From personal experience, I’ve learned that sniffing an essential oil right from bottle and diluting it with a carrier oil such as sweet almond or jojoba, makes a huge difference. I smelled my favorite, vanilla absolute, a thick balsamic oil derived from pod of vanilla plant. I determined that first whiff brought out usual vanilla scent I was accustomed to, but a millisecond later there was a stronger, harsher scent. I then added a few drops to a bottle of sesame oil and change was magnificent! I had aroma I equated with spicy-sweet scent of a dried vanilla bean pod. The carrier oil had combined perfectly with essential oil!

You should always dilute essential oils in carrier oils when applying directly to skin, or even in bathtub. This is a necessary safety precaution. Essential oils are very strong and need to be diluted. Also, some essential oils may smell good enough to drink, but are for EXTERNAL USE ONLY!

AROMATHERAPY IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT

The methods described here are for those of you who wish to be able to change fragrance environment of a room, car, office, closet, drawer, etc. There are psychological benefits to entering a room that has crisp aroma of citrus, or a subtle scent of fresh blooming flowers.

Aroma Lamps – Aroma lamps are either electric or operated by a tea light or votive candle. There is a small cup shaped portion that is usually made of glazed ceramic and holds a few ounces of water. However, other materials may include glass and stone. Warm or even hot water should be used; as that is less work candle has to do. Only a few drops of essential oil are added to water, thus making it ideal for costlier essential oils. Care should be taken to see that water doesn’t boil away.

Atomizers – Requiring no heat, atomizers, sometimes referred to as nebulizers or nebulizing diffusers, disperse essential oils on a revitalizing current of air as it passes through an intricately engineered blown glass chamber. This course naturally suspends and ionizes oil into extremely fine molecules, causing them to remain suspended in air for longer periods.

Many aromatherapist practitioners and others who utilize finest essential oils choose atomizers. It’s important to be careful with atomizers. Since there is a continuous mist emitted it should not be used for more than a few minutes at a time. Many of models do have built-in timers to avoid any problems like overuse. Also, make sure that this is done in a clear area, away from furniture, [varnish can be worn off] wall hangings and other objects.

Candles – Candles create a more romantic ambiance and do double duty in helping disperse your preferred aroma[s] throughout a room. In spirit of true aromatherapy, it’s advised to use beeswax, palm wax or soy wax candles as paraffin contains carcinogenic chemicals. Wicks should be trimmed, and essential oils need to be added at top of candle, but never on wick itself. You can add essential oils after candle has been lit and there’s a small pool of wax at top of candle. Don’t add oils to flame itself as oils can catch fire.

Diffusers - You can buy diffusers to plug into your car’s cigarette lighter, as you can also find those that plug into any wall socket. The atomizers suspend a fine mist of essential oils into air for aromatherapy is best method of using essential oils for therapeutic treatments. Many aromatherapists believe that this is most effective method of enjoying aromas.

Sachets – If you want your linens to smell clean and fresh, addition of a smell sachet filled with your favorite aroma will create a pleasant smell whenever you open drawer or closet. You can buy them already made, or make them yourself. Highly recommended would be a small muslin or organza bag filled with dried lavender buds and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Not only is lavender a universally pleasing aroma, it also serves as an all-natural way to keep moths away.

Carrier Oils: The most common way to dilute a pure essential oil is with a cold-pressed carrier oil. Carrier oils allow essential oil to slowly permeate skin, protecting it from irritation. Jojoba, sesame, sweet almond, rose hip, refined rice bran, wheatgerm, evening of primrose, grapeseed, kukui nut, sunflower, hazelnut, safflower, avocado or apricot kernel oils are commonly used. Several of carrier oils can be combined and when essential oils are added, this makes for a very nutrient-rich bath oil.

Determining Quality of Essential Oils:

Read label. If purchasing rosemary oil, for example, you would expect to see that name on label. However, here are four facts that you will find on any bottle of essential oil from a reputable supplier/company:

1.Botanical/Latin name. In this case it would be Rosemarinus officinalis. 2.Part. What part of plant has essential oil been extracted from? For rosemary, that is leaf. 3.Method of extraction. Is it an absolute, enfleurage, carbon dioxide [CO2], or has it been steam distilled? In this case it has been steam distilled. 4.Country of Origin. Rosemary comes from many different countries, and in this case Morocco is origin. Location can make a sizeable difference for many reasons such as climate, type of soil, high/low altitude, etc.

Aromatherapy isn’t government regulated. Products can claim to be “natural” when in fact distilled water is only untainted ingredient. Any reputable retailer of essential oils will be very knowledgeable about their product and capable of proving its purity. They will and should be happy to answer your questions.

To learn more about aromatherapy, please get a copy of “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils” by Julia Lawless, as book features photographs of essential oils themselves, botanical origins, along with several ways to safely use essential oils.

There are many products available in health food stores that can assist your recovery. Antioxidants such as Vitamin C and A, along with Zinc, can help reduce duration and severity of symptoms. These are also very useful as a preventive. Herbs such as Echnicaea, Cat's claw, and Astralgulis can fight against colds and flu's and strengthen immune system.

When cold or flu hits, most important advice that anyone can follow is to rest. At this time you need to get extra sleep. The immune system functions at its best while we are sleeping. Allow your body time and opportunity to fight back. Don't rush back into a full schedule as soon as you start to feel better. Take it slowly for a few days, get some early nights, to really allow your body to recuperate. Giving yourself time to fully recover will help prevent a recurrence.

Drink plenty of liquid, water and herbal teas. When mucous membranes become dehydrated, they are more hospitable to viruses. A high liquid intake will help repel virus and also help to flush out system. Juices and sugary drinks should be avoided. A high sugar intake decreases ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria.

At first sign of a cold, start treating it at once. Increase your vitamin and mineral intake, especially antioxidants. Start using any of above treatments or get onto some herbs or tissue salts. The sooner you start to treat a cold, less severe it is likely to become. A cold should only last a couple of days, if you are no better after a week, seek advice from your health practitioner.

When you are recovering from illness, it is a good time to change your toothbrush. Your toothbrush can harbour germs you have just been fighting off; changing it now can prevent reinfection.

Without taking care, your illness can change from being a mild cold to something more serious. Remember to take care of yourself.