Ways to use essential oils

1. Aromatherapy Diffusers
Essential oil diffusers, or aromatherapy diffusers, offer a safe and easy way to fill your home or office with essential oils. A small amount of essential oil has a big impact when diffused in the air we breathe. Ultrasonic diffusers and nebulizers offer the most efficient and effective way to diffuse essential oils. Rather than heat, these diffusers use the vibration of water molecules to disperse essential oils into the air. Use diffusers when you wish for your home or office to smell fragrant with natural essential oils, any time the air is stagnant or indoor air quality is a concern, or when you are surrounded by the common troubles of winter. Diffusers are great for the home, office, and classroom.

2. Inhalations
This application is simple and can be done just about anywhere. Carry your favorite essential oils with you so you can stop and inhale them whenever you need to feel calm and uplifted, are traveling, or are exposed to germy conditions. For direct inhalation, simply open a bottle of essential oil, place it below your nose and inhale deeply. For palm inhalation, add a drop or two of your favorite skin-friendly essential oil to the palms, cup the palms around the face and inhale deeply. Some favorite essential oil blends for palm inhalation are Relax, Legends, and Spirit Blend.

3. Massage
Pure essential oils are many times more concentrated than the whole plant, which is why we recommend diluting essential oils before applying them to the skin. Dilutions are typically 2% - 10%. For adults, a 2.5% dilution is recommended for most purposes. For children under 12, 1% is generally safe.

1% blend = 6 drops essential oil per oz. carrier oil
2% blend = 12 drops essential oil per oz. carrier oil
2.5% blend= 15 drops essential oil per oz. carrier oil
3% blend = 18 drops essential oil per oz. carrier oil
5% blend = 30 drops essential oil per oz. carrier oil

There are many great carrier oils from which to choose. Jojoba, marula, coconut, argan and tamanu are all nourishing oils with a good shelf life. Rosehip and almond are also wonderful nourishing oils that require refrigeration to preserve.

4. Facial steam
Add 1 - 5 drops of essential oil to a pot of hot water. Cover head with a tow- el and allow steam to circulate inside the towel. This practice is excellent for opening sinuses, easing tension, and invigorating the skin. Eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils are great for facial steams.

5. Baths
An Aromatic Bath is a luxurious way to relax, pamper the skin or feel better when unwell or tired. Always mix essential oils with a natural emulsifier such as milk; honey; oils like almond, sesame, or coconut; or sea salts before add- ing them to the bath. A generally safe dose is 5 - 10 drops of essential oils mixed with 1/2 - 1 cup of salt or emulsifier. Aromatic baths are excellent for supporting all systems of the body and creating a healthy and balanced state.

6. Compresses
Compresses are great way to apply essential oils to bruises, wounds, aches and pains, or skin problems. Mix 10 drops of essential oil in 4 oz. hot water. Soak a clean cloth and wrap the area to be treated. Leave the compress on for 10-20 minutes. Re-apply wrap if needed. Lavender, helichrysum, and tea tree essential oils are good to use in compresses.