About Aromatherapy Products
In this modern age, people are becoming more aware of the value of age-old alternative and natural therapies for health and wellness. Apart from enjoying the wonderful fragrances of the essential oils, aromatherapy is a complementary therapy which could assist in the treatment of numerous health problems.
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the fragrant art of using selected aromatic essential oils for therapeutic purposes. It is the fastest growing complementary therapy in the world, and is recognised as being one of the most natural and holistic treatments available today.
Aromatherapy can be used for a wide range of conditions. The aroma alone can have a subtle but memorable effect on the mind, and via the mind, on the body. Inhaling the oils also has an effect on the body, as some part of the oil will be absorbed via the lungs and will enter the bloodstream in this way. Essential oils are readily absorbed through the skin, and whenever they are used in massage, baths, skin preparations or compresses, a certain amount of the volatile oil is absorbed.
Please Note: One has to be careful with self-treatment and experimenting with essential oils, since some of the oils are contra-indicated under certain circumstances and essential oils should never be taken internally. The art of aromatherapy should be used responsibly for health benefits, as well as for sheer enjoyment, without unnecessary risk.
Storing your Aromatherapy Oils
Essential oils should be stored in a dark bottle made from glass. Take care to label them correctly and store them in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight and out of the reach of children. Also make sure that the container is closed properly as essential oils are volatile.
Most essential oils will last for up to two years once opened. Due to the volatile nature of citrus oils, they will not last as long. On the other hand, some oils, such as Sandalwood and Frankincense, will mature with age.
Carrier Oils
Pure essential oils are too concentrated to be used directly on the skin. That’s why essential oils are diluted in a carrier oil so that they can be massaged or rubbed onto the skin in the correct dosage. For every 30 ml of carrier oil, use 15 drops of essential oil (adult dose). Carrier oils consist of vegetable, nut or seed oils, many of which themselves have therapeutic properties. Vegetables oils are obtained from the seeds of plants that grow all over the world. There are several different plants known to have oil-bearing seeds, but only a few have been produced commercially. Vegetable oils are usually produced from food and are therefore also good sources of nutrients and energy.