Making Your Own Essential Oils
Making Your Own Essential Oils
This is a craft you should try. You should try making essential oils in your very own kitchen. The process is amazingly simple and can actually be done by anyone. The most complicated thing will be deciding what to do with all of those oils when you are done making them. You can use a basic essential oil in your body lotions, candles, soaps and bath salts to give away as gifts. It is the perfect gift for anyone with a sense of smell.
Making the oil starts with flowers. Most aromatherapy essential oils are made up of scents from flowers so that may be the best place for you to start. Begin by picking out a flower that you love. Roses, lavender and honeysuckle are very popular flowers because their scent is so strong. A flower with a strong scent is your ally in this process. You will need an oil base such as grapeseed oil, cheese cloth to strain the oil/flower mixture, jars for the process and pretty jars for the final product. You will also need to have a mallet, storage bags with a zipper, and a funnel to pour the essential oil into the containers which can later be mixed to make body lotions, bath salts, soaps and even candles.
The next step is to take one cup of flowers and place them in the bag. Take your mallet and gently pound the flowers until slightly crushed and flat. At this point put the cheese cloth over the empty jar. Put the flowers in and pour the oil over the flowers. Each day for three more days you will repeat this process using the same oil but different flowers. On the fourth day you will have essential oils to put in your decorative bottles.
Those decorative bottles of essential oils will make the perfect gift for someone on your list. Who would not want such a personal gift from someone they care about? The process is inexpensive, easy and the results are absolutely wonderful. You can always create other things out of the oils such as bath salts, body lotions and even your own personal massage oil. Keep them or give them away. Either way you will be immensely pleased at the results of your aromatherapy hobby.
The Breakdown of Aromatherapy Massage
An aromatherapy massage is not something to be missed. Everyone should indulge themselves, or someone they love, with a massage package that pampers their body from head to toe. Rubbed down with an essential oil mixed with almond or grapeseed oil is a pleasure not to be missed. Imagine, the incredible scents drafting up to the nostrils and then that blissful sense of peace entering as the tension leaves. It is pure heaven on earth.
Most aromatherapy massages take place in a spa. The session begins with you undressing and being draped with towels to cover any areas not being treated by the rubdown. The masseuse will combine essential oil with base oil in order to produce aromatic oil which will be used during the session. Different aromatherapy essential oils include: lavender, vanilla, peppermint, eucalyptus and sandalwood. The base oil may be grapeseed oil, apricot oil or almond oil. The masseuse will probably not use any body lotions, as these have a tendency to wear off quickly during a massage. Oil is the preferred medium with which to work their magic.
So why do aromatherapy essential oils work? Your brain has olfactory sensors that go off when you smell something. If you smell something displeasing to you, then your body will react to that smell by causing you to back away or become upset. There are scents occurring in nature that cause your brain to release different chemicals in response to their aroma. Take for example peppermint. Peppermint essential oil is considered to be an energizing scent. The brain becomes more active and awake when smelling peppermint.
Aromatherapy oil is different from a perfume or fragrant oil used in your home to scent a room. You must know the differences if you are going to be the one giving out the massage or you are making your own essential oil for an aromatherapy massage. A perfume is a chemical process that includes alcohol and other manmade chemicals. You want to use oils that are made from plants because they have been crushed and processed specifically for use on the skin.
If you have not had the chance to have an aromatherapy massage, then you are missing a huge treat. No matter what your mood that day, there is an essential oil that can be used to help you feel better. A long stressful week at work may need some lavender and vanilla to help calm the mind and muscles. If you feel that you just do not have enough energy, then you may want a reviving peppermint massage. Whatever scent you choose, you will no doubt enjoy the experience.
Consideration for the Massage Therapy Profession
The practice of massage therapy has a long and rich history. Cultures from all over the world have had some experience with this form of holistic medicine. Even Hippocrates wrote of how physicians should know how to give, what we now call a therapeutic massage, to someone to ensure their overall well-being. Obviously, he was right because the job field for massage therapists is booming and there is always a great demand for this form of therapy in a variety of settings. Even though the popularity rises and falls, aromatherapy massage is still going strong.
How often have you pulled a muscle or sprained something? You have probably done this at least once in your life. Even if you have never had an injury, you may have felt tightness in your neck and shoulders. What was your reaction? You probably massaged the area. Massage therapy is that answer to easing tense, tired or injured muscles. Through the use of oils and massage techniques, massage therapists can help someone feel better by relieving their muscles of stress.
Massage therapists perform a different function than a typical masseuse. The masseuse will use body lotions that are made from aromatherapy essential oils. This produces either a calming effect or makes the person feel rejuvenation all along their tired and aching body. A very popular essential oil is lavender. Lavender is known for its calming affect which in turn allows the individual, and their muscles, to relax.
Massage therapists are typically found in hospitals, physical therapy offices, spas and beauty salons. They also work with professional athletes to help them recover from an injury or from the rigors of their sport. They have begun to find a vital position in the medical field for their work. Considering how long masseuses have been around, it is time for them to be recognized for their profession.
Treat yourself to a massage therapist and you will definitely feel and act better. Your muscles will be relaxed and ready to take on the day. Massage therapy can work for you if you give it a chance. You can find a massage therapist in local spas, beauty parlors and hospitals. Even some gyms offer wonderful, full body massage techniques to help people relax and become rejuvenated.
Tags: Aromatherapy Oils