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Essential Oils are Used...

In aromatherapy essential oils are applied over the skin (massage, bath, compress) or inhaled.

Oil baths invigorate, stimulate and help us treat colds. The temperature of water should be around 35-38 Celsius degrees and one shouldn’t stay in the bath longer than 20 minutes. You need 5-10 drops of oil for a full bath. This should be mixed with 1-2 spoons of milk cream or honey (they work as emulgents). In this way the oil will blend with water instead of floating on its surface. This refers especially to extremely sensitive people.

In body and massage oils there should be around 20 drops in 50 ml of carrier oil. Jojoba, aloe Vera, macadamia, almond, sunflower, hazel-nut, apricot or peach seeds oil, sesame, briar- rose, avocado, arnica, chamomile or other ( if we aren’t allergic to them) are the best carrier oils. We need to choose carrier oil without a strong, dominating smell if we want to have a product with a pure beautiful aroma (like e.g. face oil).

Wheat sprouts oil (cold pressed) has got a strong, dominating and pervasive odor that could distort the aroma of the essential oil. This oil has another disadvantage: it’s orange red and can dye hands and clothes. If we don’t mind these and we still want to use it because of its numerous advantages we should mix it with another oil in proportion 1:9.

All distilled oils are almost odorless.

You put 5-10 drops to a scent lamp or a diffuser (add more if the room is big) .The bowl (with water and oil) and its distance from the heat source are also significant.

The smaller the bowl and the closer the flame is, the quicker it is heated. (The water temperature shouldn’t be over 55 Celsius degrees) If it’s higher the water will boil and evaporate and the oil will simply burn.

The inhalation is extremely helpful in case of a cold and a runny, swollen nose. It removes the excess of mucus from our air passages.

For a bowl of hot, steaming water (80 Celsius degrees) you need 3-5 drops of oil. You must bend over the bowl, cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam through the nose. This should take about 5-7 min. Afterwards you must stay indoors for at least an hour.

People with spider veins shouldn’t use this type of inhalation because high temperature is bad for this condition. An alternative option would be putting 2-3 drops on the tissue and inhaling them. Any inhalation is bad for people affected with asthma!

A compress is used to relieve the pain or discomfort in some body parts. A gauze or a towel is soaked in water with essential oil ( 10 drops of oil for a glass of water). It can be kept for around two hours (depending on the oil).

Face compresses can be used in a similar way. The amount of oil should be smaller – 5 drops and it can stay on the face no longer than 15 minutes.The best oils for the face are flower oils (rose, neroli, lavender etc.) You shouldn’t use oils that can be described as irritants. People with spider veins must make sure the compress isn’t too hot.

Concluding, everything must be used in moderation. It`s safer to use less concentrated oils to avoid skin irritation, pain, dizziness or sickness. Using the oils carefully you will certainly be able to enjoy their beautiful fragrances which will enhance your vigor.

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