How to Use Essential Oils
Essential oils can be used in a variety of ways. They are portable and convenient to use, and most aromatherapy applications require only a very small amount of essential oil.
How to Use Essential Oils Topically
~ Massage: use essential oils diluted in carrier oils or lotions and rub into the skin (use 10-25 drops essential oil per ounce of carrier oil); sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, or even olive oil are all good carrier oil choices
Go to: Health Database: Massage >>
~ Alcohol rub: use essential oils diluted in ethanol or rubbing alcohol and rub into a sore or injured area; dilute essential oils 1-3% in the alcohol rub preparation
~ Salt rub: in the shower, use 2-5 drops essential oils added to a handful of Epsom salts and gently massage over the body to exfoliate and stimulate circulation; use several drops of a carrier oil added to the mixture to moisturize as well as exfoliate
~ Compress: use 1-4 drops essential oils added to hot or cold water, saturate a small cloth, and apply to an area of the body
~ Bath: use essential oils added to bath salts, bath oils, or bath milk, and pour into footbath or full body bath; use 1-3 drops essential oils for footbath, and 2-5 drops essential oils for full-body bath
Aromatherapy Recipe: Unwind Bath Soak >>
~ Lotion & crème: use essential oils by adding them to pre-made or homemade lotion or crème bases; use 10-20 drops essential oils per ounce of lotion or crème
How to Use Essential Oils Via Inhalation
~ Diffusion: use a nebulizer to spray a very fine mist of essential oils into the air
Aromatherapy Recipe: "Energize" Essential Oil Diffusion Blend >>
~ Steam inhalation: use 1-4 drops essential oils added to steaming water, tent a towel over the head, and inhale the vapors
~ Vaporization: use essential oils in a lamp ring, oil burner, or aromatic vaporizer
~ Direct inhalation: drop essential oils onto a tissue or cotton ball for inhalation, or a couple of drops between the palms, then cup over the nose and mouth
Internal Use of Essential Oils
~ Oral use of some essential oils can be safe and effective, but should be done only by those who have thorough knowledge of essential oils, or under supervision of an experienced Aromatherapist
~ Essential oils can also be used in suppositories and douches, but should be done only by those who have thorough knowledge of essential oils, or under supervision of an experienced Aromatherapist
