Another article full of Aromatherapy info!
"Here’s your foolproof guide to finding the
right essential oils, safely. It covers everything from therapeutic benefits
and energetics to what experts want you to consider when purchasing aromatherapy
products.
How to choose the right essential oils:
1.
Identify the problem.
This is where everyone should start. What’s
going on with you? Is your problem physical? Chronic or acute? Perhaps there is
no pain-point, and you’re looking to evoke a state of being, like relaxation.
Once you get to the crux of the issue you want to address, it’s much easier to
whittle down the thousands of essential oils one can use.
Aromatherapy is an intimately personal
science—it’s not one size fits all when it comes to blending.
It’s easy to fall into the aforementioned
"there’s an oil for that" mentality because many people use similar
oils for common ailments. But with aromatherapy, it’s equally important to
consider your personal smell preference. For example, Spikenard’s sedative
effect makes it a go-to for insomniacs. But I know some people who just cannot
stomach the smell and would prefer to use lavender or vetiver for sleep.
Aromatherapy is an intimately personal science; It’s not one size fits all when
it comes to blending.
2.
Consider energetics.
For those who turn to essential oils for a
specific therapeutic goal, considering energetics may seem baffling. While you
need not work on an energetic, soul level to reap the benefits of aromatherapy,
it’s useful to understand the chemistry. Evidence from Ancient Egypt tells us
that aromatic oils were likely being used before 4500 B.C. The ancient
Egyptians are renowned for their knowledge of cosmetics and fragrant
ointments—with their most famous herbal preparation being "Kyphi,"
which was a multipurpose spiritual blend of 16 ingredients.
As the Egyptians knew so well, oils have
different properties that we don’t always consider. Some are heating, others
cooling, and some resonate with us in different parts of our bodies.
For example, 1,8 cineole, also known as
eucalyptol, is a chemical found largely in eucalyptus and rosemary that has a
well-known cooling effect. Additionally, the chemical menthol triggers the
cold-sensitive TRPM8 receptors in the skin and is responsible for the cooling
sensation. Peppermint is an intensely freshening essential oil in part due to
its high menthol content, so much so that many professionals suggest working
with the hydrosol to avoid safety issues (particularly in children).
As oils cool, some can also bring on the
heat. Oils high in phenols, containing chemicals like carvacrol, eugenol, and
thymol, are known to be hot. These oils should be used with caution and include
oregano, thyme, cinnamon leaf, and clove. More warming oils include yarrow,
sweet marjoram, ginger, basil, and black pepper.
Potentially knowing if an oil identifies
with feminine yin or masculine yang energy, or helps ground or open certain
chakras, can provide even more support.
3.
Combine oils.
Synergy is everything. While individual
oils are potent, combining the aromatic molecules of different essential oils
allows them to work together and results in greater benefit than the sum of
individual effects. From a holistic perspective, I often blend synergies with three
to five essential oils. At the very least, this blending technique allows me to
have a core of the blend, enhancer, and harmonizer.
Blending oils with similar chemical
components gives heightened effects. For example, blending ho-wood, rosewood,
and Spanish marjoram, which all contain a high percentage of linalool, a
monoterpene alcohol, would make a good synergy for sleep and deep relaxation.
4.
Know the facts.
While it’s not realistic to expect everyone
to know everything about each oil chemotype and potential contraindications,
you can really get by with only two pieces of basic information: source and
price. Let packaging be your first clue!
There is no regulatory body that
scientifically evaluates and certifies the purity of essential oils.
On essential oil bottles, though, small,
high-quality suppliers will always tell you the Latin binomial (indicating the
plant genus and species), where and how the oil was distilled, and whether it’s
organic or wild-harvested. The Latin name is important because there are many
species of certain plant families, like lavender. In fact, there are over 250
species of eucalyptus—only eight of which are commonly used in aromatherapy.
Knowing where an oil is from is key to understanding environmental factors that
alter chemical constituents and aroma. For instance, lavender (Lavandula
angustifolia) from France is considered superior to lavender grown in other
countries, like Bulgaria.
5.
Be wary of cheap oils and gimmicky claims.
Unfortunately, the scene has been set for
unethical business practices as large corporate players drive raw material
prices to low levels, often forbidding profit to be made. With rampant
adulteration of oils (e.g., cheaper essential oils substituted and falsely
labeled—like lavendin for lavender, or a completely synthetic laboratory-made
oil labeled as wild-harvested), it’s crucial to be in the know about realistic
essential oil prices—particularly for unadulterated, pure, and rare oils. For
example, rose, jasmine, and sandalwood being sold in ½-ounce and 1-ounce sizes
should raise some eyebrows. A single ounce of rose otto retails for $400 or
more!
Given current industry practices, you
should also be wary of popular, gimmicky claims. Perhaps the most egregious is
using the label "Therapeutic Grade." There is no such thing as
"therapeutic grade" or "certified pure" essential oils.
There is no regulatory body that scientifically evaluates and certifies the
purity of essential oils. Some large, multilevel marketing brands have even
trademarked or copyrighted these promotional sayings, but they are just
misleading catchphrases. When purchasing oils, ask sellers if they provide data
information sheets on their oils. Most quality distillers and retailers provide
GC/MS (gas chromatography and mass spectrometry) testing results that show the
chemical breakdown of their oils. This objective data can help you assess the
quality of an oil when read (and tested!) properly.
5.
Think beyond the oils.
Making your own all-natural product?
There’s more to it than just essential oils. Many DIY aromatherapy recipes also
call for carrier oils and butters, which are just as important to consider.
Products have shelf lives—with many citrus essential oils only lasting a year
when kept refrigerated (in fact, most essential oils are happiest when cool!)
and many common carrier oils are best used before six months to a year after
purchase. Being wary of product expiration can help you avoid safety issues,
like skin sensitization and save you from wasting precious ingredients from a
spoiled batch. Additionally, when purchasing and using oils, be mindful of
their method of application. Gels are the fastest to dermally absorb, but direct
inhalation and diffusion can be just as effective depending on your goal.
6.
Diffuse, diffuse, diffuse.
An easy way to integrate aromatherapy into
your everyday life is through diffusing. I turn to my diffuser for a multitude
of reasons—when I want to set an ambience, reduce stress, support sleep, and
increase alertness or motivation. Diffusion refers to a method of transmitting
essential oils into the air within a specified area. Diffusing supports a
multitude of goals, but it mainly serves two purposes: reducing air microbes
and altering mood and emotion. Clinical research shows that diffused lemon
essential oil is an affordable intervention that has a positive effect on test
anxiety. Additionally, diffusing cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary is an uplifting
blend that also serves as a safe way to keep your home’s air germ-free.
There are many diffusers on the market, but
I recommend checking out Aromis Aromatherapy or Organic Aromas. I suggest
purchasing a jet style nebulizer made out of glass. If you can, avoid diffusers
made from plastic that use water as a carrier. Not only are they harder to
clean, but repeated use also leads to degradation as some essential oils eat
away at plastic. Beyond that, most inexpensive diffusers heat by a candle or
lamp, and I would consider investing in one that uses cool air to create an
aromatic vapor. Heating often changes the chemical structure of essential oils,
potentially affecting their aroma and therapeutic benefit.
How to use essential oils in your everyday
life:
Based on the process outlined above, here
are some of my go-to essential oil combinations and the thought process behind
their crafting:
1.
Cold-busting inhaler.
Whenever I come down with a nasty cold, I
make an aromatic inhaler with a synergy of three gentle, cooling oils with an
affinity for the respiratory system that are high in monoterpenes and oxides.
Therefore, I use rosalina, eucalyptus radiata, and german chamomile. My goal is
strictly therapeutic—to open up my stuffed nasal passages and help clear my
foggy mind as quickly as possible, so I don’t worry too much about loving the
aroma. Rosalina is gentle and effective, and eucalyptus radiata is less
aggressive than other eucalyptus oils, and its immune-enhancing properties make
it a go-to upper-respiratory tonic that helps alleviate any sinus troubles.
How-To: Add 6 drops rosalina, 5 drops
german chamomile, and 4 drops eucalyptus radiata onto a cotton wick and seal in
an aromatic inhaler.
Substitutions: Feel free to also try other
oxide-high nasal-clearing oils like rosemary, tea tree, inula, blue gum
eucalyptus, green myrtle, and frankincense in your inhaler.
2.
Sleep blends for relaxation.
Every night, I anoint my pulse points with
a rollerball blend that supports restful sleep and deep relaxation. Therefore,
I look for oils high in esters, monoterpene alcohols, and sesquiterpene
alcohols that calm and soothe the nervous and endocrine systems and release
muscular and nervous tension. This is a daily blend that allows me to drift off
into sleep, so loving the aroma is a must!
I turn to a well-balanced, herbaceous blend
of lavender, roman chamomile, and clary sage. All three of these oils are high
in esters—promising an instant calming effect on the central nervous system.
Lavender and clary sage are also both high in monoterpene alcohols that help
nurture balance.
How-To: Add 15 drops lavender, 5 drops
roman chamomile, and 10 drops clary sage into a glass roller-bottle and top if
off with 10 mL of vanilla-infused jojoba oil.
Substitutions: Spikenard, vetiver,
ylang-ylang, and sweet marjoram are other sleep-supporting oils with which you
could blend. I love the aroma of vanilla-infused jojoba, but most other carrier
oils (sweet almond, sesame, or grapeseed) would also work.
3.
Moisturizing face serum.
I have thin skin that’s prone to dryness.
My skin care goals are to keep moisturized and prevent environmental damage and
premature aging. I take a holistic approach to my face-care routine, always
using essential oils high in esters that soothe dermal inflammation,
monoterpenes that enhance dermal penetration, and monoterpene alcohols that are
mild and generally well-tolerated by most skin types. While I always promote
and see the value in essential oil synergies, for my daily face serum, I only
use two oils: Helichrysum italicum and rose. Sometimes, I’ll add sandalwood to
round out the aroma and reduce hyperpigmentation.
Helichrysum is one of my favorite scents,
so I like using it every day. It also doubles as a wonderful skin and wound
healer—a must-use oil for those with acne and eczema. Rose is the queen of
luxurious essential oils and a true aromatic treat. Rose helps reduce
inflammation and redness, while nicely prepping the skin for other products.
How-To: Add 15 drops helichrysum and 7
drops rose into combined ½-ounce rosehip-seed oil and ½ ounce argan oil. Use on
face after cleansing.
Substitutions: In a face serum, balm, or
cream, try other essential oils heavy in monoterpene alcohols, like lavender
and rose geranium; or sesquiterpene alcohols, like German chamomile,
sandalwood, and patchouli; and ketones, like rosemary ct. verbenone and manuka.
Additionally, based on your skin type, other carrier oils may be suitable. For
acne or oily skin, try grapeseed or hemp oil, and for normal or combination
skin, try using apricot kernel or jojoba.
Inspired to fill your purse with aromatic
goodies? Here are five essential oils you should never travel without and 10
more you need every time you go outside."
Source: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/essential-oils-beginners-guide?utm_term=pos-5&utm_source=mbg&utm_medium=email&utm_content=daily1&utm_campaign=170727
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