How to Make Homemade Aromatherapy

Practiced for centuries, aromatherapy involves using essential oils from trees, herbs and flowers in the treatment of common ailments. These techniques may be used to address a wide range of conditions, from headaches to hangovers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Aromatherapy oils
• Dropper
• Aromatherapy book

Define the Ailments You Want to Treat

1. Take stock of your current health situation, noting areas that you'd like to improve.
2. Make a list of the ailments and conditions you hope to alleviate via homemade aromatherapy.

Understand Which Aromatherapy Oils are Right for You

3. Purchase "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism" by Julia Lawless (see Resources below).
4. Cross-reference your list of ailments with the information presented in the book to generate a list of aromatherapy oils best suited for your needs.

Purchase Aromatherapy Oils

5. Do your research. Aromatherapy oils are available both online and in certain health food stores. Compare your options.
6. Choose a pure essential oil for best results. Note that oils labeled "fragrance oil," "nature identical oil" or "perfume oil" are not pure essential oils, but inferior combinations of essential oils and chemical additives.

Make Homemade Aromatherapy

7. Use "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils" as your guide in creating oil mixtures to treat your conditions and improve your well-being.
8. Budget no more than a few minutes to make these homemade potions, since combining oils is a simple process.
9. Learn more about the uses of aromatherapy by visiting the International Federation of Aromatherapists Web site (see Resources below). This site offers useful information on the history and applications of aromatherapy and may also serve as a point of reference should you choose to hire a professional aromatherapist.

Tips & Warnings

• Aromatherapy oils vary in price from inexpensive to expensive. Oils harvested in certain countries are more costly that those harvested in others. Additionally, organic oils tend to be most expensive.
• Aromatherapy books and droppers are inexpensively priced.
• If you're experiencing severe symptoms such as excessive and prolonged bleeding, see a doctor.
• When applied undiluted, certain aromatherapy oils can cause a toxic reaction. Oils are usually mixed with a carrier oil such as hazelwood oil. If you're applying an oil that hasn't been mixed in this manner, be sure to research it carefully prior to application to avoid an unpleasant result.
• Before you start any alternative medical technique, be aware that many have not been scientifically evaluated. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about how alternative medicine practitioners can be professionally licensed. If you decide to visit one, choose one licensed by a recognized national organization. Consult your primary health care provider about your decision first. Keep your doctor informed about the alternative medical technique you undertake.