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The
Basics of Aromatherapy
by
Francesca Black
Aromatherapy
is not a new phenomenon. In India, the "Basil" plant
or tulsi is revered as holy and its roots are made
into sacred beads and rosaries. In the middle ages,
cloves of garlic still hung around the neck of a newborn
as protection agaist dark forces.
It
is very easy to get started with Aromatherapy, but
there are safety issues that you need to be aware
of. Most people interested in aromatherapy start with
base essential oils creating blends. While its invigorating
to experiment, care and caution must be taken at all
times.
It
is important you make a habit of reading the instructions
given on the bottle. Essential oils should never be
ingested and need to be kept away from delicate body
parts such as eyes and mucous membranes. Dilute oils
with water for full body baths and footbaths.
Essential
oils with higher potency level such as fennel, hyssop,
sage and wintergreen should be used in smaller doses
while milder oils such as rose, lavender and chamomile
should be used in comparatively greater quantities.
Avoid
using citrus essential oils if your going to be in
the sunlight within 4 hours. Some of these oils can
increase your skins sensitivity to sunlight. Some
essential oils such as angelica, bergamot, lemon and
lime can make skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light
and thus, skin needs special care after treating it
with such oils.
It
is important not to purchase essential oils with rubber
glass dropper tops. Essential oils are very concentrated
and will turn the rubber to a gum, thus ruining the
oil.
As
a general rule, do not exceed ten drops of total essential
oils per mixture, and try to keep it around five for
maximum effectiveness.
Contemporary
healers see essential oils as having a particular
affinity with the subtle energy or 'aura' of an individual
and have a revitalizing and harmonizing effect. In
fact the first rosary was made out of compressed rose
leaves, giving off a pleasant aroma when mixed with
natural oils from fingter tips.
About
the Author
Francesca Black works in marketing at Organic Items
http://www.organic-items.com
and Aromatherapy Blends http://www.aromatherapy-blends.net
leading portals for organic products and essential
oils.
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