I have worked with Essential oils for over 25 years and the blessings that Mother Nature has provided us with never cease to amaze me.
Essential oils are the powerful and complex substances found within Plants. They may be derived from scrubs, trees, roots, bushes, seeds and flowers. They are the essence or ‘life force’ of the plant and have many wonderful and amazing therapeutic benefits. When applied to the skin, they absorb via the tiny capillaries into the circulatory system. Through this, they are transported around the body to the area where their benefits are needed. They are adaptogenic substances and uniquely adapt to what the body is needing.
There are many ways in which essential oils may be used to have therapeutic effects on the mind, body and soul. When deciding upon a blend of essential oils it is not only important that the particular condition is addressed but also consider that they underlying cause is addressed too. For example, if a person had cellulite, the blend would not only consist of essential oils for cellulite but would also consist of oils of poor circulation. If a person had headaches and the cause was stress then both of these issues would need to be addressed.
Probably one of the most beneficial ways to use essential oils is within an Aromatherapy treatment where by the whole body is treated holistically. This occurs through the combination of the essential oils which are carefully selected to suit the clients personal needs and medical background and an Aromatherapy massage technique. An Aromatherapy massage combines the use of Swedish massage and Shiatsu and Neuromuscular techniques; collectively these techniques help to restore balance within the body.
Essential oils can also be applied locally to an area to help to alleviate a specific problem. The oils are blended with a vegetable based carrier oil and are then applied to the specific area using light massage techniques. This is particularly good for problems such as muscular tension, cellulite, headaches, joint problems and menstrual pain.
Skin conditions benefit greatly from the use of Essential oils and the key to remember when treating a skin condition is that they respond more positively to a lesser amount of essential oil. Again, skin care oils are blended with a vegetable based carrier oil; it is particularly important to also select the carrier oil carefully so that it complements the current skin condition. If the skin is sensitive then the concentration of the blend needs to be much weaker. Oils can be blended for conditions such as acne, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.
Essential oils may be added to the bath. They can be dropped neat into the bath water using approximately 3 drops. This is a good way to achieve a state of relaxation as the oils are not only absorbed through the skin but they also benefit the person through inhalation. The bath is also a fantastic way to alleviate problems such as cystitis.
When an instant reaction is needed the essential oils can be used neat on the skin. Oils such a lavender can be used directly by applying a few drops of the essential oil neat onto a condition such as a burn, bite or sting. For larger areas, a compress may be used to distribute the effect of the oils. Due to the potency of essential oils only some of the oils may be used in this way and care needs to be taken with oils that can cause adverse responses.
Inhalation is an excellent way to affect the body. The oils can either be inhaled directly from the bottle or they can be diffused into the atmosphere using an oil diffuser. They can also be inhaled over a bowl of hot water with the addition of a few drops of your chosen oil, this is excellent for colds and sinus congestion.
Essential oils have many many wonderful effects but care does need to be taken whilst using them. There are some oils that should not be used during pregnancy or if you have high or low blood pressure. There are also oils that need to be used with caution during times when a person is exposed to sunlight and for those who have sensitive skins. Please always check the contra-actions of each oil before use.
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