In the bath
Using essential oils in the bath is an extremely effective way of influencing your mood. Add essential oils to a spoon r two of oil or soap solution and add it to the bathwater just before you get into the bath. Otherwise the oils will evaporate before you have a chance to enjoy them or benefit from absorption via the lungs and nose.
Dosage: up to 10 drops in 10ml (2 teaspoons) oil or soap solution, or directly to the water.
Take care when using oils in the bath as some oils can sting. Lemon, orange, grapefruit, aniseed, camphor, clove, eucalyptus, ginger, juniper, black pepper, peppermint, sage, savory, spearmint should be used in very small dosages – no more than 2 drops to a bath.
Footbaths
A footbath is an extremely effective stress-relief and pick-me-up at the end of a hard day and in hot weather. This is also suitable for people who may struggle to use a bath due to health reasons.
Dosage: use 4 drops in a bowl or footspa of warm water and soak feet for about 20 minutes.
Body Massage
Aromatherapists use pure essentials oils mixed with carrier oils to create a massage oil solution that can be used to massage your body. You do not have to be a therapist to create a mixture but please note pure essentials oils should only be used on skins when diluted with a carrier oil or lotion.
Dosage: up to 6 drops in 10-15ml (2-3 teaspoons) of carrier oil or lotion.
Facial Massage
Facial skin requires special care as it tends to be delicate, show more signs of stress and toxic overload, and is generally more exposed to the wind, sun and atmospheric pollutants. For facial massage, select an appropriate carrier oil and use a lower dosage of essential oil than that for body massage. As the face is a small area, 5ml of total mix are usually sufficient.
Dosage: 1-3 drops, in 5ml (1 teaspoon) of carrier oil (dilute more for very sensitive skin).
Localised Massage
Essential oils can be applied to small areas, for example stiff joints, sprains and cramps (e.g., stomach and period pains). As the area to be covered usually requires fast action the dilution used is often lower than that for body or facial massage, but always make sure that you are using a safe dosage.
Dosage: 10 drops, in 5ml (1 teaspoon) carrier oil. Please ensure that you do not exceed the maximum safe dosage and where unsure use a lower dosage to start off and increase dosage.
Fragrances
Essential oils can be diffused into the air through dry heat, steam or mist or by fan-assisted evaporation. This is an effective way of changing mood, purifying the atmosphere. The commonly available types of fragrancer are as follows:
Standard fragrancers: oils are added to a small bowl of water, which is heated by a nightlight. Care must be taken as there is an exposed flame.
Electrical fragrancers: oils are dropped onto a metal plate heated by an electrical element. This is safer, but the heat can damage the oils.
Light bulb rings: oils are dropped into a channel in a small ring that fits over a table lamp bulb, which heats the oils.