Aromatherapy Application: A Beginner's Guide To Getting Started

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative therapy that uses essential oils from plants to improve health and well-being. While the word aroma suggests that the oils are inhaled, they can also be applied to the skin or, in rare cases, taken orally. Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts taken from different parts of plants, such as roots, leaves, seeds, or blossoms, flowers, stems, barks, and peels, and have been used for nearly 6,000 years. They can be used in a variety of ways, including through inhalation, topical application, and diffusion, to provide numerous health benefits. However, it is important to exercise caution when using essential oils, especially when applying them to the skin or ingesting them.

Inhalation via a diffuser, steam, bath, aroma stick, or dry evaporation

Aromatherapy can be administered through inhalation via a diffuser, steam, bath, aroma stick, or dry evaporation.

Inhalation via a Diffuser

Diffusers disperse essential oils into the air so that you can inhale them. There are several types of diffusers, including nebulizing, ultrasonic, evaporative, and heat.

Inhalation via Steam

Steam inhalation is a home remedy to soothe and open the nasal passages and get relief from the symptoms of a cold or sinus infection. Steam inhalation won't cure an infection, but it can help make you feel better while your body fights it off.

Inhalation via a Bath

Aromatherapy can also be administered through baths. For example, you can pour essential oils into a bath.

Inhalation via an Aroma Stick

Aroma sticks, such as incense sticks, can be burned to release the aroma. Incense sticks are used all over the world for worship, to eliminate bad energy, and to fill the atmosphere with positive energy. They are also used in meditation, yoga, and aromatherapy.

Inhalation via Dry Evaporation

Essential oils can be applied to the skin and inhaled through dry evaporation.

Application to the skin through a massage, bath, or skincare product

Aromatherapy is a healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Aromatic essential oils are used to enhance physical and emotional health and can be applied to the skin through a massage, bath, or skincare product.

Massage

When using essential oils for a massage, it is important to dilute them with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, argan oil, grapeseed oil, or sweet almond oil. The carrier oil helps to “carry" the essential oil and allows for safe and easy absorption into the skin. The ratio of essential oil to carrier oil can vary depending on the desired effect and the specific oils used. For a full-body massage, a blend of one or more essential oils can be mixed with the carrier oil. For example, peppermint oil can be added to a carrier oil to create a pain-relieving blend, while lavender oil can provide a relaxing effect.

Bath

Adding essential oils to your bath can enhance the therapeutic benefits of a warm bath. However, it is important to dilute essential oils with a carrier oil before adding them to your bathwater. Vegetable oils are commonly used as carrier oils for this purpose. The recommended dilution rate is 1-4% essential oil to carrier oil. This mixture can then be added to the bath, ensuring that the oils do not evaporate too quickly. Essential oils such as lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus are popular choices for a relaxing and refreshing bath experience.

Skincare Products

Essential oils can also be incorporated into skincare products, such as toners, serums, and muscle rubs. By diluting the essential oil with a carrier oil, you can safely add it to your favourite cosmetic products. This allows you to combine the benefits of essential oils with your existing skincare routine.

It is important to note that essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin. Always dilute them with a carrier oil and perform a patch test before use to ensure that you do not have any adverse reactions. Additionally, some essential oils, such as citrus oils, can cause photosensitivity, so it is important to avoid sun exposure after using them.

Ingesting or vaping essential oils

Vaping essential oils is a relatively new practice that involves inhaling vapour from the oils through a vape pen or e-cigarette. However, it is not safe to vape essential oils as they can break down into abnormal and harmful compounds at high temperatures, which can have severe side effects when inhaled. The safety and long-term health effects of using e-cigarettes or other vaping products are still unknown, and federal and state health authorities have flagged concerns about severe lung disease associated with their use.

Essential oils are highly concentrated natural extracts from the roots, leaves, seeds, blossoms, flowers, and stems of plants. They are typically used for aromatherapy benefits and to treat many ailments. An oil is considered “essential” when it contains the essence of a plant's scent.

While essential oils are naturally derived compounds, their concentrated nature can pose health risks when inhaled directly into the lungs or ingested. The delicate lung tissues may react adversely to the oil's components, leading to possible long-term respiratory issues. In addition, the lack of regulation and standardized manufacturing processes for essential oil vaping products adds to the uncertainty surrounding their safety.

Ingesting essential oils is also not recommended. You should never take essential oils by mouth without specific instruction from a trained and qualified specialist. Some oils are toxic, and ingesting them could be fatal.

If you are interested in using essential oils for aromatherapy, there are safer alternatives to vaping. You can use essential oils with a diffuser, humidifier, or by inhaling directly from the bottle. You can also dilute essential oils with a carrier oil and apply them to your skin or add them to a bath.

It is important to always use caution when using essential oils and to consult a doctor or certified aromatherapist if you have any questions or concerns.

Aromatherapy massage

Preparation

Before an aromatherapy massage, a therapist will consult with the patient to understand their desired outcome. They will ask about work life, home life, energy levels, and health conditions. This will help them to select the most effective essential oils and carrier oils for the treatment.

The Massage

The Oils

Essential oils are plant-based and extracted from herbs, trees, and flowers. They are highly potent and should be diluted before being applied to the skin. They are absorbed through the skin and inhaled, impacting the mind and body.

Benefits

Aftercare

It is recommended to take a warm shower after an aromatherapy massage to remove any remaining oils from the skin. It is also important to drink water before and after the massage and to eat a snack.

Using essential oils with a humidifier

Humidifiers are a great way to improve the air quality in your home, especially during the colder months when humidity levels are low. However, if you want to add essential oils to your humidifier, you should exercise caution.

The short answer is that you should not put essential oils in a traditional humidifier, as it can damage the machine. Essential oils are highly concentrated and can erode the plastic components and clog the filters of a humidifier. This can lead to the breakdown of the machine over time. Therefore, it is recommended to use a diffuser or a DIY air freshener instead to add fragrance to your air.

However, there is an alternative if you want to use essential oils with a humidifier. Instead of a traditional humidifier, you can use an ultrasonic humidifier, which is specifically designed to be used with essential oils. Ultrasonic humidifiers use a vibrating mechanism to create water particles and emit them into the surrounding air, along with the essential oils. They are also quieter than traditional humidifiers as they do not have a built-in fan and most models do not include a filter.

When using an ultrasonic humidifier with essential oils, always refer to the manufacturer's instructions first to ensure it is safe for use with oils. Generally, you would add a few drops of your chosen essential oil (5-8 drops for a 100ml tank) to the water tank of the humidifier and then turn it on as normal. It is recommended to use a cool mist setting and to regularly clean your humidifier. Some ultrasonic humidifiers may also come with a specialised essential oil tray, in which case you would add the oils there instead of the water tank.

There are several essential oils that you can use with your ultrasonic humidifier, each offering different benefits:

• Lavender essential oil is a popular choice for creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere, improving sleep patterns, and helping with skin issues.
• Lemon essential oil can bring a positive and fresh fragrance to your home, improve your mood, and is also useful for cleaning surfaces.
• Peppermint essential oil has a refreshing aroma and can help with digestive issues, skin conditions, and promoting hair growth.
• Eucalyptus essential oil is a strong, purifying scent that can improve respiration and relieve tension headaches and sore muscles.
• Orange essential oil can uplift your mood, help with stress and anxiety, and improve sleep.

Frequently asked questions