How to Choose Aromatherapy Oil
A visit to an aromatherapy shop is like a trip to another world, one that is not damaged by pollution and the air seems heavenly. Choosing between the different products in the shelf can be daunting as they are mostly filled with bottles of different scents. If you don’t know what you are looking for, you could end up buying a bottle of something you don’t like to use in the long term. Remember, only a few drops are needed to experience the healing power of pure essential oil. In this article, let me show you some important tips to guide you in choosing your aromatherapy oil.
1. Look for dark glass bottles
Aromatherapy oils, even those that are a bit diluted with carriers can react to sunlight. It is important to remember that essential oils are volatile oils and therefore can react to heat and sunlight therefore it is important that the container is dark. The container should also be made of glass and not plastic because plastic can also react to volatile oils.
2. Get the one with the scent that you like best
This should be obvious because aromatherapy is all about scent healing. Remember that you will only use a few drops of oil to experience its healing power whether you use it through massage or through a lamp and so even a small bottle will already go along way for you. Choose therefore a scent that you can use repeatedly for a long time. There are always tester bottles available in aromatherapy shops.
3. Read the labels
It is important that you read the labels carefully because aromatherapy is an abused word these days. You should be looking for those that are labeled “pure” because for all you know, what you are getting might be the synthetic ones.
4. Get the ones with Latin botanical names
Those with Latin botanical names mean that the oil is extracted from the exact plant in the label. You don’t have to be intimidated with the Latin terms, they really help because there are different kinds of plant source of essential oil and you need to make sure that you are getting what you are exactly looking for.
5. Compare the prices
Good quality essential oil is not going be cheap. If it is, then beware because it could be diluted already. Try to ask a trusted aroma therapist for a store that he or she can recommend or if you can buy one from him or her directly.
Simple and Effective Uses of Essential Oils
Hippocrates the Father of medicine knew the power of aromatherapy and essential oils when he declared “The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage daily”
Aromatherapy is an amazing holistic therapy that can be used in almost every area of your life, Stress, Anxiety and Depression are just some of the areas that aromatherapy is incredibly effective. Olfaction is unique amongst the senses in its direct connections to the neuro endocrine and limbic structures of the brain.
When we detect the smell of an essential oil, that oil has already entered into our lungs & olfactory system and is stimulating the release of chemical responses throughout our bodies. The response is determined by the aroma that is inhaled, the use of oils such as lemon have been shown to reduce typing errors when vaporised in offices, oils such as fennel can stimulate digestion and a whole plethora of oils can be successfully utilised for easing stress, anxiety, depression as well as boosting the immune system.
The choice of essential oil(s) to use is very much a personal choice, I suggest that you take a little time to smell a few oils and allow the different aromas to guide you to the essential oil(s) that are most suited to you. Below are a few oils that have a wide spectrum of uses.
Bergamot FCF (Citrus bergamia) is an uplifting oil that works very fast and effectively. Bergamot can ease anger and irritation and can defuse aggravation. Apply a drop neat at the first signs of a cold sore and it will stop it in its tracts. Add 8 drops to a tissue which is placed in with your tea bags to make delicious Earl Grey tea
Chamomile German (Chamomillia matricaria) a calming soothing oil that is ideal for times of tension or sleeplessness. Such a gentle oil that it is safe to use on new born babies, this is my number one of for calming and promoting sleep in young children, also great for teething, tantrums and nappy rash.
Neroli (Citrus aurantium var amara flos) ideal for insomnia, irritation and depression a beautiful sweet floral aroma that nurtures and rebalances ragged nerves. Wear as a perfume when feeling down or nervous,
Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) a wonderful meditative oil that promotes calmness & deep breathing, use at night especially if you experience disturbed sleep or nightmares. Perfect when feeling uptight, anxious or flustered. Great for children that experience night terrors. My number one choice for asthmatics
Sandalwood Australia (Santalum spicatum ) is a deeply calming nurturing oil that can ease irritation and help us see past petty annoyances allowing one to find other solutions. An effective remedy for both throat & urinary tract infections gargle
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Promotes calmness and tranquillity, ideal for agitation, anxiety, irritation and headaches. Can be applied neat to the skin to heal open wounds, cuts, bites & burns. Apply one drop to each temple at the outset of a headache and feel the tension melt away. This oil is a first aid box in a bottle.
Vetivert (Vetiveria zizanoides ) a deep calming earthy aroma that is ideal for anyone that tends to be “off with the fairies” ” not in their bodies, disconnected”,. Vetivert is grounding, very nourishing ideal for dehydrated skin it is calming to the nervous system has a great cooling effect when applied to the skin. Often people prefer to mix this with lighter oils such as Bergamot FCF or Sweet Orange to lift this aroma a little.
The reason aromatherapy is so effective is that there are so many ways that you can utilise the oils to gain maximum benefit, Personally having a regular aromatic bath at night is my sanity saver, others do not enjoy bathing so use a vaporizer or receiving a massage would be more appropriate, below are a few suggestions
Bathing with Essential oils is an ideal way to promote relaxation and sleep. It is a good idea to mix your essential oil (s) with a little (5ml) of carrier oil (sweet almond/ avocado/ Jojoba etc) I use an egg cup or shots glass to mix the carrier oil with the essential oils before pouring into a drawn bath. Use Approximately 8 – 10 drops in an adult bath.
An electric vaporizer that requires no water is ideal to use in your bedroom to promote calm and tranquillity and to help to assist with quietening the mind so that sleep can be achieved Sandalwood and Frankincense are two of my favourite oils for this, I am not a fan of candle burners as the idea of a naked flame unattended would be enough to keep me awake all night, if you do not have an electric vaporizer I suggest you use a candle burner in your bedroom a few hours before going to bed and the put out when you get into bed. Alternatively you can apply 3 drops of oil to a tissue and tuck this into your pillow slip. Add stimulating oils during the day to help you stay alert and focussed idea to use when working on a computer oils of Basil & Rosemary are great for mental dexterity
Receiving professional aromatherapy massage on a regular basis is a wonderful way to address stress, anxiety and depression, if your budget does not stretch to this then self massage is also recommended, add 5 drops of your chosen oil(s) to 10 mls of carrier oil such as sweet almond/ Jojoba/ Apricot kernel etc, remembering to always work up your legs never down to assist with circulation and prevent varicose veins
Distillation of Etheric Oils
The distillation of essential oils from different part of the plants such as leaves, stem, flower and roots mostly is subject to find out the properties and characteristics of plants, sometimes extracted from wood, bark and gum also. Since several years it was distilled from the copper still only and now days the advance distillation techniques are available including steam distillation, solvent extraction, enfleurage technique, cold pressed etc. The traditional techniques were only through energy and aqua. Most preferred method of its manufacturing is steam distillation because the steam distilled ones are most suitable for therapeutic purposes. The Aromatherapy makes popular use of it.
Method of steam distillation
The steam distillation process for the extraction of essential oils from plant material consists of 3 basic parts – the retort, the condenser, and the separator.
Retort
This contains the plant material containing the volatile essential oil.
High pressure steam is passed in at the base into a void beneath a perforated grid which supports the charge of green herb. The steam passes through the plant material heating and saturating it with water. The resulting vapor, a mixture of steam and essential oil vapors, passes out at the top and is conveyed to the condenser.
Condener
The vapors from the retort are cooled by passing down a long spiral or bundle of tubing or plates cooled by being immersed in a flow of water. The condensate runs by gravity into a container in which the oil and water separate by virtue of their differing specific gravities in the separator.
Separator
The mixture of condensed oil and water runs into the separator where the lighter insoluable oil floats on the surface accumulates slowly and is drawn off periodically. This is the essential oil
The water – or rather water containing the more water soluble constituents extracted by the steam, known as the hydrolate or floral water – is drawn off continuously from the bottom of the separator.
The prices of essential oils are depends upon various factors as follows:
1. The raw material pricing and grade of it.
2. Plant part used in distillation
3. Country of origin and duty levied over the material.
4. Atmospheric conditions
5. And yield of oils from plant material, labor cost and time.
One should not compare the distillation process with artificial or synthetic process of making because the actual oils are only steam distilled. The same doesn’t contain the foreign aroma.
In Aromatherapy, only steam distilled or hydro distilled oils are recommended which has been used for curing flu, cold, nausea and many other problems. It also helps boosting up the emotional healing for balanced and good life. It helps us to build confidence.
