Essential Oils Starter Kit

If you're new to essential oils and aromatherapy, you can start your home or professional practice slowly; that way you can get used to how to use and blend the oils and begin to use them more frequently for health, therapeutic and household purposes. There are a few different oils that are considered "starter oils" due to their versatility and ease of use. The below oils should definitely be in your essential oils starter kit!

Lavender Oil is said to be the most versatile of all essential oils. It works as an anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, natural sedative and a top antiseptic. It is helpful for several skin conditions and is well-known for its relaxing effects. A few drops of lavender oil can be blended with any carrier oil and used on the skin, in a bath or around the house.

Peppermint Oil is known for its strong, clean, fresh, minty aroma. It is highly regarded for soothing digestive and improving gastric issues. A drop of peppermint oil can be added to your tea or combined with a carrier oil and used on the skin or added to a bath.

Lemon Oil has antiseptic like properties and contains substances that help improve immune system function. It has been said to improve vision and acts as a skin cleanser. Add a drop to a carrier oil and massage onto the face or hands.

Eucalyptus Oil is helpful for sinus problems, asthma, bronchitis, coughs, sore throat and mouth infections. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Add a few drops of Eucalyptus oil to some bath salts and soak a virus way. You can also combine with a carrier oil and massage the bottom of your feet for quick anti-bacterial protection.

Tea Tree Oil has countless healing characteristics, including anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic. It is helpful for the skin, digestive system and several other health issues. Ever have a problem with pimples? A drop of neat tea tree oil applied to a pimple will do amazing wonders!

Rosemary Oil can be used for hair care, as a mouth rinse and as a natural pain reliever. Again, a few drops added to a carrier oil, shampoo or tea is a great way to use this essential oil.

As you can see, there are several very versatile essential oils that have amazing health benefits. All of the ones listed here would be great additions to an essential oils starter kit, but there is a long list of others that are also good for beginners. Don't forget to learn the proper amounts to use and how to dilute them with a carrier oil so you don't irritate your skin.

Ways to Utilize Essential Oils - Aromatherapy for Skin and Body

Many people are looking for a natural alternative way to heal the body from illness or from a health condition. Aromatherapy is ideal because it is non invasive and overtime may work to the source of the problem. Essential oils used in aromatherapy are oils that has been extracted from herbs, flowers or tree barks using steam distillation, resulting in pure oils that is highly concentrated. If used correctly, the application of these essential oils can benefit the skin and body. Each has its certain characteristics that can have an effect on a particular condition.

How can we use essential oils? The term "aromatherapy" refers to the use of the vapor of the oils that we inhale. However, there are many uses of these oils to enhance their benefits. Some good method to get the most out of aromatherapy on the body are:

Bathing

One of the easiest way and the most enjoyable in using essential oils are when you take your baths! Simply add 5-6 drops each of your favorite essential oils to your warm bath water. Good oils to try for relaxation are Lavender, Chamomile, Mandarin, and Bergamot. It is a good idea to add 2-3 different kinds of oils as they will enhance each other's properties.

Massage

One of the most widely used method of aromatherapy, massage can benefit the body in two ways, through increasing blood circulation and by inhaling the scents of the oil. By increasing blood circulation, massage can neutralize toxins and release energy trapped in stiff muscles. Inhaling the aroma of the oils can stimulate the senses resulting in relaxation.

The absorption of essential oils through massage is relatively high; therefore, it has to be mixed with a carrier oil which also makes it more spreadable. Ideal carrier oils for massages are light botanical oils such as Sunflower oil, Olive oil, Grapeseed oil or a mixture. Mix 10 drops of essential oil to 30 ml of carrier oil. Ideal oils for massages are Marjoram, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass and Lavender.

Compress

Warm or Cold Compress are used to relieve swelling, pain, or to reduce fever. Adding essential oils in these compress will help accelerate healing.

Warm Compress

Add 2-3 drops of essential oil to a large bowl of warm water. Soak a small towel in the water, then wring it out and place it on the problem area of the body. Let it sit for 1-2 hours, occasionally re-soaking the towel. Preferred oils to reduce pain and inflammation are Lavender, Geranium, Clary Sage and Bergamot.

Cold Compress

Add 2-3 drops of essential oils to a large bowl filled with water and 6 ice cubes. Soak a hand towel in the water, wring it out and place it on the sore area. Cold compresses are ideal for burns, blisters or sores on foot, muscle pain and headache. Good oils to try are Sweet Birch, Marjoram, Lavender and Clary Sage.

Steaming

Used frequently by spas in facials, steaming does wonder for face because it opens up the pores to ease the absorption and clears up impurities. It can be done easily at home as well. Simply fill the wash basin with steaming hot water, and add 2-3 drops of of essential oils. Inhale the vapor for about 5 minutes or so before rinsing it off with warm water. Rose and Palmarosa are good for mature skin, while citrus oils are suitable for oily skin. Chamomile is calming for sensitive skin.

Bath Salts Can Be Used to Detox the Body and Mind

Bath salts have been getting such a bad rap these days. When used properly they are in no way supposed to turn you into a face-eating zombie. Magnesium sulfate, a.k.a Epsom salts has powerful medicinal properties for both internal and external. Magnesium sulfate is a naturally occurring compound and is easily absorbed through the skin making it a very strong means of healing. Some of the benefits of soaking in a tub with Epsom salts are as follows:

- Eases muscle tension
- Lessens stress
- Helps to flush out toxins through the skin (our largest organ)
- Relaxes the nervous system
- Lowers blood pressure
- Softens skin
- Deodorizes
- Treat fungus & athlete's foot
- Comforts symptoms of gout
- Helps you sleep
- Helps to alleviate constipation by increasing the amount of water in the intestines.

Tame the Zombie Bath Salt Recipe

1 cup of Epsom salts
¼ cup of baking soda
5 drops of Lavender essential oil
5 drops of Ylang-Ylang essential oil
¼ cup of olive oil

As the bath fills up with very warm water, add the Epsom salts and baking soda. When tub has finished filling and water is turned off add essential oils and olive oil. Soak in tub for up to 30 minutes. You may want to light some candles and listen to Zen radio on Pandora for this. This is also best when done right before bed. Get ready for a very good night's sleep.

Invigorate Yourself Bath Salt Recipe

1 cup of Epsom salts
¼ cup of baking soda
5 drops of Grapefruit essential oil
5 drops of Sweet orange essential oil

Energize Yourself Bath Salt Recipe

1 cup of Epsom salts
¼ cup of baking soda
6 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
4 drops Rosemary essential oil

Follow steps as above however you may want to soak earlier in the day and perhaps listen to Korn radio.

If you are interested in taking Epsom salts orally to help relieve constipation, help increase the effectiveness of insulin when used as a treatment for diabetes, and improve heart health, then take the following dosage:

Make a solution by combining 2 tbsp. of Epsom salt for every quart of room temperate water. Drink up buttercup. You should have a bowel movement in 30 minutes.

Feng Shui Aromatherapy

Feng shui literally means 'wind water' and is a term first coined by Guo Po (276-324 AD) in his book entitled 'Zangshu'... "Qi rides the wind and scatters, but it is retained when encountering water".

Wind corresponds to Wood in the five element model upon which feng shui is based, the other four elements being Water, Fire, Earth, and Metal. It is through a system of correspondences that feng shui practice aims to balance the five elements, and in so doing it achieves it's purpose of delivering health and harmony.

Feng shui aromatherapy is all about enabling the essential balance that leads to well-being and harmony. Essential balance is a state of being that we all experience from time to time, to a greater or lesser extent. We can tell when we are balanced when we feel healthy and happy.

We also know that we can avoid putting our health and happiness in danger by doing the right thing e.g. eating sensibly, exercising moderately, getting enough sleep, getting the work/rest/play/family balance right and having good intentions... but the twists and turns of life often intervene to knock us off balance. Sometimes we can even be our own worst enemies and then have to suffer the consequences!

Maintaining a balanced five element energy state or correcting, by degrees, elemental energy imbalances... these are the aims of feng shui aromatherapy.

The origins of feng shui aromatherapy go back thousands of years, to the times of the three legendary Emperors of China. The first of these Emperors - Fu Shi (c.3322 BC) - defined the secrets of energetic life with the 8 Trigrams. The second - Shen Nung (c.2788 BC) - classified the properties of plants according to yin/yang balance and five element correspondences. The third Emperor - Huang Di (2697-2574 BC) - described the internal energy model that creates, controls and sustains physical form and function.

The combined knowledge given by these three legendary Emperors allows us to firstly, determine anyone's five element essential balance from birth; secondly, categorise essential oils from plants according to their yin/yang and five element properties; and thirdly, create blends of essential oils that enable the balance that leads to well-being and harmony.

Aromatherapy Helps With Healthy Skin - Essential Oils Of The Bible

One cannot have good skin without nutrients that promote health. The skin is an outward measure of health. Essential oils are important to good skin health and overall health of the body. These oils are gifts from God, which should be used in their natural state.

It would behoove any person seeking good health to become familiar with Aromatherapy, which is the use of aromas from essential oils as therapy. Not only is the aroma beneficial, but they can also be applied directly to the skin, when mixed in carrier oils, such as vegetable oils. They should not be used full strength on the skin in most cases. These oils penetrate the skin and are stored directly beneath the skin, to be used in the body as needed. They work both internally and externally.

Many people today are making their own soaps, perfumes and cleaning supplies with oils, thus avoiding all of the manmade by-products that are in many products on the shelves. When mixing essential oil formulas, use small amounts to assure freshness. (For example, a simple formula for healthy skin is 1 ounce of carrier oil such as, grape seed, apricot or avocado oil, mixed with 4 drops of frankincense, 4 drops of myrrh, and 7 drops of lavender, essential oils.)

Bible References Of Essential Oils

    Cedarwood is mentioned in Leviticus 14:4, as well as other places in the book.
    Cinnamon is mentioned the Exodus 30:23 and Proverbs 7:17, as well as other places in the Bible.
    Frankincense is mentioned several times through-out the Bible such as, Exodus 30:24, Leviticus 2:1-2 as well as several places in the book. In Matthew 2:11 it was presented to Jesus as a gift when he was a young child.
    Myrrh was also a gift that was presented to Jesus in Matthew 2:11. Myrrh is mentioned in Genesis 37:25 and 43:11.
    Hyssop is mentioned in Exodus 12:22, Leviticus 14:4, Psalms 51:7, as a purging agent, John 19:29 and Hebrews 9:19, as well as other places in the Bible.
    Juniper is mentioned in Job 30:4
    Myrtle is mentioned in Nehemiah 8:15 and Isaiah 41:19.
    Spikehard is mentioned in the Bible in Song of Solomon 1:12 and 4:13-14, as well as Mark 14:3 and John 12:3, where Mary anointed Jesus with this very expensive gift from her alabaster box.

The essential oils of the Bible have been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes, as well as perfumes. Rose oil is one of the most used oils in perfumes today.

These oils and books on how to use them can be purchased from your local health store usually in the bath and body section.