Lavender’s Corner
This month I think it’s important to cover safety and Carrier oils. Carrier oils also have their own properties, each one is different to the next and these too can be blended together for different reasons. Olive oil For example is thick in consistency so you may wish to add a little grapeseed oil, which is a very thin oil. Most Carrier oils lack smell, but are rich in nourishment. They make a great base oil for an essential oil blend.
A carrier oil is used to dilute essential oils and absolutes. They are diluted before use on the skin, so that the essential oils are safer. Some can give a burning sensation when applied without a carrier oil, so it’s always beneficial to use them. The term carrier oil comes from the fact that they carry the oils and benefits into your skin, olfactory system [the part of the brain, that allows smells to be detected] and for emotional benefits.
Essential oils evaporate and Carriers do not. There is a wide range of carriers out there to choose from. Some will benefit people with mature skin types and some [much like some essential oils] should not be used if you have an allergy.
You will find that the oils you use in cookery can be used for massage~ who says being thrifty can’t be fun! Oils like sunflower; are beneficial and cheaper than say Olive oil, which is thicker in consistency. It depends upon what you have available to you, if your unsure and can’t afford to get the branded labels from aromatherapy shops…then the kitchen isle at a supermarket may be just what you need.
Keep these oils away from sunlight~ cupboards help here. Although I keep mine out, because of a slight accident as a child…I was getting some sunflower oil down from a high shelf, whilst standing on a chair. I fell backwards and the large plastic bottle spilt all over the kitchen floor.
Plus I find it more convenient to have it handy.
On average, the carrier oils last for about 6 months with essential oils. Keep them somewhere cool and dry, usually in a dark glass bottle. The higher the amount of essential oils added; the longer it’s shelf life…do try not to add too many oils though, it’s synergy will be ‘off’. As a general rule you can measure as follows [as many people have other ways of doing this]~
1; 10ml carrier to 3 drops essential oil,
2; body size…say someone is a size 12, use 12ml carrier to up to 5 drops essential oils.
3; 30ml carrier to 10 drops essential oils.
Generally a slight guessing game, but use your intuition and judgement, if your unsure-always go with less essential oils than you think; just in case.
Next month, I go through the properties of some carrier oils and I go through Bergamot essential oil. learning them too helps with your Aromatherapy knowledge. I personally enjoy learning the folklore of oil uses.
Anyway, let’s get on with safety. This is key to all kinds of learning in this field, even if you don’t want to use the oils for aromatherapy. You may want to use oils in domestic cleaning or ritual work…it still helps to know!
Contra-indications [reasons that prevent use]
Pregnancy, abnormal temperature, infections, post operations [leave at least 6months-1 year before using oils], heart conditions, circulatory disorders, asthma, epilepsy, skin disorders, recent sprains, cancer, cuts, abrasions, bruises, recent fracture, inoculations, recent operations, taking medications, menstruating, thrombosis, embolism, varicose veins, after heavy meals [vomiting can occur], under medical treatment, inflammations, before sport, diabetes, dysfunction of the nervous system.
These are in accordance with professional standards. However, you know your own body. For example you can massage yourself to a degree, and it should be your choice! I had a bruise on my leg, when I clumsily fell a few months ago…it’s not there anymore-I massaged it with oils and a day after- Aloe Vera gel; which I believe helped and healed.
Some oils you have to be careful about your blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, you should avoid Rosemary, and Eucalyptus. If you have low blood pressure, you should avoid Lavender.
Healing carriers; almond, calendula, jojoba, olive oil, and st.john’s wort.
Face oils; almond, aloe vera, apricot kernel, avocado, evening primrose, jojoba, peach kernel.
Body oils; grapeseed, peanut, sesame, soya, sunflower and sweet almond.
This month’s blend; Hand massage oil
You may have dry skin, eczema or you might want to try hand massage. Try this blend~
Olive oil 1 teaspoon
Sunflower oil 1 tablespoon
Add these to a mug or small container [if you have one]. Massage in as you would creams. Try circular motions, stoking, rubbing, back and forward motions…or you may like to get a book out from a library; reflexology that has hand reflexology in it. This can be very interesting and helpful. It can also give you something else to learn.
A little something on essential oils~
Classed in 3 different types; when beginning blend 1 of each in a blend.
Top~ lasts 10 hours in the body
Fresh and light oils.
Immediately apparent. Fast evaporation rate. Gently stimulating.
Middle~ lasts 24 hours in the body
The heart of the fragrance. Slightly sedative. Generally balancing oils.
Benefits the bodily organs.
Base~ lasts up to 5 days in the body
Rich and heavy.
Emerges slowly. Lingers. Fixative. Relaxes the body and mind.
Project idea;
You may be thinking what do I want to do for a great project this year? I have an Aromatherapy folder. I first made it when I began learning Aromatherapy at college. Now, I have added more into another folder. Well, it’s actually a photo album. You can pick 3 different colours for top, middle and base oils. The other side for any other oils or for more information you collect. I used yellow for Top oils; as these tend to be more citrus oils and I associate them with yellow. Then I used blue for middle and pink for base-you can pick any colour you’d like. The colours actually also help as a learning tool as well. You can add magickal knowledge if you like. When you don’t remember you can look at it, you can begin with a handful of oils if you find it hard to remember things and use the oils you have in your folder-this helps your learning too. When you use them practically, it helps you learn mentally. I added some pictures as well that I have from magazines, I add the uses of the oils, a keyword to remember them by; like stimulating or calming, I add precautions, what they blend with and how they are expressed.
I think this is a good learning project. It may not be September, but we can still learn at any time or any age.
Blessed be,
Again, thanks for reading J