This is for you 145 King Streeters!

I hope you enjoyed your session on Aromatherapy today.

In my efforts to go paperless, I did not provide a handout, however, below you will find some content that was covered in the presentation that you can reference at your leisure, and share with others.

Thank you for your interest in aromatherapy. Once you start learning about and incorporating essentials oils into your life, I guarantee you will find it hard to live without them!
All the very best,
Carol-Ann

What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is categorized as a Complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM) alongside health modalities like massage therapy, traditional Chinese Medicine, reflexology and chiropractics. This powerful and natural system uses pure essential oils that are derived from plants to help correct imbalances that affect us both physically and emotionally.

What are essential oils (EOs)?
Essential oils are non greasy liquids in varying viscosity that are extracted from flowers, leaves, twigs and seeds, roots, bark, fruit, needles, resins. They are highly concentrated and are not to be used undiluted. It concerns me when I see essential oils for sale in their pure undiluted state. There are sensitization issues, toxicity issues, and even drug interaction issues with some essential oils. They are powerful healing agents and should be used with caution. 

Get to know these 6 multi-use essential oils  

• Lavender – One of the safest, most versatile essential oils, lavender is the ultimate for relaxation, headaches and normalizing breathing. Also very strongly anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory so it’s good for first aid and cleaning. It is also safe for children when used in appropriate dilution rates.
  
  
• Roman Chamomile – one of the most calming oils for all systems of the body. Safe for children when used in appropriate dilution rates, good for skin conditions, PMS. A great nighttime oil to help prepare the mind and body for sleep. 
  
  
• Eucalyptus (globulus) - There are many different varieties of eucalyptus but this one is best know for coughs, colds and flu, sinus congestion, respiratory congestion, fever and headaches.
  
  
• Rosemary – Widely used in skincare and for muscle pain, this EO is also known to support clear thinking. It has a compound in it called 1,8 cineole that has been clinically proven to improve cognitive thinking.
  
  
• Peppermint - Known most for its analgesic properties, which means pain reducing, this is a fantastic essential oil for headache and nerve pain (think sciatica!). It's also good for nausea and digestion and a stimulant for mental fatigue.
  
  
• Petitgrain - Calming to the nervous system, said to help insomnia and a wonderful skin care oil to balance dry or oily skin. A beautiful uplifting oil. Cousin to more expensive Neroli. 

Blending basics

There are very few EOs that can be applied "neat", that is, undiluted on the skin. Until you are very familiar with the oils and their properties, dilute all essential oils before applying to the skin. The most popular way to dilute oils is through carrier oils such as jojoba, sweet almond oil, rosehip oil. Every carrier oils has their own nutrients and benefits. Get to know which one works for your skin type. 

VERY IMPORTANT:  Before you start using essential oils, know that a little goes a long long way. Every drop of essential oil packs a HUGE punch. Essential oils are said to be 75-100x more concentrated than dried herbs. 

A few ways to use essential oils and quantity (for adult use only):

Here are the blends we did in the session:

Blend 1 – Sleepy hour bath salt blend (makes 4 baths with 5 drops EO per bath)

2 cups dead sea or epsom salts
20 drops essential oil total
3 drops Roman Chamomile
10 drops Lavender
7 drops Sweet Orange or Mandarin

Shake in a sealed bag until well blended. Use ½ cup of blended salts per bath.

Blend 2 – Uplifting and grounding Massage oil (3%) for 1 full body massage

15 ml fractionated coconut oil or lightweight carrier oil of your choice
3 drops petitgrain
3 drops frankincense
3 drops cedarwood

Pour into glass container and store away from heat and light. 

Blend 3 - Headache help – 3%

2 drops peppermint
2 drops lavender
2 drops eucalyptus
10 ml jojoba oil

Stir blend, pour into roller bottle or similar and massage into temples, base of neck, shoulders. Store away from heat and light. 

Buying essential oils:
There is a lot of information online as you can imagine when it comes to purchasing essential oils. Do your research and read reviews when it comes to buying "pure essential oils" (that's what you want!) and try to buy the best quality possible. Check out your local health food store, talk to wellness practitioners and start sniffing around!

Here are a few links you may find useful:

Robert Tisserand: The guru of Aromatherapy and safety

Jeanne Rose: An Aromatherapy pioneer and author

A good site for lots of aromatherapy information

Download a dilution chart for blending

Supplies for blending and essential oils