Forget what you thought you knew about aromatherapy: it goes way beyond making shampoo smell nice or adding a certain frisson to a massage. Essential oils are therapeutic movers and shakers. When you inhale an oil, powerful plant extracts enter the nasal passage, sending signals to the areas of […]
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Forget what you thought you knew about aromatherapy: it goes way beyond making shampoo smell nice or adding a certain frisson to a massage.
Essential oils are therapeutic movers and shakers. When you inhale an oil, powerful plant extracts enter the nasal passage, sending signals to the areas of the brain that deal with emotions and memories, and to the grey matter that controls heart rate, breathing and hormone balance.
A well-chosen blend of oils can make significant changes to both your emotional and physical wellbeing. Recent studies have revealed they may help improve mood, soothe headaches, ease menopausal symptoms and even reduce pain. First, however, you need to understand how to use them…
How to choose the right essential oil for you
With dozens of essential oils to choose from, where do you start?
“To get the best out of aromatherapy, make yourself an expert on a few essential oils, include them in your everyday life, then build on that,” says aromatherapist Glenda Taylor, creator of Angelico serums. Check out her recommendations below:
Recent studies have shown that this wonder oil increases alpha brainwave activity, which is associated with cognitive performance, calmness and mental coordination. Easily blended with other oils, it can promote restful sleep, reduce anxiety and help skin heal.
This is good for balancing the emotions, as it’s calming and uplifting. Menopause-friendly, it is said to help with hot flushes.
You’ll either love or loathe this scent. Whichever, it’s good for cuts, scrapes, tired feet, skin breakouts and colds.
This is earthy and said to be an aphrodisiac. Add it to a massage oil to help PMS and menopause symptoms. It may induce labour, so is not suitable for use in pregnancy until after 37 weeks.
How to use essential oils on your skin with base oils
Apart from lavender and tea tree, which can be used directly on skin, most essential oils need to be diluted into a base or carrier oil to create safe levels without knocking out their benefits.
Choose your carrier oil according to your needs. Peach kernel, for example, is lightweight and hydrates sensitive skin without blocking pores, while borage features a fatty acid that helps to increase skin elasticity and is good for mature skin. The anti-inflammatory properties of calendula make it soothing for rashes and skin healing, while jojoba nourishes dry skin and hair.
How to use essential oils on your face: Add three drops of essential oil to 10ml of base oil. If you are using more than one oil, they should still all add up to three drops.
How to use essential oils on your body: Add five drops of essential oil to 10ml of base oil. If you are using two or three oils, again make sure they add up to a total of five drops (for example, 1 + 2 + 2).
How to use essential oils in a diffuser: Use six drops of neat essential oil and top up when it has evaporated. Diffusers vary and some need water, so do check the instructions.
How to use essential oils in a spritz: Dilute 20 drops of essential oil in 1 tbsp vodka, then mix with 100ml water in a spray bottle and give it a good shake.
How to use essential oils in a bath: For a moisturising soak, put 10 drops of essential oil into 10ml of base oil, before adding it to your bath. Not into oily baths? Mix 10 drops of essential oil into two big handfuls of salts (such as Epsom or sea salt), then add to a warm bath.
How to use essential oils to retrain your sense of smell after covid
Lost your sense of smell? A loss of smell, also known as anosmia, is a common symptom of Covid 19 and for around 10% of sufferers, the distressing problem persists for many months. Aromatherapy, however, could offer an answer. Some doctors now recommend ‘retraining’ the olfactory senses by sniffing specific essential oils. The theory is that strong scent stimulates the damaged nerves in the nose and encourages healing. The charities AbScent and Fifth Sense offer support for anyone with anosmia, along with smell-retraining kits, and information about how to blend your own oils.
7 essential oil recipes for anxiety, headaches, sleep and energy
Help support body and mind with Glenda Taylor’s therapeutic blends…
Ease anxiety
15 drops frankincense essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
1 tbsp vodka
90ml water
100ml spray bottle
Pour the essential oils into the vodka, then add this to the water. Shake well and spray this grounding spritz around the room.
Relieve a tension headache
10ml jojoba oil
2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
3 drops peppermint essential oil
Small 10ml glass bottle
Pour all the ingredients into the glass bottle. Shake before use and massage into temples while slowly breathing in the aroma. Use a little at a time – it’s strong stuff!
Soothe aching muscles
20ml peach kernel oil
10ml jojoba oil
5 drops black pepper essential oil
5 drops tea tree essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil
30ml glass bottle
Blend all the ingredients into the bottle and shake before use. This warming muscle rub can be massaged into skin after exercise or added to the bath.
Calm a fretful mind
When you feel super-tense and stressed, only a bath will do the trick.
Two large handfuls of unscented
Epsom salts or flakes
Small bowl
6 drops yarrow essential oil
4 drops mandarin essential oil
Pour the salts into a bowl and add the essential oils, stirring it all together. Swirl into a warm bath, lie back and inhale the aroma to ease tension and stress.
Reboot your energy
10 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops grapefruit essential oil
Put the 20 drops of essential oil onto a flannel and place on the shower floor before entering. The steamy aroma of the essential oils will fill the air and banish morning sluggishness. The flannel should prevent the floor from becoming slippery but take care when walking in and out of the shower.
Induce sleep
3 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops yarrow essential oil
A diffuser or bowl
Add these soothing and relaxing essential oils to the diffuser as per the instructions 20-30 minutes before bedtime and dim the lights. Always switch off diffusers before you get into bed. No diffuser? Fill a bowl with warm water, add the essential oils and place close to your bed.
Balance hormonal moods
15ml jojoba oil
15ml borage oil
5 drops clary sage essential oil
5 drops rose geranium essential oil
5 drops frankincense essential oil
30ml glass bottle
Pour all the ingredients into the bottle and apply regularly to pulse points, such as the wrists, neck, under arms, tops of legs and backs of knees at the first signs of pre-menstrual or menopausal hormone mood swings. Only a little is needed at a time.
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