I. Introduction of Essential Oil
Essential oil is a volatile aromatic substance extracted from flowers, leaves, stems, roots or fruits of plants by steam distillation, extrusion, cold soaking or solvent extraction. Essential oils are divided into diluted (compound essential oils) and undiluted (single essential oils). Essential oils are highly volatile and will evaporate quickly once they come into contact with air. For this reason, essential oils must be stored in sealable bottles, and once they are opened for use, they should be covered as soon as possible. Not all plants can produce essential oil, only plants containing balsam glands can produce essential oil. Different plants have different distribution of balsam glands, some of which are on petals, leaves, roots or trunks. After extracting the sachet, it becomes what we call "plant essential oil". Essential oils contain many different components. Some essential oils, such as roses, can be composed of more than 250 different molecules. Essential oils are lipophilic and soluble in oil, because the molecular chain of essential oils is usually very short, which makes them easily penetrate into the skin and enter the body through rich capillaries under subcutaneous fat. Because of its high volatility and small molecules, essential oil can be quickly absorbed by human body, and quickly penetrate into human internal organs, while excess components are excreted. The fragrance of essential oil also directly stimulates the secretion of pituitary gland, enzymes and hormones, and balances body functions. Plant essential oil has high concentration, high volatility and high permeability. Insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents such as oil and alcohol. Plant essential oils have small molecules, are sensitive to light and are not greasy. Because of the high volatility of plant essential oil, you should be very careful when handling or using it, and its volatilization speed varies from plant to plant.
Second, the types of essential oils
100% pure plant essential oil (pure essential oils): divided into single essential oil (also called single oil), compound essential oil (also called compound oil) and base oil (also called base oil).
A. single oil: refers to a single variety of pure essential oils without formula, which can be used alone or mixed, just like a single drug without formula.
PS: I don't recommend using a single essential oil alone, because the purity of a single essential oil is so high that it can't be directly applied to the skin. Please note that a single essential oil cannot be directly applied to the skin! This is very dangerous to the skin, and too much may cause more serious consequences. If you have no experience in using essential oils, please don't try to buy DIY essential oils yourself.
B. compound oil: refers to the formulated essential oil that can be used immediately after several single essential oils are matched. Generally, R&D manufacturers study the characteristics and chemical properties of different essential oils, and make them into finished products after combination and blending, which is more convenient to use, just like the finished drugs with good prescriptions.
PS: Compound essential oil is diluted and prepared by professionals. Has obvious curative effect, safe and convenient use and no side effect. Can be directly applied to face, hands, feet and other parts. Note that the compound essential oil can be directly used on the skin, including the face, which is very safe and can even be used to improve the already bad skin, including sensitive skin. Can be improved. Can be used for beauty, weight loss, breast enhancement, etc. The effect is obvious and has been recognized more and more all over the world. A survey shows that compound essential oil is recognized as the most effective and safest thing in the fields of beauty, weight loss and breast enhancement.
C. Base oil: refers to pure vegetable oil used for blending one or more high-concentration single essential oils (not suitable for direct application on the skin). After blending with base oil, it can be directly used on the body by massage and other methods.
Three. Efficacy and usage of essential oil
1, steaming method
Fumigation furnace method
Pour clean water into the water container of the incense burner and add 5-6 drops of essential oil. Light the candle and put it in the incense burner, waiting for the heat to slowly release the essential oil in the water. Different essential oils can be mixed and dripped into the incense burner, which can get different effects and help to create different atmospheres.
Humidifier fumigation
Add 5-8 drops of essential oil directly into the water tank of the humidifier, so that the essential oil will be emitted into the air with the water mist of the humidifier.
Heating machine aromatherapy
Dip the cotton ball in essential oil and put it in the place where the heating tube emits hot air, so that the essential oil can be emitted into the air with heating.
2, inhalation method
(1) home inhalation method
Pour boiling hot water into a glass or porcelain washbasin, choose 1-3 kinds of essential oils to drop into the hot water, with a total of no more than six drops, and then fully mix the essential oils. Cover the whole head and washbasin with a large bath towel, and breathe alternately through the nose and mouth for 5- 10 minutes. Two drops of lavender and two drops of mint can cure a cold.
(2) Simple inhalation method
Drop the essential oil 1-3 into a towel or handkerchief and smell it.
(3) Long-distance drivers are prone to sense of smell fatigue, so they need to prepare two or three kinds of essential oils and use them alternately (mint, basil, rosemary, etc.). Are very effective).
3. Massage method
Health massage generally starts from the back, with hands on both sides of the spine above the hips, palms facing down and moving along both sides of the spine to the shoulders. When you reach the neck, massage your shoulders and sides with your hands outward, and then return to the starting point. Massage must be done in one go, don't give up halfway. Dilute 2-3 kinds of unilateral essential oils with 3-4 ml of plant massage oil, with 3 drops in total, for face, head, neck and shoulders or body massage.
Massage can strengthen blood circulation and eliminate toxins in the body. Different essential oils have different curative effects. It is recommended to use it in professional beauty salons under the guidance of professionals.
Pure plant essential oil is in direct contact with skin, which often leads to skin allergy due to its high concentration. So when you massage, you must use diluted essential oil, which is the so-called "base oil". The base oil must be non-volatile and non-chemically refined vegetable oil, such as sweet almond oil, ultra-pure olive oil, castor oil, jojoba oil and wheat germ oil. These oils are tasteless and rich in vitamins D and E, iodine, calcium, magnesium, fat and so on. It can balance and stabilize essential oil and help it to be absorbed by skin quickly. However, ordinary edible oil is usually chemically refined and has lost these nutrients, so it is not suitable as base oil for dilution. As for mineral oil extracted from petroleum, such as baby oil, it is not suitable as base oil, because this mineral oil not only contains no nutrients, but also easily blocks pores and causes acne and abscess. When you massage with essential oil, it will even hinder the skin's absorption of essential oil.
Generally speaking, the dosage of essential oil is between 0.5% and 3%, and the sensitive parts such as face are massaged by children below 12, which is between 0.5% and1%. Severe muscle pain, you can use the amount of 3%. We usually give 1% to the face, that is, 3ML of base oil plus 1 drop of essential oil, and 2% to the body, that is, 10ML of base oil plus 5 drops of essential oil.
According to personal needs, with the physical and physiological changes, adjust the types and proportions of base oil and pure plant essential oil at any time to prepare appropriate massage oil. By using massage techniques (shiatsu, lymphatic drainage, etc. ), plant essential oils penetrate into the body to achieve the purpose of health care or treatment.
The best time for massage is just after taking a shower, and the effect is best when the body is slightly wet. When you massage, the intensity can be different according to your needs. Faster and heavier massage such as rubbing and slapping can boost the spirit; And gentle touching and pressing can eliminate fatigue or help sleep.
4, aromatherapy gargle method
Drop 2-3 drops of essential oil into a glass of water and mix well. Rinse your mouth 10 second, and then spit it out. Repeat this process until the whole glass of water is used up. Rinse your mouth with aromatherapy every day to keep your breath fresh, protect your teeth and reduce laryngitis. Common essential oils: tea tree, lavender and mint. When you have a toothache, put a drop of undiluted cinnamon and apply it directly to the toothache with a cotton swab to relieve the toothache.
5, according to the application method
Cold or hot compress method
Add 3-6 drops of aromatic essential oil into cold water (cold compress) or hot water (hot compress), stir evenly, then immerse in a towel, wring out the towel and apply it to your face, gently press the towel covering your face with both hands to make the water containing essential oil penetrate into your skin as much as possible, and repeat the above steps for 5- 10 times. When applied to body parts, the ratio of water to essential oil is about 200ml of cold water or hot water to 5 drops of essential oil, and only 1 drop of essential oil can be used on face.
Cold compress can relieve, calm and soothe. In order to relieve pain, hot compress can promote blood circulation, eliminate toxins or increase skin penetration. Commonly used essential oils are lavender, violet, rosemary, geranium, jasmine, rose, lemon and so on.
6. Spray method
Add the essential oil into distilled water, put it into a spray bottle and spray it on the bed, clothes, furniture, pets, bookcases and carpets at any time to disinfect and deodorize and improve the living environment. Commonly used essential oils are rosemary, lemon, sweet orange, mint, geranium, eucalyptus and so on. The ratio is 10 drop of oil pair 10 ml of water.
Fill the container with clear water, add essential oil and shake well before use. When sprayed directly on human body, spray it downward at an angle of 45 degrees from above, and the order is as follows:
(1) Ask him to sit down, relax and close his eyes.
(2) Spray it on the head and let the fog slowly drip on the head.
(3) When it smells, spray other targets, such as hair, face and neck, not eyes.
7, aromatherapy bath method
(1) Aromatherapy steam bath
Essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, mint, Van Gogh essence, sweet orange, eucalyptus and lemon can be mixed into water. The ratio is to add 2 drops of essential oil to every 600 ml of water, and pour the mixed water on the heat source of the steam room (such as red-hot stones), which will slowly release the fragrant steam and inhale as much as possible. They are excellent maintenance agents and antidotes for the body and skin, and have excellent disinfection effect on bacteria and viruses.
(2) aromatherapy sitz bath
Use a porcelain basin or stainless steel basin that can hold your ass, fill half a basin with warm water, and drop 1-2 drops of essential oil (lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, mint, etc. ), stir up the essential oil and take a sitz bath. This method is very effective for treating menstrual pain, inflammation of female private parts or skin itching caused by airtight sanitary napkins during physiological period.
(3) Aromatherapy warm water soaking bath
Put the whole pot of warm water at an acceptable temperature for the skin, add 8- 10 drops of essential oil, and sprinkle some rose petals in the bathtub. Gently stir the essential oil and petals to disperse them, and then you can enjoy the benefits brought by aromatherapy SPA-the fragrance essence in the air passes through the nose and the pores of the skin open, and its fragrance essence can penetrate into the deep skin and endothelial tissue more than any living thing. After aromatherapy bath, it will leave a thin layer of aromatherapy on the skin, which feels like silk.
In case of influenza, you can take a bath in the following ways: add 2 drops of lavender, eucalyptus and chamomile essential oil to a spoonful of massage base oil, apply it to the chest, neck and throat, then soak the whole body in hot water for about 10- 15 minutes, and deeply inhale the steam of aromatherapy. After the body is fully soaked, dry it quickly and go to bed immediately.
(4) Foot bath and hand bath
Prepare a basin of warm water, drip 5-6 drops of essential oil, and then soak the whole sole or hands in the basin for about 10 minute, which can treat muscle soreness and promote blood circulation. Adding rose essential oil to hand care can moisturize the skin, and the effect is better in autumn and winter.
8.shampoo and hair care
When shampooing, add about 2 drops of essential oil to the shampoo, evenly spread it on the hair, gently massage for 3-5 minutes, and then wash it with water; When caring hair, mix the base oil and essential oil at the ratio of 10: 1, gently massage the scalp for absorption, wrap it in a towel for about 15 minutes, and then wash it with shampoo.
Anti-dandruff essential oil treatment: 2 drops of bergamot +65438 drops of tea tree +0 drops. Practice: Mix two kinds of essential oils and shampoo to wash your hair. Efficacy: It has the efficacy of sterilization, balance and soothing hair.
(1) Bath salt cleansing Take a small amount of bath salt and dissolve it in the basin. It can be used as facial cleanser, facial cleanser and other cleansing products. It is refreshing, clean and simple. People with oily skin can clean, tighten and protect their skin without toner after cleansing with bath salts.
(2) When washing the salt sauna, put the salt into the cloth bag and gently rub the skin, which not only supplements the salt lost in the body, but also cleans and beautifies the skin.
(3) Bath salt shower Put bath salt in a bag and hang it on the shower head, which can easily and quickly achieve skin care effect; Massage the whole body with a sponge and a little salt, and then rinse with water, the effect is the same.
(4) Bath salt beautifies feet. Soak your feet in hot water for 5 minutes. Apply bath salt to thick skin parts such as heels and soles of feet, and massage in circles for 5 minutes. Then wash with water and moisturize with emulsion.
Matters needing attention
How to use:
1. Fumigating utensils Fumigating tables and smokeless candles made of ceramics are the most ideal light and heat energy sources.
2. Pour boiling water or clear water into the basin above the fumigation table for about eight minutes, which can last four to five hours to burn out a candle without adding water.
3. According to personal needs, choose one or three kinds of essential oils according to their volatilization degree: heavy, medium and light. The total number of water drops in a pot of water is about four to eight drops, and each candle can burn continuously for four to five hours at a time. The temperature of water will gradually evaporate the essential oil, which will pervade every corner of the air.
Fourth, people who can't use essential oils
1, baby
Generally speaking, there are many essential oils that can be used by babies, except those that are marked to be avoided by babies, such as those containing ketones and phenols. But if you don't know about essential oils, lavender, Roman chamomile, German chamomile, Shiloh, orange and other safer essential oils are generally more suitable for home use. And the dosage should be low, and it is best to have someone to guide you.
2. Pregnant women
Pregnant women should avoid using essential oils with menstruation regulating function, because the use of such essential oils will lead to menstruation, that is, menstrual cramps. As for abortion, there is no evidence yet. Some dangerous essential oils should not be used, such as rosemary, myrrh, hyssop, parsley and so on. The state should be cautious, and pregnant women should have special guidance when using essential oils.
3, asthma should not use steam inhalation.
Asthmatics should inhale essential oil with steam, or avoid too strong steam, because too strong steam will make asthma patients breathless for a while, which is very dangerous.
4, poor liver and kidney function with caution.
Some essential oils can cause liver and kidney toxicity. It is no problem to use them in low doses, but it is harmful to people with poor liver and kidney function in high doses. Therefore, it is safer for people with poor liver and kidney function to consult someone before using it.
5. Patients with epilepsy
Some essential oils such as hyssop and myrrh can induce epilepsy, so they are not suitable for epileptic patients.
Generally speaking, it is not recommended to take essential oil directly, because it may burn the esophagus unless directed by a certified aromatherapist.