This is in continuation to the previous articles:
AROMA THERAPY (Part-I),AROMA THERAPY (Part-II)

Lime

Plant part used: Fruit peel.

Main benefits: This oil is antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic. A great stimulant and tonic. Very useful for treating colds and flu, cellulite, poor circulation, greasy skin, arthritis and varicose veins.

Blending suggestions: The sweet fresh fragrance of the lime blends well with bergamot, cedarwood, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, mandarin, neroli, orange, rosemary, vetiver and ylang.

Marjoram

Plant part used: Flowering tops and leaves.

Main benefits: Marjoram relieves tight muscles, aches and pain, reduces inflammation, improves digestion and helps relieve congestion.

Blending suggestions: The woody, spicy and camphor like aroma blends well with bergamot, cedar wood, chamomile, clary sage, cypress, eucalyptus, juniper, lavender, mandarin, patchouli, rosemary and tea tree.

Melissa

Plant part used: Flowering tops and leaves.

Main benefits: Melissa calms and soothes the skin (eczema, acne and insect stings) as well as soothing the mind by calming the nervous system (grief, depression, sadness and stress). Respond well to Melissa. Melissa offers relief for problems of the digestive or circulatory system (slows heart palpitations, lowers blood pressure, and eases headaches and migraine, calms persistent cough).

Blending suggestions: Its sweet, gentle, lemon aroma blends well with basil, bergamot, chamomile, frankincense, geranium, ginger, lavender, neroli, rosemary and ylang.

Orange

Plant part used: Fruit peel.

Main benefits: This oil has a refreshing and stimulating effect on the body whilst still leaving you relaxed. It rejuvenates skin. Excellent oil for calming children as well as for reducing colds and flu. Has antiseptic properties and is useful in the treatment of mouth ulcers.

Blending suggestions: The light citrus aroma blends well with cypress, frankincense, lavender, neroli, petitgrain, rose and rosewood.

Peppermint

Plant part used: Flowering tops and leaves.

Main benefits: The cooling and refreshing effect on the body brings temporary relief from headaches, mental fatigue, toothache, sinusitis, travel sickness, sunburn, upset stomachs and hangovers.

Blending suggestions: The strong, pungent, refreshing aroma of peppermint oil blends well with the citrus oils, basil, cypress, eucalyptus, marjoram, pine, rosemary and thyme.

Pine

Plant part used: Needles, twigs and cones.

Main benefits: One of the best oils to treat head lice, sores, cuts and sca great effect on the respiratory system and helps to loosen and remove mucus. Useful in the treatment of bronchitis, coughs, sore throats, colds, flu, asthma and for muscular aches and pains, arthritis and rheumatism.

Blending suggestions: The fresh, clean, camphor smell blends well with cedar wood, cypress, eucalyptus, lavender, sweet marjoram, peppermint, and thyme and tea tree.

Rose

Plant part used: Petals.

Main benefits: Rose oil prevents and reduces scaring. It is helpful oil for asthma and chronic bronchitis. The beautiful fragrance helps bring balance and harmony as well as stimulating and elevating the mind.

Blending suggestions: Blends well with bergamot, chamomile, clary sage, geranium, jasmine, lavender, Melissa, rosewood and ylang.

Rosemary

Plant part used: Flowering top and leaves.

Main benefits: Rosemary is a powerful stimulant and has impressive healing properties, strengthening the nervous system, improving memory and restoring sense of smell. Rosemary can ease the pain of arthritis, gout, rheumatism, stiff and sore muscles. It is also used with success in treating abies. Pine has asthma, cold, flu, bronchitis and coughs.

Blending suggestions: The sharp penetrating perfume blends well with basil, cedar wood, all the citrus oils, lavender and peppermint.

Rosewood

Plant part used: Wood from the tropical evergreen tree.

Main benefits: Rosewood is soothing, uplifting, refreshing and balancing. This oil is calming and relaxing for the emotions and gently sensual.

Blending suggestions: The sweet, floral, wood aroma blends well with most other essential oils.

Tea Tree

Plant part used: Leaves and twigs.

Main benefits: Tea tree has many outstanding properties. It can be used to treat anything from blisters, boils, burns, rashes, gingivitis, mouth ulcers, burns, insect bites, nappy rash, and ringworm to athletes foot and thrush, infected wounds, cold sores, corns and warts.

Blending suggestions: The resinous, slightly musty aroma of tea tree blends well with clary sage, cypress, eucalyptus, geranium, ginger, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, rosemary and thyme.

Uses of Essential Oils

Essential oils can be used in a variety of ways at home and place of work. Some of the common ways are:

Inhalation

Add 2-3 drops of essential oil, depending on which oil you have selected, to the hot boiling water and inhale the steam. Steaming helps open the pores of the skin and thus more oil is absorbed giving the additional benefit of a facial.

The bowl which has the hot water and the aroma oil could be left under the bed so that the room is enveloped in aromatic fragrance.

A drop or two sprinkled on a handkerchief can give a lasting benefit of the aroma oil. For a very peaceful and relaxed sleep, one or two drops of essential oils on a tissue kept inside the pillow or cushion could be used.

Diffusers and Vaporisers

Diffusers are generally made of ceramic or clay. The diffuser has a cave like opening to house small candles or earthen oil lamps and the top is shaped like a curved cup to hold a little water and few drops of aroma oil.

Fill the top cup with water, add a few drops of essential oils depending on the oil chosen, and then light the candle or the lamp. For the oil lamp to last long, add castor oil to the earthen lamp because castor oil burns for a very long time as compared to other oils.

Once the water and oil heat up, evaporation takes place and the whole atmosphere is filled with the aromatic scent. The process of evaporation continues for nearly five to six hours.

One can get instant relief from pain; a relaxed and positive feeling prevails when the right oil is used. One needs to be careful in choosing the right essential oil.

Vaporisers are insect repellents used normally in the form of mats or other types of vaporisers kept for repelling insects. One could reuse the used mats by adding 2-3 drops of essential oil of your own choice and keeping them lit (electrically). Slowly the smell gets released and the area is filled with soothing aroma.

Lemon or rosemary is beneficial for offices, lavender for bedroom, antiseptic tea-tree for disinfecting a sick room and citronella for repelling the insects.

Massage

The most common form of treatment is massage because the dual benefits of touch therapy and scent therapy are simultaneously enjoyed.

Massage improves the circulation of the blood, tones the muscles, detoxifies and releases trapped energy from tense muscles. The fragrance triggers a sense of pleasure and well being. The penetration of essential oil through the skin during massages is high.

Generally, carrier oils like sunflower, coconut, olive, sweet almond, sesame and vegetable oils are mixed with aroma oils. The aroma oils should not be used for massages directly without dilution. About 10 drops or 1 teaspoon of essential oil can be mixed to about 30 ml of carrier oil. This makes very rejuvenating massage oil.

Baths

This is an easy way to relax using essential oils. Add the selected oil to your bathtub, stir the water well and spend 20 minutes in the tub. The aroma oil enters the body through the skin to give lasting benefits. Just a few drops are required to be added to the bathtub.

The essential oils can also be added to a bucket of water instead of a bathtub. Mix the oil in the water properly, as some of the aroma oils are insoluble in water.