Cedarwood
Geranium
Cypress
Coriander
Basil
Roman Chamomile
Bergamot

Chemical Stress

Lavender
Grapefruit
Rosemary
Patchouli
Lemon
Clay Sage
Geranium

Physical Stress

Rosemary
Geranium
Lavender
Thyme
Marjoram
Roman Chamomile
Fennel

Mental Stress

Bergamot
Cardamom
Geranium
Sandalwood
Patchouli
Basil
Grapefruit

Emotional Stress

Vetiver
Geranium
Sandalwood
Rose
Bergamot
Cardamom

Here is a collection of basic stress/relaxation blends. Add these to 2oz./50 ml. of carrier oil of your choice:

Blend 1

Lavender 10 drops
Rosemary 5 drops
Cypress 15 drops

Blend 2

Lemon 10 drops
Rom. Chamomile 5 drops
Marjoram 15 drops

Blend 3

Pettigraine 17 drops
Neroli 5 drops
Nutmeg 8 drops

These blends are for basic relaxation and mild stress. Consult your aroma therapist for stronger blends and for blends more suitable for your specific problem.

The Next Article: Aromatherapy During Pregnancy

Massage Oil Recipe

miranda sterman — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:29:04 +0000

Here is the standard dilution for therapeutic massage and body oil:

Base Oil Amount            Essential Oil Amount (drops)
1 tsp/5ml                      2-3
1 tbs/15 ml                   6-7
1 oz/25 ml                    12-13
2 oz/50 ml                25
3.5 oz./100 ml              50

Here are a few recipes to get you started:

Stress Blend: 15 drops Clary Sage/10 drops Sweet Orange Oil/5 drops Lavender

Aphrodisiac Blend: 15 drops ylang ylang/5 drops Jasmine

Help In Sleeping Blend: 15 drops Roman Chamomile 5 drops Ylang Ylang.

Sore Muscles Blend: 3 drops Ginger, 2 drops Black Pepper, 5 drops Peppermint, 5 drops Eucalyptus.

Directions: Mix the oils well and store in an airtight, dark glass container. Apply only a small amount (1/2-1 teaspoon) for each massage.

The Next Article: Aromatherapy for Stress

Aromatherapy Massage

miranda sterman — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:28:47 +0000

Massage is one of the most fundamental forms of therapy. It is both physically and emotionally beneficial to the body and a beautiful way to express caring and help relieve the stress of a loved one. The safe addition of an essential oil blend can enhance your massage experience.

Although a qualified masseuse is always the best way to get your massage aromatherapy, it is easy to do at home. It can be both therapeutic and sensual. There is no better way then to sensually communicate with your partner then to have a warm bath seeped with your sensual oil blend followed by a gentle massage with your complimenting massage oil. The best way to discover the art of massage would be to find a book from your bookshop of library and study. There is so much to know! But we all can share in gentle massage between loved ones by following the below guidelines:

Do not ever use hard or painful pressure. Hard pressure can feel good, but gentle movements are the safest and most effective in the long term.
Don’t ever directly massage on bones, and never massage a person with a serious injury such as torn ligaments or broken bones.
Don’t massage the abdominal area of anyone with stomach problems or who is pregnant.
Don’t massage over areas of skin infection, rash, sores, cuts, burns or varicose veins.
Do not ever massage anyone who has had a serious heart attack or any serious medical condition including thrombosis (blood clots) or a recent operation.
Never massage undiluted essential oils, absolutes or CO2s into the skin. Instead, make a diluted blend following the guidelines outlined below.

In short it is best to apply massage on healthy people and be very careful when massaging anyone with special medical or health issues. Those with special medical issues should receive massage from a qualified massage therapist.

A few more tips:

Set the scene with soft music and soft lighting.
Make sure your hands are clean and your nails are short and remove rings.
Wear loose fitting comfortable clothes.
Keep your massage oil warm and in a bowl.
It is best for your massage to be unclothed down to their underwear with a towel for modesty!
Try to keep your massage gentle until you learn more advanced massage form.
Enjoy the aroma and go with the flow.

The Next Article: Massage Oil Recipe

Aromatherapy Baths

miranda sterman — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:01:06 +0000

Bathing in essential oils is a wonderfully way to take in you essential oil blend. Relaxing in a bath of hot water compliments the effects of well-chosen essential oils. Aromatic baths provide relief from stress and anxiety, assist with muscle pains, or offer a sensual introduction to a romantic evening with your partner.

Adding Oils to the Bath

Using essential oils in the bath is one of the easiest ways to implement aromatherapy and its benefits. There are two methods of adding your oils to the bath. You can add 5-10 drops essential oil to 1-ounce carrier oil or just add your oils directly under the running bath water and mix well before getting into the tub. Be sure to read the safety data for the essential oils you choose to use.

The Next Article: Aromatherapy Massage

Therapeutic Substitutions

miranda sterman — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:15:57 +0000

For therapeutic substitutions, the rules are quite different from those of aromatic substitutions. The aroma of the substituted oil can be quite different than the original oil as long as the aroma is still pleasing to work with.

Be sure to pay close attention to the desired therapeutic action of the original oil and substitute it for an oil that has the same action but that does not introduce any new contraindications or safety hazards.

The Next Article: Aromatherapy Baths

Aromatic Substitutions

miranda sterman — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:12:55 +0000

When substituting an essential oil in a recipe where your goal is strictly for its scent and not for a therapeutic emotional or physical purpose, select an oil from the same family of oils (i.e. citrus, floral, spicy, earthy, etc.) as the oil you are substituting for. An example of this would be substituting the essential oil of mandarin for the essential oil of sweet orange providing a similar aroma. If you need to substitute for rose otto, rose geranium is not perfect, but it can give a suitable result at a substantial price reduction.

Here is a sample list of substitutive essential oils:

Lemon / Lime
Tangerine / Sweet Orange
Neroli / Ylang Ylang
Peppermint / Spearmint
Cinnamon / Clove

The Next Article: Therapeutic Substitutions