Humanity, throughout its long history, has accumulated vast experience interacting with the plant world, learning to extract their essential component – essential oils , the use of which initiated the formation of a large body of knowledge called Aromatherapy . The purposes of using aromatherapy oils can be divided into two large groups: medical and cosmetic. However, this division is very arbitrary. The fact is that the effect produced by the use of essential oils is so complex, deep, and aromatherapy oils possess such biological activity that even when using them for cosmetic purposes, you achieve additional effects – in the form of influence on the emotional background, increased adaptive capacity, stabilization of pressure, etc.
How to Use Essential Oils for Medicinal Purposes
The application of aromatherapy oils for medical purposes includes a large group of methods aimed at preventing and treating various groups of diseases. These include:
- treatment of respiratory diseases;
- oral and dental cavities;
- cardiovascular system;
- digestive organs;
- nervous diseases. High activity of oils against viruses, microbes, and bacteria is known. This is related to their prescription for the treatment of:
- influenza;
- acute respiratory viral infections;
- mycoses;
- dermatological problems. Methods of using essential oils for medicinal purposes can be divided into the following groups.
- Inhalation (through inhalations or air aromatization).
- External application (baths with aromatherapy oils, application to the skin, rinses).
- Internal use (in the form of solutions and pills).
The most frequent method of using essential oils is their effect on the respiratory organs. For this, inhalations are done, diffusers and aroma lamps are used. Inhalations – an individual method of using aromatherapy oil. The most intense effect is achieved with hot inhalations (3-4 drops of the recommended oil are added to 1 liter of hot water, a person bends over the vessel and inhales the steam). For cold inhalations, 1-2 drops of the necessary oil are poured into an aroma pendant, or applied to a cloth (handkerchief), this is brought to the nose and the aroma is inhaled. For cold inhalations, the Machold inhaler was created in the 1970s – a glass device resembling a flask into which essential oil is dripped. Thanks to its bizarre shape, during inhalation, the air swirls and the medicine is sprayed in the form of tiny particles. And the presence of special nozzles in this device allows you to inhale aromatherapy oil directly through the nose or mouth, effectively delivering it to the focus of the disease (maxillary sinuses, bronchial branches).
Using aromatherapy oil in diffusers or aroma lamps (aromatic burners) allows you to make an aromatherapy session collective.
Another way to use the anti-inflammatory properties of aromatherapy oil externally is the application of compresses and wraps, where cotton fabric is soaked in essential oil dissolved in water and, after squeezing, applied to the projection of the diseased organ or joint, additionally wrapped and held from 5 to 40 minutes. Rubbing and massages – an effective way to treat muscle, joint, neurological, colds, and other diseases. For these purposes, 1-5 drops of aromatherapy oil are dissolved in 10 ml of base oil (peach, apricot or grape seed, macadamia, etc.), after which manipulations are performed on the necessary part of the body with the recommended intensity.
Another way to use aromatherapy oil is to apply it pointwise to the skin. The recommended essential oil (pure or diluted in base oil) is applied to papillomas and warts for several days. A similar method is also used to treat acne.
The use of essential oil internally is permissible if there is a recommendation from a competent specialist, since an overdose is fraught with toxic effects. For internal use, aromatherapy oil (1-4 drops, depending on the type) is dissolved in 1 tbsp of edible vegetable oil, or 1 tsp of honey, or dripped onto a piece of bread or dried fruit.
Aromatic Oils: Application for Beauty
Aromatherapy oils are used for cosmetic purposes in a mixture with base oils or to enrich ready-made cosmetic products. For example, you can prepare an oil mixture by adding 1-2 drops of essential oil to 1 tsp of base oil, depending on the desired effect. This mixture can be:
- used for cosmetic massage of the face, neck and décolleté;
- applied in the form of masks;
- used to cleanse the face by applying it to a damp cotton swab;
- used as an elixir, applying a small amount before applying the main care product.
An oil mixture at the rate of 3-5 drops of aromatherapy oil per 1 tbsp of fatty oil can be applied to the hair and roots 2 hours before washing your hair. In the same ratio, essential oils are used in a mixture with shampoo, balm, hair conditioner to enrich these products. Up to 4 drops of a suitable essential oil are added to creams, tonics, lotions per 5 g of base. However, it should be remembered about the high penetrating ability of aromatherapy oils, which, on the one hand, will contribute to the greater effectiveness of cosmetic products, but on the other hand, can enhance the negative effect of some ingredients. To avoid this, it is important to use the most natural cosmetics.
Benefits
Along with those already listed:
- immunostimulating;
- general strengthening;
- anti-inflammatory;
- antioxidant;
- and other therapeutic effects on the organs and systems of the body. Aromatherapy oils also have a complex effect on the nervous system. Depending on the oil used, you can achieve:
- effective correction of the emotional background;
- relieve tension or stress;
- improve night sleep;
- smooth out neuroses;
- normalize hormonal status;
- gently stimulate sexual desire.
Contraindications
Each aromatherapy oil has individual characteristics and features of use that exclude their use in certain combinations or circumstances. However, there are general contraindications that must be studied before starting to use the oil. It is forbidden to use aromatherapy oil if you have:
- allergy to the plant (is an absolute contraindication to the use of essential oil from it);
- individual intolerance;
- children’s age (as a general rule - up to 6 years). With caution, and only after a preliminary consultation with a doctor, it is necessary to use aromatherapy oils for:
- pregnancy;
- asthma;
- epilepsy;
- severe illnesses. During pregnancy and epilepsy, essential oils are contraindicated: basil, oregano, juniper, rosemary, sage, wormwood, coriander, fir, thyme, thuja, cloves.
