| For beginners, aromatherapy can be daunting because | | | | essential oils should not leave residues while petroleum |
| of the myriad of materials and methods used to treat | | | | solvents will. |
| many ailments of the mind and body. Aromatherapy, | | | | For application and usage tips, you need to keep in |
| however, is often practiced in daily life in ways that | | | | mind these dos:o Do use essential oils according to |
| you are unaware of! As an example, you probably | | | | package instructions and cautions. Essential oils contain |
| remember the times when you used lavender baths to | | | | high concentrations of compounds that can cause |
| make you feel more relaxed and the scent of roses in | | | | adverse side effects like nausea, drowsiness and |
| the room to brighten up your mood. | | | | headaches when used improperly. Also, some oils like |
| Aromatherapy Defined | | | | clary sage must be avoided when drinking alcohol.o Do |
| Aromatherapy uses essential oils and aromatic | | | | dilute essential oils with carrier oils before applying to |
| compounds derived from plants to exert positive | | | | the skin. If your skin comes into contact with essential |
| influences upon an individual's mental mood and/or | | | | oils, apply vegetable oil and soap and then wash with |
| bodily health. This is usually achieved through two basic | | | | lukewarm water. Repeat as needed.o Do test diluted |
| ways: nasal inhalation and skin application. | | | | essential oils on the skin. Since each individual reacts |
| Aromatherapy Do's | | | | differently to specific oils, this step is necessary to |
| As a beginner, it is wise to remember the following | | | | avoid allergic reactions. When you observe skin |
| aromatherapy tips regarding the purchase, application | | | | irritations (i.e., itching, burning, redness), do stop using the |
| and storage of the oils and waters used. After all, you | | | | oils immediately.o Do adopt a one-week break from |
| want to heal not harm yourself and your patients! | | | | using aromatherapy when you have used it |
| For buying tips, you must remember the following dos:o | | | | continuously for two weeks. This gives your body a |
| Do buy from reputable vendors, either in online sites or | | | | rest from the aromas and oils used. |
| in offline stores. The quality will vary from one store to | | | | For storage tips, you have to follow these dos for the |
| the next so it is always best to initially purchase small | | | | general safety of everybody exposed to the oils:o Do |
| quantities to test them out.o Do look at the botanical | | | | keep away from the reach of children.o Do keep your |
| names of the oils. Often, two oils will have the same | | | | essential oils in dark bottles either in amber or cobalt |
| label names but will come from two different plants. | | | | blue. Place these bottles in cool, dark places. Or better |
| For example, bay essential oil comes from Pimenta | | | | yet, purchase wooden boxes for this sole purpose. |
| racemosa and Laurus nobilis, which have different | | | | However, the most important part of learning to use |
| therapeutic properties.o Do look at labels since not all | | | | aromatherapy to reap its maximum benefits is to read |
| essential oils have therapeutic values. Pure essential oil | | | | books and listen to experts before attempting to use |
| has therapeutic values and you can easily tell them | | | | essential oils. After all, information is power in the art of |
| from harmful petroleum solvents via a simple test: | | | | healing! |
| Place sample oil drops on a blotting paper. Pure | | | | |