As any adept user of essential oils will tell you, the effectiveness of the therapeutic use of oils is not only dictated by the kind of oils chosen, but also by the techniques used to apply said oils. This is important because some people’s tolerance of certain oils can be entirely or at least mostly dependent on the method they choose to use them. Also, for certain effects, some techniques may prove more adequate than others.
There are two main ways one can apply oils: either through topical application, which requires the preparation of the oil for direct contact with the skin or through inhalation. Each of this main methods has each a subset of ways the oils can be prepared. Let’s review some of them:
These techniques involve the aspiration of the oil through the airways. They are mostly used to better the mood of the user, to enhance relaxation practices, to alleviate respiratory conditions.
The most common ways to practice inhalation are 3:
Through the use of a diffuser machine, oil may be diluted in water and then heated to generate vapor. This is really good if your goal is to create ambiance or to eliminate bad odors from a place in your home.
It is important to check the ratio of water to oil and to make sure heat is not applied directly on the oils, because heat will alter the chemical composition of them, rendering them not useful for whatever purpose they were originally acquired for.
This technique does wonders for the skin as well as for the respiratory tract. All you need to do is fill a bowl with boiling, steaming water, to which then you will add just a few droplets of essential oils. The heated water will immediately evaporate the oil. You should then position yourself over the bowl with a towel to inhale the evaporated oils.
Beware of putting in too much oil, as the effects could then be irritating instead of alleviating. Also, this method is not recommended for small children due to its intensity.
A fairly easy one to practices. All you need to do is apply some essential oil droplets on a ball of cotton, which you can then put near you, whether on your desk or on your nightstand. The oils will evaporate from the cotton.
If you desired a more potent dosage, you can also sniff on the cotton.
Topical application is another common subset of techniques to use essential oils. Here the oils are used in direct contact with the skin, and the absorption will happen through it instead of the airways.
It is very important to be vigilant of correctly diluting the oils, as some of them can become a source of irritation to the skin in their original concentration.
The most common topical applications are 2:
This method is, bar none, one of the most popular with people who try or routinely adhere to the use of essential oils.
It is necessary to first dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil to avoid irritation, and then it can be applied on the skin through gentle rubbing.
Another popular method, especially to alleviate certain conditions. Here the oils are diluted in either water or oil, and then it is applied on a piece of cloth, with is then place on the part of the body that is being treated.
It is also important to note that both inhalation and topical application can be used in unison, such as during baths. This is a powerful combination, as absorption of the oils occurs both ways. Bath salts are the better option in such cases.
Remember to always be mindful of what effects you wish to obtain through the use of these techniques, as picking the right one can make a huge difference in the results you might obtain from essential oil treatments.