Aromatherapy

[Note: Copyright Ó Nerys Purchon (AKA Ravenna Morgan). Permission is granted to share this article with others, provided you do so in it's entirety and include this copyright statement.]

BATHS

There are few people who do not enjoy a bath. I think that one of the reasons we find baths so relaxing is that the water gets rid of all the prickly positive ions which make us feel so stressed and tired. Even just a short bath (perish the thought!) is better than no bath at all. If you do not feel comfortable with the idea of taking your dirt into the bath and soaking in it, then you can have a quick shower first.

It's not generally realised that the skin, given optimum conditions, can be responsible for one-third of the excretion of waste matter from the body. By so doing, the liver, kidneys and lungs are relieved of quite a load. In order to work efficiently the skin needs to be clean and free from dead cells which can block the pores. Using a body brush before bathing or showering helps to get rid of these dead cells. If you do not have access to a bath, you can sprinkle a drop or two of the appropriate essential oil on a very wet face flannel, partially wring it out and wipe it over your body. Another option is to make a body spray using essential oils for your particular pleasure or problem - no more than 6 drops in 200 ml (1/3 pint) pump spray bottle and shake the bottle well and spray your body lightly after you have finished washing. Massage into your skin, then pat dry. Quiet, warm, scented and peaceful are the words to describe the ideal conditions for the perfect bath time. Your essential oils, candles and a bath pillow or a hot water bottle full of warm water on which to rest your head set the scene. The rest is up to you - candles, incense, music, books, a drink, big fluffy towels will all enhance this pleasurable experience. Don't forget the 'Do not disturb' sign to hang on the door knob!

Mix 5-10 drops of essential oil with 1 tablespoon or so of either full cream milk or vegetable oil (this helps the oil to disperse more evenly into the water.) Add to the bath directly before or just after entering the water or the precious essences may evaporate before you can get full benefit. Agitate the water to disperse the oils thoroughly.

Oil Blends for Baths
The following blends are for baths for adults. For children see Babies and Children.

Antibacterial
3 drops tea tree essential oil
3 drops eucalyptus essential oil
2 drops thyme essential oil
1 drop lemon essential oil
1 drop clove essential oil

Antiviral
3 drops tea tree or manuka essential oil
3 drops eucalyptus essential oil
3 drops lavender essential oil
1 drop thyme essential oil

Deodorising
4 drops clary sage essential oil
2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
2 drops patchouli essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil

Dry Skin
4 drops chamomile essential oil
4 drops palmarosa essential oil
2 drops patchouli essential oil

Oily Skin
5 drops lemon essential oil
3 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Spotty Skin
2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
2 drops thyme essential oil
4 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops chamomile essential oil

Head Clearing
2 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops lemon essential oil
1 drop thyme essential oil
2 drops rosemary essential oil
3 drops lavender essential oil

Hydrating
2 drops chamomile essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops carrot seed essential oil
2 drops geranium essential oil
2 drops rose essential oil (optional)

'Just-Ahhhhh!'
1 drop lavender
2 drops grapefruit
2 drops geranium
2 drops ylang ylang
2 drops patchouli

Rejuvenating
4 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops rosemary essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil

Relaxing
4 drops chamomile
3 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops ylang ylang essential oil


Rise and Shine
2 drops bergamot essential oil
3 drops orange essential oil
3 drops lemon essential oil
1 drop peppermint essential oil
1 drop cinnamon essential oil

Mild Sunburn
8-10 drops lavender essential oil

Bath Lotions and Vinegars
Inexpensive, easy and satisfying to make and use is a way to describe herbal vinegars. Vinegar restores the acid mantle to skin, relieves dryness, itching and the pain of sunburn. Cider vinegar seems to have the most therapeutic properties but any good quality white vinegar can be used. For skin tonics white wine vinegar is more gentle and refined. If you really hate the smell of vinegar you can substitute vodka (mixed half and half with purified water) or white wine. These last two are more expensive but the perfume of the essential oils is more apparent.

Using Bath vinegars
The bath vinegars following may be used in a variety of ways.
Bath: Add 1/4 cup of vinegar to a full bath
Hair rinses: Add 1/2 cup of bath vinegar to 4 cups water
Skin and hair tonics: Add 1 tablespoon of bath vinegar to 1 cup water
After-shower friction rub: Add 1/4 cup of bath vinegar to 1/2 cup water
Deodorant: Use undiluted

To Make the Vinegars
Mix 2 cups cider or white wine vinegar with 100 drops mixed or single essential oil. Choose from the following blends.

Lavender
100 drops lavender essential oil

Citrus Sensation
30 drops lemon essential oil
25 drops petitgrain essential oil
20 drops bergamot essential oil
20 drops orange essential oil
5 drops clove essential oil

Mint Tang
40 drops peppermint essential oil
40 drops spearmint essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops clove essential oil

Herb Spice
40 drops clary sage essential oil
40 drops rosemary essential oil
10 drops fennel essential oil
10 drops anise essential oil

Forest Fantasy
40 drops pine essential oil
20 drops hyssop essential oil
20 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops cypress essential oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil


Bubble Baths
Bubble baths are fun and have a luxurious feeling but one should not indulge for too long or too often as the base of most commercial bubble baths is the cheapest available detergent and can overdry the skin. Use only the amount recommended and use a massage oil after the bath to counteract the drying effects. The addition of honey, glycerine or oil to recipes counteracts the drying effect of the detergent. You can make your own superior product by using a good shampoo or the best quality detergent available.

Perfume Oil Bubble Bath
1/4 cup olive or sweet almond oil
1 cup good quality shampoo
50 drops essential oil
Mix all ingredients together very thoroughly. Bottle and invert bottle several times to mix contents before using. The oils for this recipe can be chosen from the suggestions for Herbal Bath Vinegar. Slowly trickle 1/4 cup of the mixture under a fast running tap to maximise the bubbles.

Bath Cream
This cream needs refrigeration and should be used within 2 weeks. It is easy to make and leaves the skin soft and moisturised. Don't add it to very hot water or the egg will set and go stringy. The oil disperses in the water and doesn't leave a greasy ring around the bath.


Lavender Cream
1 egg
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon glycerine
1/2 cup dried milk powder
20 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops of carrot seed essential oil
10 drops orange essential oil
2 cups water
Beat the egg, olive oil, glycerine and dried milk together in a bowl. Add the oils while beating. Beat the water in, a little at a time. Store in the refrigerator. Add 1/2 cup of the blend to bath water. Swoosh to disperse.

Bath Salts
Bath salts are used primarily to soften hard water and may also contain essential oils to perfume the water and add therapeutic properties. If you would like to colour the salts you can add a few drops of natural colouring drop by drop after adding the oils.


Old Fashioned Girl
100 g tartaric acid
100 g bicarbonate of soda
50 g arrowroot powder
8 drops lavender essential oil
8 drops sandalwood essential oil
4 drops clove essential oil
Mix the powders together well. Add the oils drop by drop, stirring all the time to prevent caking. Place all in a jar and shake daily for a few days. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the blend into the bath as it is running.

Bath Oils

Sleep Well Bath Oil
1 cup brandy or vodka
2 teaspoons chamomile essential oil
1 teaspoon lavender essential oil
1 teaspoon marjoram essential oil
1 teaspoon sandalwood essential oil
3 teaspoons glycerine
Mix all the ingredients together in a bottle and shake well. This oil is semi-dispersible which means the oil will almost dissolve in the bath water. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of the blend to the bath; anymore and you might overdose on the powerful fragrance or you may even become so enlightened you float off the planet! You'll find your sleep will be refreshing.

Basic Semi-dispersible Bath Oil
1/2 cup vodka or cider vinegar
2 tablespoons good quality shampoo
3 teaspoons glycerine
3 teaspoons essential oils (see blends following)
Mix all the ingredients together in a bottle. Invert several times to mix well. Leave for 4 days to synergise, inverting several times again. This oil will almost disperse in the bath water. Vodka is expensive, but as this recipe makes enough for about 30 baths, each luxury bath becomes extremely affordable. My personal choice, cider vinegar, adds its own distinctive aroma to the oils and also has the benefits of being inexpensive and therapeutic. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of the mixture to the water after the bath has been drawn. Agitate the water to disperse the mixture thoroughly. Lean back and enjoy!

Children
1/2 teaspoon chamomile essential oil
1/2 teaspoon lavender essential oil
1/2 teaspoon mandarin essential oil


Dry Skin
1 teaspoon lavender essential oil
1 teaspoon rosewood or rose essential oil
1 teaspoon palmarosa essential oil

Normal Skin
1 teaspoon geranium essential oil
1 teaspoon rosewood essential oil
1 teaspoon ylang ylang essential oil

Oily Skin
1/2 teaspoon juniper essential oil
1/2 teaspoons lemon essential oil
1/2 teaspoon patchouli essential oil

Sleep Well
1/2 teaspoon chamomile essential oil
1 teaspoon lavender essential oil
1 teaspoon marjoram essential oil
1/2 teaspoon sandalwood essential oil

Anti-cellulite
2 teaspoons juniper essential oil
1/2 teaspoon grapefruit essential oil
1/2 teaspoon lemon essential oil