Aromatherapy for Everyday Use

The sense of smell is one of the most mysterious of our faculties. Researches have made the connection between smell and memory, emotion, and behavior. Certain scents activate centers in the brain, allowing a person to access emotions and memories that they have felt otherwise disconnected from. Aromatherapy experts have developed numerous blends and techniques for making use of this sense's many benefits, but even those without any aromatherapy expertise can reap the rewards through a few simple techniques.

One of the easiest ways to utilize aromatherapy in everyday life is to blend a single essential oil with a "carrier oil." The carrier oil can be jojoba, grape seed, avocado, wheat germ, sweet almond, calendula or any other number of oils. A carrier oil has its own properties that offer health and wellness to the body, such as vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and more. For the simplest base or carrier oil, grape seed offers the least complications because the extraction process removes all of the oil's natural properties. This means that the only real benefits, then, come from the essential oil that is blended into it.

Essential oils are far too powerful to be worn directly on the skin, which is why they are mixed into a base. When applied "neat," many essential oils can cause reactions from skin irritation to vomiting, depending on the strength and properties of the oil. A safe ratio for aromatherapy use is one drop of the essential oil for every 5 ml of the carrier oil.

To mix and store the oils, use amber or blue bottles, which will prevent light from breaking down the oil and making it rancid. Also, eye droppers or plastic pipettes are the most convenient tools for ensuring measured mixtures with the least mess. Clean them with alcohol between uses or designate a specific dropper for each oil to safeguard against cross-contamination of the essential oils.

Choose essential oils for aromatherapy based on physical and emotional needs. A world of scents is available, and each provides its own natural healing properties. A handful of tried and true scents, though, can cover most of your everyday requirements.

Lavender is a mood lifter, bringing calm, releasing tension and easing both emotional and physical pain. It is used to bring relief from anxiety, depression, panic attacks and stress.

Bergamot can help individuals cope with grief and loneliness while also alleviating anger, insecurity and fatigue.

Cypress improves memory and concentration while battling burnout, exhaustion, grief and self-doubt.

Eucalyptus is a great oil for physical health as it eases breathing passageways and soothes inflammation. Use it for colds, bronchitis, poor circulation, and arthritis.

Fennel works in complement with the digestive system to improve the breath, decrease flatulence, alleviate nausea, and correct obesity.

Oakmoss works with the skin to diminish scars and stretch marks while also being very effective against respiratory distresses such as bronchitis, asthma, colds and extreme coughing.

Tea Tree oil is a virtual miracle worker, helping with skin conditions like cold sores, chapped skin, warts, cuts, athlete's foot, corns, insect bites, itching, chicken pox, and candida. It also fights migraines, the flu and whooping cough.