"Aromatherapy"
What is Aromatherapy:
Today, aromatherapy is widely practiced in North America and Europe. It is often integrated into holistic treatments, and is used in spa treatments and products such as candles, massage oil, and other relaxation products.
The essential oils used in aromatherapy are plant volatile oils from the flowers, leaves, stems, buds, branches, or roots that have been extracted using steam distillation, water and stem distillation or cold-pressing.
How Aromatherapy Works
Essential oils can affect almost every organ system in the body. Each essential oil has a unique pharmacological effect, such as anti-bacterial, antiviral, diuretic, vasodilator, tranquilizing, and adrenal stimulating.When an essential oil is inhaled, the molecules enter the nasal cavity and stimulate the limbic system in the brain. The libic system is a region that influences emotions and memories and is directly linked to the adrenals, pituitary gland, the hypothalamus, the parts of the body that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, stress, memory, hormone balance, and breathing. This makes the effects of essential oils immediate in bringing about emotional and physiological balance.
Essential oils can be toxic when taken internally so they should only be taken orally under the guidance of a qualified professional.
Conditions Treated by Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can be used for a variety of health conditions, such as allergies, stress, bruises, burns, diarrhea, earache, prementrual syndrome (PMS), energy, insect bites, relaxation, poor digestion, headache, menopause, insomnia, nausea, bronchitis, colds, flu, sinusitis, sprains, wounds, shingles (herpes zoster), muscle and joint pain, arthritis, nervousenss, restlessness, and scars.Home Remedies Using Aromatherapy
Essential oils can be used at home by inhalation or topical application. Steam inhalation is often used for respiratory conditions. Steam inhalation involves adding 2-3 drops of essential oil of eucalyptus, roosemary, tea tree, or other oil to hot water and holding the face over the pot with a towel draped to form a tent.A few drops of essential oils can also be added to baths, compresses, or massage oils.
Using Essential Oils for Headaches
The types of headaches are listed below, along with the oils that are most helpful. These oils can be used either aromatically in a diffuser, inhaled directly from the bottle, or applied directly on the skin (dilute if called for). More information on how to use the oils is given at the end of the post.General Headaches
The best general-purpose essential oils to have on hand for headaches are Peppermint and Rosemary followed by Basil, Clove, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lavender, Marjoram, and Patchouli. Often one drop of Peppermint over the spot that aches is enough.Migraine
Migraine’s are most often produced by stress, lack of sleep, and/or dehydration, and can be combined with nausea and sensitivity to light. To treat migraine headaches you will find the following to be most helpful: Peppermint and Basil followed by Wintergreen and Ylang Ylang.Tension
The most common type, tension headaches are caused by stress and feel like a dull pain on both sides of the head. Peppermint works best.Make Your Own Essential Oil Blends
Under emotional stress? Prevent a headache by blending together 4 drops Sweet Marjoram, 4 drops Linaloe Wood, and 2 drops Neroli with 4 tsp carrier oil and massage into skin.For prevention of a headache due to menstrual pain combine 4 drops Sweet Marjoram, 2 drops Valerian, and 4 drops Lavender with 4 tsp carrier oil and massage into skin.
For general headaches, combine 3 drops Lavender and 1 drop Peppermint. From this mixture take one drop and combine with one drop carrier oil, and massage over the area of your head that aches.
Applying the Blends
Headaches are best relieved with topical application. Essential oils are best used combined with a carrier oil, such as sweet almond, and massaged on the surface of the skin.Headaches are most effectively dealt with by applying a single drop of Peppermint to the temples or area of your head that aches. However, blends diluted in a carrier oil can also be effective when massaged over larger areas of your head.
A good rule of thumb for frequent/daily massaging is a 1% solution. For occasional deep muscle aches, use 3% (and up to 5%).
1% solution would be adding 1 drop of EO to one teaspoon of oil; 2% solution would be adding 2 drops of EO to one teaspoon of oil, etc. To make a 1 ounce bottle use 5-6 drops for 1% solution; 10-12 for 2% and 15-18 for 3%.
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