Have you been wanting to explore the exciting world of Aromatherapy?
Here is a short introduction into Aromatherapy and some tips on how to use an essential oil for easing your stress and headaches as well as allowing you to sleep more restfully.
Before we delve into the tips let’s take a moment to understand what Aromatherapy is and how it works.
Aromatherapy uses Essential Oils for the treatment or prevention of a wide range of physical and emotional conditions.
Essential Oils are actually not really oils but highly concentrated, volatile substances extracted from a plant source, which can be a flower, stem, leaf, root, bark or resin.
The tiny aromatic molecules of essential oils allow easy absorption via the skin and lungs and therefore provide an extremely fast stress release. Once absorbed into our bodies they interact with our own chemistry delivering their beneficial healing powers.
There is a diversity with which essential oils can be used and incorporated into your daily routine, without requiring complicated adjustments in your lifestyle. It is however very important to always check for contraindications, to properly dilute the oils, use only 100% pure and good quality essential oils and to store them in a cool and dry place. If you are new to Aromatherapy is it always a good idea to consult a professional Aromatherapist first.
Some ways to use Aromatherapy are:
– Vaporization
– Inhalations
– Compresses
– Skin and Beauty Products (cremes, gels, shampoo, aftershave, etc.)
– Massage (the therapeutic properties of both enhance and compliment each other)
– Aromatic Bath (the therapeutic properties of both compliment each other)
So the next time you feel stressed, feel a headache coming on or have trouble sleeping here are some recommendations for you to consider.
- Before you go to bed at night, soak in a soothing bath, adding about 5-10 drops of pure Lavender Essential Oil (Lavendula Angustifolia) to your bath. Water has therapeutic properties itself and combined with the essential oil they each enhance the potent effect of the other. To enhance the soothing and relaxing qualities you may like to close your eyes, breathe in the aromatic scent of lavender while you let your mind drift and enjoy the present moment fully
- If you don’t have the time or means to take a full bath, a foot bath does the trick as well. For a footpath I would recommend adding about 3-5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil to your water.
- Maybe after your bath, or even if you skip the bath, you may wish to take the pleasant scent of Lavender with you to bed. To do this, place a few drop of Lavender Essential Oils on a tissue and place it on your pillow close to head.
- If you feel a headache coming on, try to place one to two drops of pure pure Lavender Essential Oil (Lavendula Angustifolia) on your fingers, raise them to your nose and take a few deep breath, then if you wish, apply the essential oil with your fingertips to your temples and gently massage them in small circles. The reason why we only use one to two drops is so that the oil will not ‘run’ along your temples and into your eyes. Another method would be to put a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil to a tissue and continue sniffing it.
- If you feel stressed, any of the above methods will work for you. Also, if possible I might suggest, for your consideration, to sit with your eyes closed and to breathe deeply, inhaling the relaxing scent of lavender. It may feel like you don’t have the time to pause and yet you can only do what you need to do and be there for others if you take care of yourself first. And you may be surprised what 5 minutes of stillness can do for you.
While easing stress, headaches and enhancing sleep, pure Lavender Essential Oil (Lavendula Angustifolia) also helps with a variety of conditions like:
– Helping anxiety
– Relieving anger and exhaustion
– Calm panic attacks
– Balance mood swings
– Clear negative thoughts & worries
– Heals cuts, scrapes, burns
Wishing you the best of health and happiness!
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Aromatherapy please let me know.
