Aromatherapy as a treatment method: how to do aromatherapy at home with essential oils

There are several methods of aromatherapy, and the most popular of them are aromatic massages, baths, rinses, rubbing, compresses and applications. For those who do not accept tactile impact, there is such a method of aromatherapy as aromatization of rooms with the help of aroma lamps and aroma diffusers.

The use of aromatherapy as a method of treatment is based on the fact that essential oils applied to the skin enter the intercellular fluid, and from there through the lymph to the blood, where it interacts with the hormones and enzymes of the body.

When learning the basics of aromatherapy for beginners, remember that essential oils do not dissolve in water, but dissolve well in fats and alcohols. The basis of aromatic mixtures can be vegetable oils, wax, honey. To prepare tonics, the essential oil is dissolved in a small amount of alcohol and only then diluted with water.

Clove, rosemary, cinnamon, juniper, nutmeg, cajuput, oregano, sage, eucalyptus are potent oils. For them, it is recommended to reduce the dosage.

Aromatherapy: massage with essential oils at home

One of the effective methods of aromatherapy at home is aromatic massage: it allows you to quickly warm up the tissues, achieve relaxation and, depending on the choice of essential oil, have an additional therapeutic effect. This is one of the simplest and most effective methods of aromatherapy, since essential oils quickly enter the bloodstream. To warm up the muscles, oils of sage, lemongrass or ginger are suitable. Aromatherapy massage uses rosemary, cloves, geranium, or myrtle for a pain-relieving effect. Marjoram will help relax the muscles of the shoulder girdle and neck. In case of indigestion, it is recommended to rub the mixture with peppermint essential oil into the abdomen in a clockwise direction.

The dosage of essential oils for massage in aromatherapy is as follows:

• For 100 ml of base (olive or any other vegetable oil) – 20-30 drops of essential oil.
• For 1 st. spoon – 3-4 drops of essential oil.

Aromatherapy: how to do baths the right way

Another option for aromatherapy with essential oils at home is baths. They can be simply aromatic, tonic or soothing.

Baths are taken no more than once every two days. Before doing aromatherapy, remember that the first two baths are not recommended for more than five minutes. The dosage of oils should be increased gradually – from 4 drops on the first day to 10 drops in two weeks. After the bath, do not rinse the body.

If baths are contraindicated, rubdowns are used. A towel or sponge is moistened in water with essential oil diluted in an emulsifier. For 1 liter of water – 3-5 drops of essential oil.

For aromatic baths in aromatherapy, the essential oil must first be dissolved in an emulsifier (salt, soda, honey, alcohol will do), and then put under running water while the bath is filling.

For a tonic bath, the optimum water temperature should be just below body temperature. Sage and verbena oils are used. Rosemary and pine will also help relieve pain in the limbs.

For a soothing bath, the water should be slightly warmer than body temperature. Lavender, myrrh or ylang-ylang oils are used.

Aromatherapy methods: rinsing, rubbing and compresses

Aromatic rinses are a great way to recharge your batteries in the morning. Eliminates malaise, helps with chronic fatigue, promotes hardening of the body. Before doing aromatherapy in this way, dilute 5-10 drops of sage, rosemary, myrtle or juniper oil in a container of cool water (about 5 liters). Raise the container on outstretched arms above your head and pour the water over the top of your head. Close your eyes while pouring and pat them dry with a towel before opening.

A milder version of the general strengthening effect is to wrap yourself in a sheet moistened with flavored water for 2-3 minutes.

Rubbing is a method of intense warming effect, causing a powerful blood flow and stimulating regeneration. For muscle pain, use a mixture of 15 drops of oregano, rosemary, pine, eucalyptus, tea tree, sage, or lemongrass essential oil with 2 tbsp. tablespoons of vegetable oil. How to do aromatherapy by rubbing? Apply to the affected area and rub in with strong vigorous movements.

Compresses and applications are used to reduce pain and relieve inflammation. Warm compresses are effective for arthritis, back pain. Shake up to 5 drops of an essential oil (basil, juniper, clove, marjoram or lemongrass) in a glass of warm water, moisten a cotton cloth and apply to a sore joint or muscle. Cover with plastic wrap, warm with a towel on top. Keep up to two hours. For headaches, use cold water with ice and place a compress on your forehead or on the back of your head. Oils that relieve headaches – lemon, leuzea, geranium, chamomile, eucalyptus. Mint also works well, but it should be used with caution and keep the compress away from the eyes, otherwise they will start to water.

For sprains, swelling, and bruises, apply a cold compress with juniper, cypress, or peppermint oils.

Aromatherapy: how to make inhalations and rinses

Aromatherapy inhalations are indicated for diseases of the upper respiratory tract, for the prevention and treatment of colds.

For hot inhalations, add 1-2 drops of essential oil (sage, eucalyptus, thyme or pine) to a container with 0.5 liters of hot water (about 90 ° C). Cover your head with a towel, close your eyes (to avoid the vapors of essential oils getting into your eyes) and breathe over the vapors for about 5 minutes. Then, to enhance the effect, rub the soles of the soles of the undiluted essential oil used for inhalation, and put on warm socks.

Hot inhalations are contraindicated in bronchial asthma.

Cold inhalation – inhalation of essential oils previously applied to a strip of paper, a scarf, a pillow, etc.

Gargles are used for diseases of the throat and mouth. Dissolve 1-2 drops of essential oil in a spoonful of honey, dilute in a glass of warm water. With periodontal disease, inflammation of the gums and tongue, tea tree, chamomile, myrrh, cedar, juniper oils help.

Aromatherapy indoors: aroma lamps and diffusers

And how to do aromatherapy without resorting to direct exposure to the skin? Aroma lamps, aromatic sprays, electric and reed diffusers are used to aromatize rooms.

Essential oils with their aroma can not only improve the atmosphere in the house, but also have a disinfecting effect – most oils have antiseptic properties. For the prevention of colds, use oils of eucalyptus, pine, fir, tea tree.

Most often, an aroma lamp is used for aromatherapy – a clay or stone vessel of two compartments: a candle is located in the lower one, and a bowl in which a mixture of essential oil and water is poured into the upper one. An emulsifier is not needed in this case.

With the gradual heating of the bowl, the air is filled with the vapors of aromatic oil. It is necessary to ensure that the mixture does not boil, otherwise it will lose its beneficial properties or even acquire an unpleasant odor. Therefore, the flame of the candle must be at some distance from the bottom of the bowl so that the temperature remains low. If the liquid heats up too much, a little cold water is poured into the bowl.

The average dosage is 5 drops of essential oil per 15 m2. Moreover, the first sessions are recommended to be no longer than 15 minutes.

Recent studies have shown that essential oils can also help with dust allergies. The main allergen of house dust is the waste products of the dust mite (sweat, saliva, excrement). According to the strength of action and prevalence, tick-borne allergen can be considered a “home" analogue of pollen. Essential oils have been shown to help thin out dust mite populations and prevent them from reproducing, according to a number of studies. Essential oils of eucalyptus, fennel, cumin, tea tree, rosemary, geranium, palmarosa, cinnamon leaves and cinnamon bark have this effect. To combat dust mites, essential oils can be used in an aroma lamp, sprayed around the room and bedding (most dust mites are in upholstered furniture) mixed with water, or added at the stage of rinsing clothes.

A reed diffuser for aromatherapy is a glass or ceramic container with an aromatic mixture, into which several reed (or rattan) sticks are dipped. Oils flow up through the internal capillaries of the sticks and evaporate. Unlike an aroma lamp, such aroma diffusers are easy to use and safe.

There are also electric models of the aroma lamp and diffuser. The latter is preferable because it works without heating, and the chemical composition of the oil does not change under the influence of heat.

Aromatic sprays. To prepare a spray, the essential oil must first be dissolved in a small amount of alcohol, or thoroughly mixed with soda, and then added to a glass spray bottle with water.