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How Do Essential Oils Work?
As I mentioned above, essential oils are the hormone of the plant which is extracted. There are two main ways we use oils; we inhale them, or we apply them to our skin.
When they are absorbed through the skin, they are absorbed into the bloodstream through our pores and hair follicles. Whether this is through bath salts, body oil or lotion; this is a great way to utilise essential oils that offer skin soothing, analgesic, antispasmodic, antifungal or anti inflammatory properties.
When they are inhaled, they stimulate the olfactory system – which is the part of the brain connected to smell. Molecules that enter through the nose then pass to the lungs and other parts of the body. This is a great way to incorporate essential oils which relieve congestion, promote relaxation & sleep, and have antidepressant or anti anxiety properties or those which are uplifting.
How to Use them Safely
Contrary to what advice I’ve seen online (which is slightly concerning!), essential oils can NOT be applied directly to your skin. I also do not recommend using any whilst pregnant, on your pets, or ingesting them unless you have been specifically trained in this area.
There are only two oils that you can apply undiluted to your skin and those are lavender and tea tree oil. Any other oils must be diluted before use on the body.
Applying them directly to the skin can result in allergic reaction, cause skin sensitivity or even burn the skin! This is the same if you apply them directly to bath water – It’s common knowledge that oil and water separate; So when you apply the oil to the bath water, one of two things will happen; The oil will sit on the surface of the water, therefore will be in direct contact with the skin when you enter the bath, or it will evaporate, so your bathroom may smell nice initially, but essentially (no pun intended) you’re not gaining any benefits.
It is so crucial that if you are going to use aromatherapy for personal use, you really do your research first. For example, there are some oils you must avoid if you are pregnant (Clary Sage) or breast feeding (Bergamot), have high blood pressure (Rosemary) or low blood pressure (Lavender), suffer with migraines (Lavender), epilepsy (Eucalyptus) or auto immune conditions (Tea Tree), plus many more
With the above warnings aside, there are several ways you can use essential oils safely once you’ve done your research:
In Bath Water – mix with a teaspoon of full fat milk (or dairy substitute) ; sounds gross- I know! Bear with me! - The oil molecules will cling to the fat molecules which will allow them to disperse evenly and throughout the bath water.
As a Hot or Cold Compress - apply a few drops to a wet flannel and place on the area of the body it is required
On a Tissue to Inhale – Great for use at work or when you’re out and about
Massage – mixed with a carrier oil, you can massage them directly into the skin – The general rule is half the number of drops to ml of carrier oil i.e. 10ml of oil = 5 drops of essential oil
Diffuser – a few drops added to the water in the machine
A great one for if you have children is to apply a few drops to a damp flannel and then drape it over a hot radiator - I like to use lavender & roman chamomile in my children’s bedroom, which, when it heats up it fills the air with a wonderfully relaxing aroma to help them to calm down and relax at bedtime.
How I use Aromatherapy at Work
The primary way I use essential oils in my work is through massage.
Whether you are looking for pain relief from sore muscles or aching joints, relief from headaches & migraines, to relieve some of the symptoms of menopause, I can create an oil that is unique to your specific set of requirements.
We will run through a thorough consultation form to make sure there are no contraindications, and that we are selecting the right oils for you. Occasionally I may make up a couple of blends for you to try first and ask you to pick the one you are drawn to most – the reason I do this is because your body will choose the oil that is best for you at that time. If there is any oil left over at the end of the treatment, I will give you this to take home to continue to use as and when required.
Now you know some of the reasons why I love, love, love aromatherapy, if you would like to book in for a bespoke aromatherapy treatment or massage, please click the button below to book in at a time and on a day convenient to you.
Have the most wonderful day!
A x
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