Ingredients for the recipes that follow can be found in the grocery
store, pharmacy or health food store. You don't need to spend a lot of
money buying ten different essential oils all at once. Start with one or
two relaxing or energizing scents and add to your collection over time.
A home spa is something you want to do regularly, so you have the rest
of your life to try new ingredients.
Herbs and essential oils are strong medicine. If you are pregnant or
nursing, ask your practitioner if any of the ingredients you plan to use
may be dangerous to your child! Certain oils such as juniper are toxic
during pregnancy. Do not take any essential oil internally.
Essential oils are so strong you only need to use a drop or two at a
time, so they will last a long time. You may even want to split a bottle
with a friend to lessen the cost. Different oils have different
effects on the mind and body.
If you want to re-energize instead of relax,
or you want to clear your sinuses or relieve muscle pain, you can switch
out one oil in the recipe for a different one with the properties you
desire. You can also use two or more different oils together, say for
relaxation and pain relief. There are whole books devoted to explaining
the different properties of oils and herbs. Take the time to educate
yourself. You might just find that cure for your tension headaches.
Because these treatments are made from fresh ingredients, they spoil
easily. Make only what you need. They have no artificial preservatives,
so they don't have a shelf life.
Herbal Properties
Here are some common household herbs and what they are used for. If
you use dried herbs, use about 1 teaspoon in your recipe. If you use
fresh herbs, chop them up or crush the leaves to release the oils and use
about 2 teaspoons.
Peppermint: cleansing, toning, refreshing
Rosemary: stimulating, pain relief
Thyme: cleansing, refreshing, toning
Sage: cleansing, toning
Lemon Balm: soothing, calming
Sweet Marjoram: soothing, calming
Chamomile: soothing, cleansing, anti-inflammatory
Essential Oil Properties
Here are some common essential oils. There are hundreds of different
kinds, so don't limit yourself to the ones listed here. You should be
able to find most of them at any natural food store. Essential oils can
break down quickly, so store them in dark bottles to preserve their
potency.
Arnica: pain relief, bruise/tissue trauma healing
Lavender: soothing, relaxing, anti-depressant
Lemon: cleansing, toning, antiseptic (avoid unprotected sun exposure
for 12 hours after use)
Juniper: cleansing, improving circulation (especially for cellulite),
decreasing fluid retention
Cardamom: stimulating, warming for stiff muscles and backache