How to Use Essential Oils When it comes to how to use essential oils, people often have a limited view – they think mainly in terms of the appealing fragrance that an essential oil can provide. But when we are talking about therapeutic grade oils, there are many more applications for essential oils than just providing a pleasing aroma. You can see a great sample of these applications by visiting my Essential Oil Use Chart. There are three main ways to address the question of how to use essential oils. . . Inhalation Topical application Oral Ingestion Getting familiar with these will go a long way in helping you learn how to use essential oils. Inhalation Inhalation is emphasized by the German school of aromatherapy and is one of the best ways to get acquainted with essential oils. When inhaling, essential oil molecules bring their benefits by directly entering the blood stream through the lungs and affecting the brain through the olfactory nerves in the nasal cavity. Whenever you are first exposed to a new essential, its good to introduce yourself to it by holding the bottle at the level of your naval and gently move the bottle in a circular motion, allowing the molecules to make their way to your nose. Once you get familiar with the oil, you can then inhale it more directly. Do this by placing a couple of drops in the palm of your left hand and rub clockwise with the palm of your right hand. Cup both hands together over the nose and mouth and inhale deeply – without touching your eyes. There are other ways to inhale essential oils as well. You can put a few drops in some hot water (not boiling) and inhale the steam with a towel over your head. (This is a great way to address a cold or cough.) You can also apply a couple of drops to areas of your body – like the chest, neck, wrists, ears or under the nose - and breathe in the aroma during the day. A very effective way to inhale essential oils throughout the day in your home or office is with an essential oil diffuser. I love my diffuser, and use it every day for a variety of reasons. Topical Application The English school of aromatherapy emphasizes the topical application of essential oils. With this approach, the essential oil may be diluted in a carrier oil (like vegetable oil) and applied to the skin. The best place to start applying therapeutic oils topically is on the bottom of the feet. Just place three or four drops on each foot and massage them in. In this way, your body can become acclimated to the oil. Oil can also be rubbed into other place of the body, too, like the back, shoulders, knees, and stomach. And you can use more than one oil in the same place. For example, for motion sickness, I rub ginger on my stomach and then layer it with peppermint to help drive the ginger in where its needed. I should mention, too, that essential oils can be used with a warm compress or cold pack, according to the need. And you probably already thought of it, but the effectiveness of a massage is greatly enhanced with essential oils. The Raindrop Technique in particular has helped me – and many others – overcome some stubborn health problems. Oral Ingestion French aromatherapists emphasize taking essential oils orally (along with the other ways mentioned). Oral ingestion would include holding essential oils in the mouth, swallowing them, and taking them in a capsule. An easy way to ingest essential oils is to add a drop to your food or drink. It doesnt take much of an essential oil because they are highly concentrated. So, just a few drops over a course of 4-8 hours is normally all you need. And, as a general rule, oils taken orally are to be diluted with a vegetable oil or blue agave. Of course, with any form of oral application, its important to know that your essential oils meet the necessary requirements for internal use. Other Uses In addition to the uses mentioned above, there are some other applications of essential oils I put into action regularly. A few of these are: as a stain remover, room freshener, insect repellent, household cleaner, bath salt, and cooking ingredient. How to use essential oils may seem difficult for some at first. But once you get started and acclimated to them, youll discover all kinds of uses for your own situation. Remember that all of the applications described above assume the use of therapeutic grade essential. And, as you begin to use oils for yourself, become familiar with basic safety guidelines. Learning how to use essential oils is not hard! You can learn to use them safely for the benefit of your household.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 12:09:27 +0000
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