According to Wikipedia, an essential oil is "essential" in the sense that it contains the "essence of" the plant's fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived.
Essential oils can be used individually or in blends combined with other essential oils. They can be applied through diluted topical application or they can be experienced via inhalation through a diffuser.
Inhalation is one of the simplest ways of using using essential oil aromatherapy. Direct inhalation, smelling directly from the bottle or placing 1-2 drops of essential oil on a tissue, cotton-ball can be a useful method in sudden situations of shock, grief, anxiety, panic attacks, and respiratory conditions that require immediate attention. To use direct inhalation, hold the bottle, tissue or cotton ball down by your waist and slowly swirl the bottle towards your nose and take a deep inhale.
Rocky Mountain Oils provides useful icon for their essential oils to assist in the recommended use of the essential oil,
Diffuse: One of the most effective ways to use essential oils is with diffusion. To diffuse: Fill the diffuser with water to the recommended line, put 5-10 drops (more or less as needed) into the diffuser and then turn it on. The ultrasonic technology produces vibrations at a high frequency, turning the water into mist. As you breathe in the aromatic mist, the oil's beneficial properties are immediately absorbed into your body. BUY A DIFFUSER
Topical Application: This method works best when you have a specific area of the body that needs relief. After you've diluted your essential oil with a carrier oil, apply it to the desired area and the oil will be absorbed into the body. Do not apply essential oils to sensitive parts of the body. Olive, jojoba, avocado, sweet almond, grapeseed and fractionated coconut oil are a few great options. Carrier oils do not limit the effectiveness of the essential oil in any way; they just safely transfer the oil to your skin.
Here are some general guidelines:
1 drop essential oil to 2 tsp of carrier oil - Infants (6-24 months)
1%, 3 drops essential oils to 2 tsp of carrier oil - Elderly, Facial application
2%, 6 drops essential oils to 2 tsp of carrier oil - Maximum daily recommended dilution
5%, 15 drops essential oils to 2 tsp of carrier oil - Short term use
Household: You can also mix your favorite household essential oils with water, baking soda, vinegar or borax to create custom, natural cleaning recipes.
Packaging
The purpose of the packaging is to protect the essential oil from degradation from light and air, to dispense with control, and to inform. Essential oils are typically packaging in small, amber glass bottles with an orifice reducer and a plastic threaded cap to maintain their scent and therapeutic properties.
The amount of the essential oil content is typically marked as a metric measurement. The most common sizes found within aromatherapy are: 5, 10, 30 (1 oz.), 120 (4 oz.), 240 (8 oz.) milliliters (mls).
Each bottle should be labeled and identified with the following
Common name, the most widely accepted name for a given plant within a given culture or regional area. Common names do not always correctly identify an exact botanical and can vary from region to region.
Latin binomial name which identifies the plant
Country of origin identifies the source of the essential oil.
The amount of essential oil
A batch number identifies a specific batch or drum of essential oil, from a specific supplier, during a specific year.
The following information may be included on the bottle or should at the very least be available on the product page at the company’s website:
Part of the plant used in processing the essential oil.
Extraction method used to extract the essential oil
How the plant was grown, such as ethical wild-crafted, cultivated, organic, etc.
Standard safety warning on essential oils
Storage
Chemical degradation can occur with exposure to heat, light, or oxygen. Essential oils from citrus products are especially prone to oxidation that can quickly alter the chemistry of those essential oils. Essential oils should be stored in a cool, dark place or placed in the refrigerator. Essential oils should be stored in tightly closed, darkened glass containers in a cool place to ensure lasting quality (Buckle, 2003; Tisserand & Balacs, 1995).
Some essential oils from resins, roots, and wood oils generally mature and get better with age, such as frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver and spikenard.
Safety
For more information on the safe use of essential oils, click here.
For more information about Diffusion check out "Diffusing Essential Oils blog post by Jade Shutes at The School for Aromatic Studies here.
コメント