Essential oils have become more and more popular due to their many healing benefits for both physical and mental health well-being. While many people use their favourite scents in aromatherapy diffusers, it is also starting to become more popular to use essential oils topically.
While natural aromatherapy oils can be used topically and have many benefits it is essential that they be used correctly. It is important to be careful about how you apply essential oils to the body and where you put it.
Although essential oil is a natural plant extract, it is highly concentrated, and potent, and must be used with the utmost care. It is possible for your skin to break out or have an allergic reaction if an essential oil is used incorrectly and must never be applied to the skin without dilution.
There are many forms of carriers such as specially developed lotions for blending with essential oils or natural vegetable oil such as coconut oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and other oils that can be used for diluting the essential oil. Personally, I prefer to use vegetable oil as my carrier or blending solution for essential oil as pure and organic vegetable oil also has many benefits which can help enhance the oil blend created.
When creating a blend it is important to follow a recipe or dilution guide provided by a qualified practitioner to ensure the essential oil is properly blended for safe use on the skin.
Blending the essential oil with a carrier does not lessen the ability of the essential oils to work or the healing benefits. carriers make the essential oils safe to use and help spread the essential oils on the skin and actually help the body to absorb them faster.
As essential oils are highly volatile and evaporate quickly, the heavier carrier oils that don’t evaporate help the essential oils to fully absorb into the skin.
These oil blends must never be used internally in the eyes, mouth, nose or genitals as they could cause severe reactions.
General precautions for using essential oils
Never use essential oils undiluted, in eyes or mucous membranes. Do not take internally unless working with a qualified practitioner. Keep locked and out of reach from children and pets.
Use essential oils with extreme caution on children, be sure you have researched the oil and that it is safe for use on children. Always seek qualified practitioners’ advice if you have never used essential oils. Some oils are also harmful to pets so always seek advice before use.
Here are some oil blends to try at home. These can be used as a moisturiser directly onto the skin, or as a bath oil
For Balance, calm, improving the mood
100ml of chosen carrier oil
10 drops of Lavender essential oil
10 drops of Geranium essential oil
For help with breathing, pain relief, itchy skin, stress, tension, headaches, and sunburns
100ml of chosen carrier oil
10 drops of Lavender essential oil
10 drops Peppermint essential oil oil
