All you need to enjoy the healing effects of aromatherapy are an essential oil burner, a candle and some essential oils! It’s a wonderful cost effective way to heal the body, mind and soul.  Doing this reconnects us with the earth and all of her nature.  I find when I use essential oils I get instant stress relief, and over time I have learned which ones work well for me and you can too just by experimenting.  I have even found that some oils can bring back past life memories, it acts as kind of a jog in the memory and is profoundly effective.

To get the most out of your oils you will need to know a couple of things. You can refrigerate your oils and they will last for two years from opening, with the exception of citrus oils and tea tree.  If you have them at room temperature then citrus and tea tree last six months and all others a year. If the oil is cloudy or sticky or has a sour smell and loss of fragrance then it’s probably expired.

Essential oils are super concentrated and powerful so they are to be used in small quantities, that’s why they come in such small bottles ..Lol.  Do not ingest the oils nor should you put them directly onto your skin if you have not diluted them. The only exceptions to this rule are lavender (for burns, cuts and insect bites) and tea tree (for pimples, cuts, insect bites and warts).  If you have a bad skin reaction with any oil you should wash the affected area with unscented soap and use grape seed oil to calm the area.

Carrier oils are oils that you can have large quantities of and add essential oil drops to make massage blends they include: grape seed , sunflower, apricot kernel and sweet almond.  Store them in a cool dark place for up to nine months.  When you make massage blends make sure you are using in tinted dark glass bottles so that sunlight does not spoil it.  The basic calculation is 10 drops of essential oil to 4 tsp of carrier oil.  Those with sensitive skin or pregnant moms to be past the first trimester should use half as many drops of essential oil, so 5 to every 4 tsp.  If you are pregnant make sure the essential oil you buy is safe for you to use because I know that some fragrances can even bring on labor so just make sure you ask or find out first before you buy.

Other ways to use the oils are adding a few drops to your bath, inhaling the oil directly in a bowl of steaming hot water with a towel over your head, using an oil burner and letting the smell fill your room or adding a few drops to a compress.

Here are some quick blends to use for inhalation since we are coming up to the winter season ( add these to a large bowl of hot water and drap a  towel over your head and take full body breathes)

For a stuffy head:  3 drops eucalyptus and 3 drops scotts pine

To unblock your nose: 3 drops Myrtle and 3 drops peppermint

To soothe throat and chest: 3 drops Himalayan cedarwood and 3 drops of frankincense

To ease a chest infection: 3 drops of tea tree and 3 drops of lemon

Using  a vapourizer you can buy one that just requires a tea light or you can buy an electric one.  I personally like the one with a candle because it just adds extra ambiance to a low lit room, especially if you are mediating.

To relax the room: 2 drops lemongrass and 4 drops cardamom

To warm the room and lift spirit: 4 drops sweet orange and 2 drops clove bud

To keep germs at bay: 3 drops tea tree and 3drops manuka

To improve sleep: 4 drops lavender and 2 drops tangerine

Of course you can always buy pre made blends I just like the alchemy of making your own recipes ;)  Hope that gets everyone started! Wholness.