Essential Oils: Uses in Aromatherapy

Of all the natural therapies, aromatherapy is a rare win-win - even if it doesn't have the therapeutic effects claimed, the sheer pleasure of those wonderful aromas is worth the investment!

Most of us would agree that scents can influence how we feel. Just the fresh smell of my lemongrass soap can make you feel cooler on a hot day, whereas warm scents like sandalwood and ylang ylang contribute to the relaxed atmosphere of a boudoir.

The funny thing is, though, that professional aromatherapists will tell you that their wonderful scent isn't the main benefit of essential oils - aromatherapy has far more to offer, in many different ways.

There are three different ways of getting the oil into your system, all of them effective in their own way.

• Inhalation - where the oil is heated to create perfumed vapours we breathe in.
• Pure Oil - either taken as a medicine or dabbed on the skin.
  
• Massage - where diluted oils are massaged into the skin.
  

Let's look at each one in turn.

If the scent isn't important, why are things like aromatherapy candles and oil diffusers sold?

Well, it's partly because (as I said) just smelling some of these aromas has a powerful effect on some people - especially if we associate those aromas with specific people or events in our past. But it's mainly because candles and burners don't just release perfume into the air - they release vapour, and that vapour contains tiny droplets of the oil itself, which we breathe in.

There are many products sold to get essential oils into the air - oil burners, electric diffusers - even a USB key to plug into your PC! - but you can use aromatherapy inhalations without any fancy equipment.

The simplest, cleanest option is to buy candles. Look for candles labelled "aromatherapy", as others are often scented with cheap synthetic perfumes.

Another nice alternative is to mix a few drops of pure oil with milk, and pour it into a warm bath (the milk enables the oil to disperse into the water instead of making an oily film on top). You can do the same with a bowl of hot water.

As with all aromatherapy treatment, less is more. If you use too much oil, you'll end up with a nasty taste in your mouth and/or a headache. A few drops is enough, even in a big bath.

The French are big fans of using pure, undiluted essential oils, both internally and externally.  However, using pure oil straight from the bottle is something that must be done with great caution. Just because something is natural doesn't mean it's safe!

Many essential oils are toxic in large doses, and most undiluted oils will irritate the skin. So it's best to leave the use of undiluted oils to the professionals.

There is one notable exception: neat lavender oil is great for soothing insect bites, easing a headache (dab it on the temples) and inducing sleep.

Note that if you buy "aromatherapy oils" from a chain store, they're often ready diluted and can therefore be used as they are. Check the ingredients (if it's diluted, it will show the percentage).

The third way of using aromatherapy is topical application (i.e. application to the skin).

The most effective way of doing this is with massage, which drives the oil deep into the skin. The theory is that essential oils are fat soluble, and their molecular structure is small, so they can pass through the skin and into the bloodstream. Once again, the oil is rarely used neat because it can be irritating, so it's mixed with a carrier oil.

Does Aromatherapy Work?

Like any natural therapy, there are plenty of sceptics who question whether aromatherapy has real benefits beyond relaxation. But aromatherapy is quite modest in its claims - few aromatherapists would claim to treat serious conditions, or suggest you abandon conventional medicine in favour of aromatherapy treatment.

Anyway, as I said, even if the therapeutic effects are disputed, there's no denying that the experience of aromatherapy is always pleasurable for its own sake. So I, for one, am a fan!

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All text copyright Marisa Wright.

Candles and roses photo by Magnera. Heat pack photo by Iris Dragon. Burner and oils box pictures by Eggybird.