As its essential oil awareness week, I thought I would do a blog about why I’m such a fan…
Firstly, let’s start with what is an essential oil? It’s a natural, fragrant, concentrated essence extracted from a plant, fruit, bark etc… The lovely fresh scent of an orange or the soothing scent on a rose, it’s the essential oil you can smell.
Essential oils are used in aromatherapy – a holistic approach for natural health and well-being that has been used for around 6,000 years. Not only can the aroma of essential oils be beneficial but they can be used topically (when diluted correctly) and for home cleaning.
Essential oils are obtained through distillation or mechanical methods such as cold pressing. The method is important as it affects the the quality of the oil.
When choosing your oil make sure to stay away from synthetic oils. They may smell the same but they are artificially produced, therefore you will not get all the amazing health benefits of a pure essential oil. I use organic essential oils to make sure they are of the highest quality.
Why should we use essential oils?
Personally, I am all for a natural and holistic approach to health and well-being. Different oils can create different emotional responses, help you sleep when stressed and ease muscle aches and pains.
For example:
- Bergamot – this has a gorgeous sweet/citrus scent. Emotionally it can help balance your mood and ease anxiety
- Cypress – diluted and massaged into legs this can help to tone varicose veins
- Ginger – once diluted massage into temples and its anti-inflammatory action can help ease some migraine and headaches
- Tea Tree – add a few drops to a spray water bottle for an antibacterial & anti-fungal cleaning spray. Add lemongrass for any damp areas with mould
That’s just a few I have mentioned to show the different and amazing way essential oils can help us, but there are many, many more.
Sadly, essential oils won’t get your partner to clear up after themselves or extend your deadlines, but it can alleviate feelings of stress and irritability that we face in our busy daily lives, help us rest and sleep when feeling overwhelmed and uplift us when feeling run down.
How should we use essential oils?
Diffusers
I LOVE my diffuser and so do my kids. A diffuser is a safe way to disperse the essential oil scent in your home or the workplace. It doesn’t use heat so I can even use them in my son’s room. Ours has a colour changing option which mesmerises them.
Before getting it, I really didn’t realise what a positive impact it would have on us. I originally got it for my treatments, to help create a more relaxing environment for my clients by using oils to delicately scent the room. And I have to say it has really created that calming mood and added to the all-round sense of well-being which I promote in my treatments.
I decided to bring it home to try, bedtime can be hectic and stressful. My eldest is anxious and a gets quite stressed which can really impact on his sleep and behaviour. I use a lavender and geranium blend (calming, helps anxiety, balancing) before he goes to bed, and what a difference! He is so much calmer and content at bedtime now and is happily going to bed rather than with the drama I had previously. It’s been wonderful to see such a positive reaction to such a simple thing being added. This is currently my favourite combo, but we are trying to find a good combo for the mornings – more energising and uplifting to start the day for us (mine is coffee…)
Massage & Application
When using essential oils, it’s really important to dilute them to prevent irritation and sensitivity. Here’s a quick guide to help you…
- Make sure you’re aware of any allergies, sensitivity and wounds. I recommend a patch test if unsure
- Adults with no sensitivity – 5 drops per 10ml/1tbspn of oil / lotion / bath or shower gel
- Children over 2 – 2 drops per 10ml/1tbspn of oil / lotion / bath or shower gel
- Oils that may cause photo-sensitivity – 1 drop per 10ml/1tbspn of oil / lotion / bath or shower gel
Oils that are good to use as a carrier oil are
- Almond oil
- Grapeseed
- Rosehip seed
Cleaning
For use in the home fill a spray bottle with water then add approx 15-30 drops of your chosen oil, depending on bottle size. Here are a few you can use, these even work to spray down on your yoga mat. You can mix a couple together. Just make sure you split the amount to be diluted.
- Tea Tree – antiviral, anti-fungal, disinfectant properties
- Lemongrass – anti-fungal, antibacterial,
- Eucalyptus – antiseptic, antiviral, anti-fungal
- Orange – a few drops to your other oils is a great de-greaser
- Lemon – antiseptic, antiviral, anti-fungal and a gorgeous scent too.
I hope you find this helpful. There are so many amazing and exciting oils out there. If you’re looking for an oil to introduce to your routine or looking to expand on your collection send me a message and I will do all I can to help.
Remember to
Keep Glowing,
Amy 
