Aromatherapy. #0452

--Aromatherapy, or fragrance that has a good effect on the body via mind.
--The beneficial use of aroma has been with us through time. Even back in pre-Roman and ancient Greek times, for instance, persons would use essential flower oils in their washing of their hair to be considered more attractive to each other.
--Above the nasal cavity we each have an olfactory bulb through which we perceive aromatic information from molecules in the air currents like as in very fine mist. The nerve cells in the nasal cavity pass on the information detected to the brain. Our sense of smell has an almost direct link to our oldest memories. It also helps to regulate and control some bodily functions through interaction with our endocrine glands, and our hormones and digestion and breathing can thereby be affected by aroma.
--There are in nature three distinct types of oils.
--The mineral oils such as petro-chemical products don't concern is in aromatherapy basically because they are not able to be absorbed in our skin, and are only used in some cosmetics for layering on top to effect change in colour or tone.
--The vegetable and animal oils, or greasy oils (glyceride) are useful to aromatherapy as the carrier oils - peanut, olive, sunflower and almond for base oils to carry fragrance, and common fatty oils - vegetable or animal - butter, lanolin, beeswax and cocoa butter are often used for fragrant ointments or balms.
--The essential oil is the fine vaporous part separated from the fibrous oil. This light liquid or essence was found to contain the fragrance and the healing property of the plant/flower. This condensed essence/essential oil contains the full aroma and when left in open air will evaporate. This is what separates it from the other oils.
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--While essential oil is the bearer of the aroma/fragrance, it is the carrier oil we must first consider. It should not be absorbed into the skin too quickly and should have good lubricating quality. Olive oil is a rich oil and nutritious but often has a distinct smell of its own, so often an almond oil which is odourless is a better carrier for an essential fragrance. Facial oils need to be easily absorbed.
--Grapeseed oil is a fine oil with no odour and is a very good basic massage oil. Sweet almond is very like grapeseed but a bit more expensive. It has skin conditioning properties and is moisturising and cleansing. For dry skin, try Avocado oil, rich in Vit A, D & E.
--As a preservative try the use of Wheatgerm oil which is very rich, heavy and often expensive. Just use 5-10% to grapeseed or almond as it has natural anti-oxidant, Vit E. Perhaps a mix of 10% of avocado plus 10% wheatgerm added to grapeseed or almond for skin nutrition.
--To improve the elasticity of one's skin, try Apricot kernel oil, and a good natural moisturiser that is non-greasy can be found with Jojoba which does not oxidise as it is a form of liquid wax. It leaves a wonderful satiny texture.
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--Mixing and diluting is done usually by the measurement of the carrier oil being known and then adding the essential oil in drops. The use of tea spoons presents somewhat of a difficulty in today's works as there are so very many varieties and sizes. The small bottles in which one decant the carrier oil usually come with a defined size measurement, such as 100ml or 150ml or 200ml etc. If not a Medecine measure can usually be had at the pharmacy with increments of 10ml to 50ml. Once having established the size of the bottle of carrier oil, it is best to measure essential oils in terms of drops. A certain amount of mls per larger amount of mls, sounds alright on paper, but when measuring, to avoid wastage and to be more able to experiment in dilutions, it is advised that drops of essential oil be the means of measurement.
--Here then is a handy list.
1ml of essential oil = 20 drops approximately.
1% essential oil in 100 ml carrier oil = 20 drops
1% essential oil in 10ml carrier oil = 2 drops
(a 1% blend is suitable for skin or facial oil.)
5% essential oil in 100 ml = 5 ml or 100 drops
5% essential oil in 10 ml = 0.5 ml or 10 drops
(a 5% blend for a medium strength massage oil.)
--To experiment one might want to make very small amounts. A teaspoon as explained can vary in size today, but in old recipes measured 5 ml or 100 drops. 1% blend would be about 1 drop and 5% blend about 5 drops. A 'drop' measure can be as in some bottles with a rubber squeeze on the top and a glass tube narrowing from 5 mm thickness to an inner 1 mm thickness. Also one might get a glass rod/stick approx 3 mm thick which when dipped in the liquid oil will be measured drop formed on the end when withdrawn. The size of glass rid and viscosity of oil will make for a difference in size of drop, but your experiments and continued use of same implements will work with your notes in that your discovery of your size drop will be the difference between the fragrance Yiu or your brother makes from own notes and implements.
--Allowing for different potencies of essential oils, different methods of measurements, and different qualities of mixtures, it becomes important to keep one's own notes and experiment upon different blends of essences.
--3 drops of essence in 1 tea spn of carrier will make a massage oil, or 10 drops of essence to 3 tea spn of carrier.
--Samples :
--Refreshing Oil.
Lavender 4 drops to 10 ml / mild inexpensive oil.
Peppermint 2 drops to 10 ml / strong, avoid eye contact.
Bethany 3 drops to 10 ml / mild and fruity.
Basil 1 drop to 10 ml / strong, rich scent.
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--Warning note : These posts are not fir the diagnosing of any illness or accident. Always refer to a qualified medical practitioner Fir advice and professional service. These are for personal education and use of for treatment is at the reader's own responsibility.
--Exercise caution using essential oils as they can be toxic. Always avoid contact with eyes and other sensitive parts of body.
-- Always keep all essential oils and equipment used in mixing and diluting away from the reach of children.
--Spice oils, such as Cassia and Cinnamon can burn the skin. Camphor can create nausea when used in excess. Aniseed and Nutmeg can, in excess cause a stupefying if the nervous system.
--Take care with clove leaf, basil hyssop, myrrh, thyme, parsley seed, aniseed, cajuput, camphor, coriander, eucalyptus, fennel and marjoram.
-If pregnant,avoid rosemary, thyme, basil, cinnamon, hyssop, cedar wood, peppermint, myrrh, Clary, marjoram and juniper. Be safe and avoid all essential oils for first few months. Use, maybe only a little lavender.
--At no time are essential oils to be taken internally unless prescribed by qualified medical practitioner. If poisoning occurs, induce vomiting. Good to have some Ipecac syrup available.
--These are distilled and concentrated essences with healing and antiseptic properties. They are not found in this Strobg concentration in nature and caution must always be applied in their use and availability. This is why essential oils are diluted in carrier oils for use.
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Be well!
May the blessings be.
Keep on keeping on. 😇