Essential oils can be used in two ways: through the skin pores or through the respiratory tract. Through the skin, essential oils penetrate the body through massage, baths, compresses, and through the respiratory tract through inhalation and evaporation.
Inhalations.
Cold inhalation is one of the simplest methods of using essential oils. It is necessary to put a couple of droplets of essential oil on a piece of tissue (handkerchief) and inhale the fragrance for 5-10 minutes. This method is very good for headaches and colds. In order to sleep well, put a piece of cloth on the pillow at night, having shaken on it 2-3 drops of oil with a relaxing or soothing effect.
Steam inhalations are particularly suitable for the treatment of respiratory diseases. For steam inhalation, add 4-6 drops of oil in a bowl with hot (but by no means boiling) water, then cover the head and dishes with a towel, close your eyes and inhale deeply for 5-10 minutes. This method usually uses oils of angelica, eucalyptus, tea tree, myrtle, sage, pine, lemon, juniper, thyme, chamomile, cedar.
In order to cure a cold, mix a few drops of pine, eucalyptus and lemon oil. If you want to use the above method as a steam bath for the face, then tea tree oil or lemon helps to cleanse the skin and open the pores.
Steam inhalations can be taken in the sauna. To do this, you need to spray the walls of the steam room or coals with a solution of pine or eucalyptus. But remember, steam methods of using oils are contraindicated to asthmatics.
Aromatization of air in the room.
To saturate the room with fragrance, you can use the evaporation method. In addition to providing a therapeutic effect, it is also a great way to clean the air in the room and repel insects. One of the most common means of air aromatization in the apartment are aroma lamps . Most often they are made of glass, ceramics or marble. In the aromalamp, a mixture of water and various oils (about 10 drops, their amount depends on the size of the room) is heated in the evaporator tank, and the oils at this time slowly spread in the air. The Aromalamp must be used with the door closed and the windows for 1-3 hours.
A device for spraying essential oil in air is called a diffuser . This is one of the most effective ways of using oils. The diffuser converts the oil into microparticles, which will be stored for a long time in air in a suspended state. Microparticles can best penetrate into the lungs and therefore have a therapeutic effect. The spraying time is from 15 to 30 minutes.
Aromatize the air in the apartment and can be sprayed . To do this, in a tablespoon of vodka or pure alcohol, dissolve about 10 droplets of oil, shake well, pour the mixture into a spray and spray around the room.
You can also add a few drops of your favorite oils in the humidifier or in a small container of water and put it on the battery.
To flavor the air in the apartment, you can also use special scented candles . These candles are sold, but you can do them yourself. To do this, light a candle, wait about 5 minutes, and then turn off. On the melted wax, apply 1 drop of essential oil, then light the candle again. The smell will not last long, and the therapeutic effect can be significantly reduced, because due to the high temperature, some elements of the oil can be destroyed. Essential oils are flammable, so be extremely careful.
Massage.
The penetration of essential oil through the skin into the circulatory system is helped by massage. Essential oils for massage are mixed with a base, for example, jojoba, almond, coconut oil. So are sunflower, corn, peanut butter. In 10 drops of base oils, 3-5 drops of essential oils should be added. If you buy ready-made mixtures of oils that are designed for bathing, massage or air scent, then they do not need to be diluted. Improve the circulation of blood and relax the muscles essential oils of lemon, rosemary, cinnamon, lavender, birch, juniper, pine. Relaxing effect has oils of bergamot, roses, chamomile, lavender, mimosa, geranium, balm, cedar, neroli, orange, sandalwood and mandarin. For sensual massage, roses, jasmine, cinnamon, ylang-ylang, iris and sandalwood oils are suitable.
The way of making oils for the skin is exactly the same as for the massage. They can be used daily to nourish the skin. The content of essential oil in a mixture with the base oil for the face should be 1%, for the body - 3%. For mature and dry skin, neroli oils, roses are suitable; for a fatty skin type - bergamot.
Baths.
Bath is the most pleasant and simple way of using essential oil. In a full bath, drip 7 drops of essential oil, before diluting it in a glass of cream or milk or in a teaspoon of base oil, or in a foam for a bath; so that steam does not escape, close the door, and take a bath for about 15 minutes. To improve the mood, you can use sandalwood oil or ylang-ylang. To calm down and sleep well, use chamomile or lavender oils. The stimulating effect will have oils of rosemary, pine or neroli.
From the fatigue of the feet are very useful baths with essential oils of rosemary, peppermint, lavender (4-5 drops per water basin).
Compress of oils is very effective in reducing inflammation and pain relief. With back pain, arthritis and rheumatism, hot compresses are useful, with stretched ligaments and inflammations - a cold compress. To make hot compresses, 4-5 drops of oil should be dripped into a cup of hot water. Moisten a piece of cloth, wring out excess moisture and apply to sore spots, until the compress has cooled. Then repeat the procedure. To prepare a cold compress, instead of hot water you need to apply a cold one.