20 February 2012

Warm Up Your Winter

‘Warm Up Your Winter’ Gift Idea

Personalized Essential Oil Massage Blends That Show You Care

Written by Lea Tran - Stone Store Staff and Registered Horticultural Therapist

Warm up your loved one’s winter with the gift of wonderfully scented essential oils that have the ability to uplift and balance. Some essential oils can even relieve specific conditions such as depression, stress and muscle tension.

A personalized gift like this shows your loved one that:

* You are paying attention to their needs

* You appreciate them

* You care and are trying your best to be helpful

How To Buy Essential Oils

Essential oils are made up of the volatile constituents of a plant that give it its aromatic and therapeutic qualities. They are usually sold in 10 mL vials. Though small in size, a gift like this will go a long way because essential oils are very potent and need to be diluted in an unscented base lotion or carrier oil. Great carrier oils that you could combine with your essential oils are avocado, jojoba, apricot, sweet almond, grape seed and coconut oils.

The best way to know which essential oils to buy for somebody is to ask them. Take them shopping with you! It will be a treat for them. There are testers available and it is fun to smell them and get a feel for which ones resonate.

It can be beneficial to blend essential oils together so that they can synergistically work on the desired emotional or physiological condition. There are many resources on-line and at the library that suggest great recipes for specific needs.

Example of Blends You Can Try

Mix ingredients together in a bowl:

Relaxing Foot Massage Oil Recipe

Rosemary 3 drops

Peppermint 1 drops

Lavender 2 drops

Carrier Oil 2 tsp

Sensual Body Massage Oil Recipe

Rose 10 drops

Ylang-ylang 2 drops

Lemon 8 drops

Palma rosa 10 drops

Carrier Oil 2 tbsp

*Popular Essential Oils and Their Uses:

Jasmine: Emotionally balancing. Used for irritated skin, anxiety, depression, frigidity, impotence, menstrual cramps, irritated skin.

Lavender: balancing and calming. Used for stress, insomnia, acne, infection, anxiety, depression, headaches, skin irritations, fatigue.

Lemon: Used for colds, digestive problems, fever, and skin problems.

Mandarin: Calming. Used for over-excitement, stress and insomnia.

Palma Rosa: Used for anxiety, depression, skin conditions, fatigue, digestive problems, skin infections.

Patchouli: Used for dry skin, acne, anxiety, depression.

Peppermint: Great to uplift and rejuvenate. Used for headaches, congestion, fever, fatigue, sinus headaches, migraines and muscle soreness.

Rose: Benefits those with poor circulation, headaches, mental fatigue, menstrual and menopausal problems, skin conditions.

Rosemary: Used for tired muscles, sprains, arthritis, rheumatism, depression, fatigue, memory loss, migraine, headaches, coughs, flu.

Ylang Ylang: Used for frigidity, depression, anxiety, skin conditions, stress and insomnia.

*Please be aware that all essential oils are contraindicated for internal use, pregnant and lactating women, and children under 3.

A final note: it is important to realize how potent essential oils are. A single drop of rose essential oil requires 30 rose flowers (that means 10 drops in the above recipe requires the volatile oils from 300 roses!) When buying essential oils it’s best to look for ones that are grown organically and responsibly. Use them with care and with a grateful smile in your heart.

Enjoy!