Aromatherapy for Self

What I am about to tell you is simple and can greatly benefit your health. Everyone wants that, right?

New self-care trends dominate our timelines. Everywhere we go, there’s a fresh take or an updated idea on how to better our life; there are so many, it’s almost impossible to know where to start or who to trust. Most of the available information tells us to change every aspect of our lives. Obviously, this is a long, hard process that overwhelms most people, causing them to get discouraged and quit before they even start.

As a practice, aromatherapy is chock-full of ever-changing information, with new developments and discoveries constantly being made—but amidst the changing details, the central principle is almost always constant. In this article, I will expound on some common uses for essential oils and reveal the secrets of how these amazing, all-natural oils can change your life.

Let’s build a strong foundation with the basics: What are essential oils and why should I use them for my self-care routine?

Essential oils are naturally occurring compounds extracted from plants with the concentrated contents of their therapeutic properties (also called “essence,” which is why we call them essential oils). The oils are extracted, in the majority of cases, via steam distillation, though some are extracted through cold-pressing instead.

Essential oils contain unique aromatic chemical compounds, which give each oil its characteristic therapeutic properties. These compounds are why essential oils are often used in self-care routines.

Each essential oil has a different set of chemical compounds that make them useful in a wide variety of applications. First, though, I recommend that before adding essential oils into your daily routine, you consult with your personal care physician or medical doctor to assess any potential risks. Next, I’ll walk you through my favorite essential oil options for self-care. (I’ll include the reasons I chose each oil.)

Bulgarian Lavender: Lavender essential oil is one of the most researched and commonly used essential oils on the market. I like to call it a Swiss Army knife due to its versatility and multiple uses.

Lavender is a powerful essential oil in part due to its high amount of monoterpenes, chemical compounds that are ideal for calming nervous feelings and provide anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.

Lavender essential oil is also high in esters, which makes it a great addition to your skin-care regimen.

Eucalyptus essential oil: Due to its high amounts of another type of compounds called monoterpenes, eucalyptus essential oil is commonly used for its antimicrobial, antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. This oil is an excellent addition to your daily routine to help boost your immune system and give you a fighting chance if you start to feel under the weather. Adding a few drops to your diffuser or shower in the morning can help open up your airways so you can breathe more easily and have an invigorating start to your day.

Orange essential oil: Orange essential oil is commonly used to help boost one’s mood, reset one’s mind and purge negative thoughts. This oil is also high in monoterpenes, so it’s another great addition to your daily routine. It can be used in skin care, body care or in a diffuser.

When I am feeling down, I like to add orange, lemon and grapefruit essential oils to my diffuser for a little aromatherapy sunshine. Other citrus oils that are great for these reasons are bergamot, tangerine and blood orange. Just remember, most cold-pressed essential oils are known to be phototoxic, meaning you should not apply them topically before direct sun exposure.

Frankincense essential oil: Frankincense is a commonly sought-after essential oil. High in monoterpenes and ester, it is an amazing choice for skin care. Frankincense has been known to help balance out skin, help with fine lines and brighten the skin. It can also help boost one’s mood and help bring emotional healing from trauma.

Rosemary essential oil: Like the other oils on this list, rosemary is high in monoterpenes, but also contains ketones. It’s antibacterial, antiviral and antispasmodic to boot. Add this oil to your routine when you are feeling under the weather, so the high camphor levels can help open your airways and soothe your throat.

I want to note that this essential oil has a few safety concerns, so this oil is not recommended for use by those who have high blood pressure or epilepsy. Make sure you are mindful of the risks before deciding to add this oil to your daily routine.

Now that I have laid out some basic information about what essential oils are and provided some of my favorite oils, I imagine you’re thinking, “That’s great, but how do I add them to my daily self-care routine?”

I have already alluded to some of them, but here is a list of ways you can incorporate essential oils into your self-care routine:

Clay or wooden passive diffuser. Passive diffusers are one of the most common essential oil diffusers in people’s homes or practices. They can get the job done while also being a decorative touch to any room’s decor. An added bonus is that passive diffusers don’t require replenishing a water reservoir and will continue working until they run out of oil. You can have one in your practice or multiple; it’s really up to you.

Ultrasonic diffuser. These diffusers are very popular as well. They use small vibrations to propel particles of water and essential oil into the air. There are a wide variety of designs available. All you do is add water and essential oil and turn it on! It’s the perfect diffuser for your treatment room or welcome area.

Plus, an ultrasonic diffuser helps add moisture to the air if it’s feeling too dry. Your client is going to love the aroma of whichever essential oil you choose to diffuse that day. An added bonus is you could create your own custom scent, which in turn would make your practice memorable whenever your client smells that scent elsewhere.

Skin-care. Adding essential oils to your skin care is an excellent way to help boost your immune system, get rid of fine lines, balance your skin out or add a relaxing experience to your normal routine.

Massage. Whether you are a massage therapist by trade or you simply enjoy the benefits of massage, adding essential oils is a must. The health benefits are endless from doing so!

I hope this article has given you a window into how beneficial essential oils can be for your self-care. Simply taking 10 minutes a day for yourself will light up every aspect of your life.

It is time to take this knowledge, apply it to your own daily routine and implement a few methods into your massage practice.

As a certified aromatherapist, Shilah Pagel enjoys working at Simply Earth as the director of sales by interacting with business owners to help them gain confidence and clarity in using as well as retailing essential oils in their practice.

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