So many people are interested in aromatherapy, but are just unsure where to start. What oils should they get? How should they use them? Here’s a look at the five most popular oils in aromatherapy, and ways you can use them. This will help you incorporate essential oils into an overall natural health lifestyle for you and your family. The idea here is to be using essential oils in a way beyond their aromas — to really begin to tap into their true medicinal values.
Oil number one — and this won’t come as a shock to anyone even remotely familiar with aromatherapy — is lavender. Lavender serves so many roles, that even if you don’t care for its aroma (some aren’t fans of the floral scents) its still worthwhile to have around. The aroma itself is by far the most researched aspect of aroma-medicine, with several scientific reports noting its calming action being as potent as common pharmaceutical drugs. It has many skin care applications as well, from treating burns and wounds, to being an important ingredient in almost any “beauty” care formula.
Probably the single most common use of lavender is for getting a better night’s sleep. One can simply sprinkle a drop or two on the bedspread (a hint of the aroma works best), or invest in a diffuser. One can also massage the feet with a couple drops before bed — this works great for kids. For small kitchen burns, just apply a little essential oil directly. For larger wounds, blend equally with tea tree to create a soothing, potently-antiseptic blend.
Also very popular is tea tree oil. People have been using it as a natural antiseptic for years without knowing they’re using aromatherapy. Tea tree takes the place of every over-the-counter antiseptic. It can be used directly if you find your skin not to sensitive, or put on the bandage if need be. The antiseptic blend of equal parts with lavender is the choice for younger ones. One can dilute it in hazelnut or grapeseed oils for acne (yes, these oils are called for in the therapeutic recipes) at the ratio of 40 to 80 drops of tea tree for every ounce of carrier oil. This same formula can be used for really any kind of skin infection you might encounter. And with its newly discovered antiviral activity, you might even consider deeply inhaling its aroma when those around you are catching colds.
Lemon essential oil is the great cleanser — both of our bodies and around the house. Lemon essential oil can be taken internally to promote cleansing of the liver and gall bladder — 3 to 5 drops in a small cup of water taken on an empty stomach is recommended by some natural medicine professionals. It will also have a purifying action for the water (killing certain waterborne microbes), and adds a little lemony flavor. Lemon essential oil is found in many natural home cleaning recipes. For an all-purpose cleaner, mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 4 cups of water and 4 drops of lemon oil. You can vary these ratios to suit your needs, and even add a little plain castile soap or baking soda for extra cleaning power. The aroma of lemon itself is a great pick-me-up, too.
The essential oil distilled from peppermint is aromatherapy’s number one “stimulant”. Its well known to clarify the mind and bring focus just by inhaling the aroma. Its very potent, so be cautious when first using it, and keep any bottle away from the tip of your nose (it can irritate the membranes very easily). A drop on the tongue is also a great way to enjoy this effect — and both ways seem to bring more oxygen to the brain. Peppermint’s number one medicinal use is for treating all sorts of indigestion, as it stimulates digestive activity. There are many ways to employ this action: ingest a drop or two in a cup of warm water, massage a drop in a teaspoon of carrier into the abdomen, or take a couple drops in an empty cellulose capsule. The inhalation of the oil can help with nausea, as well as headaches for many people. For younger children, because of peppermint’s “spicy-ness”, spearmint should be used instead.
The fifth most popular oil is Eucalyptus. It comes in several varieties: Blue Gum is most common, and can be used in many ways. Like a cleaning agent similar to lemon, add it to your homemade cleaning recipes or sprinkle in your laundry. Like peppermint, you can put a couple drops in the palms of your hands, rub them together and inhale for a bit of clarity — in the mind and in the sinuses. The narrow-leaf type, also found as eucalyptus “radiata” has antiviral action, and is great to use in the cold and flu season. Use it in a diffuser or inhale from a bowl of steaming water. The primary constituent of all eucalyptus varieties is “eucalyptol”, known mostly for its support of many breathing conditions and gentle antimicrobial actions.
This little review might be enough to launch your practice of medicinal aromatherapy — just by having a few of these oils on hand, you’ll learn to start using them, and prompt your interest further on the subject. The more you learn, the more you’ll find the therapeutic uses of essential oils are amazing — they can prevent catching viral illnesses, significantly reduce pain and speed healing, and even have anticancer activity. Wherever you start, good luck and enjoy the ride!
More information on essential oil news and research is available through Ananda Aromatherapy – an online source for therapeutic grade essential oils.