Saturday 7 April 2012

30 ways to safely enjoy essential oils

Certain essential Oils are used in cuisine and drinks for flavouring and appetite suppression 
always use only one drop, always test for sensitivity
always follow an expert guide 



Inhalation on a tissue or aromastick is a safe and enjoyable way of using essential oils.


1.    Laundry.  To fragrance the laundry place a few drops of your essential oil onto a small piece of terry cloth and toss into the clothes dryer while drying. 
2.     Potpourri which has lost its scent can be revived by adding a few drops of essential oil.
3.   In a spray.   Add a few drops of oil to water in a spray bottle, shake to disperse the oil and use as an air freshener or cleaner for worktops or for the mood effects of the oils.
4.     Waters.  Try the hydrolats the waters produced in the steam distillation of essential oils - there is good information on their use on the web for example in face masks

A display of Sp hydrolats in a shop

5.    Candles.  To enjoy a scented candle, take a natural candle and place a drop or two into the hot melted wax as the candle bums.
6.   In the bath.  Dont forget to dilute essential oil in a little oil or milk before placing in the bath to avoid splashing.  Always dilute if placed on the skin as a sensible precaution.
7.    Muscles For tired aching muscles or arthritis aches, mix 1 part Shirley Price muscles mix with 20 parts Fractionated Coconut Oil and use as massage oil.
8.    Headache Ease headache pain by rubbing a drop of Peppermint, Rosemary or Lavender oil onto the back of your neck.
9.    Massage To blend your own massage oil, add 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil to 1 oz=30ml Fractionated Coconut oil.
10.   Carpets, Mats  Add 10 drops of essential oil to a box of baking soda, mix very well, let set for a day or two and then sprinkle over the carpets on your home. Let set for an hour or more, and then vacuum.  A drop of chamomile essential oil can be dropped on the doormat to create a relaxing homecoming.
11.  Pets.  To make a natural flea collar, saturate a short piece of cord or soft rope with Tea tree oil, roll up in a handkerchief and tie loosely around your pet's neck.  Remember pets are not at all well adapted to Tea Tree or Eucalyptus oil and these oils should not be placed on your pets paws or skin as their livers cannot eliminate them.  This is not to say pets cant safely enjoy the essential oil contained in other plants.  For example cats like Catnip.
12.  Odours? Shoes can be freshened by either dropping a few drops of Geranium essential oil directly into the shoes or by placing a cotton ball dabbed with a few drops of Lemon oil into the shoes. Athlete's foot? Melaleuca is great but you will have to apply for several weeks to banish the fungus
13. Illness Essential oils should not be taken internally except as advised by practicing aromatherapist and then under the supervision of a nurse or doctor.  If you are ill see your doctor!!
14.  A bottle of lemon, lavender, and peppermint oil make a great addition to the kitchen cabinet.  To fragrance your kitchen, bathroom cabinets and drawers, place a good scent dabbed on a cotton ball into an corner.



15.  Are mice a problem? Place several drops of Peppermint oil on a cotton ball and place at problem locations.
16.  Several of the carrier oils used to dilute essential oils have therapeutic and beautifying properties of their own.  Aloe Vera gel makes a great carrier.  For sunburn try the Shirley Price Lavender gel to assist a good nights sleep and the skins repair.
17.  You can apply just a drop of true Lavender oil or Melaleuca oil directly to cuts, scrapes or scratches to disinfect, for pain relief and to promote healing.
18.  Homemade soaps and lotions are easily made in the kitchen and offer therapeutic effects when scented with essential oils.  They make excellent gifts.
19.  Homemade sachets are more fragrant when essential oils are blended with the flowers and herbs.
20.  An essential oil dropped onto a tissue placed on a radiator will fill the room with a wonderful fragrance, and set a mood such as calming or uplifting. 
21.  A drop of lavender in a baby's bath makes for a pleasant and enjoyable bathtime for your baby.
22. Essential oils should be avioided around babies but jojoba oil makes for an excellent oil for use in the nappy area to prevent and calm skin irritation 
23.  Essential oils or blends make wonderful perfumes. Create your own personal signature essence! Add 25 drops to 1 oz=30ml of perfume alcohol or jojoba oil and allow to age for two weeks before using.   Follow the Sp natural perfume blending guide to create a harmonious perfume.
24.  To dispel mosquitoes and other picnic pests, drop a few drops of Citronella oil on the melted wax of a candle or on the barbecue coals
25.  1 drop of Lemon essential oil applied directly to a wart is an effective means of elimination. Apply the essential oil daily until the wart is gone.
26.  Rosemary enhances cognition, promotes alertness and stimulates memory. Inhale occasionally during long car trips and while reading or studying.
27.  Selling your home? Fragrance sells! Frankincense is an excellent way of clearing rooms of the effects of past occupation.
28.  The precious oils of Jasmine, Rose and Neroli have pronounced mood effects.  Jasmine oil massaged sparingly onto the shoulders assists in the delivery of babies and can reduce the effects of depression and baby blues which can follow the birth.  Available as pure oils or in 5% dilution with jojoba.
29.  You can infuse stationary with essential oil by leaving a cotton wool ball with a drop of essential oil in the stationary draw.  This will make letters more memorable as the scent is associated with the letter in the mind.
30.  Gifts can be made more memorable simply by putting a couple of drops of essential oil on them before giving.



Take a course?  At our factory in Hinckley and at Imperial College London I and the Sp tutor team have a programme of courses ranging from introductory to professional use of essential oils.

Aromatherapy for health professionals is at the heart of Shirley Price Aromatherapy. It draws from several philosophies guiding and inspiring us in the ‘art of living well.’ In simple terms, aromatherapy is a holistic system which guides us so that we can live a healthier and more balanced lifestyle and prevent things going wrong. It recognises that we are all unique and focuses on food, lifestyle, massage, exercise and the use of essential oils to suit our individual psychology and needs for mind and body and spiritual growth.

The art and science of aromatherapy encourages us to take responsibility for our own health according to the different stages of our lives and the environment we live in. These factors all have a big impact on our health and it makes sense to adapt our lifestyle accordingly so we can continue to live in harmony with our body and stay in optimum health.

Aromatherapy is all about living life to the full and keeping yourself on top form
- whatever the day throws at you! 

Essentia
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from plants for healing. Although the word Aromatherapy makes it sound as if the oils are inhaled, an excellent way of enjoying the benefits of essential oils, they can also be massaged into the skin or -- rarely -- as with other herbal remedies taken by mouth in highly dilute form as flavouring or to affect the liver or gut. You should never take essential oils by mouth without specific instruction from a trained and qualified specialist. Whether inhaled or applied on the skin, essential oils are gaining attention as an alternative treatment for infections, anxiety, stress, and other health problems. In most cases scientific evidence is still lacking.  However since the award of the Nobel prize for medicine to scientists mapping the human smell receptors aromatherapy has received increased scientific attention.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are concentrated extracts taken from the roots, leaves, seeds, or flowers of plants. Each contains its own mix of active ingredients, and this mix determines what the oil is used for. Some oils are used to promote physical healing -- for example, to treat swelling or fungal infections. Others are used for their emotional value -- they may enhance relaxation or make a room smell pleasant. Orange blossom oil, for example, contains an active ingredient that is thought to be calming.

Essentia

No comments:

Post a Comment