Aromatherapy during Lockdown
Hello – Thank you for reading my blog.
I am a qualified Aromatherapist & have been practicing for 12 years. Due to Corona virus & the lockdown we currently find ourselves in. It is my desire to share my knowledge with you all, so it can have a positive effect on your lives.
Aromatherapy is the art of essential plant based oils to alleviate symptoms/illnesses & help you feel great. It has been traced back to the Ancient Egyptians around 4500BC.
Did you know the pain killer Aspirin comes from the Willow Tree?
If you are pregnant please avoid essential oils & massage during your first trimester – Some oils have a natural abortive/labour inducing effect on the womb.
Please avoid these oils ….
• Angelica
• Citronella
• Laurel
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Basil
• Fennel
• Marjoram
• Sage
• Yarrow
• Cedarwood
• Juniper
• Myrrh
• Tarragon
• Clary Sage
Today we use Aromatherapy to improve our physical, emotional & mental health, here are some suggestions for the most beneficial ways to use them (with out even needing to leave the house)…
• Cleaning/detoxifying & vaporising
• Beauty treatments/Products
• Baths & Inhalation
• Hot poultice, Cold compression & Insect Repellant
I will cover each topic in turn on future blog posts, I have listed them in order of priority (in light of the current COVID19 pandemic) – today let’s start with Cleaning/detoxifying & vaporising.
Cleansers
Not only do essential oils get rid of bad smells & enhance our moods & health – they also have powerful disinfectant properties that kill germs & improve hygiene more effectively than most household cleansers. The added bonus is they are natural & don’t have any environmentally damaging added chemical nastiness.
Another benefit – You only need basic ingredients & a little goes a long way (they are easy on your purse too).
Lemon & Geranium mixed are great for sanitising kitchen surfaces.
Tea tree or Pine are good for toilets.
Lemon & Lavender mixed are idea for baths & sinks.
Geranium & Lavender are great for washing up.
Kitchen surfaces/ chopping boards & floors – Dilute 8 drops of your chosen essential oil to a small bucket of water (wring the cloth out).
Toilets, baths & sinks – Add 3 drops of your chosen essential oil on a damp cloth.
Sterilise dishes & cutlery – Add 2 drops of essential oil to the washing up water.
Air purifier
You can add essential oils to the dust bag of your vacuum cleaner or place 5 drops of oil on a cotton ball inside the cleaner, near the exit filter (where air blows out of your machine).
Best purifying oils – Bergamot, citronella, lavender, lemon, peppermint, lime, pine, mandarin, sandalwood.
Room Vaporisers
You can buy 2 types of vaporiser, an electric plug in vaporisers or a tea light vaporiser. They both work on the same basis.
Fill the bowl with water & add 8 drops of your chosen essential oil (either light the candle or turn on).
They work really well – scenting a room quickly. The water will need to be topped up regular (depending on the amount of water it holds). Mine has an alarm that sounds when the water is low & a shut off for safety.
It is important to put them out of the way of pets & children. Don’t leave candles unattended.
Best oils for room vapourisers
- Bergamot – uplifting, refreshing, deodorising
- Eucalyptus – for chest/nasal congestion, mental alertness
- Ylang-ylang – Hypnotic, uplifting, sensual
- Jasmine – Euphoria, confidence, dinner parties
- Sandalwood – Relaxing, romantic, mellowing
- Geranium – Relaxing & energising
- Lavender – for tiredness, tension & nerves
- Peppermint – for energy, alertness
- Neroli – Senual, calming & soothing
- Mandarin – for sleeplessness, sothing & calming
Deodorising
To disinfect a sick room
- Eucalyptus – For colds & congestion
- Tea tree – For viruses including flu
- Lavender – Antisepic, calming & relaxing
- Myrrh – Sore throats & coughs
- Bergamot – Uplifting & deodorising
To deodorise & neutralise odours – Add 4 drops of your chosen essential oil & add it to your shoe rack, wardrobe, laundry basket, bin etc.
Best deodorising oils – Bergamot, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint & thyme
For underarm odour – Bergamot or citronella – Place 2 drops of your chosen essential oil on the inside underarm seams of shirts.
For smelly shoes – Lemon – Rub 4 drops of chosen essential oil into the soles with a tissue.
Wood Fires
Add a maximum of 15 drops of your chosen essential oil onto a piece of wood.
If you don’t have a wood fire you can also add several drops of essential oil to a cotton pad & drop behind your radiator.
Best oils for Wood fires – Geranium, neroli, jasmin, orange, lavender, patchouli, lemon, rose, lime & sandalwood.
Synergies – Winter – 4 drops of each – Gonger, orange & sandalwood
Summer – 4 drops of each Bergamot, geranium, lavender
Room Sprays
A great way to freshen, deodorise & scent a room.
Add 10 drops of your chosen essential oil to 1 pint of water (shake well before using) – mixed in a spray bottle.
Best oils for Freshening –
- Lavender – Kills all airbourne germs
- Lemon – Great to freshen air in the toilet
- Peppermint – To remove the smell of stale cigarette smoke
Synergies – Disinfecting, bathrooms, bins, damp/mould – 3 drops of each – Pine & Lavender.
Deoderising, wardrobes, cupboards, bathrooms, cooking smells – 5 drops of each – Lemon & Lime
Pot Pourri
Mix together dried flowers, herbs from your garden with spices a little talcum powder & favourite essential oils.
A basic recipe should contain 6 cups of dried plant, 2 tablespoons of talc & 12 drops of essential oils. Pop it in an airtight container & shake daily for 14 days (until the aromas have been absorbed) – it’s ready to use.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, I hope you have found it beneficial? I would love to here your feedback in the comments section. Please share to help as many people as possible.
In my next blog I will be discussing Beauty treatments & products continuing in the Aromatherapy in Lockdown series of blog posts.
Stay safe – Stay in doors x
