| Plants are the basis of essential oils; these oils in living | | | | Essential oils: How Can You Use Them? |
| plants are the immune system of the plant. The oils | | | | Home use of essential oils usually consists of bath |
| are extracted from the bark, flower, fruit, grass, leaf, | | | | additives and topical application (which may be through |
| needle, rind, root, seed and wood of various plants and | | | | use in organic skin care or though massage using |
| sold in a 100% concentration. | | | | organic products). |
| Extraction methods make then very highly | | | | Essential oils (like lavender) used in your diffuser can |
| concentrated. Small amounts are all that you need for | | | | create a calming atmosphere for everyone in your |
| most recipes. Contrary to their name, essential oils do | | | | house. Effects from essential oils usually last about |
| not feel oily; most are clear, but some are amber | | | | four hours. |
| colored. It is important to understand that absolute oils | | | | As a bath additive, use an oil that produces a certain |
| are not the same as essential oils. Various solvents | | | | effect, for instance, a morning bath may have |
| are used during extraction for absolute oils and these | | | | rosemary as an added oil because rosemary is |
| oils are used for making fragrances. | | | | stimulating. A mere 6 drops of essential oil to your |
| Extraction may be by steam (or water), expression, or | | | | bathwater is enough. Remember that the oils are very |
| supercritical CO2. These methods each have distinct | | | | highly concentrated. |
| processes and reasons for using them. | | | | Topical application through organic skin care is very |
| Steam: this is the purest and most popular method for | | | | popular today because many people are making their |
| extraction plant oils. Plants are steamed in a | | | | own skin care treatments at home using organic |
| pressurized container. As the steam pushes through | | | | ingredients. This approach to skin care is a return to |
| the plant, the oils are evaporated as everything cools, | | | | yesteryear with a twist. |
| the oils return to their liquid form and are able to be | | | | We have learned so much about skin and this |
| collected. | | | | knowledge added to ideas about skin care from much |
| Expression: this method is less popular simply because | | | | simpler times give organic skin care a step above skin |
| it cannot be used with most plants; only oils that are | | | | care lines that boast many man made chemicals. The |
| locked in the peel of citrus fruits can be extracted by | | | | addition of essential oils to the organic systems gives |
| this method. Citrus peels, which are infused with much | | | | you wonderful psychological effects that are not |
| oil, are pressed. This literally squeezes all liquid from the | | | | available through most large commercial lines. |
| peel and this liquid must be filtered to collect the oil. | | | | If you are currently using a ready to use organic skin |
| Supercritical CO2: this method utilizes carbon dioxide | | | | care line that does not feature essential oils as |
| (CO2) in the extraction process and is used to extract | | | | ingredients in the line, contact the manufacturer before |
| oils which emanate the truest fragrance for the plant. | | | | you try adding them. There may be reasons that the |
| Therapeutic grade essential oils are distilled with low | | | | manufacturer has opted against the oils, and you need |
| pressure and low temperatures, according to the plant | | | | to know about possible conflicts in ingredients. |
| that is being used. These oils are used in aroma | | | | Topical application through organic massage emollients |
| therapy to achieve various psychological effects. For | | | | is usually a simple mixture of a preferred organic |
| instance, lavender is considered relaxing while | | | | essential oil (usually a calming oil) to an organic carrier |
| peppermint is invigorating. Inhalation or topical application | | | | oil. A carrier oil is simply a vegetable oil rich in nutrients. |
| are the main ways that aromatherapy employs to | | | | Many of the carrier oils are extracted through |
| achieve the desired effects. | | | | expression. Jojoba is one of the most popular carrier |
| Important notes: | | | | oils (apricot kernel, grapeseed, and olive are just a few |
| Essential oils should not be used on young children and | | | | of the others). For massage, use about 6 drops of |
| pregnant women. | | | | essential oil to 1 ounce of carrier oil. If olive oil is your |
| Essential oils should essential oils be ingested, some | | | | choice, it is wise to dilute this with another carrier, for |
| are highly toxic. | | | | example, you would add 6 drops essential oil to 1/2 |
| Essential oils should be kept away from eyes (in case | | | | ounce olive oil and 1/2 ounce jojoba. This is because of |
| or contact, blot with olive oil and rinse well | | | | olive oils strong scent. |