http://www.care2.com/greenliving/aromatherapy-from-basil-to-ylang-ylang.html
Aromatherapy from Basil to Ylang-Ylang
Aromatherapy, the use of scents from the essential oils of plants to alter mood and promote healing, is an ancient art currently enjoying a booming revival. While many common garden plants are used in essential oils—peppermint, basil and lavender, to name just a few—the quantities of flowers or leaves needed to produce the oil (It takes 1,000 pounds of jasmine flowers to make one pound of oil) means that even the most prolific gardeners would be better off buying their essential oils from catalogs or stores.
Most commonly, the oils are used in the bath (The water should be no more than l00°F and the oils should be put in at the end) or in a diffuser or placed on a handkerchief and inhaled when you need a lift. Since essential oils are very potent, they should always be diluted with a base oil such as sweet almond or grapeseed before being put on your skin. And don’t ingest any or get any in your eyes.
If you are pregnant or have a chronic illness of any kind, consult your physician before using any.
Here are some of the most common oils and their qualities:
Basil: Uplifting, clarifies thought processes.
Bergamot: Uplifting, yet calming.
Cedarwood: Relaxing, stress reducing.
Chamomile: Soothing and calming, excellent to use after an argument.
Fennel: Relaxing, warming, calming.
Fir needle: Refreshing, cleansing.
Frankincense: Calming, helps release fear.
Geranium: Balancing mood swings, harmonizing.
Juniper: Purifying, stimulating.
Lavender: Calming, soothing, relaxing.
Lemon: Uplifting, refreshing, mental alertness.
Lemongrass: Stimulating, cleansing, tonifying.
Lime: Invigorating, refreshing.
Mandarin orange: Uplifting, refreshing.
Marjoram: Very relaxing, anxiety reducing.
Myrrh: Strengthening, inspiring.
Orange: Uplifting, refreshing.
Patchouli: Inspiring, sensuous.
Peppermint: Stimulating, cleansing, refreshing, invigorating.
Pine: Refreshing, cleansing, stimulating.
Rose: Emotionally soothing.
Rosemary: Stimulating, cleansing, good for studying, invigorating.
Sage: Cleansing, purifying.
Sandalwood: Stress reducing, sensuous, soothing, helps release fear.
Spearmint: Refreshing, stimulating.
Ylang-ylang: Uplifting, sensuous.
Adapted from Every Garden is a Story: Stories, Crafts and Comforts by Susannah Seton (Conari Press, 2007).
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7 comments
add your comment »thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner
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why is this inappropriate?
I finally got my herb garden in this year! Yay! I'm hoping to create alot of bath teas, ess bath oils and such for Yule gifts! Aromatherapy is one way I can relax and I'd like to share that. Thanks for the list of scents and their energy/value... this will be of great help! Thanks for sharing!
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I always prefer the scents of apple cider and cinnamon around me. They really do seem to be revitalizing.
And a friend of mine makes candles and I have her make ones for me which contain lots of whole hazlenut coffee beans. When the candles are burning the scent is wonderful - and very soothing to me.
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I am so glad to see you writing about the benefits of essential oils. I echo Sharron's caution about making sure you are using therapeutic grade essential oils as not only can adulterated oils be useless, they might be harmful. Trust your source . You would be surprised to open my medicine cabinet, expecting to find Tylenol, prescription meds and creams, only to discover--essential oils! They are that powerful.
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Agree with both of you and just hope that those who read this will also read more about each oil. Common sage (Salvia officinalis) is not used very often becuase it contains a potentially dangerous ketone. Fennel is another one that needs more info. Expressed citrus oils are phototoxic (cause skin to be more permeable to UV light) etc. Wish folks would read some more in depth books written by widely known and respected aromatherapists like Salvatore Battaglia or Sylla Sheppard Hanger.
At least they are telling people to diluet before use on skin...took me lots of emails directly to the writer for this site to get that critial point across after some misleading info on another one of these posts.:-)
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I am a certified aromatherapist and would like to add that people make sure that they are purchasing real, pure essential oils. There are so many adulterated oils on the market that are useless. Be sure to buy from a reputable dealer.
Sharron Myers
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I am a Massage therapist and I love aromatherapy in my session. We call it a sensory journey. There are more and more usage of these products -- just hope Cooperate America does not come in and take away our natural health and market it for there benefit.
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