As the news of influenza is seen everywhere we turn, more and more people are seeking every available means to support their immune system and potentially prevent the infection by any number of serious viral contagions — most notably these days is “Swine Flu”, though there may be more in our future. Historically, essential oils have been used during major plagues as a means to prevent infection. Pictures can be found in natural medicine textbooks of medical practitioners wearing facemasks stuffed with cinnamon, cloves, sage and other botanicals to ward of illness. Today’s leading professional aromatherapists also suggest the most important use of essential oils for humanity will be in the treatment and prevention of such infectious illnesses. Are essential oils a viable option as an alternative therapy for home use? Here’s a look at the scientific research, as well as formulas and practices to make use of aromatic medicines.
Aromatherapy is extremely exciting, but people often find themselves asking, “How do I USE these oils?” Anyone who’s gone crazy over an essential oil understands that once you find an oil you love, you want to smell it constantly. Such is the power of scent! Smelling beautiful oils from their tiny blue bottles is how most of us end up buying essential oils, but we don’t want to stop there. A unique way to use your oils is to create aromatherapy sprays or misters. This application allows you to work with the healing properties of essential oils without necessitating carrier oils or diffusers. Best of all, they are fun and easy to create.
The word aromatherapy instantly draws up a long list of delicious and delightful scents: rose, lime, lavender, tea tree, frankincense, mandarin! Volatile oils are the alluring, and certainly the most memorable, aspect of aroma medicine. Following on the coattails of this exotic repertoire of essential oils, however, is a group of oils frequently referred to as “carrier oils.” This category includes any plant-derived oil that primarily functions as a base oil for containing, delivering and enhancing an essential oil. While essential oils are short-chain molecules that quickly dissolve when exposed to air (thus the term “volatile oils,” meaning quick to change), carrier oils are longer-chain molecules that do not break down as rapidly and hold their shape and qualities longer.
Essential oils are a curiosity to many folks — they smell nice, but they’re just not sure what to do with them, never mind how to get the most from aromatherapy’s science-proven benefits. So where to start?! Inhale! Breathe them in! The simplest means is through diffusion: evaporating the oils into your home, office, or other living space. By using a diffuser to accelerate the evaporation of oils in the air around you, one can both enjoy the wonderful aromas of pure essential oils, and go so far as to use them for their therapeutic, medicinal effects.