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Safety First when Handling Aromatherapy Oils & Diffusers

August 22nd, 2011    Subscribe To Our Feed

Aromatherapy can be very beneficial for many people, but there are certain safety instructions people should follow when handling aromatherapy paraphernalia, such as essential oils. First when handling essential oils it is important to avoid contact with the skin, because it may cause irritation. It is important to wear latex gloves and protective glasses when handling essential oils. Essential oils should also never be applied directly to the skin. The oils must be diluted with carrier oil before being applied to the skin. They must be diluted with a good quality carrier oil such as jojoba, almond or olive oil, and should contain 3 percent of the essential oil and 97 percent carrier oils.

There are also some safety rules to remember when using diffusers and oil lamps. Diffusers and oil lamps need only 2-3 drops of essential oil to scent a room for several hours. The cup should be filled more than half way with clean water, than the drops of essential oil should be added. The candle should be lit in the burner after the oil is added. The oils may be highly flammable, so it is important to be careful when using an essential oil lamp. Essential oils should also be kept away from babies and children. Essential oils that are undiluted should not be used on babies up to three years old. The oils that are used on children should be used at a fraction of the usual concentration when being used on children. Oils should also be stored in high places that are unreachable by children.

Pouring essential oil directly into bath water without diluting them with a carrier oil is also not recommended. The use of undiluted oils in bath water can cause severe skin irritation. It is also important to never ingest essential oils that are intended for external use. Essential oils should not be taken internally, unless under the guidance of a professional, who has received the training for that specific mode of administration. Most professional aromatherapists are not trained in the internal ingestion of oils, so consumers should make sure they are fully qualified before getting that sort of treatment. Certain aromatherapy materials should also not be swallowed or added to recipes and beverages, unless the product is labeled as food grade material.

Aromatherapy paraphernalia should also be avoided during pregnancy. If a woman wants to receive aromatherapy during pregnancy, it is best that she seeks the advice of a physician. A doctor may approve the use of aromatherapy for certain pregnant women, but the therapy should only be used in the first trimester of pregnancy. The essential oils should only be used at 1 percent concentration, which is half of their normal strength. There are certain essential oils that should be avoided completely during pregnancy, which include Camphor (cinnamon camphora), rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis), Sage (Salvia officinalis), and Savin oil (Juniperus sabina).

It is also important to avoid phototoxic essential oils if you have a history of cancer. Aromatherapy paraphernalia should be stored away from heat and light sources. Many of the products used in aromathherapy are flammable, so they should never be put near a flame, fire, or a source of ignition. Ultraviolet light may also be harmful to essential oils as it may degrade them. Aromatherapy can be very helpful, but there are certain guidelines that consumers must follow to ensure the best experience. Following safety instructions can help consumers get the most from the aromatherapy. It is common for many people to skip the safety instructions, but when handling aromatherapy paraphernalia it is important to incorporate all of the safety guidelines into the treatment.

Boost your Outlook on Life with Aromatherapy

May 22nd, 2011    Subscribe To Our Feed

There is a lot of information out there about using essential oil in aromatherapy. That is because aromatherapy is a safe and all natural way to boost your energy, change your mood and help you relax both spiritually and physically. Essential oils are commonly used in alternative health treatments and can help stimulate the senses. Many believers of aromatherapy say that the right mixture of essential oils can actually help treat the symptoms of illnesses.

If you are new to essential oils and aromatherapy, you should know a little bit about the different kinds of oils and how to use them. You should remember is that the oils are highly concentrated. They are derived from flowers, plants, barks and seeds and come packaged as undiluted oils. Because of that, they are highly potent, flammable and should be kept away from children and pets. If you are pregnant or nursing, you should carefully consider the types of oils you want to use before you proceed. Some are not safe during pregnancy.

You can find a wide variety of essential oils and each oil will have a different scent and will also have a different use. You should never use essential oils on your skin if they are not diluted. However, if you learn how to mix these oils with an appropriate carrier, you can use essential oils on the skin for massages or in your bath tub water. When you look for a carrier, most likely, you will use distilled water. However, you can also purchase carrier creams and carrier oils from specialty shops and health food stores. These oils will be light and non-sticky and have little to no smell on it’s own.

Here are some examples of popular essential oils and how they work to help boost your mood, relax your body and enhance your physical well being.

For illness, you can use aromatherapy to help you heal. tea tree oil is a popular choice to help disinfect scrapes and cuts and treat head lice. Acne, eczema, dry skin and fungal infections such as athlete’s foot can all be treating using essential oils such as rosemary and geranium, chamomile, rose, lavender, neroli and tea tree. If you are suffering from respiratory problems, you can use a mixture of lavender, peppermint, thyme, and Eucalyptus oil. Nasal congestion can be treated with the same oils.

Did you know that aromatherapy is often used in nursing homes and for elderly people under hospice care? This is because the gentle scents can relax and help people that suffer from memory loss. rosemary, lavender, bergamot and ylang ylang are often good choices for this type of use.

Aromatherapy can have a lasting effect on everyone in your home, including young children and pets (when used safely). The right combination of essential oils are known to uplift the spirits and help with depression. In fact, if you are looking for stress relief, you can use grapefruit, basil, rose and chamomile. The same oils are also known to help fight depression. If you are having difficulty sleeping at night, try a hot bath filled with water and lavender, chamomile and neroli. These essential oils can all help relax you and help you rest better at night.

There are many ways to use essential oils in aromatherapy to help boost and elevate your mood. Experiment with the types of scents and a fragrance that you like to find what works best for you. There are many books available that can tell you which oils can be mixed in order to help you the most. You will find that aromatherapy can help you.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

May 10th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

The botanical Name of Eucalyptus Oil is Eucalyptus globulus. Eucalyptus has a clear, sharp, fresh and very distinctive smell. It is pale yellow in color and watery in viscosity. It will have a colorless to pale yellow colour with a strong, fresh, camphorous odor and woody undertone. The way we get the oil is by steam distillation of the fresh or partially dried leaves and mature branches.

Origin of Eucalyptus oil:
The Australian Blue-gum can sometimes reaches a height of 100 meters (300 feet), making it one of the highest trees in the world. There are over 500 species of Eucalyptus trees and they have blue-green long, narrow, tough leaves, creamy white flowers and smooth pale bark.
The ‘eu’ and ‘kalypto’ means ‘well’ and ‘covered’ in Greek, referring to the cup-like membrane that covers the flower bud and is thrown off as the flower expands. The Australian Aborigines calls the Eucalyptus ‘kino’. One of their uses for it was to cover serious wounds with the leaves.
Eucalyptus was introduced to Europe in 1788, and the first oil exported to England was called ‘Sydney peppermint‘. It was extracted from Eucalyptus peperita which is a more industrial type of oil.

The Eucalyptus uses a lot of water while growing, thus it drains land where usually malaria was found, making it a healthier climate for living.

Extraction:
Eucalyptus oil is extracted from the fresh or partially dried leaves and young twigs.

Chemical composition: The main chemical components of Eucalyptus are: Camphene, Citronellal, Fenchene, Phellandrene and Cineole.

Precautions:
Eucalyptus oil should be used with care and people with high blood pressure and epilepsy should avoid it. Excessive use of the oil may cause headaches.

Therapeutic properties:
The therapeutic properties of Eucalyptus oil include: analgesic, anti-rheumatic, anti-neuralgic, anti-spasmodic, antiseptic, balsamic, decongestant, deodorant, diuretic, expectorant, insecticide, rubefacient and stimulant.

Uses:
Eucalyptus has a cooling and deodorizing effect on the body, helping with fevers, migraine and malaria. For the respiratory tract, it helps with coughs, asthma, throat infections, sinusitis and catarrhal conditions. It soothes inflammation and eases mucus, clearing the head from the stuffiness of colds and hay fever.
Eucalyptus oil is useful as warming oil when used for muscular aches and pains, rheumatoid arthritis, sprains and poor circulation. In skin care it can be used for burns, blisters, herpes, cuts, wounds, skin infections and insect bites.
Eucalyptus oil can boost the immune system, and is helpful especially in cases of chicken pox, colds, flu and measles.

Summary:
Eucalyptus oil is very helpful when used for headaches, fevers, on the respiratory tract, muscular aches and pains and in skin care. It has a soothing and calming effect on the whole body and helps with the immune system. The oil is also effective against bacteria - especially staphylococci.

Burners and vaporizers:
In vapor therapy Eucalyptus oil be used for: frequent sneezing, hay fever, flu, respiratory problems and as insect repellant.
Blended massage or in the bath:
Eucalyptus oil can be used in blended massage oil, or diluted in the bath to assist with: arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, mucous congestion, colds, headaches, rheumatism, sinusitis, catarrh, fatigue and muscular aches and pains.
Used neat or dab on with a bud:
Eucalyptus oil can be used neat on the skin for insect bites or wounds, but care should be taken when doing so.
Gargle:
Diluted Eucalyptus can be used as a gargle for a sore throat

If your interested in learning more about Aromatherapy have a look at Learn the Power of Aromatherapy

Vanilla Essential Oil

August 30th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Botanical Name: vanilla planifolia
Common Method of
Extraction: Solvent
Extracted Color: Deep Brown

Consistency: Thick Perfumery
Note:
Base
Strength of Initial Aroma: Strong
Aromatic
Description: Rich, warm, sweet vanilla aroma.
Possible
Uses: Perfumery Constituents: Vanillin, hydroxybenzaldehyde, acetic
acid, isobutyric acid, caproic acid, eugenol, furfural. Description vanilla is
derived from the dried, cured beans or fruit pods of the large, green-stemmed
climbing perennial, vanilla planifolia, which is a member of the orchid family.
Although vanilla beans are sometimes used in their whole form, they are most
commonly used for producing extracts and flavors.
Uses:
vanilla is used principally for ice cream, soft drinks, eggnogs, chocolate
confectionery, candy, tobacco, baked goods, puddings, cakes, cookies, liqueurs,
and as a fragrantly tenacious ingredient in perfumery.

Origins: vanilla originated in Mexico, but today the United
States buys vanilla beans from Madagascar, Indonesia, Uganda and Tonga. Most of
the world’s high-quality beans come from Madagascar, an island off the coast of
Africa.
Folklore: vanilla was enjoyed by the Aztecs in a
drink called Xoco-lall, which was made from cocoa and vanilla beans. Cortz
sampled this drink and returned to Spain with reports it contained magical
powers. Europeans mixed vanilla beans with their tobacco for smoking and
chewing, and considered it a miracle drug.

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

August 13th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

ylang ylang oil is extracted from Cananga odorata var. genuina (Unona odorantissimum) from the Anonaceae family and also known as “flower of flowers”.

Oil properties: ylang ylang oil has an exotic, sweet smell and is slightly yellow in color.

Origin of ylang ylang oil: ylang ylang is a tall tropical tree about 20meters (60 feet) high with large, tender, fragrant pink, mauve or yellow flowers. The tree is cultivated in Java, Sumatra, Reunion, Madagascar and the Comores and the name means ‘flower of flowers’.In Indonesia ylang ylang flower petals are strewn upon
the bed on wedding nights. Once ylang ylang was a popular ingredient of hair preparations in Europe and was known as Macassar oil. The word “anti-macassar” originated from this, since an anti-maccasar was used to keep hair oil from
staining upholstered furniture.

Extraction: ylang ylang oil is extracted from the freshly picked flowers by water or steam distillation. The
first distillation is called ylang ylang extra, which is the top grade. An absolute and concrete are also produced by solvent extraction.

Chemical composition: The main chemical components are: Benzoic, Geraniol, Lonalool, Eugenol, Safrole, Benzyl acetate, Farnesol and Pinene. Precautions: ylang ylang oil is non-toxic, non-irritant, yet could cause
sensitivity on some people and excessive use of it may lead to headaches and nausea.

Therapeutic properties: The therapeutic properties of ylang ylang oil are: aphrodisiac, antidepressant, antiseptic, hypotensive and sedative.

Uses: ylang ylang oil has a euphoric and sedative effect onthe nervous system; it can help with anxiety, tension, shock, fear and panic. Its aphrodisiac qualities may be of use in impotence and frigidity. ylang ylang oil can be particularly useful with rapid breathing and rapid heartbeat, it can also help with reducing high blood pressure. It can be useful for intestinal
infections. ylang ylang oil could have a soothing effect on the skin and its stimulating effect on the scalp could promote more luxurious hair growth.

Summary: ylang ylang oil can assist with problems such as high blood pressure, rapid breathing and heartbeat, nervous conditions, as well as impotence and frigidity.

Burners and vaporizers: In vapor therapy ylang ylang oil can be helpful with: anxiety, tension, shock,
fear, panic, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, aphrodisiac, physical exhaustion, frigidity, impotence, insomnia, depression, stress and as a relaxant and aphrodisiac.

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Rosemary Essential Oil

July 17th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Latin Name:Rosmarinus officinalis

Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled
Color: Clear Consistency

Aromatic Description:
Fresh, herbaceous, sweet, slightly medicinal.

Possible Uses: Aching muscles, arthritis, dandruff, dull skin, exhaustion, gout, hair care, muscle cramping, neuralgia, poor
circulation, rheumatism.

Description:
rosemary is the dried leaves of the evergreen Rosmarinus officinalis. The slender, slightly curved leaves resemble
miniature curved pine needles. Normally hand harvested, the rosemary plant grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and is very hardy as it grows under harsh mountainous conditions.

Uses:
rosemary is found in bouquet garni, herbes de Provence, and seasoning blends for lamb and Mediterranean cuisines.

Origins:
The major producers of rosemary are France, Spain/Portugal, and the “former Yugoslavia.”

Folklore: In ancient Greece, rosemary was recognized for its alleged ability to strengthen the brain and memory. Greek
students would braid rosemary into their hair to help them with their exams.
Also known as the herb of remembrance, it was placed on the graves of English
heroes.

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