Essential oils have steadily grown in popularity over the last decade due to their ability to heal or reduce the symptoms associated with many types of medical conditions. When used correctly, oils are a safe and natural way to treat everything from insomnia to allergy symptoms.
Do you know how to use essential oils to maximize their therapeutic effects? Below you’ll learn the best ways to use oils for your family.
*Fun Fact* – Did you know that essential oils are not technically oils? That’s just the name given to the substances extracted from these plants and herbs. To be defined as oil they would need to contain fatty acids and they do not. How’s that for an interesting fact?
How To Use Essential Oils
Do you wonder how to use essential oils for best results? There are several different ways to use essential oils: the method you use will depend on what you hope to accomplish by using the oil. This is why it is so important to learn all that you can about essential oils and how they are used safely before just diving in. So let’s review some of the basics.
Here are some of the most popular ways to use essential oils:
- Diffusion
- Massage
- Topically
- Baths
- Inhalation
Diffusing Essential Oils
A great way to use essential oils for therapeutic purposes is with a diffuser that disperses the aroma throughout the room. There are different types of essential oil diffusers available. This variety allows you to pick and choose the method of diffusion that suits the purpose for using the oil the best. If you’re going to use your essential oils on children, there are a few extra precautions you will take than when using them on adults.
Essential Oils For Massage
One of my favorite essential oils uses is adding them to the massage oils when I get a massage: this takes the massage to a whole new lever of relaxation or refreshing, whichever one you’re looking for.
You can create your own massage oil blend to use on your family members: from little ones, to the mature ones, everyone will enjoy a little foot or back rub.
If your children have trouble winding down for sleep, make a habit of giving them a little back rub with a blend made of a drop each lavender and cedarwood mixed in a carrier oil of your choice, and see them mellow out before your eyes 😉
And of course, ask your kids to give YOU a massage with your favorite blend of relaxing oils after a hard day at work. What a nice day to end the day!
Apply Essential Oils Topically
Many oils are used topically to help heal minor cuts, scrapes and bruises or to relieve the itching caused by bug bites and rashes, or for problems in specific areas, such as headaches, or muscle pain.
To use essential oils topically, you need to dilute them with a carrier oil before applying to avoid creating skin sensitivity.y
Where is the best place to apply essential oils? There are a few: temples, behind ears, back of the neck, abdomen, bottom of your feet, wrists, etc. It depends why you are applying your oils topically. If your back hurts, you’d use the oil on your back. If you;re trying to sleep, you could apply oils to your temples, behind your ears, or the bottom of your feet.
Using Essential Oils For Bath
As a mom, using essential oils in my bath water is one of the most enjoyable ways to end a hard and stressful day. I keep homemade bath salts by my bathtub, and have a few bath bombs for those days when I really need some pampering.
Here’s one of my favorite recipes for bath salts:
- 2 cups Epsom salt
- 2 cups kosher salt
- 1 cup baking soda
- 10 drops bergamot essential oil
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
- 20 drops lavender essential oil
I use about 1/2 of a cup from this mixture and end the day relaxed and with a clear mind.
Essential Oils Inhalation
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The inhalation of essential oils deepens the senses and brings well-being into your life. There are many ways to inhale essential oils: you could just open up the bottle and breathe deeply (be careful, as some oils might be too strong for certain people).
You could also use a diffuser necklace or bracelet, and enjoy the wonderful benefits of oils all day long. This is great for work, to keep you balanced and help you avoid stress, and for children it could be a great way to help them focus.
Other ways of inhaling the oils is to put a couple drops on your pillow, add them to your handkerchief, use a nasal inhaler made with essential oils, steam inhalation, and of course, through your essential oil diffuser.
There are a few more ways how to apply essential oils, and depending on your needs you might find one method is better for you that another. I hope you’re more comfortable now knowing these different methods of using and applying essential oils.
Do you have a special way you use your oils? Please share in the comments.
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