Apothecary: The art and science of using Aromatherapy for spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing

Transcription

1 Apothecary: The art and science of using Aromatherapy for spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing

2 What are Essential Oils? The use of Essential Oils dates back to 3,000BC to the pharaohs where Myrrh and Frankincense were used in great quantities to treat all manners of illness. Oils were also used in religious practices and in preserving dead bodies for the afterlife. Essential oils are the pure plant oil extracted from petals, roots, buds, twigs, bark, leaves, fruit, and stems. The common method of extracting the oils is via steam distillation. The plant material is enclosed in a large container and steam is introduced to the container. The heat and pressure from the steam Release tiny droplets of essential oil. How do Essential Oils work? Essential Oils enter the body through the skin. Also, when an essential oil is Used in a bath, massage or atomizer, the molecules of the oil enter the body through our nostrils via the cilia (the fine hairs lining our nostrils) and enter the limbic system. The limbic system is the part of the brain that controls our moods, emotions, memory, and learning.

3 Essential Oils have 10 main functions: Stimulate the body s immune system Eliminate mental and emotional problems Improve physical ailments Restoration of good health Positive mood Relieve tension Improve sleep patterns Enhance well being Improve concentration and memory Heightened sensuality

4 Uses for your Essential Oils Larissa Bright Vaporiser: Add 4-8 drops in the top well. Switch on the burn vaporiser. There is no need to add water. With tea candle burners, fill the bowl with warm water, light the tea candle, add 6-10 drops of essential oil. Top up water regularly. It is important not to let the water burn dry. Steam Inhalation: Boil 2 cups of water. Pour the water into a bowl and add 2-3 drops of your chosen oil into the water. Close your eyes and lean over the bowl and inhale. Don t inhale constantly. If you notice any discomfort or Irritation, stop immediately. Massage: Add 5 drops of your blend to 10ml LBA base Body Oil, then shake and mix well. Store in a dark, glass bottle, in a cool place for up to 2 months.

5 Bathing: Fill bath with warm water, close the window and door, light a candle or two and make a head rest from a hand towel. Next add 4-8 drops of your chosen blend, swirl around lightly, relax, inhale, and then hop in! This method is great for total relaxation, refreshing the soul, de-stressing, plus Soothing muscle aches, and period pain. A minimum of 15 minutes should be spent in the tub. Bug Repellent: Lavender, Rose Geranium, Peppermint, Lemon are all great bug deterrents. Lavender/Rose Geranium used in massage oil will deter mozzies from landing on your skin. Use Oil Burner method using one of the above mentioned oils. If outdoors you may increase the number of drops to between Other ideas include: Popping some oil on cotton buds into the bag of your vacuum cleaner, or in the cupboard wrapped in a handkerchief, or 1-4 drops in a foot spa or bucket with marbles, inhalation, compresses, fridge Deodoriser, and pest deterrent. Also lovely in your mop bucket for a fresh and disinfected floor. Can also be placed on the vent of air conditioners.

6 Lets get the Potion Party started Start passing the Essential Oils and products around. Try to have coffee beans available for sniffing to assist in clearing the aromas! CITRUS - happy, joy, anti-pmt, memory oils MANDARIN and SWEET ORANGE Uplifting, revitalising, calming, relieve headaches, anxiety & insomnia, Enhances mood, may aid depression, relieves PMT, soothes emotional exhaustion. All Lipsticks, Body Cleansing Gel, Cinnamon Soap, Refresh Grains, Macadamia Bath Oil. LEMON Relieve nervous tension, unrest, stress and mild anxiety and irritability, purifying and stimulating and encourages awareness, clarity of thought and is Emotionally invigorating. Should not be used topically in the presence of UV light, may cause Photosensitivity. Hand and Nail Tonic, Lip Gloss, Men s Range

7 GRAPEFRUIT Antidepressant, euphoric, inspire creativity, aids concentration, clears Congested minds & creates positive attitude. Stimulating. Used as a sinus decongestant. Helps to dispel feelings of bitterness & resentment. Foundations, Refresh Body Oil, Energy Grains STRESS RELIEF Lavender, Grapefruit, Ylang Ylang and BERGAMOT (then show Bergamot) BERGAMOT Positive energy, uplifting, motivating, revive flagging spirits, calming for nerves FLORAL soft, calming, night time oils, de-stress LAVENDER Soothing, relaxing, decongestant, clears sinuses, antiseptic, antibacterial, aids In healing minor cuts, burns, insect repellent. Can be applied to the skin. Good for PMT, menopause, antidepressant, sinusitis. Moisturiser, Pure Body Balm, Relax Body Oil & Grains, Sea Soap, Day Complex

8 ROSE GERANIUM Energises, sensual, nurtures courage & confidence anti-inflammatory Rose Hips Toner YLANG YLANG (Indonesian s use the flowers on honeymooners beds) Promotes tolerance, calming, confidence building, encourages conversation & Sharing of emotions, stimulates the senses, soothes frustration and anger, relieves tight muscles. Moss soap, Walnut Body Scrub, Energy Grains, Energy Body Oil ROSEMARY Spicy, re-energising, memory stimulant, encourages emotional strength INTIMACY BLEND Rosewood, Orange, Ylang Ylang and PATCHOULI (then show Patchouli) PATCHOULI Warm mood, relaxing atmosphere, seductive, aphrodisiac when mixed with Ylang Ylang

9 PEPPERMINT clears mind, nose and (room) pest deterrent Antiseptic, fresh, aids concentration and mental clarity, analgesic, bright, fresh, invigorating, good for travel sickness and hangovers (antispasmodic), great pick me up and colds/flu/sinuses/headaches, antibacterial and antifungal. Make a nit spray Lavender, Peppermint, Rose Geranium & optional Tea Tree. Foot Scrub and Balm, Pressure Point Balm also in (show) BREATHE EASY then EUCALYPTUS TEA TREE Natures first aid gift to humans, inhibits mould, bacteria, useful in air-conditioning, enhances mental clarity and energy levels CEDARWOOD- temporary relief of coughs due to bronchial congestion. The woody scent is soothing, restful, harmonising, grounding and strengthening. Mix with Base Body oil to relieve nervous tension, stress and mild anxiety. Men s RANGE contains Cedar wood.

10 FRANKINCENSE Fresh, sweet woody aroma with balsamic undertone. Helps to relieve nervous unrest And reduces the effects of mild anxiety and nervous tension. Temporary relief of symptoms of coughs due to bronchial congestion. Spiritually uplifting and may be used in meditation to enhance spiritual wisdom and inspiration. ADVANCED NIGHT COMPLEX contains Frankincense. JUNIPER LEAF Fresh yet warm, balsamic, sweet pine-needle aroma. Is cleansing and purifying. Promotes vitality and enhances inner vision. Juniper is an evergreen shrub and was used to guard against the plague by fifteenth and sixteenth century herbalists. It's also famous as an ingredient in gin. You can now mix their own blends.

11 RULES TO REMEMBER ABOUT ESSENTIAL OILS Always store your essential oils in a cool, dry and dark place away from heat and light. Preferably under 25'C. Always keep the lids done up tightly as the oils are volatile and will evaporate. Essential oils should always be kept in dark, glass bottles. Keep out of children s reach. Do not apply the 100% pure essential oil directly onto the skin, take or use internally, unless advised by a qualified practitioner. NEVER exceed the recommended dosage. Do not use the same oil all the time. For maximum benefit, use a blend of oils or alternate the essentials oils from week to week. When using essential oils with children or with sensitive skins, use less than the recommended adult strength in baths or for massage purposes. Use only a 1% dilution, i.e. 2 drops to every 10ml of carrier oil. Be very wary of essential oils when pregnant or on prescribed medication. Seek advice from your GP before the use of essential oils.

12 AROMATHERAPY PRACTICAL 1. CREATE YOUR OWN MASSAGE OIL BLEND You will need: - Amber Jar 45ml and White tamper evident cap - Larissa Bright Pure Essential Oils - Larissa Bright Base Body Oil Method: Fill your amber jar half way ( approx. 10mls) with base body oil Choose your essential oils depending on the result you wish to achieve. For example if you are looking to create a relaxing blend Lavender and Bergamot may be a nice blend. Note: Never blend more than 3 essential oils at a time Mix 7 drops in total into your amber bottle. Feel free to experiment and create a signature blend just for you! For example: 2 drops lavender, 2 drops bergamot and 1 drop Ylang Ylang Secure your tamper evident cap. Congratulations! You have just blended your very own signature massage oil. ENJOY!

13 Practical Aromatherapy Session: Blending Essential Oils for spiritual, emotional and physical well-being Today we will cover: How to blend your own personal essential oil formulations The principles of blending essential oils Essential oil notes Safety and essential oils You will: Blend your own (specific to your needs) Massage oil blend Blend your own Room/Face spritzer Blend your own cupboard/ drawer aromatherapy sachet

14 So...what makes a good aromatherapy blend? This depends on why you want to make the blend. Is it for personal use? To fragrance a room? For therapeutic purposes? Do you want to use your blend for an aromatherapy massage? Your reason will help determine which oils you choose to blend, and how you blend them. Here are some basics to help you decide. Different oils have different rates of evaporation. Most essential oils fall into one of three categories depending on their volatility.

15 Top notes - the lightest fragrances which are quickest to evaporate and the most stimulating and uplifting to the mind and body. They tend to give the first impression of a blend and typically have antiseptic properties. Middle notes - These are warm, soft and subtle fragrances which usually last throughout a massage. They have medium volatility and tend to affect the functions and general metabolism of the body. Also good for balancing and relaxing the mind. Base notes - the slowest to evaporate, so last the longest and are usually the most relaxing and sedating oils. They tend to be the last impression of a blend. Of course, this is not set in stone. Some oils do cross over between the notes and can be described, for example as 'top middle'. When you are blending essential oils, it often works best when you use an oil from each note.

16 Top, Middle and Base note essential oils Top Note Grapefruit Bergamot Eucalyptus Lavender Lemon Sweet Orange Mandarin Middle Peppermint Rosemary Tea Tree Lavender Peppermint Rose Geranium Juniper Base Frankincense Ylang-Ylang Cedarwood Atlas Jasmine (3% Jojoba) Patchouli

17 Rules to follow when blending essential oils : 1. When you are blending essential oils, it often works best when you use an oil from each note. A 3:2:1 ratio is a good place to begin - three parts top note to two parts middle note to one part base note. It is best to use up to three different essential oils. If you use too many then the oils may have an antagonistic effect on each other and the benefits of the therapeutic actions will be reduced. I normally use a blend of three but often two is sufficient and sometimes even one individual oil will do the job!

18 Blending rule 2: 20 drops of essential oil = 1 ml For blending : Blend your carrier oil to 3% ( For Adults) For example: Your 50ml bottle will require 2ml essential oil This is 40 drops of your chosen oils Blending Rule 3: Never blend more than 3 essential oils at once

19 Blending Rule 4 : When blending essential oils they can produce effects which are more than the combined effects of the individual oils. Some oils blend together better than others and have an enhancing effect together. This is called synergy. For example, adding lavender to chamomile enhances its antiinflammatory properties. So...the very best essential oil blends are those that bring out the best properties of each individual oil. Remember this is only a guide! It is your end aroma and only you know exactly what you are looking for.

20 General Safety Guidelines for today s s blending practical: Do not use essential oils of pregnant Keep essential oils out of reach of children For reference: Label your essential oil blend once completed Do not take essential oils internally Do not apply pure essential oils directly onto the skin Consult a medical professional before using essential oils if you have a serious medical condition If you have high blood pressure or epilepsy do not use Rosemary & Eucalyptus Citrus oils are sun sensitive

21 Now let s s get started and have some fun! Blend 1 : Massage and/or bath blend Some ideas : You may have aching muscles from a day in the garden...or a headache...or perhaps you just feel really stressed at the moment. The focus here is to choose your oils carefully with a particular problem in mind and to create a blend to help. Of course, the aroma of the blend should still be considered as this effects moods and emotions. When blending essential oils it is a good idea to keep a record of mixes that you like. It is very frustrating when you have found a wonderful aroma...but just can't quite remember which oils you used and in what quantities! Likewise, if a blend turns out to be pungent, or irritating to the skin you will want to make sure you don't make the same mistake again. It is fascinating choosing and blending essential oils for use in aromatherapy and with experience, and practice, the most effective mix for your particular requirement can be worked out! Remember...the main thing is to keep researching, keep experimenting and have fun!

22 For sports and fitness: For sports and fitness: Lavender- relieves pain, relaxes spasms, calms, promotes sleep, is antiseptic, tones muscle. Rosemary - relieves pain, stimulates, has a warming effect on muscle and is used in small amounts (max. 2 drops total in massage base) before training or competition to help prepare muscles for exertion; BEST AVOIDED BY PERSONS WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. Juniper - antiseptic, mild diuretic, detoxifies, helps eliminate lactic acid from muscle. Eucalyptus - antiseptic, aids breathing, decongestant, relieves pain, repels mosquitoes. Pre- Sports Rub: Rosemary Lavender Eucalyptus Add the oils together in the required amounts ( Remember 3% concentration) Stir gently to mix and apply to the body prior to exercise. Post- Sports Rub: Lavender Juniper Rosemary Add the oils together in the required amounts ( Remember 3% concentration) Stir gently to mix and apply to body.

23 For uplifting the spirits Bergamot - refreshing and uplifting without being stimulating; combats depression, eases tension. DO NOT APPLY TO SKIN THAT WILL BE EXPOSED TO SUN AS THIS OIL PROMOTES SUNBURN. S Rose Geranium - combats depression, balances emotions, balances hormones, eases pre-menstrual tension, mildly stimulating. Mandarin - uplifting, refreshing. Ylang Ylang - combats depression, gently lifts mood, calms, aphrodisiac. Uplifting Personal Blend for Daytime Use: Rose Geranium Ylang Ylang Bergamot Add the oils together in the required amounts ( Remember 3% concentration) Uplifting Personal Blend For Nighttime Use: Lavender Bergamot Ylang Ylang Add the oils together in the required amounts (Remember 3% concentration)

24 Stress and tension : Lavender Sweet Orange Bergamot Rose Geranium Restful nights Sleep: Lavender and Mandarin General Well-being Rose Geranium Peppermint Rosemary Romance Patchouli Ylang Ylang Mandarin

25 Problem Having trouble keeping your bin bag fresh? Cleaning Tiled Floors. Musty, odour on cabinets and draws? Do you dread the washing up? Solution When you line your bin simply pace 5 drops of LBA Lemon or Mandarin essential oil on a cotton ball and your bin will remain fresh and heavenly scented Add ½ cup of white vinegar to a bucket of warm water. Mix in 15 drops of an anti-bacterial essential oil such as Larissa Bright s Lemon, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree or Peppermint essential oil You can eliminate germs and musty odors from the insides of your kitchen and bathroom cabinets with Lavender essential oil, because it also has insect-repelling properties (see next section). Wash with pure soap to remove any dirt or large particles (if needed), then place two or three drops of oil on a clean, damp sponge or cloth and wipe thoroughly. Did you know that certain essentials can act as antidepressants. Why not add a burst of 10 drops Mandarin or bergamot pure essential oil to give you a burst of good energy. If you are feeling stressed add 10 drops of lavender essential oil. Let it disperse in the liquid add to warm water and relax Essential Oils Lemon And/or Mandarin Lemon, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree Peppermint

26 Problem Want to freshen up a room? Problem with mice, cockroaches or ants in the house? Solution A terrific Room spray: Add four or five drops of your favourite LBA essential oil to a cup of warm water and pour into a spray bottle. Shake well, and spray in air, or on carpets, furniture, or curtains. If in doubt about delicate fabrics, or materials that might be sensitive to water or oil, use caution or spray a small, hidden area first. Everyone at some point has to deal with creepy-crawlies in their home. You come into the kitchen in the morning to find that a colony of ants has discovered that bit of spilled dog food, or you realise too late that you have built your new home in the path of the annual mosquito. Instead of launching a wide-scale biological attack on everything with more than four legs, why not use essential oils to deter the pests from entering in the first place? Below is a list of common invaders and the oils that deter them: - Ants: Peppermint - Fleas: Lavender, Lemon - Moths: Lavender and Peppermint ( To protect clothing in cupboards simply place 5 drops lavender or peppermint on a cotton ball and place in cupboard) For outdoor parties or picnics, add one to two drops of lemon to a candle (after the wax has begun to melt). If the problem is indoors, you can use a room diffuser as well. Essential Oils

27 Sachet for Cupboard/Drawer Scenter Add drops to your cotton disc and place in sachet For your Drawer to smell beautiful : 1. Lavender, Sweet Orange and Ylang Ylang 2. Mandarin, Lavender 3. Frankincense, Lavender and Mandarin Moth Repellents in your drawers and cupboards: Lavender, Lemon and Rosemary Essential Oils creepy-crawlies crawlies hate: Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon : Tip: Get a ribbon and drop the essential oils onto it and hang it by the window

28 Mice: To discourage mice entering the house add 10 drops peppermint essential oil to a damp cloth and wipe the entry areas of the house. This will discourage them from turning your residence into theirs Kitchen Benches: Did you know Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree and Lemon are all antibacterial? Use them on a damp cloth to wipe down kitchen benches or use them in a spray to clear musty areas.

29 Air / Face Spritzer Add 3% essential oil blend to 50ml spritzer Ideas: Bathroom Bacteria Buster and Clean Kitchen Blend : Lemon, Eucalyptus, Lavender Disinfectant Room Spray: Lavender, Lemon and Eucalyptus The Bedroom: Lavender, Frankinsence Keep out of reach of children

30 Face Spritzer: Avoid eye area if spraying facial area. Relaxing Blend: Lavender and Bergamot Alive Blend: Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Grapefruit