Methods of Application

The four main ways you use essential oils are:

Aromatically – inhaling, vaporising
Topically – massaging into the skin
Internally – ingesting
Externally – use around the home

Aromatically

Through aromatherapy, the essential oil particles are dispersed into the air, releasing a fragrant aroma known to improve your emotional and physical well-being. When diffused into the air, essential oils trigger your sense of smell which then sends messages to your brain and stimulates emotions. Depending on the oils used, you might feel invigorated and energised or calm and relaxed and relieve respiratory conditions such as clearing the sinuses. The oils also clear the air of airborne pathogens and odours as well as purify and improve air quality.

Diffusers

This is the process of dispersing ultra-fine cool or warm essential oil mist particles using a diffuser throughout a room. The best diffusers and most recommended are ultrasonic diffusers as they use ultrasonic technology to disperse molecules and don’t interfere with the molecular structure of the essential oils.

Humidifiers

A humidifier ensures that the air in your room is moist by diffusing a fine cool mist or releasing clouds of steam. The humidity delivered by a humidifier helps you alleviate dry skin and dryness of the mouth, particularly in dry regions or during winter. Humidification using essential oils can also alleviate symptoms of cold and flu and improve moods and sharpen the mind.

Direct and Indirect Inhalation

Direct inhalation ensures that you reap the benefits immediately; whether you are in need of sharpening your concentration or boosting your immune system. To use essential oils directly, open the bottle and inhale directly from the bottle. When you use indirect inhalation, apply undiluted essential oil to a piece of cloth (handkerchief) or cotton ball and breathe from the soaked cloth or cotton ball.

Topically

Due to their natural molecular composition, essential oils can be easily absorbed into the skin and the bloodstream, creating immediate benefits to a particular area and are used for:

Stress and anxiety
Headaches and migraines
Insomnia
Chronic or acute pain relief
Arthritis and rheumatism
Chronic muscular and joint aches and pain
Pregnancy and childbirth massage
Reducing inflammation
Enhancing immunity
Relieving muscle spasms
Relax and soothe the nervous system
Aid in the treatment of sprains, strains and repetitive movement injuries

Massage

Massage is one of the best and most effective ways of applying essential oils topically. Including essential oils into massage is a good way to ease muscular aches and pains, treat a variety of conditions and lower stress and tension. Apart from feeling relaxed, massage can stimulate blood and lymphatic circulation, reduce swelling, relax muscles, reduce blood pressure and sooth the nervous system.

Compresses (Hot and Cold)

Compresses are for relieving pain, swelling and inflammation and can significantly help get rid of chills or fevers.

Hot Compress application dilates blood vessels for better circulation, eases pains and aches, reduces stiffness and relaxes muscles. Use hot compress for backaches, abscesses, toothaches and chronic conditions.

Cold Compress application reduces swelling and inflammation and eases headaches and fevers.

To make a compress, add four to five drops of essential oil to either cold/ hot water. Then soak a cloth, cotton wool or towel. Remove the excess water and apply to the affected area.

Baths

Essential oil baths are good for treating different conditions, such as hyperactivity, arthritis, sore muscles, insomnia, allergies a0nd asthma and reducing stress and tension. Essential oil baths can remove toxins and help treat emotional and mental problems instead of a full soaking bath, a simple hand or foot bath can address some conditions.

Internally

It is important to use only essential oils which are safe for ingestion and are of a food grade. These oils still have precautions and must only be ingested in very small doses. It is recommended that essential oils taken orally for medicinal purposes are only prescribed by primary care practitioners, such as aromatherapy specialists who have intimate knowledge of essential oil toxicology.

Externally

Essential oils work well as cleaning, deodorising and disinfectant agents and can be used to replace toxic chemicals and solutions in the home.

Boost cleaning powerof natural household cleansers with orange, lemon, or grapefruit oil
Deodorise your fridgewith lime, grapefruit, bergamot, or lemongrass after cleaning or added to baking soda box
Freshen trash binswith geranium, grapefruit, or lemon oil sprinkled into baking soda. Sprinkle the mixture into the bottom of bins.
Deter flying insectswith peppermint, lavender, citronella, lemongrass, or rosemary oil around windows and doors
Disinfect your dish spongewith lemon oil between uses
Freshen bathroomswith lemon, grapefruit, lavender, rosemary, or geranium oil in a diffuser
Eliminate lingering food odourwith clove, cinnamon, or any citrus oil added to pots of simmering water
Infuse your shoeswith geranium, basil, or lavender oil to keep foot odour at bay
Neutralise pet odourwith geranium, lavender, or lemon oil.
Refresh carpetswith geranium, lavender, lemon, or peppermint oil added to baking soda and sprinkle mixture onto carpet, let sit for at least 15 minutes, then vacuum up
Dissolve stubbornsubstances like wax, oil, chewing gum, or glue with lemon oil
Scrubsinks with a mixture of bergamot and lime oils diluted in water
Scent your vacuum bagby dousing a cotton ball with your favourite essential oil and dropping it into the vacuum bag or filter
Wash fruitand preserve its freshness with grapefruit oil
Repel spiders and rodentsby spraying peppermint oil mixed in water around windows and doors or douse a cotton ball with peppermint oil and place where spiders are like to be where you think rodents might be able to access your home
Neutralise paint odourwith 10 ml of peppermint oil added to a can of fresh paint.
Scent your bath towels with a few drops of your favourite oil on a small piece of terry cloth and toss it in the dryer with the towels
Remove mites from bedding with a few drops of eucalyptus oil mixed with water and added to the washing machine
Keep toilet areas smelling fresh by placing a couple of drops of your favourite oil to the inside of the toilet roll

DISCLAIMER

Information provided is for personal information and interest only, it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease and does not offer medical advice or treatment for any condition. It is recommend you consult your doctor or aromatherapist if you are pregnant, nursing, take medication, have any health/medical conditions and want to include using essential oils.