Think of how certain scents can evoke specific memories. The smell of vanilla or cinnamon may remind you of your granny's kitchen while the green scent of freshly mowed grass may remind you of summer. Smell is one of the most powerful senses and if you know how to use essential oils at home, you'll find that it may even help improve your health.
Aromatherapy is based on the idea that certain smells can have certain effects on the body. The right smell can help you relax, lift your spirits and energy levels, fight infections or reduce pain. It's not a substitute for proper medical treatment when you're suffering from serious ailments but it can help reduce those everyday aches and pains.
The main tool used in aromatherapy is different essential oils. They contain the basic fragrance of a plant in a highly concentrated form. There are different ways to produce these oils. Most often, the flowers, roots or leaves of a certain plant are heated up and then distilled to get the concentrated fragrance. Some plants, however, contain quite a bit of oil and you simply have to squeeze it out. Citrus fruits are an example.
Another important tool to have is an aromatherapy burner. It has a container in which you place a few drops of oil and a candle underneath to heat up the oil. This causes vapors to be released. If you're looking for something to help you focus, look no further than a few drops of grapefruit or basil oil in your aromatherapy burner.
It's perfectly possible to use the aromatherapy oil on your skin as well. Tea tree oil, for instance, is great for treating infections. However, most oils should be diluted first, so add them to a carrier oil. Almond oil and grapeseed oil work particularly well but you can even use a fragrance-free skin cream. If you have sore and stiff muscles, massage them with a mixture containing clary sage, pine or lavender oil.
Another way to use essential oil is by adding a few drops to a steam inhaler. You can buy a special inhaler but it's just as easy to pour boiling water in a bowl, lean over the bowl and place a towel over your head to form a kind of tent that will capture the steam. When you have a cold, a mixture of eucalyptus and peppermint for opening up the nasal passages and a bit of lavender to help you relax and relieve pain is a winner.
If you like making your own cosmetics, try experimenting with aromatherapy oils too. Add a few drops of your favorite to a facial mask or a hair conditioner. It's also incredibly easy to make your own signature fragrance by mixing the combination of oils you like best with a base of alcohol, such as vodka or rubbing alcohol. Let this mixture develop for a week or two and shake it daily to spread the fragrance throughout the bottle.
The most common essential oils are lavender oil and tea tree oil. These you'll probably find at a normal chain store. For more variety, check the health-food store or the drugstore. You'll also be able to buy most varieties of aromatherapy oil online.
Aromatherapy is based on the idea that certain smells can have certain effects on the body. The right smell can help you relax, lift your spirits and energy levels, fight infections or reduce pain. It's not a substitute for proper medical treatment when you're suffering from serious ailments but it can help reduce those everyday aches and pains.
The main tool used in aromatherapy is different essential oils. They contain the basic fragrance of a plant in a highly concentrated form. There are different ways to produce these oils. Most often, the flowers, roots or leaves of a certain plant are heated up and then distilled to get the concentrated fragrance. Some plants, however, contain quite a bit of oil and you simply have to squeeze it out. Citrus fruits are an example.
Another important tool to have is an aromatherapy burner. It has a container in which you place a few drops of oil and a candle underneath to heat up the oil. This causes vapors to be released. If you're looking for something to help you focus, look no further than a few drops of grapefruit or basil oil in your aromatherapy burner.
It's perfectly possible to use the aromatherapy oil on your skin as well. Tea tree oil, for instance, is great for treating infections. However, most oils should be diluted first, so add them to a carrier oil. Almond oil and grapeseed oil work particularly well but you can even use a fragrance-free skin cream. If you have sore and stiff muscles, massage them with a mixture containing clary sage, pine or lavender oil.
Another way to use essential oil is by adding a few drops to a steam inhaler. You can buy a special inhaler but it's just as easy to pour boiling water in a bowl, lean over the bowl and place a towel over your head to form a kind of tent that will capture the steam. When you have a cold, a mixture of eucalyptus and peppermint for opening up the nasal passages and a bit of lavender to help you relax and relieve pain is a winner.
If you like making your own cosmetics, try experimenting with aromatherapy oils too. Add a few drops of your favorite to a facial mask or a hair conditioner. It's also incredibly easy to make your own signature fragrance by mixing the combination of oils you like best with a base of alcohol, such as vodka or rubbing alcohol. Let this mixture develop for a week or two and shake it daily to spread the fragrance throughout the bottle.
The most common essential oils are lavender oil and tea tree oil. These you'll probably find at a normal chain store. For more variety, check the health-food store or the drugstore. You'll also be able to buy most varieties of aromatherapy oil online.
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