Soaking Up the Relaxation

Long-term emotional or environmental stresses can be hard on the body, mind, and emotions. Quality essential oils have powerful yet subtle effects on emotions and can help relieve stress and anxiety when used in baths, massages, or in an aromatherapy diffuser.

Essential oils can be delivered through the skin with the use of aromatic cremes or massage oils. Other methods include adding them to your bath and inhaling them through your olfactory system. The olfactory receives minute pieces of information from our environment with every breath we take. It carries the fragrance molecules of an essential oil to the limbic system, the area of the brain connected with the body’s basic drives such as hunger, thirst, breathing, sleep patterns, sex, emotions, and memories.

Splish-Splash

One of the best ways to use the oils is in the bath or massage; both of these methods employ inhalation and absorption. The molecules of essential oils are so small that they can enter the bloodstream and be carried to all parts of the body to assist with its natural healing processes.

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) has a sweet, spicy, citrus fragrance; it has a refreshing and uplifting effect on the emotions and is helpful for stress and anxiety.

Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) has a sweet, herbaceous, floral fragrance. It is balancing for the body and emotions and helps to relieve the anxiety, nervous stress, headaches, or insomnia caused by tension.

Sandalwood (Santalum album) has a deep, rich, woodsy fragrance. It has mild sedative properties and gives a sense of peaceful relaxation.

Marjoram (Origanum marjorana) has a warm, slightly spicy fragrance. It has potent sedative properties, eases nervousness, tension, and irritability, and is helpful for stress-related disorders such as muscle tension and headaches.

One thing you have to consider when using essential oils in the bath is that some oils, like lavender, can be used directly in the bath, but others should be used more cautiously. Undiluted citrus essential oils, like orange or bergamot, can burn the skin. Using a carrying agent for all the citrus oils is a good idea. The carrier disperses the essential oil through the water. Carriers include vegetable oils such as almond and grapeseed, sulphated castor oil,
powdered milk, sea salt, bubble bath bases, and soaps.

Balance Bath

Having an aromatic bath can not only help you relax but it can also help your skin achieve a healthy glow and improve its natural appearance.

1 cup (250 mL) sea salt
6 drops bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
6 drops sandalwood (Santalum album)
9 drops lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)
2 drops marjoram (Origanum marjorana)

Add essential oils to the salts, stir in, and use in bath. Store the excess in a glass jar.

Radiant Skin Body Oil

Grapeseed oil extracted from grapeseeds is odourless, lubricating, nonallergenic and contains the antioxidant pycnogenol, which has an antiaging effect.

2 Tbsp (30 mL) grapeseed oil (Vitis vinifera)
6 drops bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
6 drops sandalwood (Santalum album)
8 drops lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)

Add essential oils to the grapeseed oil and use as an all-over body oil.