Oils!

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Top 10 Ways to Use Essential Oils:
1. Inhalations: Relieve stress, soothe sinus pressure and headaches, and create a relaxing environment at work or home.
• Add 1-5 drops of high quality essential oil to a warm compress, to a quality diffuser, or to a bowl of hot water and inhale throughout the day.

2. Baths: Aromatic baths are excellent for skin problems, circulatory problems, respiratory trouble, stress, nervous tension, insomnia, menstrual pains and sore muscles. You can also make a small footbath using the method below.
• The best way to use essential oils in the bath is to first mix them with a dispersant and/or an emulsifier. This prevents the oils from sticking to your skin in their concentrated form.
• Epsom salts act as a wonderful dispersant and coconut or sesame oil both emulsify and disperse the oils.
• Combine 5-10 drops of essential oil with ½ cup-1 cup Epsom salt and 2 tablespoons emulsifying oil. Or combine the emulsifier with the 5-10 drops of oil without the salts.
• Caution: Use only mild, non-irritating oils for bath, such as lavender, conifer oils, rose, frankincense, or eucalyptus. Oils that are potentially irritating and should be avoided in the bath are spicy oils like cinnamon, oregano, peppermint, and thyme; and, phototoxic oils including all citrus oils, especially bergamot.

3. Compresses: Good for bruises, muscular aches & pains, cramps, and skin problems.
• Add 10 drops of an appropriate essential oil for the issue(s) you’re dealing with to 4 oz. of hot water, soak a clean dry cloth in the water and wrap onto the effected area. You can also make a compress with essential oils & castor oil for these same issues. Castor oil is thick & sticky—use an old washcloth.

4. Facial Steam: A great way to open sinuses, relieve headaches and treat the skin.
• Add 1-5 drops to hot water in a pot or glass bowl, cover your head with a towel. Breathe and steam face.

5. Massage: Use essential oils during a massage to relax, relieve soreness, and rejuvenate the whole body.
• Pure essential oils are about 70 times more concentrated than the whole plant. Dilutions are typically 2%-10%. For adults, a 2.5% dilution is recommended for most purposes. For children under 12, 1% is generally safe. A 2.5% blend for a 1 ounce bottle of carrier oil is 15 drops of essential oil.
• 1% blend = 6 drops per oz.
• 2% blend = 12 drops per oz.
• 3% blend = 18 drops per oz.
• 5% blend = 30 drops per oz.
• 10% blend = 60 drops per oz.

6. Direct Palm Inhalation: This is the best way to quickly and easily expose yourself to the anti-microbial and other therapeutic uses of essential oils.
• Apply 1-2 drops of oil to the palms, rub together and gently inhale deeply. Note: This method should only be used with oils that can safely be applied to the skin.

7. Diffusers: There are many diffusers out there from the candle-heated and fan varieties to the warm and cold electric nebulizing designs.
• The advantages of cold, nebulizing diffusers, in my opinion, outweigh the advantages of any other kind of diffuser. This strong diffusion maximizes therapeutic benefits, particularly in respiratory conditions.
• For a good comparison of the different kinds of diffusers on the market go to: http://www.floracopeia.com/articles/ and click on “How to Use Essential Oils Effectively.”

8. Fans/Vents/Travel: This is an economical way to use the oils if you don’t want to purchase a diffuser.
• Add 3-5 drops of essential oil to cotton balls and put in a piece of foil or a plastic baggie. Put the slightly open baggie or foil wrapper in the fan during summer, or in the vent of your car to uplift you while driving. Alternately, when traveling by train or plane, use a sealable baggie and take deep inhales periodically during your trip so as to not disturb others.

9. Cleaning/Deodorizing: Many oils can be used to clean certain surfaces in your home to disinfect and deodorize.
• Add 3-5 drops of essential oil to a bowl of warm water and dampen a clean cloth and wipe down counters, school desks, chairs, or bathroom surfaces. Or use with a mild soap to clean floors.
• Add 2-3 drops of essential oil to a clean sponge, wet and use as above.
• Add 2-3 drops of essential oils to a glass spray bottle of water and spray on linens or throughout the house.
• Caution: Use your own discretion as to which surfaces can take an application of diluted essential oils, as they are concentrated and very strong. Certain wood and plastic surfaces could be damaged with the oils.

10.Laundry: This is a wonderful way to benefit from the aroma of essential oils all day, to freshen your closet, and eliminate the need for chemically fragranced dryer sheets.
• Add 3-5 drops of essential oil to a clean rag and add to the dryer in place of a dryer sheet.
• Note: Static cling often occurs because of “over-drying” your laundry. To cut down on static, experiment with shorter dry times and/or use a lower temperature.
Sources: www.floracopeia.com; http://aromatherapy4u.wordpress.com/

Note: None of the information here is meant to diagnose, treat or heal any disease, illness or condition. Please see the health practitioner of your choice.