Absolute Aromatherapy

27/10/2022

30/01/2021

What’s you fav oil & why?

24/09/2020

Being relatively new to aromatherapy I feel like there’s not enough information on the net about using the essential oils safely, so below I have put together a wee list of do’s and don’ts which I hope will guide you whilst experimenting with the gorgeous stuff.

Do’s👍

DILUTE –

Always dilute an essential oil in a carrier oil prior to application. The vast majority of essential oils are too concentrated to apply directly to the skin, and some can cause serious irritation, such as cinnamon bark. However, dabbing lavender or tea tree oil directly on certain spots qualify as common exceptions. Examples of carrier oils are sweet almond, jojoba, apricot kernel, borage and grapeseed. A general rule of thumb is to mix 8-10 drops of an essential oil with one ounce of carrier oil.

STORAGE–

Store essential oils in dark glass bottles, either amber or cobalt, in a cool, dark location. While high quality essential oils do not turn rancid, exposure to light, humidity, air and heat can break down the oil, reducing its therapeutic value. Keep them tightly capped. Most essential oils can remain at optimal potency for up to two years if kept chilled although, as a general rule, the citrus essential oils have a short shelf life and the florals the longest. In addition, essential oils are highly flammable, so keep them stored away from flames or other combustibles.

TEST –

Since the limbic brain anchors past experiences with associated aromas, and personal preferences vary, allow each client to take a whiff of an oil to determine his or her affinity for it. A negative emotional reaction to a smell will hinder any possible therapeutic benefits. In addition, by placing a drop of diluted essential oil on the skin, conduct a patch test for individuals with skin sensitivity. While this requires a 24-hour waiting period, you can determine if a client has sensitivity to the oil you wish to use during the following session.

SPECIFIC HEALTH CONCERNS –

For specific health concerns, consult an aromatherapist, seek the advice of a certified aromatherapist, or take a NAHA-approved educational course, such as the Institute’s Aromatherapy Essentials for the Massage Therapist. Conditions such as epilepsy, asthma and high blood pressure warrant specific training in the safe use of essential oils. While some oils may exacerbate these conditions, others may provide substantial benefits. Research extensively and continue to study aromatherapy to learn as much as you can before addressing specific health concerns.

Don’ts👎

PREGNANCY –

Safety is key. Do not use certain essential oils topically on a pregnant woman. Several sources conclude that the following oils may be harmful during pregnancy and should be avoided in any form whether topical, diffused, or in hydrotherapy: bitter almond, basil, cedarwood, cinnamon, rosemary, peppermint, rose, sage, thyme, wintergreen, clary sage, cypress, hyssop, clove bud, marjoram, myrrh, juniper, geranium and fennel. If using any essential oils during pregnancy, first assess safety.
Mucous membranes – Because they are potent and can be highly irritating, do not allow any essential oils to make contact with eyes or other mucous membranes and wash hands after handling. This includes refraining from rubbing one’s eyes or touching genitalia with any essential oil residue on the hands. Be aware the undiluted essential oils can damage the surface of furniture so clean up spills promptly. Rubbing alcohol can be an effective aid for such clean ups.

INGESTION-

Do not ingest essential oils. Many are toxic when taken internally, and an attempt to ingest essential oils should only commence under the direct advice and care of a highly competent, experienced, certified aromatherapist with medical training.

SUN EXPOSURE–

Some oils, especially in the citrus family, can render the skin photosensitive and cause pigmentation. Do not apply to uncovered areas prior to sun exposure, especially if there is a history of melanoma. Oils known to have this effect include bergamot, lime, cumin, mandarin, lemon, tangerine, orange, verbena, angelica, caraway, cassia, cinnamon bark, grapefruit, honeysuckle, laurel leaf, patchouli, cedarwood and dill w**d.

26/08/2020

Need help chilling???

Passion flower (Passiflora incarnate) is a very effective sleep aid. You can make a soothing, sedative passion flower tea in just a few minutes. You’ll be surprised at how well it works.

It can cause a different reactions in different people, but for me, it's a great mind and body relaxer. I fall asleep more easily and am more likely to sleep through the night if I make an evening cup of passionflower tea. I don't like to take prescription drugs, (I’m a pharmaceutical dispenser) I know too much about medication! So being able to head out to the garden to pluck a few plant leaves as sleep aids is a very, very nice alternative. You should seriously consider trying it if you're having trouble sleeping.

Native Americans have used passionflower to treat a variety of conditions. These include boils, wounds, earaches, and liver problems.

Spanish explorers learned about passionflower from native Peruvians. They named these plants for their resemblance to a crucifix. In Christian traditions, “the Passion” is a term used to describe the final period of Jesus Christ’s life, including his crucifixion.

In Europe, people have used P. incarnata to treat restlessness and agitation. And some people use it to treat anxiety. The fruit is also used to flavor certain beverages.

Some researchers believe that passionflower supplements may help treat anxiety, insomnia, and certain forms of pain because it may increase levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical the brain makes to help regulate mood.

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter — it counters neurotransmitters that cause excitement, and so it may have a calming effect.

Passionflower contains GABA. However, consuming GABA in this way does not necessarily mean that the acid will reach the brain.

Traditionally, scientists believed that GABA could not cross the blood-brain barrier, but some studies have had contradictory results.

So how do we make this amazing tea?? It’s easy!!

Grab a bunch of leaves and flowers
then rinse. Stick them in a pan of boiling water for a few mins then strain. Drink before bed! A handful per cup should be plenty.

IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS WITH PASSION FLOWER (TEA)

do not take if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or if you have liver damage or disease – please, consult your doctor
passion flower can interfere with blood thinning and blood pressure medications, again please consult your doctor, if you have any concerns
since passion flower has sedative effects, it’s important to not consume it before or while driving or operating any machinery for safety reasons – let’s be safe people!
I would also venture to say, if you suffer from sleep apnea, I would consult your doctor before consuming Passion flower.

25/08/2020

Essential oils are awsome if you know how to incorporate them safely into your life so what are what are the techniques?

Compress💜

The essential oil is diluted in a liquid carrier (water or oil) and applied to a dressing or directly to the affected area. Optional heat or cold can be applied.

For example, a few drops of ginger (Zinziber officinalis) essential oil can be added to comfortably hot water and mixed to disperse the oil; then a cloth can be soaked in the solution and placed on a stiff joint. Additional heat can be applied as desired.

Gargle💜

Drops of essential oil are added to water. You mix, then gargle the solution and spit it out. Do NOT swallow it. For example, one drop of tea tree oil in a glass of water can be gargled for sore throat discomfort.

Bath💜

Drops of essential oils are added to bath water in a dispersant immediately before stepping in. This method results in absorption through the skin, as well as inhalation of the volatilized essential oil. A few tablespoons of full cream milk can be used as a dispersant.

Remember, essential oils are not water soluble; thus they will float on top of the bath and skin passing through the oil will be exposed to full strength essential oil. Bath salts can also be used to disperse essential oils. A relaxing bath base can be made by mixing one part baking soda, two parts Epsom salts, and three parts sea salt. Add six drops of true lavender essential oil to about two tablespoons of this mixture and mix it into bath water just before entering.

Massage💜

Drops of essential oil are added to a natural carrier oil and applied to skin areas with gentle rubbing. As noted earlier, massage blends should not exceed 1% concentration of essential oils (one drop in a teaspoon) for adults. For children, concentration should not exceed 0.25% for infants, 0.5% for toddlers age 6 months to 2 years, and 1% for children 2 years and older. The choice of essential oils for massage depends on the desired effect.

24/08/2020

How beautiful is this flower!!! I remember buying this oil when I was overdue with my pregnancy as it apparently brings on labour. There are quite a few contraindications so use as directed

Salvia sclarea, the clary or clary sage, is native to the northern Mediterranean Basin, along with some areas in north Africa and Central Asia. The plant has a lengthy history as an herb, and is currently grown for its essential oil.

13/08/2020

Greeks and Romans have long used plant-based chemicals on their clothing. Today, we use the same approach when we utilize essential oils in the fight against mosquitoes! Learn more on the Mosquito Squad blog.

05/07/2020

This was a sweet little quiz and very informative for those who don’t know the basics on Chakras. I’m pretty much all over the place! This evening I will be putting my crystals to work(:

Web site created using create-react-app

15/03/2020

My Top 3 Essential Oils for a cleansing your home.

I’m guessing we all want to do our bit to protect our family and loved ones at home against the dramas of the current situation. I’m not going to say the dreaded word! So what better way than keeping a tight cleaning schedule. Many people purchase chemical-laced cleaners to try, but in doing so they may be doing more harm than good. Instead, you can eliminate bacteria and viruses with natural essential oils. These antiviral essential oils can help lift you up emotionally and it can lead to faster healing too!

Unlike antibiotics and synthetic medicines, essential oils are small enough to pass through our cells’ membranes. This means essential oils are the only defense that can enter the cell to fight off the virus for you. we can help strengthen our immune system during a viral attack, and/or shorten the length and severity of the common cold or flu. Every time we place something synthetic or processed into our body, we create more work for our systems.

So here are my top 3 essential oils to ward off those nasty bugs.

1- LEMON

Lemon essential oil is indeed one of the most “essential” oils to have on hand, as it can used for so many purposes, from a natural teeth whitener, household cleaner and laundry freshener, to a mood booster and nausea reliever. You are covering a lot of ground with this one bottle of essential oils! Lemon essential oil comes from cold-pressing the lemon peel and not the inner fruit. The peel is actually the most nutrient-dense portion of the lemon because of its fat soluble phytonutrients. Lemon essential oil is composed of many natural compounds, including terpenes, sesquiterpenes, aldehydes, alcohols, esters and sterols.

You can add a few drops of lemon essential oil to a spray bottle mixed with water and vinegar for an all-purpose type of cleaner and use it to make your home sparkling clean!
Lemon blends well with other essential oils such as rosemary, grapefruit, tea tree, eucalyptus, cedarwood, bergamot, ylang ylang, and lime.

2- PEPPERMINT

Peppermint has antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties and is an ingredient in massage and chest rubs used to reduce the symptoms of the common cold. In test tubes, peppermint essential oil kills many types of fungi, viruses and bacteria.

With all of its antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties, peppermint essential oil is an excellent way to boost your immune system, as well. It comprises compounds such as camphor, carvacrol and menthol which are resistant to many perilous strains of bacteria such as E. coli, staph infections and salmonella.

3- TEA TREE

Tea Tree oil, has been researched extensively and shown to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Use this essential oil for coughs, bronchial congestion, and sore throats. Studies show Melaleuca essential oil may inhibit influenza virus entry into the host cell. Tea Tree essential oils can also be used as a natural disinfectant, use it to kill germs on surfaces and in the air.

Tea tree oil contains a number of compounds, including terpinen-4-ol, that have been shown to kill certain bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Mix together with lemon essential oil and spring water for a natural air cleanser. A few drops of each in 100mls should be sufficient. It’s always a good idea to open a window or two to allow fresh air to circulate.

Tea tree oil makes a great all-purpose cleaner that also sanitizes surfaces.
Plus, it does so without leaving traces of chemicals you wouldn't want your family members or pets coming in contact with.
Here's an easy recipe for an all-natural, all-purpose cleaner:

1. Combine 20 drops of tea tree oil, 3/4 cup of water and a 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle.
2. Shake well until thoroughly mixed.
3. Spray directly onto surfaces and wipe clean with a dry cloth.
4. Make sure to shake the bottle before each use in order to mix the tea tree oil with the other ingredients.

Happy cleansing💜

14/03/2020

Aside from alcohol, an at-home hand sanitizer can be enhanced fragrance-wise with antibacterial essential oils.

When it comes to the essential oils, I like to use a combo of three:

Lemon oil and orange oil are both natural disinfectants (plus they smell nice and clean).
Tea tree oil has been proven time and time again to kill viruses, bacteria, mold, and fungi. It’s also a natural anti-inflammatory!
I would recommend caution with this hand sanitizer if your skin is light sensitive. Both lemon and orange oils can cause photosensitivity—meaning they make your skin more sensitive to sun exposure. This sanitizer uses highly diluted oils. There are countless essential oils out there with antiseptic properties, so you can experiment if you’re concerned about the photosensitivity issue. The most effective ingredient to use is ethyl alcohol. And they actually say 60 to 80 percent is when you actually get effective. Since alcohol can be drying to the skin, it is important to balance out its effect with hydrating ingredients, Aloe vera gel and Vitamin E oil are “nourishing, moisturizing and healing,” but if you want a less runny consistency like traditional hand sanitizers, it’s better to opt for the gel. Liquid formulas are easier to use when they are placed in a spray bottle. For individuals who have sensitive skin or skin conditions that are prone to dryness or irritation, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer might not be ideal for prolonged use. I always advise users to do a small patch test to see how their skin reacts to the formula.

I’ll drop a direct link below.
Neal’s Yard organics are ethically harvested Essential Oils. Good quality and reasonably priced.

https://uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/carmenforrest/product/2177/tea-tree-organic-essential-oil-10ml/?a=12&cat=0&search=Tea%20tree