Aromatherapy Recipes

Organic aromatherapy recipes have been used for centuries and its usage is very diverse and spread all over the world. Hundreds of recipes have been found and perfected over thousands of years. Aromatherapy makes use of essential oils to combat everyday maladies in our lives such as stress, depression, indigestion, menopause, nausea, immune deficiencies, fatigue and numerous others. The following aromatherapy recipes are for your aromatic information.

First things first! Always remember that essential oils are very potent and volatile liquids that can be very harmful if used carelessly. CAUTION: Never apply undiluted oil on the skin without use of carrier oil such as sweet almond oil, hazelnut oil, sunflower oil or grape seed oil.

Massage is perhaps the most popular way to use essential oils. It combines the healing art of aromatherapy with the healing art of touch. Self-massage is just as effective as being massaged by another person and lack of a partner is no excuse for not trying these relaxing recipes. As a general rule, always use ten drops of total essential oils per mixture, and keep it around five for maximum effectiveness.

You can always concoct your own innovative recipe using many essential oils that available in the market. You don't really need a branded expensive aromatherapy product or go to an expensive aromatherapy spa and some wholesale aromatherapy vendors can be too expensive. Here are a few quick, instant and easy natural aromatherapy recipes that can be formulated at your home:

• Beat the depression with 3 revitalizing drops of orange essential oil and 2 drops of zesty ginger.
• Drive out insomnia with easeful drops of Roman chamomile, clary sage and bergamot oils.
• Reduce menstrual cramps with pacifying drops of peppermint, cypress and lavender oils.
• Soothe stress with calming drops of Roman chamomile, lavender and vetiver oils.
• Enhance memory with stimulating drops of peppermint and lemon oils.
• Boost your immune system with protecting drops of eucalyptus, pine and peppermint oils.
• Fight acne with toning lavender and antiseptic tea tree oil.
• Ease a grieving heart with oils of warm rose and sandalwood.
• Disinfect the kitchen sink with the citrus smell of lemon, lime and grapefruit oils.

Apart from these most common recipes, you can also prepare hundreds of them by using correct amounts of essential oils.

All-Purpose Face and Neck Massage: 3 drops violet oil + 2 drops rose oil: in 20 ml of carrier oil. Add vitamin E for extra richness.

Anti-Tension Massage: 2 drops petit grain oil + 2 drops lavender oil + 2 drops sandalwood oil: in 20 ml carrier oil. Apply on the neck, shoulders, and temples.

Backache Massage: 2 drop eucalyptus oil + 2 drops lavender oil + 1 drop lemon oil: in 20 ml carrier oil. Focus on areas of tension with fingertips.

Bedtime Massage: 3 drop sandalwood oil + 2 drops chamomile oil: in 20 ml of carrier oil.

Calming Back Massage: 4 drop ylang ylang oil + 3 drops jasmine oil + 2 drops geranium oil: in 20 ml of carrier oil.

Circulation Improvement Massage: 6 drop lavender oil + 4 drops rosemary oil + 2 drops vetiver oil: in 4 oz. of sesame oil.

Face and Neck Massage: 2 drop galbanum oil + 3 drops neroli oil: 20 ml carrier oil.

Hand Massage: 5 drops lime oil + 5 drops thyme oil + 5 drops eucalyptus oil + 5 drops cajuput oil: in 4 tablespoons carrier oil.

Leg Massage: 2 drops cypress oil + 2 drop lime oil + 1 drop lemon oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Massage on calves, using gentle pressure on varicose veins.

Mature Skin Massage: 2 drop myrrh oil + 2 drops lavender oil + 2 drops neroli oil: 20 ml wheat germ oil.

Pain-Relieving Massage: 3 drop pine oil + 3 drop eucalyptus oil + 3 drops frankincense oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Apply on sore joints.

Relaxing Full-Body Massage: 3 drop neroli oil + 2 d jasmine oil: in 20 ml of carrier oil.

Relaxing Massage: 2 drops geranium oil + 2 drops rose oil + 2 drops lavender oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Face and scalp massage.

Sensual Body Massage: 2 drops patchouli oil + 3 drops geranium oil + 3 drops rose oil: 20 ml carrier oil.

Stimulating Body Rub: 1 drops peppermint oil + 1 drops myrrh oil + 2 drops lavender oil: 20 ml carrier oil. This is an excellent winter rub.

Summer Stimulating Massage: 2 drop lemongrass oil + 3 drops orange oil + 1 drop rosemary oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Good for back and shoulder massages.

Uplifting Massage: 2 drop bergamot oil + 2 drops orange oil +2 drops petit grain oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Good early-morning body rubs.

Varicose Vein Massage: 2 drops lime oil + 2 drops cedar wood oil: in 20 ml carrier oil. Rub lightly, using only fingertips.

Wrinkled or Puffy Face Massage: 2 drops rose oil + 1 drops violet oil + 1 drops geranium oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Rub lightly on face, using only fingertips.

Oils which are not preferable for home use include: cinnamon, clove, hyssop, and sage.

Oils which should not be used during pregnancy include: basil, clove, cinnamon, fennel, hyssop, juniper, marjoram, myrrh, peppermint, rosemary, sage, and white thyme.

Oils which are not recommended for steam facials include: bay, clary sage, ginger, juniper, pine, and tea tree.

Oils which are photosynthesizing include, but are not restricted to: lemon, bergamot, lime, and orange. Do not go out into the sun for at least two hours after applying these oils to your skin.

Aromatherapy and Pregnancy

Aromatherapy is a natural healing science employing essential oils extracted from aromatic plant sources to treat and balance the body, mind and spirit. During pregnancy, aromatherapy can prove to be extremely beneficial and helpful alternative, while also being very easy to employ and use. In order to use essential oils safely during pregnancy a few extra safety guidelines will need be followed. Though, there are reports of side effects, the user must be cautious enough to report any adverse effects to the physician immediately.

Essential oils are extremely concentrated and volatile. They must be diluted before use. A common dilution for aromatherapy blends during pregnancy is 2 %, which would equal approximately 10 drops essential oil to 1 ounce or 2T carrier oil (this is the most preferred oil).

For an aromatherapy pregnancy bath, add 6-10 drops of essential oil to the tub and mix well before getting in to the tub. 3-6 drops essential oil in a bowl of warm water wrung out in a washcloth works well for a compress. Use the same dilution in a bowl of steaming hot water for a steam inhalation. An aromatic bath is supposed to provide relaxation to the taut pelvic muscles and aid in avoiding stretch marks.

How ever, there are many essential oils that need to be avoided during pregnancy. The following list contains oils that should be avoided during pregnancy and oils that are recommended for use during pregnancy.

Oils To Avoid During Pregnancy

Use of essential oils should be extremely limited or avoided during the first trimester of pregnancy, but has many wonderful uses in the last two trimesters and especially during labor.

Oils to avoid during pregnancy include:

Basil, Cedar Wood, Cinnamon, Clary sage (during labor), Clove, Cypress (after 5 months), Fennel, Hyssop, Jasmine (during labor), Juniper, Lemongrass, Myrrh, Parsley and Pennyroyal

Oils Recommended During Pregnancy

The following oils will be comfortable for using during pregnancy. As always, use caution if you have allergies or a family history of allergies. If you feel you may be allergic to oil, do a patch test first. Good oils for pregnancy include:

Bergamot, Chamomile, Cypress (after 5 mos.), Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Geranium (avoid in early pregnancy), Grapefruit, Lavender. Lemon, Mandarin, Neroli, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Rosewood, Sandalwood and Tangerine

If you are currently pregnant and have been using any of the essential oils that need to be avoided, but are not experiencing any bleeding or cramping, then there most likely is nothing wrong. However, it is strongly encouraged you to consult your doctor or midwife and discontinue use of the "to be avoided" essential oils.

Aromatherapy Benefits for Pregnancy

Listed below are some of the benefits and therapeutic effects of the essential oils recommended for use during pregnancy:

Bergamot	Analgesic, antiseptic, antidepressant, uplifting, and refreshing. Helpful for cystitis during pregnancy.
Chamomile	Antiseptic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. Soothes pain from muscular aches, headaches, toothaches and Indigestion.
Cypress (ok after 5 mos.)	Antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent and diuretic. Helpful for Varicose veins, hemorrhoids and swollen ankles.
Eucalyptus	Antiseptic, antibiotic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral. Helpful with respiratory congestion.
Frankincense	Antiseptic, astringent, sedative, warming
Geranium (ok after 3 mos.)	Antiseptic, antidepressant, astringent, refreshing, uplifting. Eases aching legs and is good for poor circulation.
Grapefruit	Astringent, digestive aid, lymphatic stimulant. Helps with Water retention.
Lavender	Antiseptic, antibiotic, analgesic, antidepressant, healing, Relaxing. Helps soothe aches and pains of pregnancy, encourages cell renewal and helps with fluid retention.
Lemon	Antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, astringent, stimulant, Tonic. Useful as an inhalant for morning sickness and in Massage for varicose veins.
Mandarin	Antiseptic, refreshing, tonic, mild relaxant. Can ease fluid retention in leg and ankle massages.
Neroli	Antiseptic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, Relaxing. Useful in pregnancy to promote healthy skin cell Regeneration and for easing nervous tension.
Patchouli	Antiseptic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, nerve sedative. Eases confusion, indecision and apathy.
Petitgrain	Antiseptic, antidepressant, sedative, refreshing, tonic. Helpful in dealing with pre or postpartum depression.
Rosewood	Antiseptic, sedative
Sandalwood	Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, sedative. Helpful for cystitis during pregnancy.
Tangerine	Antispasmodic, lymphatic stimulant, calming, sedative. Helps to prevent stretch marks.
Tea Tree	Antibiotic, antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral, disinfectant. Can be used to treat thrush during pregnancy.
Ylang Ylang	Antiseptic, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, sedative, lowers blood Pressure. Restorative when overworked or tense.

Aromatherapy Lotions

Lavender Lotion

This easy to make lotion eases the pain associated with sunburn and helps to promote healing.

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Shea Butter
1/2 Cup Aloe Vera Gel
1 Tablespoon Vitamin E Oil
1/2 Tablespoon Lavender 40-42 Essential Oil

Instructions:

Melt shea butter over low heat on the stove. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Mix well. Allow to cool slightly. Once the mixture begins to set up, and then stir with a hand blender to help avoid any separation. Once whipped with the blender, it should look like whipped icing. Pour into a wide mouthed 8oz. plastic container, allow cooling and replacing lid.

Basic Body Lotion

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups Distilled Water
2 oz. Sweet Almond Oil
1/2 oz. Liquid Vegetable Glycerin
2 Tablespoons Emulsifying Wax
2 Tablespoons Stearic Acid
1 1/2 teaspoons Germaben II
1/2 teaspoon Fragrance Oil of Choice

Instructions:

Over low heat, combine distilled water Sweet Almond Oil, Liquid Vegetable Glycerin, Emulsifying Wax, and Stearic Acid. Heat this just until emulsifying wax has melted. Stir mixture well, and remove from heat. Allow to cool for a few minutes. Then, with a hand held beater mix the lotion mixture. Continue to mix until it begins to thicken, and then add the Germaben II and fragrance oil. Stir well, and then pour the lotion into bottles. Allow to cool completely before closing containers.

Smoothing Skin Lotion

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions:

Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.

Lavender Lotion Bar

Ingredients:
100g coconut oil
100g sweet almond oil
100g beeswax
5ml (1tsp) lavender essential oil

Instructions:

Gently melt the coconut oil and beeswax together over a low heat. As soon as they have melted, stir in the sweet almond oil and mix thoroughly. Remove from heat and leave to cool slightly. Stir in the lavender essential oil once cooled and mix well. Pour into molds of your choice and allow solidifying at room temperature for several hours.

Lavender Flower Lotion

Ingredients:
5 Tbsp Lavender water
5 Tbsp Witch Hazel
5 Tbsp Lemon Juice, strained 2-3 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions:

Pour all the ingredients into a bottle, close it with a cap or cork, and shake it vigorously. Shake well before each use. Makes about 3/4 cup.

Aromatherapy Candle

Candles provide a glowing history as an object of exoticness and reverence; its use is as old as the human history itself. Many great civilizations and modern societies have held candles as an instrument of radiance; its radiance properties surpass any other similar objects. Candles have long been used as a 'mood-setting' addition to a room or occasion and now more innovative aromatherapy candles enhance that goal.

Aromatherapy practice uses natural essential oils that are absorbed through massage, ingestion or olfaction (also called sensory). Aromatic oils are also use to make candles, which candles have a physiological or therapeutic effect on mood through their fragrance.
How ever, scented candles should not be confused with aromatherapy candles. Scented candles simply contain a fragrance, most probably artificial, whereas aromatherapy candles contain natural essential oils.

Probably, one of the most well-known aromatherapy oils for alleviating stress and anxiety is lavender. A bowl of floating lavender aromatherapy candles to accompany your bath will help you relax after a long day. A small candle on your dining table will sway your desolate mood in to feeling of satisfaction.

For every mood and moment, there is an aromatherapy candle. Some of these top-rated essential oils might be found in aromatherapy candles:

Sage : This oil helps with insomnia and relaxation;

Chamomile : Exciting oil used for relaxing, helps with sleeplessness and anxiety;

Rosemary : An out of the world oil, which is stimulating and uplifting and good for mental stimulation;

Grapefruit : Freshly uplifting and refreshing
Eucalyptus : A strong oil which helps with respiratory problems and boosts the immune system;

Ylang Ylang : Soothing oil as a good antidepressant that helps you relax and sleep;

Geranium : Its sober effects help with relaxation while also being uplifting; helps balance hormones in women;

Peppermint : Sweet aroma helps with digestive disorders, headaches and muscle aches;

Lemon : Invigorating oil which uplifts and relaxes you senses;

As with any health product, you should understand what you are using when burning aromatherapy candles. You must know which type of oil is used in your candles. Certain essential oils can be harmful; it is always advised to be careful. Any type of candle can be formulated to serve as an aromatherapy candle, whether it's a floating, pillar, gel, votive or even jar candle.

Even though the doubts around the effectiveness aromatherapy are still present, all of us do know that candles and aromas are effective for evoking mood and emotions. You will notice candles labeled as "aromatherapy" candles range greatly in price; the price ranging from a low to high cost depending on the quality and availability of oil. Several factors effect the price such as types and qualities of wax, additives or purity, as well as other factors related to manufacturing. How ever, one main ingredient which can make or break the success of a candle as well as the price is its fragrance.

You can make your own aromatherapy candles too at your home! The best waxes for aromatherapy candles are of course a bit more expensive. Many natural waxes such as soy, palm and beeswax burn cleaner and do not emanate soot and are not petroleum or polymer based such as paraffin or gel waxes. More natural cotton or zinc core wick should be used instead of leaded wick because of health hazard issues.

Instead of adding dye to color the candle, include natural substances like herbs and flower petals. Always use pure essential oils for fragrance. This is definitely expensive, but worth it plus you can mix and match your own blends. Palm wax or palm/beeswax blend candles are always better, because they burn so long and clean and they blend quite easily with your oils. Essential oils should be added after the wax has melted and started cooling to preserve the integrity of the fragrance as they easily breakdown and evaporate.

Decorating your candle can be as easy as tying a ribbon around it to adding pressed flowers to it. Make several small motiffs or round candles and add to a basket for a great gift idea. Candles attach emotional importance to any occasion and moments; a great aromatherapy candle has that great ability to enhance the mood and ambience of any environment.

Aromatherapy History

The roots and fundamentals of Aromatherapy can be traced back to nearly 3000 years before Christ, when the ancient Egyptians used the basics of Aromatherapy in their daily lives. Historical records show that Egyptians burned incense made from aromatic woods and other herbs to honor their gods.

Also royal harems and guest houses used many aromatic oils very profusely to satisfy many important guests. Aromatherapy has its roots in the most ancient healing and therapeutic practices. Medicinal plants are used to cure many ailments and used in many sacred rituals to evoke different states of consciousness.

Elaborate religious ceremonies were performed in Egyptian temples, where the dead King was mummified and surrounded with exotic essential oils. Egyptians believed very firmly that essential oils have an unusual preserving property when added with other spices.

Embalming was one of the principal uses of aromatherapy, preserving the tissue of the bodies for thousands of years. The oils and resins used were so potent, that in the 17th century mummies were sold in Europe and doctors distilled them for use in their medicines.

Aromatherapy truly emerged from the smoky temples of Egypt 6,000 years ago. Egypt was the birthplace of medicine, pharmaceutics, cosmetics and perfumery. Trading was flourishing and traders arrived for trade from all over the world by land and sea to deliver flowers, herbs and plants.

Priestesses and priests strictly supervised the delicate preparations in the temples and palaces, reading formulas & chanting incantations and hymns, as substances were measured & combined with ultimate precision. Purification processes went on for months until the right, perfect subtle blend was achieved.

The use of aromatherapy spread from Egypt to Israel, China, India and the Mediterranean. Every culture, from the most backward to the most modern, developed own set of practices. Greek physicians and military surgeons were employed by the Romans every where in the empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the science spread to the Arab countries, where medicine men devoted them to the ancient art of alchemy, perfecting the art of distillation and extraction.

For many centuries essential oils were the only remedies for epidemic diseases and conditions. During the dreaded Black Plague, very few became ill, who in fact were associated with perfumeries and glove industries where these oils were in profuse use.

During the 19th century, with the development of modern science, all forms of herbal medicine disappeared until the 1920s, when French chemist Gatefosse revived the art, giving it the name Aromatherapy. India was one of the few countries where the tradition was never lost, Avurveda being the most ancient medical practice in the world today. Aromatherapy is now used in hospitals, offices, clinics and homes all over the world.

Aromatherapy acts as a bridge between the new and old; most of the industries use these oils for various blends and concoctions, which provide cure and relief for a number of complications.