Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Aromatherapy 101

Our sense of smell holds a lot of power.  It can entice us, seduce us, arouse our hunger and evoke memories from our past.  But it can also help to heal, calm and de-stress us.  Here are some practical ways to use aromatherapy in your life.

Calming Spray:  Add 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil and 10 drops of Tangerine or Lemon Balm Essential Oil to a 4 oz. spray bottle.  Shake and mist around the house, car or office and to effect a calming mood.

Car Sickness:  If your child often experiences car sicknesses, try adding a few drops of Ginger Essential oil or Peppermint Essential oil to a tissue and have your child inhale the scent frequently throughout the trip.

Colds: Add a few drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil to a vaporizer to reduce stuffiness.

Cuts and Scrapes: Mix 50 drops of Lavender Essential Oil with 50 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil.  This can be stored in a small bottle for up to two years.  To sooth a cut or scrape, add 10 drops of the mixture to a 1/2 cup of water and use it to wash off the scrape.  Then add 1 drop to the bandage.

Diaper Rash Cream:  Add 1 drop of Lavender Essential Oil and 1 drop of Tea Tree Essential oil to to teaspoons of Almond Oil.

Earache: Add 3 drops of Thyme Linolol and 3 drops of Lavender Essential Oil to a warm washcloth and hold over the child's ear.

Headache Relief: Add a few drop of peppermint essential oils to a carrier oil such as Jojoba and rub into temples.

Holiday Spray:  To get in the mood for the holidays, try making this lovely concoction that will have you dreaming of sugar plums in no time.  Take a 4-ounce bottle and fill with distilled water.  Add 4 drops of pine essential oil, 2 drops of cinnamon essential oil and 1 drop of mandarin essential oil to the spray bottle.  Shake vigorously and spray.

Sponge Cleaner:  Sponges are teeming with germs.  Get into the habit of microwaving yours for 1 minute every few days.  When it's cooled, add 2 - 3 drops of orange or lemon essential oil.  The oil not only smells great, but its antibacterial properties will keep your sponge (relatively) germ free

Trash Can Fix: To keep your garbage can smelling as nice as possible, mix 2 cups of baking soda and a teaspoon of Lavender Essential Oil.  Store in a shaker container and sprinkle on the bottom of your trash can every time you change the trash bag.


TIPS FOR USING ESSENTIAL OILS:

1) Buy only pure essential oils
2) Store in their original bottles
3) Never apply directly to skin.  Essential Oils must be blended with a carrier oil first.
4) Essential Oils are for external use only.

No comments:

Post a Comment