Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Use Essential Oils

Use Essential Oils


There are many uses for essential oils, from therapeutic foot baths to scented room sprays. Remember, less is more. Always.


Instructions


1. Test for skin sensitivity by doing a patch test. Put a little bit of diluted oil in the bend of your elbow and wait 24 hours to see if itching or redness develop.


2. Use essential oils in the bath by adding three to eight drops to the tub, depending on the oil. Add it just before you get in and soak for at least 10 minutes.


3. Use oils as an inhalant to treat congestion (try eucalyptus) or stress (try peppermint or sandalwood). Put four drops in a bowl of hot, almost boiling water. Drape a towel over your head to make a tent and breathe in the steam for a few minutes.


4. Make a foot bath with five to seven drops of oil in a quart of warm water; soak for about 10 minutes. Try lemon, mint, tea tree or juniper oil.


5. Put 20 drops per 5 oz. of water in a spray bottle to make a room spray, or add a drop or two to a basket of dried flowers.








6. Put a drop of oil on a hot lightbulb - but don't try this with halogen lights.








7. Create a blend for massage by adding 10 drops of oil per 1 oz. of diluting oil, also called a carrier oil.


8. Make up a massage oil using apricot or 100 percent extra-virgin, cold-pressed olive oil for normal skin types. Try aloe vera or coconut oils for dry skin.


9. Use grapeseed oil in blends for skin that tends to be oily.


10. Don't use mineral or baby oil as a carrier; they don't absorb well.

Tags: essential oils