Aromatherapy - Using Nature's Healing Oils
By Jane Sheppard
In my quest to find viable ways to strengthen
a child’s immune system, I have discovered
essential oils. These oils are volatile substances
extracted from plants. Pure essential oils
have powerful therapeutic effects. Most of
them are natural antiseptics, and certain
oils have highly effective, immune-boosting,
disease-fighting properties that can kill
airborne viruses, bacteria and fungi. They
can be used preventively and also to treat
colds and infectious disease by reducing discomfort,
helping to shorten the duration and preventing
secondary infections.
Essential oils
can be valuable in treating many other childhood
ailments. Some are analgesic or anti-inflammatory,
helping to reduce aches, pain and swelling.
Others can alleviate insomnia or hyperactivity
and calm anxious or troubled children. They
can also be used to treat minor injuries.
In addition to being very safe and effective,
essential oils are fun and easy to use.
Choose High-Quality Oils
Not all essential
oils are created equal. They must be chosen
and used with great care. Many are highly
adulterated and over-processed with chemicals.
To obtain the beneficial therapeutic qualities,
you must use pure essential oils. Many people
have purchased inexpensive oils and have been
very disappointed with the results, leading
them to believe that “essential oils do not
work”. Some pure essential oils can be expensive
since they are hard to come by. It can take
as many as 500 to 2,000 pounds of raw plant
material to produce a single pound of pure
essential oil. These plants should also be
organically grown whenever possible. In addition,
the harvesting procedures and extraction processes
are critical to quality. It is important to
have documentation of the purity and quality
of an essential oil so you don’t get something
that just smells nice, without the therapeutic
qualities. Always buy oils in dark glass bottles.
Never buy essential oils in plastic containers
or put them into anything made of plastic.
They not compatible with plastic. Store in
a cool, dark place, away from heat and tightly
capped.
How to Use Essential Oils
Inhaling the
oils by diffusion produces immediate beneficial
effects and is one of the easiest ways to
use essential oils. Diffusion releases the
highly aromatic molecules of the oils into
the air so that we can breathe them in. Inhalation
sends impulses directly to the brain and will
trigger various healing responses, depending
on which oil is being used. The physical body
as well as the emotions can be therapeutically
affected. Many oils have good germicidal properties
and can be very effective in disinfecting
a room without using harmful chemicals. When
diffused, these oils can cleanse and purify
the air by removing toxins and killing pathogenic
bacteria, viruses, molds and fungi. They can
also destroy odors. Regular diffusion can
keep you and your kids healthy throughout
the cold and flu season.
A spray bottle used to mist houseplants can
also be used to diffuse the oils. Fill with
water and add 15 or 20 drops. This will clear
and clean the air, but does not have the long-lasting
effects of a diffuser or nebulizer. A diffuser
or nebulizer sprays an ultra-fine mist into
the air.
Diluted oils
can be applied directly to the body by massaging
the affected area, the bottom of the feet
or with a full body massage. The tiny molecular
structure of an essential oil allows it to
be filtered through the skin via the hair
follicles and into the bloodstream or to other
parts of the body. The oils can nourish and
oxygenate every cell of the body. It can take
anywhere from 20 minutes to 7 hours for essential
oils to be completely absorbed through the
skin, depending on how much body fat there
is. In children, they are usually absorbed
very quickly.
Essential oils can be very powerful. They
should always be diluted before applying directly
to the skin or to the bath of a child. They
can be used in a carrier oil, mixed with water
or added to creams or lotions. Patch testing
can be done for children with sensitive skin
or allergies. This is done by applying a little
diluted oil to the inside of the elbow. Leave
it unwashed for twenty-four hours and if any
redness or itching occurs, that oil should
not be used.
Caution:
Essential oils should never be taken internally,
without the advice of a professional. Keep
all essential oils away from the eyes. Keep
all essential oils out of the sight and reach
of children. Never attempt to treat a serious
illness yourself without first referring to
a qualified practitioner.
Many books have
been written on aromatherapy and the use of
essential oils. Instructions in applying the
oils vary widely with different aromatherapists
and authors. Simplers Botanical Company has
been making essential oils and extracts since
1981. Their oils are absolutely pure and guaranteed
to be organic or ethically wildcrafted and
properly distilled or extracted. They have
written the Aromatherapy
Guide to Essential Oils, which is a
brief summary of the views of a wide variety
of experts in the field of aromatherapy. In
this booklet, they suggest the following guidelines
for application of essential oils for use
with adults. In parenthesis and italics, I’ve
added general recommendations for use with
children.
Bath
Add a total of
10 to 15 drops of essential oil to an already
full bath. Agitate the water to thoroughly
disperse the oils before getting in. (Always
dilute essential oils before adding them to
the bath of a baby or small child. They can
be diluted in a little oil such as almond
or in two or three tablespoons of full-fat
milk. Essential oils in the bath are not recommended
for babies under 3 months. A single drop is
enough for an older baby or toddler’s bath
and two or three drops can be added to the
bath of a child 2 to 5 years in a full-size
bathtub. No more than 4 drops for children
5-12 years.)
Foot and Hand baths
Put 5 to 7 drops
of essential oil into a bowl of warm water.
Soak for 10 to 15 minutes. (For
children, use same age-appropriate amount
of drops as for a bath. Do not use hand baths
for children who will be putting their hands
in their mouths.)
Compress
Add 5 to 8 drops
of essential oil to 2 cups hot or cold water
and agitate to disperse oils. Briefly soak
cotton cloth, wring and place on skin. Repeat
every 15 minutes for up to one hour. (For
children, use same age-appropriate amount
of drops as for a bath)
Diffuser or Nebulizer
The most effective
tool for inhalations, aromatic diffusers create
a continuous fine mist of essential oils.
Turn on diffuser for 5 to 15 minute intervals.
Excellent air disinfectant.
Inhalation
Place 1 to 3
drops of essential oil on a cloth to inhale.
Or put 3 to 8 drops of essential oil into
a bowl of hot water, cover head and bowl with
a towel, and inhale deeply for 2 to 5 minutes.
Do not use
during asthma attacks. (When
giving a child an inhalation, never leave
them alone. Reduce the amount of drops. Have
them inhale for only 30 seconds initially.
Increase to 1 or 2 minutes if child can tolerate
this. Do not give inhalations to very young
children.)
Massage and Skin Care
For a 2% dilution,
add a total of 10 to 20 drops of essential
oil to 1 ounce of vegetable oil (almond, sunflower,
etc.) (Cold-pressed
sweet almond oil is rich in vitamins, light
and easy to absorb. It is the most suitable
oil for baby massage. Babies and young children
respond very well to massage. To make a baby
massage oil: to 2 1/2 tablespoons of sweet
almond oil, add 1 drop of essential oil. Or
to 5 tablespoons of sweet almond oil, add
2 drops of essential oil.)
Related Article: The
Benefits and Joys of Infant Massage
The Best Oils for Children
Essential oils
that are the most appropriate for children
are lavender, Roman chamomile, rose, tea tree,
mandarin and peppermint. If you can buy only
a few oils, lavender, Roman chamomile and
tea tree are the perfect ones to have on hand.
Roman Chamomile
With its sedative properties, Roman chamomile
can calm and relax irritable, overtired children.
It has anti-inflammatory action to help skin
problems and allergies. It’s been used as
a remedy for asthma that originates from nervousness.
It is a pain-reliever for teething, headaches
and muscle aches. Being an antispasmodic as
well, it can alleviate colic and other digestive
disturbances.
Lavender
Lavender’s main
properties are antiseptic, antibiotic, analgesic,
antidepressant, diuretic, antiviral, antifungal,
antispasmodic, sedative and toning. It is
a strong, non-toxic antiseptic and works well
on cuts, wounds, dermatitis, eczema, diaper
rash, pimples and burns. Lavender repels mosquitoes
and can give relief to bug bites.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil
(melaleuca alternifolia) is a powerful immuno-stimulant
by increasing the body’s ability to respond
to bacteria, fungi and viruses. It is very
valuable for colds and flu. It’s also effective
for ring-worm and thrush, and acne. Tea tree,
eucalyptus, lavender and lemon are very effective
oils for colds and infections.
Essential Oils for Common
Ailments
The following
are some ways that essential oils have been
used for common ailments. This is not intended
as medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner
for advice with specific treatments.
Sleep Disturbances
A warm bath with
pre-diluted Roman chamomile or lavender oil
can be very calming. Both of these oils have
soothing, calming, sedative properties that
promote gentle, natural sleep.
Digestive Upsets
Chamomile oil
added to a carrier oil can be gently rubbed
on the tummy. For older children, peppermint
oil may be used. Be cautious with peppermint
oil since it can be over-stimulating.
Diaper Rash
Diaper rash can
be prevented by regularly adding essential
oils to a child’s bath. Almost all essential
oils will prevent bacteria from developing
on the skin. A diaper rash cream can be made
by adding 2 drops of German chamomile oil
and 2 drops of lavender oil to 2 ounces of
an unscented cream. Use four drops of tea
tree oil instead, if the rash is due to thrush.
A few drops of lavender added to a prewash
soak can help disinfect a bucket of diapers.
Burns
Apply lavender
oil to a minor burn after plunging it into
cold water. Chamomile can be added to a bath
to soothe minor sunburn. For more severe sunburn,
lavender can be used.
Teething pain
Teething pain
can be alleviated by massage with Roman chamomile
and lavender added to a carrier oil. Warm
oil in hand first and gently massage into
cheek, along jawline. Do not use directly
on the gums or anywhere inside the mouth.
Do not get near the eyes.
Earaches
Chamomile can
be massaged gently around the outside of the
ear and down the neck. Hot compresses of chamomile
and/or lavender oil help to reduce pain. Three
drops of lavender oil in a teaspoon of warmed
almond or olive oil can be put into the ear
cavity using a dropper.
Related Article:
Ear
Infections: Alternative Solutions
Teen-age acne
Steaming the
skin with peppermint oil can cleanse and decongest
the skin. German chamomile helps inflammation
of acne. Tea tree oil can be added to a skin
wash, alternating with lavender and bergamot.
A single drop of tea tree oil can be dabbed
on each large, inflamed pimple and may clear
it up quickly. Tea tree oil can
irritate the skin so use with caution.
Related Article:
Natural,
Holistic Treatments for Teen-Age Acne
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Essential oils
can be used during pregnancy and childbirth
with good results. Consult an aromatherapist
or a midwife before using. There are many
oils that should be avoided during pregnancy.
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the information provided on this site as an
educational resource for determining your
options and making your own informed choices.
It is not intended as medical advice or to
diagnose, prescribe, or treat any specific
illness.