How to Use Essential Oils
HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS
If you don’t know how to use essential oils, don’t feel overwhelmed or intimidated by how to get started with essential oils. It’s really easy and a lot of fun! Below are a few ways in which you can start using essential oils, and soon you’ll be surprised in how many areas of your life you are able to use your essential oils:
Apply to the skin
Simply inhale
Steam inhalation
Use an essential oil diffuser
Use in a bath
Aromatherapy massage
WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY?
Aromatherapy has been in existence for 6000 decades or more. It is composed of the study and use of certain scents, usually embodied in certain essential oils or similar ingredients, in order to bring about positive changes in people. It celebrates its roots in antiquity with the use of aromatic oils and it is fundamental for alternative and holistic medicine.
It is a form of holistic healing that has been used for ages to heal the mind, as well as the body. The first traded oil to heal was frankincense, followed by peppermint oil. Willow bark is the base of Ibuprofen. Soon you will learn the base of modern medicine was originally found in nature.
These methods are intended as guidelines only, and you need to pay special attention to all safety notices applicable for each specific essential oil that you choose.
1. APPLY TO THE SKIN
Essential oils are fat soluble, which means they are immediately absorbed by the skin. A popular way to enjoy your essential oils is to simply apply them to your skin for absorption – though never directly on the skin, but always mixed and diluted with a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil or apricot kernel oil.
Nicole Rose Studio has also created pre-blended essential oil roll ons in a variety of choices from Headache Relief Essential Oil Roll On, Deep Sleep Essential Oil Roll On and Focus + Concentration Essential Oil Roll On to name a few.
Especially if skin sensitivity is a concern, definitely ALWAYS dilute your essential oil with a common neutral carrier oil (also called base oils) before application. Carrier oils are typically cold-pressed oils and do not evaporate like essential oils do, but they can go rancid where essential oils will not. Your choice of carrier oil will depend a bit on preference of smell, texture, and sensitivities to avoid allergic reactions. Popular choices for carrier oils are coconut oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil or grape seed oil.
Popular areas of applying essential oils to your skin are on your wrists, your temples, your feet, or behind your ears.
2. SIMPLY INHALE
Enjoy your essential oils by quickly getting a sniff of your favorite scent anytime during the day!
You may choose to carefully inhale your essential oils. Open the bottle of essential oils, hold it up against your nose or place a few drops on a tissue, and take a deep breath to inhale and enjoy. When using a new essential oil for the first time, only use one drop to make sure you don’t have a reaction or sensitivity to the oil.
Attempt to keep your breath relaxed as you inhale. Notice if it gets caught in the body or if it flows in and out with ease. A deep breath isn’t a sniff. If you practice slow, deep breaths, your body will send signals to your mind that it needs to relax – and your entire body will follow. Your body and mind aren’t separate things, and sometimes tricking the body to relax first, is going go put the mind in a position to achieve relaxation as well.
You know breathing is vital to keeping you alive. Deep breathing, when it’s simple, natural, and necessary, may have a beneficial influence on health and well being. It is one of the easiest and most effective ways to calm down and regain composure when you are feeling anxious. Deep belly breathing is the secret. And if you add aromatherapy by way of essential oils, such breathing will help to harmonize our nervous system and lessen the quantity of stress in our lives.
3. STEAM INHALATION
Steam inhalation is great alternative to alleviate congestion, headaches, allergies and more.
Boil 2-3 cups of water, pour it into a bowl and add 2-5 drops of oil to the water. Place your nose about 12” away from the bowl, cover your head and bowl with a towel, and slowly inhale the steam. If you notice any discomfort or irritation, stop immediately.
Steam inhalation can be quite effective if it’s used with care. It can be beneficial for your skin as well. Actually, it is one of the best and safe solutions to treat symptoms of the common flu and cold. It is the perfect way of clearing up sinuses.
Chest congestion, cold and flu are a few of the common respiratory problems especially whenever the weather changes. A “head cold” is essentially a common cold which impacts the nasal passages.
If you enjoy your steam inhalation bowl and notice the steam disappearing or getting cooler, add more hot water and a couple more drops of the herbal oil as needed, since the water will get diluted.
You can try our Allergy Relief Essential Oil, Soothe & Relax Essential Oil or Immune Defense Essential Oil for this.
4. USE AN ESSENTIAL OIL DIFFUSER
Electronic diffusers are designed to disperse a super fine mist of essential oils. They will gently fill the air with the aroma and healing benefits of the essential oil of your choice within minutes.
5. USE IN A BATH
Adding essential oils to your bath is an amazing way to take a relaxing time-out during your busy day. You can try out True Romance Bath Salts combined with Epsom Salt and Himalyan Salt for an extra dose of relaxation for your muscles and detoxifying your system. Alternatively, you can just drop the oils into the water.
6. AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE
Essential oils are too concentrated and strong to use for massage by themselves, so you need to mix them in with neutral-smelling carrier oils such as sweet almond oil or grapeseed oil.
You can also try our Soothe & Relax Massage Oil, Muscle Relief Essential Oil, or Jasmine Body Oil.
Massages are shown to be very therapeutic and lots of doctors actually recommend massages. Massage usually works on all big muscle groups within the body. It is extremely important to remember that if giving (or getting) a massage, the strokes should always go towards the heart. If not, you are not going to receive the full advantages of the massage.
WHY MORE IS NOT BETTER
Remember, essential oils are heavily concentrated plant extracts. As an example, one drop of essential peppermint oil equals the strength of 28 cups of peppermint tea! Even though this might not seem like a lot, a drop or two is often plenty enough.