Aromatherapy baths are the easiest luxury to create and indulge in at home. They can be used to relax the mind and spirit or to warm and heal the body. Simply run a hot bath, then add the essential oils of your choice. Do not add the essential oils while your bath is running because they will have evaporated by the time your bath is run and you will not reap the benefits.
Dilutions For Bath Blends
A basic blend for your bath is:
- 5 ml carrier product
- 5 drops essential oil(s)
This makes up a 5% dilution which is a safe percentage for most adults. For the elderly and children or people with sensitive skin, lower the dilution to 3% (5 ml. carrier product and 3 drops oil). For pregnant women lower the percentage to 1–1.5% (5 ml carrier product 1 drop oil). For babies, you can just use a carrier medium such as apricot carrier oil to nourish their skin. If you wish to treat a specific problem and your child is over six months, stick to a 1% dilution.
To make up a bottle of your bath blend, mix 50 ml of base product with 50 drops of essential oils. (In any aromatherapy blend, three to four essential oils are usually selected). This makes up a dilution of 5% in your bath blend. To use, pour in 5 ml per bath. Store your bath blend in a dark glass jar or bottle and keep out of direct sunlight. Your blend should have a shelf life of three months.
To reduce the percentage of your bath blend to 3% only add 30 drops. To reduce to 1% only add 10 drops.
Base Products For Bath Blends
Carrier oils are the commonest choice of base product for aromatherapy blends. You can use vegetable oils from your kitchen cupboard such as olive oil (extra virgin olive is the best choice for purity and quality), sunflower or sesame oils. However, using vegetable oils in the bath can leave an oily residue around the bath that is slippery when you get out and difficult to clean.
Alternative base products for bath blends are:
- Full fat or semi-skimmed milk (not skimmed because the essential oils need the fat molecules to bind to and disperse)
- Yoghurt
- Cream
- Honey
- Aloe vera gel
Use the products at the same ratio of base to essential oil as given above for carrier oils. For example, 50 ml of honey or aloe vera gel to 50 drops essential oil.
Choosing Your Bath Oils
Choose your oils according to the therapeutic properties. To soothe aches and pains, select a blend of lavender, Spanish marjoram and chamomile. To relax your mind and comfort your soul, blend the orange oils – neroli, mandarin and sweet orange.
Aromatherapy Showers And Footbaths
If you don't have time for a full bath, showers and footbaths are a good substitute. To make aromatherapy blends for showers or footbaths follow the same dilutions and products as given above. For example, blend 5 ml yoghurt with 5 drops peppermint oil for a refreshing footbath. Or blend 5 ml aloe vera gel with 5 drops grapefruit oil for a refreshing shower.
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