Monday, March 26, 2012

Three Ways to Inhale Essential Oils

Direct Inhalation:  Place two to three drops of essential oil(s) into the palm of one hand.  Rub your palms together, then cup your hands over your nose and mouth and inhale deeply six to eight times.  Be careful not to touch the skin near your eyes.

Diffusion:  Always diffuse essential oils neat (undliuted) in a cold air diffuser.  Cold air diffusers are designed to handle essential oils, not vegetable oils.  Vegetable oils are thicker than essential oils and may clog the diffuser mechanism.

Vapor:  Place steaming hot water into a basin, sink or large bowl.  For best results water should be at least two inches deep so it holds the heat for a few minutes.  Drape a towel over your head and the water container allowing the steam to rise up to your face.  Add three to six drops of essential oil(s) to the hot water.  Inhale through the nose as deeply as possible several times.  You can recharge the vapors by adding hot water to the container.

Visit us again soon for more information on how to use essential oils.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Essential Oils Application - Overview

How to Use Essential Oils
There are eighteen commonly recognized ways to use essential oils which fall under five generally recognized categories.  The five categories are: inhalation, topical, ingestion, oral and retention.  This article is meant as an overview on essential oils.  If you would like more detailed information on how to use essential oils follow this link.

The Inhalation method introduces the essential oil into the body through the olfactory system, or sense of smell.  Scientists have proven there is a strong connection between the olfactory system and the limbic system, the seat of our emotional natures.  The sense of smell can trigger positive or negative emotions and both are influenced significantly through the use of essential oils.  The inhalation method includes: diffusion, direct and vapor applications.

Topical use of essential oils refers to oils being placed directly on the skin surface.  There are eight methods which fall under the topical application category.  They include Neat (undiluted), Dilute 50:50, Dilute 20:80, Vita Flex, Compress, Bath Salt, Body Massage, Raindrop Technique.

Ingestion, as one would assume, refers to inviting the essential oils into one’s body via the mouth.  Safe ingestion of essential oils can be done using: Capsules, Rice Milk, or Syrup.

Oral application can sometimes be confused with ingestion, but is really quite different.  In the oral application of essential oils the user can either: gargle or apply to ones tongue.

Retention method of use can be accomplished by rectal or tampon application.

Visit us  frequently as we discuss the various ways one can use essential oils.  Next week we will take a look at  "The Three Ways to Inhale Essential Oils."