Secrets of Aromatherapy Blends
Aromatherapy blends are one of nature’s best kept secrets. Aromatherapy uses extracts from nature, essential oils from plants, seeds, leaves and flowers to help heal the body and the mind. The effect of aromatherapy blends on the mind is great as the soothing aroma of the essential oils helps relax, rejuvenate and de-stress the mind. It is important to know that a good aromatherapy blend produces a tangible benefit or result. Aromatherapy blends can be used in oil diffusers, blended into a base oil to be massaged onto the skin, or used in bath salts. The secret lies in discovering what your body and mind need and then mixing the essential oils in the correct proportion to get your own, customised aromatherapy blend. It is not as difficult as it sounds, and with the help available in the form of books, pamphlets and on the internet today, creating your own aromatherapy blend is quite easy these days.
Discovering Your Own Aromatherapy Blend
Apart from beautifying the skin, aromatherapy blends have many other uses. They provide stress relief, relaxation, energize the mind and body, heal, are used in meditation, for sinus relief, for romance, and relief from headaches. To know and choose the right aromatherapy blend, a person should visit a cosmetologist who can analyse the skin and body type and give advice on the appropriate aromatherapy blend. With growing interest in the field, essential oils for use in aromatherapy blends, both online as well as in shops across the world, are easily available. Before buying, one should collect catalogues and ask for quotes from different vendors. In this manner one gets a chance to compare prices and then decide on where to buy essential oils from. Here I must mention that essential oils are usually very expensive. But since they are used in minute doses, in combination with base oil, they can be used over many years.
Making An Aromatherapy Blend
Lavender, Lemon, Clary sage, Helichrysum italicum, Rosemary, Palmarosa, Jasmine, Neroli, Sandalwood, Rose and Carrot Seed oil are some of the basic essential oils used in aromatherapy blends. Apart from Lavender, all essential oils are applied to the skin after dilution. In fact research has shown that most essential oils have the maximum therapeutic effect when they make up less than 5 % of the total blend. A commonly used base or carrier oil is Hazelnut oil, a gentle oil suitable for all skin types. Rosehip seed oil from South America which contains essential fatty acids, as well as the important trans-retinoic acid, and Evening Primrose oil which has a very high concentration of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a promoter of good health are also good carrier oils.
Now that you know all the basics, there are a few rules before you start to make your own aromatherapy blends. A bit of research into the properties of the oils should be undertaken to know whether they are compatible to each other. Some oils are known to work against each other and therefore should not be combined in an aromatherapy blend. Beginners in the field should study the aroma profiles of different oils. This is done by putting a drop of essential oil onto a blotting paper, observing and smelling its effect. This data should be noted down for future reference. Carrying out this experiment with a few basic essential oils to start with, and later continuing it with newer and less used essential oils helps create the basis for aromatherapy blends. Creating an aromatherapy blend takes time, but can prove to be an interesting hobby.
