7.1 Introduction
Although there are hundreds
of oils for you to choose from, initially it can be really difficult to know
which ones to buy. In fact, this can be a costly
process and it is not necessary, it is best to just create a starter kit and
then progress so this module is about buying the oils which will have the most
use - consider them the foundation oils upon which to build. Of course everyone has a personal
preference and you may simply not like the aroma of some oils and so irrespective
of their benefits, you just won't use them. One tip is that if you enjoy a
particular scent within a family or category of scents, you are more than
likely to appreciate some of the other scents within that same family.
Although some of the pure essential
oils will be costly, always remember that you are dealing with such small quantities when mixing your blends and so, one small bottle will last you for
some time. Start off with two or three oils and then start to increase your
range. You may be tempted to splurge on a set of oils but it's more important
to buy the right ones – in term of benefits, aroma and quality. Here are ten very useful oils and
some of their benefits:
7.2 Lavender oil
Lavender has a wonderful
ability to be able to blend with most other oils. It's probably the most popular of
oils and, the most versatile. It also has tremendous healing properties. It is
so gentle that it can be use neat, so it is not necessary to dilute and it can
even be used on babies after the age of ten weeks. It can be used to help repel
ticks and fleas on animals. Lavender oil should always have
pride of place in any holistic first aid kit. If mixing with grapeseed oil, it
can help with itchy bites and burns. It can even help promote the healing of skin
following sunburn and aid the healing of infectious skin conditions such as
chickenpox.
Lavender essential oil also helps
calm allergic rashes and is wonderful for rejuvenating the skin. It has
anti-bacterial and anti-viral qualities and can even be used to ease a chesty
cough when added to a diffuser and it can help promote healing in respect of
flu. Lavender has long been known to
help soothe anxieties and nerves and a few drops on the pillow will aid sleep.
Because it can be applied neat, add one drop to each temple and massage and it
will help ease migraines or general headaches. A few drops added to bath water
will help ease sore muscles and it's a perfect oil for massage. Fortunately,
this popular oil is very reasonably priced.
This is a useful oil and
highly beneficial if you have young children. It can be mixed with lavender oil
to help ease headaches, simply apply to a cold, compress and place at the back
of the neck. It is also useful for toothache and can even help clear an ear
infection. This essential oil is also useful
for its soothing properties and can ease children's temper tantrums or tears.
It also has anti-inflammatory properties and is antispasmodic. If anyone has
dry skin, it can be mixed with sandalwood for an exceptional pampering
treatment.
7.4 Eucalyptus oil
This is a fantastic oil for
when muscles are strained or just tired from playing sports. It is also wonderful to help combat colds and even flu symptoms. It is anti-bacterial and anti-viral and can
help clear up congestion simply by adding a few drops to a diffuser. Indeed, it
also helps reduce the impact of aggravating sinus headaches. Eucalyptus oil and
a good carrier oil can be rubbed into the chest and also onto the soles of the
feet at night as this can help fight off any infection. It helps to reduce
fever. In the diluted form, it can help
skin infections. It can also be used to repel insects by adding a few drops to
a candle and placing outside the door.
7.5 Sandalwood essential oil
Although sandalwood is more
expensive than many of the other oils, it blends well with so many different
oils. It is wonderful on the skin.
Blend it with lavender, palmrosa and neroli for a perfect anti-wrinkle
treatment. It's antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic, in addition,
it's astringent and diuretic. A useful starter oil.
7.6 Tea tree essential oil
Tea-tree is an uplifting oil. It helps with confidence and
steady's anxieties or nerves, in fact, it has so many uses, that every
household should have this oil. It stimulates the immune system to help ward
off illness and is excellent for any fungal health conditions. It's also
effective on bites and stings and to ward off insects. If you have cold sores,
tea tree oil can help. In addition, poor skin – spots or acne can be improved
by using tea tree oil in water as a washing agent.
This oil should be in your top
ten list as it has a wonderful therapeutic effect on the mind, body and spirit
and is often used in skincare and has antiseptic and astringent properties. It can also be used as an
antidepressant. The fragrance is soft, floral and uplifting but it can also
work as a sedative. For any client who has emotional problems, or feels stressed, this is a useful oil. It can ease premenstrual tension, help correct
fluid retention, is useful through the menopause and a good oil for helping to
balance hormones. It can also be used on eczema, shingles and even on ringworm.
It's an excellent mosquito repellent.
7.8 Rosemary essential oil
Rosemary essential oil is a
very popular oil and perhaps is one of the most stimulating oils within
aromatherapy. Its renowned as a skin and hair
care treatment, but is also excellent for aching muscles. It works well with
black pepper oil. It stimulates the central nervous system and helps to ease
colds, sinusitis or even asthma. In addition, it is excellent for clearing the
mind, improving focus and aiding the memory. It also helps to lower cholesterol
levels.
7.9 Lemon essential oil
This is a wonderful
antibacterial and anti-septic oil renowned for its cleansing properties. It's long been used for household
cleaning as well is in skin or hair care. It can also be used as an appetite
suppressant. Lemon essential oil is uplifting and it can help to boost the
immune system. As it has the properties to help with colds, flu and respiratory problems, it's an excellent essential oil to keep in the house. It is also
useful for treating cuts and wounds. If anyone has mouth ulcers, lemon
essential oil can help.
7.10 Rose essential oil
Often an expensive essential oil,
rose has a great many therapeutic benefits. It's a wonderful mood enhancer
and so is useful for dealing with emotional traumas. It can help to relieve
depression, grief, heartache and sadness and because it has low toxicity, it is
safe for children. It is also useful for circulation and for balancing blood
pressure, and if anyone has hormonal problems, this oil can help. In addition, it aids mental
fatigue and stress and improves memory. It has a powerful positive effect on
the nervous system, and the stomach and is perhaps one of the most antiseptic
of essences.
7.11 Peppermint essential oil
Peppermint essential oil is
another useful oil to keep in the first aid kit. It helps with digestive problems
such as indigestion, colic, vomiting and cramps. When diluted and can be
massaged across the stomach and abdomen in a clockwise direction, and this can
help to ease pain and discomfort. It can also be used to help with travel
sickness.
A few drops of peppermint on a
cold compress can help with headaches-even migraines. It is also useful for
shock, just add a couple of drops to a tissue and then it can be inhaled
easily. In the summer, add a few drops to a footbath for cooling down feet.
7.12 Start collecting
We recommend that you
start collecting some of these oils, learning all of the properties and trying
to make use of them regularly.
There are many ways that
essential oils can be used:
Massage
Inhaling
Bath oil
Diffuser
Added to candles
Added to light bulb rings
Added to hair products
Added to skincare products etc.
Aromatherapy oils can be used at
work, at home, for relaxation, for energizing, for stress relief or for
healing. The more you use them and become comfortable with them, the more you
will reap the benefits.
7.13 Using your qualifications
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This course is
extensive but not conclusive as aromatherapy is such a huge subject and the
more you learn, the more you'll need to know. There is so much more information
to comprehend in respect of the various oils, but, on a practical level, as you
start to increase your knowledge and confidence with mixing blends and taking
an intuitive approach to the essential oils, you'll realize just how complex
aromatherapy is. It will also become an important part of life, not just as a
career, but to improve your life personally.
This is a great time to start an
aromatherapy business and this section of the course provides you with some
tips for starting out. Although you are likely to be very keen to set up your
aromatherapy business, do make sure that you are fully confident with using a
basic set of oils and have started purchasing some high-quality grade oils,
understanding the benefits of each and, any contra-indications. This should not
be rushed as you are helping your future clients to improve their health and
well-being and to do this, you must be fully informed.
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There is no doubt that
aromatherapy products can help. They effect people in every aspect of life and
are powerful for use in stress reduction, for skin care or for any particular
health condition. To be successful in this career, you must develop strong
rapport with your clients and be able to discover as much as possible about
their health and well being as it currently is so that you can choose the
relevant oils. There is much to think of in respect of this. Firstly, you must consider their
health and which oils will benefit them. You need to consider how to use i.e.
in a blend for massage, for bath oils or as an inhalant. Diffusers are very
popular for those who do not wish to inhale essential oils directly but prefer
a subtler effect. In addition, consider the base, middle and top notes and
which family of oils you are mixing.
You can start your aromatherapy
practice from your own home if you have a spare room, turning it into an office
or therapy room and begin to advertise. Do check out insurance requirements if
you are going this route. Many home aromatherapy businesses start off by
selling aromatherapy items on a commission basis, this way you are not actively
making the blends and so can learn what works. This will help you to build up a
regular clientele. In time, you will have a good idea of the type of blends
that sell and then can begin to make your own products to order or even have
others selling your products.
Marketing
An important aspect of any new
business is the marketing of it. You need to consider who is likely to be
buying your products. If you are starting out initially by selling other
company's aromatherapy products, you'll get to know who is buying from you. Generally,
women tend to buy aromatherapy products more. The age of customers will vary
depending on their needs. As well as advertising in your
local area, you can market your products through your own website or look at
online forums for aromatherapy and see just what people are talking about.
This
works because the people there are already receptive to finding out more
information. Take your time to get to know the people using the forum and don't
try to oversell. Instead, provide a link to any of your aromatherapy products
i.e. your website in your signature. Once you start building up a connection
with people, they are likely to start browsing your website themselves without
any spamming.
It is very easy to set up an
aromatherapy website where you are selling products directly but this only
provides you with one income stream and so, it is also worthwhile visiting
shops in your local area and seeing whether they will be happy to sell some of
your products on a trial basis. If they sell, you share the percentage earned.
You can also put together a catalogue easily these days using a desktop
publishing program and mail this out to people either through the website or
using off-line marketing techniques.
Continue your journey of learning
Once you are qualified as an
aromatherapist, you can continue your journey of learning by adding onto your
skill set by learning other holistic therapies i.e. massage and can utilize
aromatherapy this way. This is also an excellent way to continue selling your
products because you will make the blends up yourself and can sell directly to
clients who will feel so relaxed after using your products, it's almost a
guaranteed sale.
MODULE SUMMARY
In this module, we learnt about
the 10 most useful oils and their benefits. Remember that if you enjoy a
particular scent within a family or category of scents, you are more than
likely to appreciate some of the other scents within that same family. One small bottle will last you
for some time, so there is no need to buy more than is needed.
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