Know your essential oils
Aromatherapists make use of essential oils that are extracted from various parts of a plant. Essential oils are the aromatic life source of a plant. When extracted, they and are very concentrated, so much so, that they must only be used in their diluted form and, even then, in very small quantities.

The therapeutic properties of essential oils are endless – they can be sedative, relaxing, energising, aphrodisiac and soothing.

Essential oils are either absorbed into the skin or inhaled, but they are never to be taken internally. Here's how you can use them:

In the bath: Follow the instructions on the bottle, but generally blend no more than 10 drops of essential oil to about 20ml of vegetable oil or neutral foam and add to running bath water.

As a body lotion: Add five drops of essential oil to 10ml of a neutral, unscented body lotion.

As a facial moisturiser: Add two drops of essential oil into 4ml of neutral, unscented lotion.

As a massage oil: Blend 10-12 drops of essential oil to 30ml of carrier massage oil.

In an oil burner: To scent a room, mix three or four drops of essential oils with a little water in the dish. Then light the tea candle underneath. An oil burner is also known as a "vapouriser".

For an air-freshner: Add two drops of essential oil to 150ml warm water in a clean spray bottle.

Here is what some of the most popular essential oils can do for you:

Essential oil	Key actions	Indications	Caution	How to use
Basil	Uplifting, awakening and soothing	Increase concentration, clarity of mind and enthusiasm	Do not use for prolonged periods of time or during pregnancy	In the bath or as a massage oil
Bergamot	Powerfully uplifting	For stress and depression	A photosensitiser, so don't use before sun exposure and use in small amounts	In the bath or as a massage oil
Camomile	Very relaxing and soothing	Sleep-inducing and soothes and protects the skin against free radicals that cause ageing		In the bath, as a massage oil or in hair and skincare products
Cardamon	Restorative	Alleviates fatigue and apathy		In the bath or as a massage oil
Clary sage	Soothing and restorative	Clears the mind		In the bath, as a massage oil or in haircare products
Cypress	Revitalising, astringent and decongestant	Eases menstrual cramps and hot flushes	Avoid in the first three months of pregnancy	In the bath, as a massage oil or in hair and skincare products
Eucalyptus	Antiseptic and highly decongestant	Respiratory aid for colds, also healing and pain-relieving for cuts and wounds		In the bath, as a massage oil, as a vapouriser or in hair and skincare products
Frankincense	Restorative, calming and relaxing	Tones lined, slack skin and is often used in skincare preparations		In the bath, as a massage oil or as a vapouriser
Geranium	Relaxing and antidepressant	Mood-lifting and relieves aching muscles and premenstrual fluid retention	If you have sensitive skin, avoid using at high concentrations	In the bath, as a massage oil, as a vapouriser or in hair and skincare products
Grapefruit	Cleansing, refreshing, detoxifying and purifying	Relieves nervous tension and relaxes muscles	Do not use before exposure to sun	In the bath and as a massage oil
Jasmine	Very soothing, aphrodisiac and antidepressant	Boosts self-esteem, lifts depression and pessimism and soothes aching muscles and tension	Do not use during pregnancy or if you have sensitive skin	In the bath or as a massage oil
Juniper	A powerful diuretic, antiseptic and astringent that is revitalising and detoxifying	Used for the treatment of acne or cuts and wounds	Only use in extremely small quantities (less than 10% of blend) and never during pregnancy	In the bath, as a massage oil, for vapourisation or in skincare preparations
Lavender	Highly antiseptic, soothing and healing	Can be applied undiluted to the skin for the treatment of burns, bites and spots and it minimises scarring	Do not use in the first three months of pregnancy	In the bath, as a massage oil, as a vapouriser or in hair and skincare products
Lemon	Astringent, healing, reviving and uplifting	A mood booster	Do not use before exposure to sun	In the bath, as a massage oil or in hair and skincare products
Lemongrass	Antiseptic and antibacterial	Purifies the air, relieves headaches (if blended with a carrier oil and rubbed into the temples) and is a great natural insect repellent	Use with care as it can cause irritation	No more than three drops diluted with carrier oil  for a bath. Also used as massage oil
Lime	Uplifting, reviving, refreshing, antiseptic	Helps relieve anxiety and fatigue and stimulates circulation thereby aiding detoxification	Do not use before exposure to sun	In the bath and as a massage oil
Mandarin	Calming and relaxing	Gives a sense of serenity and can be used on children	Do not use before exposure to sun	In the bath, as a massage oil or in hair and skincare products
Majoram	Strongly sedative, warming and comforting	Combined with lavender to ease insomnia and, when used as a steam inhalation, chest and respiratory problems too		In the bath or as a massage oil
Myrtle	Detoxifying and decongestant	Treats respiratory problems and detoxifies body tissues		In the bath and in haircare products
Neroli	Profoundly uplifting, also antiseptic and regenerating	Calms nerves, good for stress and boosts mood	Do not use before exposure to sun	In the bath, as a massage oil or in hair and skincare products
Orange	Calming and antidepressant	Skin tonic and a hair strengthener	Do not use before exposure to sun	In the bath, as a massage oil or in hair and skincare products
Patchouli	Anti-inflammatory, antidepressant and antiseptic	Treats skin disorders such as acne, eczema and athlete's foot. Also relieves anxiety		In the bath, as a massage oil or in skincare products
Peppermint	Antiseptic and stimulating	Relieves pain	Do not use in the first three months of pregnancy	In the bath or as a massage oil
Pine	Energising, decongestant and toning	Clears out respiratory tract during a cold		In inhalations, baths, for massage, vapourisation and haircare products
Rose	Astringent, anti-ageing, aphrodisiac and relaxant	Relieves stress, restores confidence and moisturises dry skin		In baths, massage and skincare
Rosemary	Stimulating, revitalising and antiseptic	Clears the mind and aids concentration	Do not use if you are pregnant, epileptic or have high blood pressure	In inhalations, baths, for massage, vapourisation and hair and skin products
Sandalwood	Balancing, aphrodisiac and antiseptic	Helps with coughs and sore throats		In baths, massage oils, inhalations and perfume
Tea tree	Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and invigorating	Treats skin problems (especially acne), controls dandruff, develops a positive mental outlook and builds confidence		In baths and hair and skin products
Ylang ylang	Relaxing	Tones skin and induces a sense of wellbeing		In baths, massage oils, hair and skincare problems

Tips for the safe use of essential oils

• Store all essential oils in dark glass bottles and keep them out of direct, because they are damaged by heat, light and humidity.
• Essential oils should not be taken internally, they are only for external use.
• Always blend essential oils with a carrier oil or a neutral, unscented lotion before applying to the skin. (Lavender is the only exception to this rule as it can be applied undiluted to soothe insect bites and stings as well as burns and spots.)
• Do not let essential oil get into your eyes. If this happens by accident, rinse with milk or vegetable oil and go and see a doctor immediately.
• Many essential oils are photosensitisers, which means that they increase the skin's reaction to the sun, making it more likely to burn, For this reason, you should not apply essential oils before going into the sun.
• Certain essential oils may also irritate sensitive skins. If irritation occurs, stop using the oil immediately.
• Is is not advisable to use essential oils for a prolonged period of time, because they can build up in the body.
• Essential oils should be kept out of reach of children.
• Essential oils are flammable and should therefore not be used near naked flame. For this reason, candles and oil burners (vapourisers) should be placed on heat-resistant surfaces and should not be left unattended. Avoid using metal candle- holders and burners that get very hot.
• Pregnant women should not use essential oils, without first consulting a doctor.
• Aromatherapy massage should not be performed on people who are ill or who have torn muscles or broken bones.

Read more about aromatherapy

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