Welcome to the first post in my new series The A – Z of Aromatherapy. In this series I will be looking at essential oils and what they can be used for as well as the ailments or conditions they can treat. There are many uses for essential oil, you can use it in a vaporiser, mix with a carrier oil to be rubbed onto the skin such as a massage or using a rollerball onto the pressure points. You can put some drops into a bath or use them on a compress depending on the ailment you are looking to treat.
Please note: Always ensure you follow any instructions regarding essential oils or treatments. Never ingest oils or use them internally. Proceed with caution, particularly if you are pregnant, seek advice before using any essential oil or treatment as some are not to be used during pregnancy. Never use essential oils neat on your skin as this can cause irritation. If any irritation occurs whilst using the oils, even with a carrier oil, then rinse the affected area and discontinue use.
Let’s get started!
A (part 1)
Anxiety – This is the body’s natural response to a perceived threat. So it is great when you are being chased by a tiger, but not so great, when you are in an everyday situation with no threat in sight. So what essential oils can help with Anxiety. Bergamot oil is uplifting and is great for helping ease it. When at home, put a few drops in an oil burner or vaporiser and inhale the beautiful fresh citrus aroma. A relaxing massage with bergamot and lavender will help to ease anxious feeling as the gentle pressure of the massage along with the fragrance from the essential oils will lift your spirits as well as relax you.
Antidepressant – There are many oils which have antidepressant properties, and it can depend on the aroma as to which you prefer to use. Lavender, Bergamot, Geranium, Mandarin, Grapefruit and Orange essential oils to name but a few can help to lift your mood. I would suggest using these oils in vaporisers or oil burner or as a room fragrance. Or have a relaxing massage and ask to incorporate some of these oils to help aide you.
Anger – We all get angry from time to time. So can essential oils help in this situation? Yes it can. Ylang Ylang essential oil can help to slow down your breathing and reduce your blood pressure. In this instance, using it as a room fragrance spray can give you a moment to breathe deep and help to calm you. Put a drop on a tissue and inhale if you prefer. But proceed with caution as it can cause nausea if used a lot. If you are angry more often than not, then perhaps you should look to speaking to your doctor or a therapist to help you deal with your feelings in a healthy way.
Acne – This is caused by the sebaceous glands being over active. There are a number of ways to treat acne with aromatherapy. Both lavender and tea tree essential oils are antibacterial and are great for treating acne. Whether you are a teenager or an adult, it can help. Tea tree oil is great, particularly with men, who perhaps find the floral fragrance of lavender too much. Tea tree is antiseptic so helps to prevent bacterial infections as well as being antifungal. You can mix 2 drops of essential oil to 5ml of carrier oil and use this on your face, gently massage a small amount in. I would suggest either grapeseed oil as it’s less greasy and/or jojoba for the carrier oil. Jojoba helps to relieve inflammation so is great to use on acne prone skin. Do the facial massage a few times a week. For a face wash, fill a sink with water and add a few drops of Tea tree oil. Then lay a wash cloth on the top so it absorbs the oil from the surface. squeeze the excess water from the cloth and gently wash and dab the face.
Alcohol – Essential oils can be dissolved in alcohol. Why might you do this? For example, if you want to add essential oils to your bath, mix it with a little of the highest proof vodka you have and then swirl it into your bath. This will help to prevent the essential oil from sitting on top of the water, which could cause burns on your skin when you enter the bath.
This is part 1 of the letter A, join me next month for part 2.
I hope you have found this helpful and interesting.
Remember 10th October is World Mental Health day so make sure you do something great for your own mental health as well as be there to support the mental health of others.
Thank you for reading. Have a great week and look after you.
Love Emma xx
Wellbeing with Relaxing Lavender 