Make the most of aromatherapy, and avoid these essential oil mistakes

Simran recently bought herself a batch of essential oils as she plans on moving into the space of aromatherapy. She had heard a lot from her peer group about its benefits and how it has helped people during the pandemic and has helped with connecting and exploring inner wellness. However, she is clueless as to how she should use these products.

While there are a few mistakes one can commonly make and should avoid, let’s  first know what clinical aromatherapy is.

What is clinical aromatherapy?

Clinical aromatherapy is the controlled use of essential oils to provide a therapeutic response. It is much more than just smelling, or creating a welcoming ambience. The concoctions for aromatherapy are made by steaming different parts of a plant like flowers, barks, leaves or fruits. This is done in order to capture the mixture that induces the aroma distilling different parts of the plant to capture the essence and therapeutic properties of the plant.

Along with the production of fragrance, essential oils alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety, headaches, and aid in a deeper level of relaxation and sound sleep. They can be used via inhalation or topical application.

These are a few mistakes you should avoid while using or preparing these essential oils for aromatherapy:

1. Assuming all essential oils are equal

Make sure to look for a trusted producer that makes pure oils. Not all the extra products that are added are bad, you just have to be careful because some products may cause an allergic reaction.

2. Dilution is important

You should never use undiluted essential oils. Undiluted essential oils are very potent to use directly. It’s always advisable to dilute it with a cream or carrier oil to a solution that does not have a lot of essential oil because the higher the percentage of the essential oil higher the chance of skin reactions. 

 3. Using photosensitive oils in the sun

Avoid the UV exposure of the oil because too much heat can have an impact on the quality of the oil and make it less effective. Also, remember that heat and sunlight can change the chemical composition of the oil. 

4. Children safety

When using essential oils for children below the age of 12, you should further dilute them to avoid any skin reactions. 

5. Proper usage of essential oils is necessary

Never use essential oils anywhere close to open wounds because injured or wounded skin may absorb more essential oil than needed and may cause unwanted skin reactions.

6. Storing oils incorrectly

Don’t forget to throw away the old oil bottles because older oils are more likely to get spoiled due to oxygen exposure and might not work well or cause skin reactions (if stored properly – essential oils can last for many years). You should always keep in mind to close the bottle lid tightly after using it to prevent evaporation of the oil.  

7. Who should use and who shouldn’t?

It is advisable that pregnant and nursing women should not use essential oils because they may adversely affect the baby in their early developmental stages. Never let animals near essential oils because they are generally more sensitive to essential oils.

The last word

Due to the pandemic, the screentime for people has increased a lot which usually leads to migraines. Aromatherapy is great for soothing migraine headaches. Essential oils like peppermint, lavender and rosemary combined all together in a small bottle can always help with headaches.

Similarly, there are a lot of other ailments that can find relief through aromatherapy. Oils that are 100 percent organic, have great healing properties, are mindfully crafted and are designed in an eco-friendly environment are always used for aromatherapy. 

Essential oils can make you feel better and uplift your mood with just a sniff of their aroma. There can be various uses of essential oils but one has to pay attention to how different oils and methods can be useful for you.

Every person has a different way of reacting to aromatherapy and is suited by different oils. It is always suggested that you should use essential oils that are from a trusted producer and suits you the best to avoid skin reactions. You should never overdo aromatherapy. Just like we do everything within a limit, it goes the same way for essential oils too.