What is aromatherapy or essential oil therapy?

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for preventive, curative or wellness purposes. It has a therapeutic aim when it aims to treat a specific symptom, whether physical or psycho-emotional, but it can also provide access to serenity and relaxation.

The essential oil is a companion both olfactory and therapeutic of your everyday life.

The atmosphere of a place is magnified by the diffusion of one or more essential oils selected with finesse and accuracy. Essential oils and essences then contribute to transport the human being towards an emotion, that it is with the aim to provoke a "relational synergy" between the people present or on the contrary "the rest of the soul", the relaxation and the inner meditation.

Essential oils have a thousand and one secrets. We discover new ones every day, for our greatest pleasure.

In Latin and Greek, "aroma" means "aroma, herb" and "therapeia" means "care, cure". We are talking about the therapeutic (medical) use of aromatic extracts of plants.

In contrast, herbal medicine uses all the elements of a plant. Note that only the doctor (doctor of medicine) can claim to be an aromatherapist. The aromatologist, meanwhile, is a specialist in essential oils.

Where does the essential oil come from?

The essential oil is derived from an aromatic plant by a process of steam distillation. The volatile aromatic molecules of the essential oils thus obtained give them benefits both in terms of health but also psychologically and emotionally. This is called aromatherapy: therapy with essential oils.

The distillation process is carried out in a still. Plants are placed on a "pierced" tray located above heated water and brought to a boil. Thus, the plant releases its aromatic essences which are harvested in a tank (the decanter).
Several parts of the plant can be distilled: wood, leaf, branch, root, stem, bark, zest, flower ....

The benefits of essential oil are a function of its chemical composition. But this depends on the conditions of production and harvesting: the nature of the soil, altitude, climate (level of sunshine, amount of rain, temperature), distillation.

The different methods of using essential oils

To determine the dosages, here are some essential notions:

• 1 ml of essential oil = about 25 drops of essential oil
• For example: 10% essential oil in a bottle of 100 ml = 10 ml of essential oil = about 250 drops of essential oil
• Another example: 10% essential oil in a 50 ml bottle = 5 ml of essential oil = 125 drops of essential oil
• The dosages below are given as an indication and depend on many criteria. It is recommended to contact a professional.

Precision: the term "child" means from 5 years old.

First use: cutaneous application of essential oils

Several modes of application are possible by cutaneous way, according to the desired benefit and the age of the user:

In local application:

Directly on the affected area: in case of button, herpes, etc ...

Dosage:

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• Baby: dilute 1 drop of essential oil with vegetable oil (sweet almond oil for example) in the palm of the hand
• Child: 2 drops of essential oil mixed with a vegetable oil in the palm of the hand
• Adult: 3 to 4 drops of essential oil diluted with a vegetable oil in the palm of the hand

In function for a localized care:

Action: pain, contracture, tension, hematoma, burning, cellulite ...

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Dosage:

• Baby: dilute 1% of essential oil in vegetable oil (sweet almond oil for example)
• Child: 3% essential oil mixed with vegetable oil
• Adult: 5 to 10% essential oil mixed with a vegetable oil*

In massage, on a larger surface:

Action: relaxation

Dosage:

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• Baby: dilute 1% of essential oil in vegetable oil
• Child: 3% essential oil mixed with vegetable oil
• Adult: 3 to 5% of essential oils diluted in a vegetable oil

  In the bath :

The essential oil is not water soluble and must be mixed with a neutral base (vegetable oil, liquid soap, shampoo, etc. ...).

Action: relaxing (Lavandula Angustifolia for example), decongestant (Eucalyptus Radiata) ...

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Dosage: The dosages are indicative but be careful as to the proportion of essential oil in relation to the amount of water in the bath.

• Baby: 1 to 2 drops of essential oil mixed with a neutral base, in a baby bath
• Child: Mix 2 to 3 drops of essential oil with a neutral base. Caution: vegetable oil makes the bottom of the bath slippery.
• Adult: Mix 5 to 10 drops of essential oil with a neutral base.

In cosmetics:

Action: regenerating, healing, anti-wrinkle, moisturizing, etc ...

Dosage:

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• Child: A few drops of essential oil (1%) mixed with a cream or an oil
• Adult: a few drops of essential oil (1 to 2%) mixed with a cream or an oil

In the hair:

Action: anti-greasy, anti-dandruff

Dosage: 3 to 5 drops mixed with shampoo

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Specific action: remove lice for example (Lavandula angustifolia)

Dosage dry: a few drops directly on the affected areas of the scalp

Second use: the pulmonary way

In olfaction

For targeted and individual therapeutic use: place yourself above the vial of essential oil and perform 5 slow breaths (inhale 5 times placing your nose over the vial, and exhale 5 times, spreading slightly)

Inhaled

Place your face over an inhaler containing 2 to 4 drops of respiratory essential oils mixed with hot water. If you do not have an inhaler, you can use a bowl of hot water and cover your head with a cloth. Important precision: do not heat the water with essential oils but integrate them at the last moment.

In diffusion

The basic principle, in order to respect the aromatic molecules, is to never heat an essential oil. It is recommended to avoid diffusers that heat essential oils. Several devices are currently on sale on the market. There are two main dissemination methods:

1) Diffusers in which the essential oils, poured into a cup of water, are emitted in the form of micro droplets (haze). These diffusers adopt the principle of micro-cold spraying. They are broadcast over a long period of time (typically 60 to 90 minutes, some even broadcast up to 7 hours). The number of drops of essential oils depends on the type of diffuser and the surface of the room. This process has the advantage of offering a pleasant olfactory atmosphere, relaxing or invigorating.

2) Diffusers in glassware: the essential oils are diffused alone (without water) during 5 to 10 minutes per hour. The aromatic molecules are then released to offer all their therapeutic benefits, whether to clean a room (eg Lemon), to facilitate breathing (eg Ravintsara) or to install a relaxing atmosphere (eg Lavender). The amount of essential oil to pour into the diffuser depends on the surface of the room and the type of diffuser.

Third use: the internal way

It is sometimes proposed to absorb an essential oil by mixing it with sugar or honey. Since the essential oil is lipophilic (soluble in fat), it is recommended to eat it with a vegetable oil or fat, the only food that can buffer the gustatory force and causticity of an essential oil. Nevertheless, some essential oils can be toxic to the liver, kidneys and brain. Also it is better to refrain from ingesting, as a precaution, except to seek the advice of a professional.

Only the doctor is authorized to propose the manufacture of capsules (administered orally), ovules (vaginally) and suppositories (rectally).

Other ways of using essential oils

Essential oils can be used with the utmost care in the kitchen. For this, it is imperative to introduce the essential oils after the culinary preparation, once the dish is finished and cooked.

Indeed, it should not heat the essential oils so as not to alter the aromatic molecules and properties. If it is a dish in sauce, take a portion of the sauce in a spoon and incorporate a half-drop. Pour the spoon into the dish and taste. Proceed sparingly to the desired aromatic touch. Be careful about the choice of essential oil, stay on the "sure values": lemon, sweet orange, pink, large green basil ...

The essential oil can also enter your home by integrating your household products: introduced in your household products (Lemon, Tea Tree, Scots pine, Eucalyptus radiata for example) or in your vacuum bag (Lavender, Eucalyptus radiata for example) .

The precautions for use of essential oils

Respect the dosage of essential oils

Essential oils and essences are composed of 100% active ingredients that give them a high therapeutic power. It is therefore necessary to follow the advice of a specialist before the use of any essential oil, respecting the dosage and duration.

Other golden rules regarding the use of essential oils

Ensure the safe use of children and pregnant and lactating women, by consulting an aromatherapist;

Do not apply essential oils to the mucous membranes: ears, nose, eyes, and do not swallow them unless advised medical advice;

Do not expose yourself to the sun with a citrus essence and some essential oils that contain Furocoumarines;

In the bath, thoroughly mix the essential oil with a neutral base (soap, shampoo ...). The essential oil does not mix with water;

Wash hands after use

Keep essential oils out of the reach of children and animals.

Precautions for use in case of cutaneous application

Two precautions must be taken into account in the context of a cutaneous application:

Perform a test on the inner fold of the elbow to ensure the absence of allergic skin reaction, before any use of a new essential oil;

Mix the essential oil with a vegetable oil.

An essential oil of quality, it is also a well preserved essential oil

Close the bottles after use;

Keep flasks away from light and heat;

Keep fresh citrus essences (Lemon, Orange etc) and maximum 2 years after their date of manufacture;

Hydrolates are also kept cool (consumed 1 year after opening).

In the event of an accident

A drop of essential oil has just fallen in your eyes, or you were aiming at your temples but you have approached too close to the eyes: rinse with a vegetable oil. Water is useless!

If a dermocaustic essential oil "burns" your skin, spray it with vegetable oil.

You have just ingested an essential oil that causes you pain?

Do not vomit, do not drink milk. But absorb plant charcoal (with high absorbency) and contact the poison control center nearest you. Communicate the Latin name (botanical name) of the essential oil.

In case of more serious reaction (nausea, vertigo, etc ...), go to the emergency room.