Hello, dear readers!
We continue to talk about the topic of relaxation and relaxation of the body at home. Today we will talk about aromatherapy indications and contraindications.
And we will also figure out whether esters can cause an adverse reaction and whether there are dangerous oils? Stay tuned and happy reading!
The benefits and possible harms of aromatherapy
We know that this is an excellent and fragrant way to relieve stress and get rid of a number of diseases. We often conduct sessions and do not expect any side effects from such a pleasant pastime. And in this we are deeply mistaken!
Since aromatherapy is not such a harmless way to relieve fatigue. It has both positive and negative sides.
Before purchasing oils and aromatic stones, you should familiarize yourself with possible contraindications. Today we will look at all the pros and cons and you can use the article as a cheat sheet.
The first thing I wanted to pay attention to was high-quality essential oils.
This is the key to conducting a safe aromatic session without harm to health. Since nowadays it is common to counterfeit oils and add various impurities and chemicals to them.
If there is no specialized store near you, I advise you to use proven store offers Zeitun.
This is a store of natural cosmetics and essential oils. Only high-quality products are collected here; they are made from the highest quality, environmentally friendly natural raw materials, tested by many women.
Take care of yourself and your health! To protect you from negative consequences, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the principles, positive and negative sides of aromatherapy.
Basic principles of aromatherapy:
Complexity of impact
To achieve the desired effect, you need to use several types of aromatic oils. In the right dosage (usually 1-2 drops of each) they will bring more benefits than if you use only 1 type.
It is possible to mix 4-5 esters, which, acting on different organs and systems, will make the session more productive and enjoyable.
Dosage
A lot depends on it. The most important thing is your general well-being. Beginners are recommended to carry out aromatherapy with a reduced dosage, gradually increasing it. It is enough to add 2-3 drops of ether to the aroma lamp.
Individuality
Before using the oil, it is necessary to test for an allergic reaction. Also, do not use products that irritate you.
Even though everyone likes lavender and is at least a thousand times useful, if this aroma is unpleasant to you, then it is better not to use it and replace it with another. Aromatherapy should only bring pleasure!
Compatibility with other methods and drugs
Aromatherapy has become often used in massage, body wraps, and various medical hardware procedures. It is also worth considering the fact that some types of oils can enhance/decrease the effect of the medication.
By following these small instructions, you will make your aromatherapy session not only relaxing, but also safe.
Now let's look at the benefits of aromatherapy and what contraindications there are for its implementation.
Positive aspects of aroma sessions:
- Relieves stress and irritation. Since during the exercise our body is completely relaxed and we forget about many problems.
- Properly selected scents lift your spirits and can relieve prolonged depression.
- Aromas can increase productivity, improve mental activity and contribute to the emergence of new ideas.
- Relieves insomnia and normalizes sleep.
- Relieve pain, inflammation, improve well-being during illness.
- They struggle with obsessions and fears, grief.
- They increase self-esteem, help overcome feelings of inferiority, apathy, and indecision.
In fact, this list can be continued endlessly, since in fact essential oils have simply enormous benefits and provide enormous benefits to the body.
Now let's find out what contraindications there are for aromatherapy sessions:
- Fever, acute infectious and inflammatory diseases.
- Malignant neoplasms, blood diseases.
- Nervous diseases.
- States of alcohol and drug intoxication.
- Individual intolerance to essential oils.
- Epilepsy.
- Pregnancy. An exception may be the 3rd trimester. Since aromatherapy in the first two trimesters can cause bleeding and miscarriage!
- Sessions should not be performed on infants and elderly people.
If you have any disease and you question the use of ethers, but want to have an aromatherapy session, then be sure to consult a doctor before it! Do not self-medicate.
Because if used incorrectly, oils can cause harm. Remember that it is very important to respect the timing of the sessions. They should not exceed 50-60 minutes.
Can essential oils cause side effects?
We have all already heard about the colossal benefits of ethers, more than once. But few places you hear about the possible harm of volatile oils and the fact that they can adversely affect health.
Now we will look at the precautions that need to be taken into account when using essential oils. We will also give you a list of products prohibited in aromatherapy!
In what cases can essential oil be dangerous:
Poor quality product
Pharmacies and supermarkets sell a large number of artificial products that pass off as 100% essential oil. Choose only high-quality products from trusted companies and trusted stores.
Non-compliance with dosages and use in pure form
This is especially true for internal use. If you use more of the product than the instructions suggest, it may cause problems in the body.
If you apply more than 1-2 drops of the product in its pure form to bare skin, it can cause severe burns, rashes, redness and blisters! Mix the ether with water, cream, lotion or cosmetic oil. Always follow the instructions for use.
Phototoxicity
Some products (bergamot, lime, orange, lemon, grapefruit) affect the skin in such a way that they make it very sensitive and more susceptible to sunlight. Therefore, masks and creams with the addition of these products should be made long before going outside.
Pregnancy and lactation
The effects of products on a woman’s body during pregnancy have not been fully studied. Therefore, you should be careful when using aromatherapy and exclude some types of esters. Before use, you should consult your doctor.
Childhood
In children, some foods can cause allergies, cough, dizziness, headache, and lethargy. Therefore, you need to ask your pediatrician whether children can inhale ether vapors. The safest oils for children are lavender and chamomile.
Various diseases
Many esters can affect the course of the disease. Therefore, if you have any ailment, you should carefully consider the choice of remedy and consult a doctor.
If you follow these instructions, the oil will not harm you and its use will give you a lot of positive emotions!
Some oils can harm you, as they are poisons, can cause miscarriage, or make you faint.
We present you with a list of prohibited ethers for aromatherapy, save it so as not to lose it:
- Camphor
- Rue
- Artemisia high/bitter/common
- Tansy
- Thuja occidentalis/folded
- Savin
- Oregano Spanish/oregano
- Mustard
- Fennel
- Pennyroyal
- Elecampane
These products should not be used or aromatherapy sessions performed during pregnancy and lactation:
- Peppermint, clary sage
- Jasmine, myrrh
- Juniper, Atlas cedar
- Nutmeg, thyme, tarragon, basil, marjoram
- Geranium, cypress.
Always carefully read the instructions for use of oils before you start using them!
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Today we learned even more about aromatherapy. You shouldn’t be afraid to carry it out, you just need to approach its organization wisely and find out in advance about all the pros and cons.
You can use our article as a cheat sheet to avoid unwanted effects.
Become more beautiful every day, because fragrant esters will help you with this!
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All the best to you
See you soon!
Ilona was with you
1.1 Introduction
You can collect cloudy days, failures, half-empty wallets... and be unhappy.
You can collect smiles, handshakes, sunbeams, beautiful music, exquisite smells, and become happy.
Creating your own collection of fragrances is the beginning of a new, luckier life filled with light, warmth and love.
We are creating our own collection of aromas - essential oils and essential compositions for healing.
The creators of alternative therapeutic and prophylactic drugs included RPO ARGO products in this collection.
In my practice I use more than 50 essential oils.
What is aromatherapy, how to use essential oils correctly and safely, what are the healing effects of these volatile substances, how to choose the right scents for yourself and your loved ones? I will try to tell you all this during classes at the Aromatherapy School.
The first year program of the School of Aromatherapy has been defined and is available for viewing at the information stand in this office.
1.2 History of aromatherapy
Since ancient times, the sense of smell has played important role. It was necessary when searching for plant and animal food, to assess its suitability for nutrition. Possessing a keen sense of smell, ancient man could identify an approaching predator, sense changes in the weather - all this was vital for survival. Perhaps in the Paleolithic era, when man learned to make fire, a tradition arose of adding aromatic plants to the fire and in this way pleasing the gods. This is how the custom of incense arose, which has been preserved, modified, to this day in churches.
Various cultures have contributed to the study of the world of aromatic plants. The incense was divine in nature, but the completely mysterious nature of the aroma has not yet been revealed to this day. This remains to be done by future researchers.
The areas of use of aromatic plants were extensive, accompanying human life from birth to death. Aromatherapy has been most widely used in the following areas:
- Religious, mystical rituals, processes of dedication and initiation.
- Perfumes, production of aromatic essences, perfumes for aesthetic pleasure.
- Cosmetology – the use of various compositions to improve skin condition, rejuvenation, and beauty.
- Treatment, prevention of diseases.
- Flavoring of food and wine to increase shelf life and improve taste.
- Embalming of bodies.
- Belonging to the upper class of society, a luxury item.
- A means of payment for payments.
Various sources claim that aromatherapy as a method of perfumery originated in Mesopotamia, where a method for distilling plant materials was discovered. Thanks to it, it became possible to obtain highly concentrated, long-storable aromatic oils. Traditional in Mesopotamia was the ritual use of incense, the composition of perfume compositions, and embalming.
The culture of aromatherapy and perfumery most widely developed in Ancient Egypt. This time is considered the beginning of the history of aromatherapy. Recipes for incense were kept in the strictest confidence.
The Egyptians were well aware of the ability of scents to influence emotions. Each pharaoh had many different perfumes with different purposes: some lifted the mood, others eliminated nervousness or increased sexual arousal, and in case of war there was a special recipe for developing aggressiveness.
In everyday life, the Egyptians used a whole system hygiene care behind the body: first the body was washed with water, and then anointed with aromatic oils. It was believed that lubricating the body with fatty oil made a person feel better in the heat and inhibited dehydration. This ritual replaced 
hygiene procedures, and its use was regulated. Ordinary people used castor oil (in our case, this is the base), and priests and nobles preferred oils and ointments made from olive, almond or sesame oils with the addition of myrrh, aromatic herbs and other aromatic ingredients.
Aromatics have found widespread use in cosmetics and perfumes. Queen Cleopatra was a great connoisseur of aromatic products. Her favorite plants were: rose, incense, jasmine and lotus. She managed to make an indelible impression on Mark Antony at their first meeting: she so permeated her ship with aromatic substances that long before her appearance a wonderful aroma was noticeable. The baths used in aromatherapy were called “Cleopatra’s baths”, since the queen first used this method.
Incense was important item of trade. Arab merchants and sailors supplied Egypt with incense, sandalwood, agaro (aloe) wood, styrax, nutmeg, black pepper, cinnamon and other plants.
Among medicinal products used:
- Cypress – for pulmonary and nervous diseases;
- Thyme - for the production of medicinal ointments with a bactericidal effect;
- Anise – for pulmonary and intestinal diseases;
- Frankincense and cistus – for nervous diseases.
Aromatic substances served as one of the sources of aesthetic pleasure.
Judea
The ancient Jews used various types aromatic incense. There were special recipes for sacred rites. As indicated in the Holy Scriptures, among the many commandments, Moses received from the Lord the rules for the construction of the altar, as well as the preparation of aromatic oils and sacrificial incense.
Sacred incense was prepared from myrrh, onyx, incense and other aromatic substances.
IN medical purposes According to a special law, a cleansing ritual was used for women: myrrh oil was rubbed in for 6 months, and then other aromatic oils.
In addition to aromatic incense, powders, and rubbing, substances were used that created the “aroma of clothing”: “Your ointments are pleasant to the smell, your name is myrrh oil.”
Incense was highly valued and served a sign of special respect, This is stated in the Bible (New Testament): “And when the Magi entered the house, they saw the Child with Mary his Mother, and, falling, they bowed to him, and, opening their treasures, they brought Him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
Ancient Asia
The Assyrians worshiped many gods. For them they built altars on which they burned in abundance sacred incense and aromatic resins. Tribute from conquered peoples taken in aromatic substances. So Herodotus reports that the Arabs paid an annual tribute of one thousand talents of olibanum (incense).
Life The Assyrians, full of luxury and sophistication, implied widespread consumption of aromatic substances. Sometimes this took on unusual forms. King Sardanapalus often painted himself, like his wives, and when he was overthrown, he chose death on a bonfire of incense wood, where he and his wives suffocated in a cloud of fragrant smoke.
Babylon was one of the most important aromatic substances trading centers. Ointments, essences, and fragrant herbs were supplied to neighboring countries and were widely consumed by the Babylonians themselves. During the heyday of Babylon, the custom of anointing one’s body with aromatic oils and constantly burning incense became widespread. Various types of cosmetics and perfumes were used. Babylonian incense was valued far beyond its borders.
After defeating the Persians and capturing the intact tent of King Darius III, Alexander the Great saw all kinds of jugs and ointment bottles made of pure gold. When the Macedonian smelled the amazing smell of fragrant herbs and other incense, he said: “This, apparently, is what it means to reign.”
Ancient Greece
The number of Greek deities reached 30,000, and each of them was supposed to perform mandatory rituals - sacrifices and smoking. Hesiod wrote: “The gods should also be appeased by smoking and sacrifice, in the evening, before going to bed, and when the sun rises.” In a simplified ritual, only incense was burned, while the Greeks attributed divine origin to incense and considered them attributes of the gods. None of the Greeks undertook any important undertaking without enlisting the support of the god who patronized the undertaking. The most popular of the incense used for ritual purposes was incense.
Widely used in Greece oil based perfumes with the scent of various flowers, the most popular were the aromas of rose, iris, spikenard, marjoram, and incense.
Hippocrates, developing herbal medicine as a scientific method, stated: “The path to health and longevity lies through baths with aromatic oils and massage with incense, applied daily.” When the plague epidemic broke out in Athens, he persuaded the population to burn aromatic plants on street corners and in houses.
Another Greek doctor, Anacreon, advised rubbing incense on the chest and area of the heart, on which pleasant smells have a calming effect. He also mentioned medicinal properties roses: “He heals all the sick and preserves from the corruption of the dead.” Theophastus, a famous Greek botanist, recommended the use of perfumes, patches, and poultices for medicinal purposes. He discovered the effect of externally applied oils on internal organs.
Aromatic substances were actively used and at home: food, clothing, even pottery were scented various types incense. Greek wine, which was very popular and an important trade item, was often enriched with various aromatic substances. One of the favorites was the Myrrhina wine, which included myrrh.
Roman civilization
Incense became widespread in the Roman Empire after the conquest of Greece. One of signs of a noble person hair was aromatically oiled.
The incense also had ritual meaning and burned incense to all the deities. Juniper was considered one of the universal plants, pleasing to any deity.
Incense and aromatic substances were mainly imported, and when consumption for domestic purposes reached such a scale that there was no longer enough for sacred rites, Julius Caesar issued a law prohibiting the trade in “exotics” coming from Asia and other countries. Caligula spent huge amounts of money on aromatic substances and soaked his body, exhausted by excesses, in aromatic waters.
Was especially developed bath culture - term. The Romans visited the baths almost daily, which was a good means of hygiene. Incense, ointment, and aromatic oils are widely used in thermal baths.
The Romans used three types spirits: solid (hedysmata), oil-based (stymmata) and aromatic powder (diapasmata). Perfume consisted of one component, for example, rose, narcissus, or of several. The royal perfume included 27 components. Perfume was applied to specific parts of the body, with a different scent applied to each part. They impregnated clothes, beds, house walls, battle banners, etc. with perfume. One of the favorite scents of the Romans was saffron.
The Greek physician Dioscorides, who served in Nero’s army, wrote a five-volume work “On Questions of Healing,” in which he described 500 plants - cypress, juniper, marjoram, myrrh and others. They were given recipes for drugs, for example, “Amakrion” - for the treatment of hemorrhoids and painful menstruation, “Nardinone Muron” - for coughs and colds. Almost all knowledge about medicinal herbs originates from Dioscorides.
1.3 Indications and contraindications for the use of aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy has a number of conditions when its use can have an undesirable effect and cause harm to the body.
Contraindications for the use of aromatherapy are:
- Local and general signs of intolerance to essential oils.
- Allergic reactions to this plant, its derivatives and essential oil.
- High allergic sensitization of the body, acute allergic condition, period of exacerbation of bronchial asthma.
- Hay fever with severe rhinoconjunctivitis.
- Acute cardiovascular failure with cardiac arrhythmia.
- Pregnancy occurring with odor intolerance.
- Use of essential oils internally: during pregnancy, for children under 5 years of age, for acute gastrointestinal pathologies ( peptic ulcer, acute gastritis, acute pancreatitis), leukocytosis, acute and chronic renal failure, hepatitis, hepatosis.
Local intolerance manifests itself:
- In the nasal passages: difficulty in nasal breathing, sneezing, mucus secretion, itching, redness of the mucous membrane.
- On the skin: redness, itching, hives, rashes.
General intolerance most often manifests itself in 5 forms:
Respiratory form: difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, cough, asthma attack.
Cardiac form: manifested by sweating, a feeling of fading or interruptions in the heart, tachycardia, heart rhythm disturbances, unpleasant sensations, discomfort, pain in the heart area.
Cerebral form: characterized by headache, dizziness, tinnitus, and a feeling of “trembling throughout the body.”
Allergic form: expressed in the form of itching, redness of the skin, allergic rashes. Its extreme manifestation is anaphylactic shock.
Neuropsychic form: irritability, aggressiveness, exhaustion, overexcitation, internal discomfort are observed.
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© Sakov Igor Vladimirovich.
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It is becoming increasingly popular and, according to Japanese scientists, in the near future it will turn from an unconventional into a dominant medical method of healing.
Aromatherapy, like any treatment, requires a serious approach. You should begin your recovery first of all by studying the contraindications of aromatherapy and safety precautions.
Safety precautions
There is no such thing as love at first sniff
It is very important that you like the aroma so that you do not have an allergic reaction to it. It is difficult to understand this right away. Experts recommend living with this smell for at least 20 minutes, and preferably a day or two.
Apply 1-2 drops of oil to clothes or drop into an aroma locket.
If you need to use undiluted essential oil spot on problem areas (boils, herpes, warts), then at the initial stage of use it is still recommended to dilute with base oil (1: 1).
Essential oils do not dissolve in water. If you are going to add them to a bath, to a wrap, then first mix with table or sea salt, cream, milk, kefir, whey, honey or other emulsifier (a substance that creates an emulsion from immiscible liquids).
Use for cosmetic purposes. If you are planning to use an unknown early oil, do not immediately add it to your cream or shampoo, but be sure to check if it is right for you.
Note. Aromatherapists generally do not recommend adding natural essential oils to finished cosmetics: having a powerful penetrating ability, the components of the oils penetrate into the deep layers of the skin and into the blood, carrying with them all the chemicals contained in cosmetics (preservatives, for example).
Aroma baths. Limit the first two sessions to 5 minutes; if you feel good, then gradually increase the duration of the procedure.
First sessions with aroma lamp It is not recommended to spend more than 20 minutes.
If the purpose of using the oil is erotic, then you should check whether your partner likes the aroma and whether he is allergic to this smell.
During pregnancy, asthma, epilepsy You can use essential oils after consulting with an aromatherapist.
Best before date
Natural essential oils obtained from wild plants, have an unlimited shelf life. They, like “fine” wines, are refined over time. Such “fine” oils include rose, verbena, clary sage, and neroli.
Exception:
citrus fruits - bergamot, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon. Their shelf life is 2-3 years, and storage temperature: from -10°C to 15° above zero.
Resinous (sandalwood, myrrh, jasmine) tend to thicken, which shortens their shelf life if storage rules are not followed (temperature changes with a predominance of low temperatures). When purchasing oils from this group, remember that their optimal storage temperature is +15°C and not higher than +40°
Essential oils derived from cultivated plants, are usually stored for 2 years, citrus fruits - 1 year.
Blend of essential and base oils can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a year.
Base oil blend has a shelf life of 1-3 weeks (on the refrigerator door). If you add natural wheat germ oil to such a mixture (at least 1/3-1/4 of the volume of the mixture), the shelf life will increase to 6 months.
Storage rules
The International Pharmacopoeia has the following standards for the storage of essential oils:
- The bottle of oil should be tightly closed after use.
- Temperature range: from -5°C to 30°C above zero. Sudden temperature changes are not allowed, as this reduces the quality of the oil.
- Oil that has been exposed to frost must be warmed up for half an hour to restore its essential properties.
- The oil can only be stored in a brown glass bottle with a 50% shading degree, this protects the contents from the damaging effects of light.
- Essential oils are highly flammable and should be kept away from fire sources.
- Young children need to be taught that essential oils are not a toy, just like knives or matches. And it’s best to immediately dilute with base oil in accordance with the baby’s age (1:15 - 1:20).
Contraindications
Many essential oils, while possessing valuable therapeutic properties, can cause side effects.
Use with caution:
ANIS for inflammation of the gastric mucosa
BASIL during pregnancy, increased blood clotting.
CLOVE for pregnant women, with increased nervousness, for children under 14 years of age (orally).
GERANIUM for pregnant women and children under 7 years old.
GINGER in children under 7 years of age.
Cypress for thrombophlebitis, increased blood clotting, in the first months of pregnancy.
CEDAR for nervous overexcitation, during pregnancy.
CINNAMON for those with overly sensitive skin.
LAUREL during pregnancy, hypersensitivity of the skin.
LAVENDER during pregnancy, incompatibility with iron- and iodine-containing medications.
LEMON for hypotension.
JUNIPER during pregnancy, during exacerbation of kidney diseases.
MINT in the first semester of pregnancy, for children under 1 year of age, for allergic rhinitis and hay fever.
FIR for stomach ulcers, acute kidney inflammation, pregnancy.
WORMORMOUS during pregnancy.
ROSE in the first months of pregnancy.
ROSEMARY for children under 7 years old, pregnant women.
SANDALWOOD internally for children under 14 years of age.
TTU for epilepsy, during pregnancy.
FENNEL during pregnancy (in the first months).
THYME for skin sensitivity, children under 7 years old, in the first semester of pregnancy.
TEA TREE for children under 7 years of age, in the first months of pregnancy.
SAGE for epilepsy, during pregnancy, during breastfeeding.
EUCALYPTUS for children under 2 years old.
Oils that can cause poisoning:
Atlas cedar, basil, eucalyptus, cinnamon leaves, fennel (sweet dill), orange, lemon, hyssop, thyme, nutmeg.
Use these oils with caution; reduce the duration of use to several days.
Oils that cause irritation:
Black pepper, angelica, citronella, cinnamon leaves, ginger, orange, lemongrass, lemon, lemon verbena, cloves (any part), peppermint, nutmeg.
All these oils should be diluted to 1% before use.
Oils that increase skin photosensitivity: bergamot, angelica, orange, lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, limette, petitgrain, etc. In sunny weather, do not apply these oils to your skin before going outside.
Summary.
As you can see, the use of essential oils requires the most serious consideration. To get the maximum benefit without harm to your health, follow safety precautions and study the contraindications of aromatherapy.
This will allow you to fully realize the potential of the ancient art of healing, which is often compared to magic.
Based on materials: “Aromatherapy from A to Z” by Patricia Davis.
Elena Valve for the project Sleepy Cantata
Aromatherapy is an ancient method of alternative medicine, which is based on the use of various essential oils of natural origin. The beneficial effect of oils on the body is explained by the content of vitamin complexes, natural antibiotics and pheromones in them.
Aromatherapy can be performed in several ways, which are selected individually for each person:
Aromatic baths
Essential oils dissolved in water penetrate the skin through the sebaceous glands and affect its receptors. This helps to expand the lumen of blood vessels, increase blood flow and local increase in temperature.
The body accelerates metabolism and eliminates toxic compounds, cholesterol and lipoproteins. The smell of essential oils also has a psychotherapeutic effect.
Aromatic baths are used for hypertension, various dermatoses, musculoskeletal disorders, neuroses and recovery from injuries
Aromatic baths have several varieties:
- coniferous;
- grass or hay;
- mineral.
Inhalations
Inhalation of essential oils has a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, and tonic effect. Therapy with this method can be carried out cold or hot. Cold inhalations with aromatic oils are easier to use and can be performed even outside the home. Thus, you can help yourself with headaches and relieve nervous tension.
Hot inhalations involve inhaling steam saturated with essential oils. Used for colds, bronchitis, and flu. In such cases, after the procedure, experts also recommend rubbing your feet with the essential oil that was used for inhalation, putting on warm socks and staying warm for some time. This will consolidate the effect of inhaling hot steam.
Massage
The use of essential oils during massage increases its effectiveness several times. It is this successful combination of treatment procedures that doubles the therapeutic effect. An important point is that essential oils are not used in their pure form, but only when added to base oils - olive or other edible oil.
You can also use ready-made mixtures, but there is a high probability that they will contain artificial components, unlike those prepared by yourself. Massage oil should be prepared immediately before use, otherwise it will lose its healing properties.
Types of massage and oils that are used for it
- Relaxing- mint, lavender, sage oils; The use of citrus oils helps to lift your mood and increase your vitality.
- Anesthetic- lemon balm, mint, pine oils, cloves, jasmine.
- Improves mental performance, memory and concentration - rosemary, mint, lemon, bergamot. With this type of massage, it can also be done pointwise - on the temples, above the bridge of the nose, on the occipital area.
- Anti-cellulite- the most effective are citrus oils and juniper oil. When fighting cellulite, massage will have an effect only in combination with diet correction and physical activity.
- Massage that has a cosmetological effect on the skin and hair. Rose, sage, geranium, patchouli, and jasmine oils are used to rejuvenate aging skin. You can also add them to various cosmetics, such as creams. For dry skin Essential oils of chamomile, orange, rose, and geranium will help get rid of it.
For oily skin Oils from juniper, lavender and tea tree, which have a bactericidal effect, will help solve the problem. Thus, this will help get rid of inflammatory formations on the skin.
To make your hair beautiful and get rid of brittleness and dryness, you can use sandalwood, rosemary, and orange oils; thyme and rosemary oils will stimulate hair growth.
Aromatherapy is undoubtedly a very pleasant and useful way of treating and preventing diseases. Smells can give health, inspiration and inner harmony. With their help, a person gets rid of anger, frees himself from pain and fear, and is distracted from worries. But, as in everything, such positive aspects are not the key to success if basic rules, safety measures and contraindications are not followed.
Despite the vast experience in using essential oils for the treatment and prevention of various diseases, as well as improving the psycho-emotional state, the opinions of aromatherapists regarding the restrictions on their use sometimes differ. This is primarily due to the multicomponent nature, and, consequently, the widest range of effects of essential oils on the human body. Therefore, you should always listen to your body and take into account individual intolerance, which is the first contraindication in aromatherapy. It manifests itself in the following reactions:
difficulty breathing, suffocation, shortness of breath;
disturbance of normal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), increased heart rate;
skin itching, redness, allergic rash;
dizziness, headache, tinnitus.
If you experience such symptoms, it is advisable to contact a competent aromatherapy specialist.
When mixing essential oils to create a composition, you must have the required knowledge permissible doses, concentration and properties of each component, as well as their compatibility not only in aromas, but also in their effect on the body. If you follow all the rules, this aromatic mixture will be truly effective, reliable and safe.
The most important advantage in use of essential oils, is undoubtedly their therapeutic, regulatory effect, which manifests itself in its influence on the entire body as a whole, and not on a separate organ. Another significant advantage is that the result is achieved in very small concentrations. The therapeutic and preventive effect is triggered by the body’s self-regulation mechanisms, which makes it possible to prevent the disease and achieve improved health in its chronic forms.
So, contraindications in aromatherapy are expressed in manifestation of negative reactions to certain essential oils, with certain diseases. Let's take a closer look at them:
Pregnancy is an absolute contraindication to the use of essential oils without the supervision of a competent aromatherapy specialist. Despite the fact that some aromas may be useful during pregnancy, you should not use them on your own, because many essential oils can also negatively affect the course of pregnancy or the fetus itself. In this case, you should especially avoid essential oils from: cypress, hyssop, cinnamon, marjoram, coriander, juniper, mint, lavender, parsley (seeds), lemon balm, chamomile, wormwood, wormwood, aromatic rue, thuja, thyme, sage, fennel;
Children who have not reached puberty are not recommended to use essential oils independently, because they can affect the hormonal system. But if you practice aromatherapy in a controlled manner, under supervision and as prescribed by a doctor (aromatherapist), you can solve many health problems. At this age, it is not recommended to use essential oils from: oregano, anise, geranium, ylang-ylang, jasmine, hyssop, cypress, cardamom, juniper, cinnamon, lemon balm, neroli, mint, thyme, clary sage, rose, sandalwood, as well as myrrh and frankincense resins;
In case of cardiovascular diseases, medical consultation is necessary regarding the use of essential oils. Persons suffering from high blood pressure (hypertension) are not advised to independently use oils from plants such as: basil, mint, juniper; for low blood pressure: ylang-ylang, tea tree, lemon, lemon balm; for angina pectoris (attacks of chest pain) and those who have had myocardial infarction: fir and pine;
for severe kidney diseases (complicated pyelonephritis, nephrosonephritis, nephrosis), essential oils of spruce, fir, pine, juniper, jasmine, sandalwood, and thyme are not recommended;
when using medications containing iodine and iron, it is not recommended to use lavender oil;
for persons suffering from epilepsy or convulsive alertness, essential oils of rosemary, basil, salvia, and thyme are contraindicated;
Some essential oils that have a strong effect, due to the high content of phenols or ketones in them, are contraindicated for uncontrolled independent use, which in turn can lead to adverse reactions, such as: liver dysfunction; negative effect on the nervous system (neurotoxicity); embryotropic (negative effect on the embryo) effect during pregnancy. These oils include: clove (from the leaves), ginger, cardamom, lavender, tansy, savory, eucalyptus, anise, ylang-ylang, camphor, cinnamon (from the bark), pepper, pymento, thyme, thuja, fennel, tea tree , bay leaves, hyssop, cedar, caraway, rue, sage (medicinal), lemongrass, yarrow, wormwood;
Some essential oils can increase skin sensitivity to solar and ionizing radiation due to the content of coumarins and furocoumarins, causing various reactions in the form of burns and photodermatitis. To avoid such negative manifestations, essential oils of bergamot, St. John's wort, lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime (limette), marigold, angelica, mandarin, lavender are not recommended to be applied to the skin within three hours before going out into the sun;
for insomnia, you should use essential oils of thyme, nutmeg, citronella sage with caution, especially in the afternoon;
cedar and thyme essential oils are not compatible with alcohol;
for long-term inhalations, essential oils of cinnamon, sage, cloves, thyme, and nutmeg are contraindicated;
mint and chamomile oils should not be used when taking homeopathic medicines, since their dominant effect can suppress the properties of homeopathic remedies;
the aromas of lemon balm and schizander can cause temporary hoarseness (laryngitis);
Peppermint essential oil weakens the sex drive of men.
Any essential oil or composition of oils, especially those not previously used, when used cutaneously or for inhalation, should be tested for individual tolerance. To do this you need:
dilute 1 drop of essential oil in 1 ml of fatty oil (olive, corn, etc.), then apply to the bracelet area of the wrist and lightly rub in 1-2 drops of this mixture.
If the oil does not cause itching, redness or swelling, then it can be safely used in this concentration. Essential oils that should especially be tested include clove (leaves), citronella, savory, oregano, thyme, thyme, and cinnamon (bark and leaves) as they may cause irritation.
Also a prerequisite for practicing aromatherapy is Individual olfactory odor assessment, which is checked as follows: Apply 1 drop of a mixture of essential oils, or a separate essential oil, to a piece of paper or a handkerchief and inhale the aroma several times. If after this your condition is stable within 15-30 minutes and the smell does not cause nausea, weakness or other negative reactions, then this oil (composition of oils) in this concentration is safe.