The health benefits of aromatherapy
Monday 6th June marks the start of Aromatherapy Awareness week. Aromatherapy has long been used to improve the health of the body, mind and spirit. Its primary focus is on how essential oils gathered from plant-based sources can help us. Essential oils are very concentrated, and consequently have powerful aromas. These can be extracted from many different aspects of the plant – from flowers, leaves, twigs, branches, seeds, fruit, cones, bark, wood, roots and even resin.
Aromatherapy oils can be used in lots of different ways. They each have different properties that make them excellent for a range of things including beauty, cleaning and more!
Let’s explore the different ways that aromatherapy can be beneficial for your health….
Everyday life can be really stressful. We recommend taking a few minutes out of your day to unwind and practice wellness. Aromatherapy can really help with this. Have you ever noticed that gorgeous relaxing smell when you step into a spa? It’s no coincidence that essential oils are often diffused in spas and salons. As well as smelling gorgeous, they soothe and aid relaxation.
Essential oils such as lavender, frankincense, bergamot, lemongrass, geranium and ylang ylang are all great aids to help us relax.
We love making our own relaxing bath salts – recipe here – that help us unwind after a particularly hard day. The combination of a soothing hot bath and homemade bath salts is our idea of a perfect night in!
We are used to thinking of essential oils helping us to unwind, but do you know that they can also energise us? We love adding a few drops of sweet orange oil to our diffuser at work. The zesty scent instantly uplifts us and helps us focus. Other essential oils that work in a similar way are peppermint, grapefruit, rosemary, lemon and spearmint.
Mint oils are great to add to homemade room scents. Absolute Aromas advises making a room scent using the following recipe:
“Add 10% essential oil single note or blend to a mixture of alcohol and water. You can use vodka in a 50:40 mixture with water. Place this in a bottle with a spray top and keep in the fridge to make it last longer.”
Use your homemade room scents to spritz into the air in your office or study before you start work to boost your mood and get you ready for the working day!
Essential oils can help with tension and muscle pain. From eucalyptus to rosemary, essential oils are often a key ingredient of everyday products such as bubble baths, bath salts, shower gels, first aid products and more. According to Healthline “Peppermint contains menthol, which has a cooling effect on sore, aching muscles. It also has analgesic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties.” Rosemary, lavender and eucalyptus oils are often added to popular bubble bath blends, and all are favoured for their relaxing, soothing properties.
We’ve recently added a great range of products that contain arnica oil. These products are designed to help reduce bruising and swelling.
We love making homemade heat pads with soothing essential oils sprinkled onto the material. You can find a great recipe here!
Essential oils are a natural disinfectant!
Essential oils can also be used to disinfect your home. Indeed they are the main components of lots of cleaning products. They don’t only smell great – oils such as tea tree oil are antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic. Lemon, Peppermint, Pink Grapefruit and Eucalyptus also have similar properties. Learn how to make your own homemade, non-toxic disinfectant spray here!
Use them as a natural, non-toxic room freshener!
Essential oils are a great replacement for artificial room sprays. Not only can you tailor the scent to suit your preference (and mood), it also much better for your health and you can be certain it doesn’t contain any toxic chemicals.
Oils such as ginger & lemon or eucalyptus & lavender make great scents to spritz around your home, as they smell so fresh and clean. We love using seasonal scents around Christmas time like cinnamon or sweet orange. They help create such a welcoming atmosphere in your home.
Tea tree oil has long been coveted for the positive effect it has on acne. In fact, many anti-blemish beauty products use tea tree oil as the main ingredient. Tea tree oil has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. This can help reduce the swelling caused by acne. You should always do a patch test before using tea tree oil and ensure that you dilute it with a carrier oil before using on your skin. We recommend 1 to 2 drops of tea tree oil with 12 drops of carrier oil.
Be sure to check out our range of skincare products specifically dedicated to blemish-prone skin!
You can make your own massage oil
Essential oils blended with a carrier oil are the basis of most massage oils. Our favourite carrier oils to use are sweet almond oil, olive oil and jojoba oil. Add a few drops of your favourite soothing essential oils and you have yourself a 100% natural, beautifully scented massage oil! These make great gifts for loved ones! Absolute Aromas recommends the following: “Massage blends for the body must not exceed 3% in dilution; blends for the face must not exceed 1%. When creating massage oils for babies, toddlers and elderly people, don’t add more than 1% essential oil to your carrier oil.”
It can help clear blocked noses
You have more than likely been using essential oils for most of your life. Certain oils are used in cold and flu inhalers. Eucalyptus and peppermint are the most popular oils to clear sinuses. An easy way to help clear a stuffy head is to fill a bowl with boiling water and add a few drops of Peppermint oil and/or Eucalyptus oil. Slowly breathe in the vapours to unblock your sinuses. The menthols help to drain sinuses and clear mucus.
Clary Sage, Thyme and Rosemary are also very useful for when you’re feeling under the weather.
Java citronella oil is renowned for being an excellent natural insect repellent. You can mix the oil with a carrier oil and spritz into your room, or over yourself. You can also buy a whole range of products which have been enhanced with Citronella here! Citronella oil poses minimal or no risk to wildlife and the environment due to its toxic levels being low and its use being limited. Therefore it can be used around the home with no adverse effects.