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How To Use Natural Aromatherapy Oils Safely

People are turning back to nature for their health and happiness. What they are finding is that flowers and herbs can be used as powerful healing scents in aromatherapy. When working with essential oils, be sure to handle them safely.

There are fewer preservatives or chemicals to worry about in natural products. In fact, the use of oils, herbs and flowers were the basis for the earliest forms of medical treatment. So, we are just getting back to our roots.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils to create a variety of products that are used in healing techniques. Common substances known to provide therapeutic effects such as lavender, basil and lemon are subjected to an extraction process to basically remove their essence. It is these essences that are the basis of aromatherapy. The oils used in a massage or other healing process are in their purest form.

Before the oil can be used, it needs a carrier oil to dilute it. A small amount of the essential oil is added to the appropriate carrier such as walnut, sunflower and flaxseed oils. Now the essential oil is safe to use on the skin. Without the carrier oil, these substances are too strong to be used alone.

Essential oils are used in aromatherapy for a variety of reasons pertaining to their properties. They can be used to relieve headaches, improve mood, increase digestive health, stop morning sickness and alleviate respiratory ailments - to name a few.

Tips for working with essential oils

The oils can be purchased in their potent, pure form if you are not knowledgeable about creating them yourself. Applying them directly to the skin can cause burns. It is advised that they be stored in a cool, dry place out of reach of children. They may end up drinking the oils or spilling them on themselves if your supplies are kept down low at their level.

Wear gloves when mixing aromatherapy oils. Your skin can burn too if some spills on you. Also, these oils are absorbed into the skin and then the bloodstream. Handling them often without gloves can lead to a toxic level of exposure in your body. Even smelling them in excess can cause dizziness, fainting and headaches. Use a ventilated area for creating the oils and other products. This dissipates the smell so that you breathe easier.

Before using an aromatherapy oil, consult your doctor. Some natural and homeopathic products contain substances that can interfere with traditional medications you might be taking. He or she can check to see if any of the properties of your essential oils will cause a reaction.

Aromatherapy oils are created using essential oils and a carrier. While very little of the concentrated form is used, it is still important to handle them with care.