First things first! Always remember that essential oils are very potent and volatile liquids that can be very harmful if used carelessly.

CAUTION: Never apply undiluted oil on the skin without use of carrier oil such as sweet almond oil, hazelnut oil, sunflower oil or grape seed oil.

Massage is perhaps the most popular way to use essential oils. It combines the healing art of aromatherapy with the healing art of touch. Self-massage is just as effective as being massaged by another person and lack of a partner is no excuse for not trying these relaxing recipes. As a general rule, always use ten drops of total essential oils per mixture, and keep it around five for maximum effectiveness. You can always concoct your own innovative recipe using many essential oils that available in the market. You don’t really need a branded expensive aromatherapy product or go to an expensive aromatherapy spa and some wholesale aromatherapy vendors can be too expensive.

Here are a few quick, instant and easy natural aromatherapy recipes that can be formulated at your home:
* Beat the depression with 3 revitalizing drops of orange essential oil and 2 drops of zesty ginger.
* Drive out insomnia with easeful drops of Roman chamomile, clary sage and bergamot oils.
* Reduce menstrual cramps with pacifying drops of peppermint, cypress and lavender oils.
* Soothe stress with calming drops of Roman chamomile, lavender and vetiver oils.
* Enhance memory with stimulating drops of peppermint and lemon oils.
* Boost your immune system with protecting drops of eucalyptus, pine and peppermint oils.
* Fight acne with toning lavender and antiseptic tea tree oil.
* Ease a grieving heart with oils of warm rose and sandalwood.
* Disinfect the kitchen sink with the citrus smell of lemon, lime and grapefruit oils.

Apart from these most common recipes, you can also prepare hundreds of them by using correct amounts of essential oils.

All-Purpose Face and Neck Massage:
3 drops violet oil + 2 drops rose oil: in 20 ml of carrier oil. Add vitamin E for extra richness.

Anti-Tension Massage:
2 drops petit grain oil + 2 drops lavender oil + 2 drops sandalwood oil: in 20 ml carrier oil. Apply on the neck, shoulders, and temples.

Backache Massage:
2 drop eucalyptus oil + 2 drops lavender oil + 1 drop lemon oil: in 20 ml carrier oil. Focus on areas of tension with fingertips.

Bedtime Massage:
3 drop sandalwood oil + 2 drops chamomile oil: in 20 ml of carrier oil.

Calming Back Massage:
4 drop ylang ylang oil + 3 drops jasmine oil + 2 drops geranium oil: in 20 ml of carrier oil.

Circulation Improvement Massage:
6 drop lavender oil + 4 drops rosemary oil + 2 drops vetiver oil: in 4 oz. of sesame oil.

Face and Neck Massage:
2 drop galbanum oil + 3 drops neroli oil: 20 ml carrier oil.

Hand Massage:
5 drops lime oil + 5 drops thyme oil + 5 drops eucalyptus oil + 5 drops cajuput oil: in 4 tablespoons carrier oil.

Leg Massage:
2 drops cypress oil + 2 drop lime oil + 1 drop lemon oil: 20 ml carrier oil.
Massage on calves, using gentle pressure on varicose veins.

Mature Skin Massage:
2 drop myrrh oil + 2 drops lavender oil + 2 drops neroli oil: 20 ml wheat germ oil.

Pain-Relieving Massage:
3 drop pine oil + 3 drop eucalyptus oil + 3 drops frankincense oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Apply on sore joints.

Relaxing Full-Body Massage:
3 drop neroli oil + 2 d jasmine oil: in 20 ml of carrier oil.

Relaxing Massage:
2 drops geranium oil + 2 drops rose oil + 2 drops lavender oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Face and scalp massage.

Sensual Body Massage:
2 drops patchouli oil + 3 drops geranium oil + 3 drops rose oil: 20 ml carrier oil.

Stimulating Body Rub:
1 drops peppermint oil + 1 drops myrrh oil + 2 drops lavender oil: 20 ml carrier oil. This is an excellent winter rub.

Summer Stimulating Massage:
2 drop lemongrass oil + 3 drops orange oil + 1 drop rosemary oil: 20 ml carrier oil.  Good for back and shoulder massages.

Uplifting Massage:
2 drop bergamot oil + 2 drops orange oil +2 drops petit grain oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Good early-morning body rubs.

Varicose Vein Massage:
2 drops lime oil + 2 drops cedar wood oil: in 20 ml carrier oil. Rub lightly, using only fingertips.

Wrinkled or Puffy Face Massage:
2 drops rose oil + 1 drops violet oil + 1 drops geranium oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Rub lightly on face, using only fingertips.

Oils which are not preferable for home use include: cinnamon, clove, hyssop, and sage.

Oils which should not be used during pregnancy include: basil, clove, cinnamon, fennel, hyssop, juniper, marjoram, myrrh, peppermint, rosemary, sage, and white thyme.

Oils which are not recommended for steam facials include: bay, clary sage, ginger, juniper, pine, and tea tree.

Oils which are photosynthesizing include, but are not restricted to: lemon, bergamot, lime, and orange. Do not go out into the sun for at least two hours after applying these oils to your skin.

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Herbal remedies have been used for centuries to treat everything from premenstrual syndrome to high blood pressure. Men experiencing the first signs of baldness often looked to natural cures as well, and some of the herbal remedies have surprising results.

A group of dermatologists in Scotland tested an herbal remedy with great success, helping over 40% of their patients with a mixture of essential oils containing cedarwood, lavender, rosemary and thyme. In this double blind study, the group using the essential oils showed improvement in 40 percent of the subjects, while only 15% of the control group noted an improvement.

So, would you be interested in trying out aromatherapy as a hair loss solution? If you’d like to experiment with this, mix three drops each of lavender and rosemary oil with two drops each of cedarwood and thyme oils. Add this mixture to 4 teaspoons of grapeseed oil and one-quarter teaspoon of jojoba oil. Rub the mixture into your scalp for two minutes nightly, then use a warm towel to wrap your head.

If you’re not experiencing baldness yet, but your hair doesn’t look healthy, you may want to try a mixture of lavender and bay essential oils to stimulate blood flow to the scalp and help circulation to the area. About six drops of each oil should be added to a cup of a good carrier oil, like almond or sesame oil. Warm the mixture slightly and rub into the scalp. After letting the mixture penetrate the scalp for 20 minutes, shampoo with your normal shampoo.

For additional benefit, you may want to add up to 4 drops of bay oil to your normal shampoo. Of course, you won’t see a whole new head of hair after just one or two treatments. However, repeated use will most likely provide you with better looking, fuller hair. You’ll also experience the positive benefits of aromatherapy and scalp massage as well, feeling more relaxed and ready to face the day. Aromatherapy may just be the hair loss solution that you are looking for!

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Aromatherapy was created in the early 1920′s by a French chemist. Aromatherapy itself is made up of all natural products such as oils and plants. Over the years aromatherapy has become more and more popular as people are realizing the healing powers behind it. Most of the scents are designed to make you relax and to soothe you.

Aromatherapy candles can be quite expensive at times so it is a good idea to find recipes and create your own scents and candles. The recipes you will use will depends on the effect that you are trying to create. If you are looking to create a calming atmosphere then you will need to create a scent using about two drops of lavender, orange and another two drops of cedar wood. If you simply want to release some tension you can combine two drops of bergamot, Melissa, frankincense, and sandalwood each. These can be combined in a small glass container that is held over a small candle. As the candle burns and heats the oil the scents are released into the room. Aromatherapies candles are use by other people to help get rid of depression and fatigue.

There are some natural oils that when combined and heated can help to increase creativity and thinking. People who are into creative arts and design use these. There are also different recipes that can be used to help release tension and muscle strain and even stomach cramps. Knowing what works best will help you to create the perfect scent.

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DIRECT INHALATION:
Apply 2-3 drops of essential oil or blend to palm of one hand, rub palms together, cup hands over nose and mouth and inhale vapors deeply 6-8 times.

DIFFUSION:
A few drops in a diffuser (for therapeutic use, cold air diffusers do not harm the fragile properties of essential oils), you can buy electric devices, candle warmed, ceramic rings to place on light bulbs, or just use a bowl of warm water.

However, using heat to diffuse essential oils will destroy essential oils, rendering them therapeutically ineffective. Cold air diffusers gently break up essential oils into tiny molecules through micro diffusion thus retaining the integrity of the oils. This process creates a fine mist vapor that floats in the air and can be absorbed gently into the body through the respiratory system. If you’re diffusing an oil only for aroma, an oil burner works perfectly. But, if you’re using an essential oil or blend for therapeutic benefit, use a cold air diffuser.

COMPRESS:
Dilute 1 part essential oil or blend with 4 parts vegetable oil (olive works great) and apply 8-10 drops on affected area. Cover with moist hand towel or wash cloth. Cover the moist towel with a dry towel and leave in place for 10-15 minutes. If there is inflammation – always use a cold compress. If there is no inflammation, use a warm compress.

FOOT REFLEX POINTS:
Massage oil or blend with the side of your thumb or reflex tool on the corresponding reflex point on the feet (see the foot reflex charts at akobiaromas.com). Use a press and circle motion for 10-20 seconds per point.

RECTAL RETENTION: (only if directed by healthcare provider)
Dilute 15 drops recommended essential oil(s) or blend with 1 TBSP vegetable oil. Insert 1 TBSP into rectum with a bulb syringe and retain overnight.

VAGINAL RETENTION: (only if directed by healthcare provider)
Apply 5-8 drops of oil or blend on a tampon and insert into vagina for internal infection; or apply to sanitary pad for external lesions. Retain overnight.

VAPORIZE:
Run hot, steaming water into sink or large bowl. Drape towel over head, covering hot water also. Add 3-6 drops essential oil(s) or blend to the water. Inhale vapors as deeply as possible several times through the nose as they rise with the steam. Recharge vapors with additional hot water as needed.

MASSAGE:
Blend 15 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil (Almond, Apricot, Jojoba) and indulge in the power of touch.

OTHER USES:
Facial steams, foot soaks, insect repellant, household cleaning…. and much more… use your imagination

Dee is a Doctor of Reflexology, Homeopathic Practitioner, Certified Aromatherapist, and Reiki Master. Her site is AkobiAromas.com – a source of quality aromatherapy, herbal and reflexology information and products.

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Aromatherapy blends for the treatment of arthritis are usually made from pure essential oils, but also from hydrosols and — more recently — phytols. For application to the skin they have to be mixed with vegetable oil, a cream base or a carrier lotion. Essential Oils must always be used diluted when applied to the skin. A dilution of 3% essential oils in 97% base is generally regarded as very effective and safe.

Since the reasons for the occurance of arthritis are still not completely established, it is difficult to find a cure for the disease. Arthritis could be genetic, it could have to do with bone density loss, it could also be a type of infection caused by toxins released in the body. Even more likely it is a combination of several factors. It is — at this stage — only possible to treat the pain and symptoms caused by arthritis but not it’s underlying cause.

Aromatherapy is one form of arthritis treatment, using a variety of essential oils. They can be added to the bath, massaged into the skin, inhaled or applied as compresses. The right mixture of essential oils will help to relax, promote pain relief and alleviate fatigue. Essential oils can also provide psychological benefits like improving the mood and reducing anxiety.

Some of the more suitable arthritis oils are Lavender, Juniper, Thyme, Rosemary, Benzoe, Eucalyptus, Camomile, Pine Scotch, Camphor, Angelica Root, Ginger, Origanum, Black Pepper and Lemon.

One of the most effective ways to use aromatherapy for relieving pain and reducing inflammation are hot compresses:
1. Fill a medium size bowl with hot, but not scalding water.
2. Add 3 to 6 drops of essential oil.
3. Fold a piece of sterile cotton cloth and dip it into the bowl.
4. Squeeze out excess water, but not too much.
5. Place the wet, hot cloth onto the affected area until it has cooled down to body temperature.
6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 at least two to three times.
7. Wrap the treated area in a dry and warm towel or blanket and leave the patient to rest for a while.

Another good way to use aromatherapy for arthritis relieve is to rub diluted essential oils (see above for dilution) onto pulse points and affected areas during the day. Applying essential oils throughout the day can help to alleviate pain and tension. The essential oils on the skin are quickly absorbed and enter the bloodstream. This is an excellent form of arthritis relief and works also well as a preventative measure.

Aromatherapy is a natural, safe and economical option to deal with the pain and symptoms of arthritis. And above all, it has no negative side effects as so many of the conventional treatments do. In mild cases of arthritis, aromatherapy is often all that is needed to make a person comfortable.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. It cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment.

About the Author

Mireille Gautschi is a qualified Flower Essence Therapist and Herbalist who has many years experience with the developement of natural herbal remedies.
Her products can be found on the Hillside Herbal Products website www.hillsideherbal.com.au that also offers a very informative newsletter.

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