Herbal Diary: Source of Herbal Remedies and Recipes

AromaTherapy

What Is AromaTherapy?
Therapy Makes Scents

50 Uses of Essential Oils


Herbal Info

Introduction To Herbs
Collecting Wild Herbs
Grandma/Grandpa's Remedies
Herbal Tea Collection
Top Ten Researched Herbs

Growing

Common Companions
Drying/Preserving
Feeding/Fertilizing
Harvesting/Drying
Growing Indoors
Insects In The Garden
Planting/Cultivating

Natural Child Care

Herbs & Children
Natural Remedies For Children
Using Essential Oils With Children
Herbal Medicine For Children
Herbal Treatments For Children

Natural Beauty

Homemade Beauty Solutions
Essential Oils In The Bath
Essential Oils & Affect On Skin

Natural Health Care

Miscellaneous

Therapeutic Teas & Mixtures
Honey As A healer
Aphrodisiacs
Herbs For Liver Problems
Herbs For Obesity
Herbs For Quitting Smoking
Infertility
Native American Herbal Remedies
Natural Care For Hair Loss
Dealing With Head Lice
Herbs For Arthritis
Natural Arthritis Care
Herbs For High Blood Pressure
Herbs For Kidney Stones

Blood/Circulation

Herbs For Circulation
Herbs For Hypoglycemia
Herbs For Diabetes
Herbs For High Cholesterol
Herbs For Edema

Resources

Herbs
Aromatherapy
Alternative Treatments
Natural Products
Ayurveda
Conditions and Diseases
Beauty
Nutrition
Health Care
Self Help

Making Bath and Massage Oils

Bath and massage oils are made by adding essential oils to vegetable carrier oil bases. The ratio is one teaspoon of essential oil to 4 ounces of carrier oil. Use amber or cobalt blue glass for your oils and keep out of direct light. Do not store in plastic bottles. It is best not to store in the bathroom because of the heat during showers.

Bath Oils

Using essential oils in the bath is one of the nicest ways to enjoy their therapeutic benefits. Adding them to a carrier oil help to disperse the essential oils throughout the water and onto to your body. Lighter oils disperse more readily in the water. To use bath oils, draw your bath first, close the door and then add about two teaspoons of bath oil to your water.

Heavier oils lie on the top of the bath water and will cling to your skin when leaving the bath.
Light oils suitable for bath oils that readily disperse include sunflower oil and Grapeseed oil.
Sunflower oil contains vitamins A, B, D and E, (the principal one) and is high in unsaturated fatty acids. Grapeseed Oil contains a high percentage of linoleic acid and some vitamin E.

Massage Oil

Massage oils can be made from many different vegetable carrier oils. Choose the oil based on what you want the oil to do. Use a lighter oil if you want the oil to be absorbed readily into the skin. Use a heavier oil if you want the oil to stay on the top of the skin. You can also choose the oil by what part of the body you are working on, for example Kukui nut oil would be a perfect choice for the face and neck. A heavier oil such as sweet almond might be the choice for a foot massage for very dry feet.

Some of the Vegetable Carrier Oils that we sell are:

Sweet Almond Oil

The large molecules in this oil make it a heavier oil best suited for heavy massage or for a very moisturizing cream or salve. Sweet almond oil contains vitamins A, B1, B2 and B6 and a small amount of E. Protects and nourishes the skin.

Apricot Kernel Oil

Medium-light weight oil suitable for massage. Use in cream and lotion recipes. Good for all skins, especially prematurely aged, sensitive, inflamed and dry. Contains minerals and vitamins.

Avocado Oil

Medium-heavy weight oil suitable for massage. Use up to one-fourth to a cream or salve base. Contains vitamins A, B, and D and is rich in lecithin. Penetrates the upper layers of the skin. Has beneficial effect on dry skin and wrinkles.

Grapeseed Oil

Light weight oil suitable for light massage and is water-dispersible in the bath. Contains vitamins, minerals and protein. Good all around oil. Grapeseed oil is not suitable for creams or lotions.

Hazelnut Oil

Medium weight oil suitable for light massage. Perfect for base oil for creams. Hazelnut oil is said to penetrate the top layer of the skin slightly, being beneficial for oily or combinations skins and effective on acne. It is stimulating to the circulation and also has astringent properties. Contains oleic acid and a small proportion of linoleic acid.

Jojoba, Refined Colorless

Jojoba is not an oil, but a liquid wax; excellent choice for many aromatherapy uses. Most often used as the carrier oil of choice to use with essential oils. A must in all your cream and lotion recipes. It is very stable, having extremely good keeping qualities. Useful oil in cases of acne.

Jojoba, Golden Organic

Choose this Jojoba for heavier creams, soap making and when you want extra moisturizing. Less refined, it retains more vitamins and minerals than the refined. Not quite as stable. Jojoba contains myristic acid, which has anti-inflammatory properties.

Kukui Nut Oil

Light to medium weight oil. New on the scene, this oil is wonderful for mature, aging skin. Has a slight odor, which can be overcome by adding essential oils. Not offensive. Kukui nut oil is readily absorbed into the skin and leaves the skin soft and very moisturized. An excellent oil to add to your cream and lotion formulas.

Macadamia Nut Oil

Medium weight oil suitable for massage. It is highly emollient and a good addition to your cream formulas. Very nice "feel" to the oil when applied to the skin.

Olive Oil

Heavy weight oil suitable for massage. Wonderful for salves, olive oil is emollient, soothing to inflamed skin. Use regular, not extra virgin, unless the odor is not objectionable.

Sunflower Nut Oil

Very light weight oil - perfect choice for bath oils. Also excellent in lotions, as this oil is most readily absorbed into the skin. Not suitable for massage due to absorption rate.

Essential Oil Blends for the Bath and Massage

Lavender

Lavender is calming as well as uplifting and can be safely used with children. It's sweet floral-herbaceous scent and balsamic-woody undertone may help to unwind at the end of a stressful day.

Lavender/Rose Geranium

Two parts lavender to one part rose geranium. This recipe is meant to help calm your mind and lift your spirits. Rose geranium has a rosy sweet scent and may be anti depressant and uplifting.

Eucalyptus Blend

Four parts eucalyptus 70/75 and one part tangerine essential oils. Will help relieve cold symptoms, especially in the bath. Add to a carrier oil/oils for muscular aches and pains. Warming to the skin. Fragrance is fresh and pungent.

Morning Energizer

Two parts lemon, one part rosemary, two parts tangerine. Energize with this refreshing blend. A wonderful morning wake-up and summertime refresher.

aromatherapy

Reference
Essential Oil List Essential Oils For Depression Measurements & Equivalents
Oil Safety Oil To Symptom List Symptom To Oil List
Bay Benzoin Uses Tea Tree Uses Useful Measurements

How-To's

Basic Candle Making Basic Perfume Making Essential Oils & Massage
Incense Making Tips Making Potpourri Making Bath & Massage Oils
Making Flower Essences Profiling Essential Oils Using Essential Oils

Colds/Flu/Respiratory

Beating The Cold Bug
Herbs For Common Cold
Herbs For Cough
Natural Asthma Care
Natural Care For Fevers

Digestion/Stomach

Herbs For Constipation
Herbs For Diarrhea
Herbs For Digestion
Herbs For Motion-Sickness

For Men

Herbs For Prostatic Hypertrophy
Herbs For The Prostate
Herbs For Impotence
Natural Care For Prostatis

For Women

Anemia During Pregnancy
Back Pain During Pregnancy
Fertility & Contraception
Herbs For Childbirth
Herbs For Delayed Menses
Herbs For Menopause
Herbs For Post Childbirth
Herbs For PMS/Menopause
Herbs For Post Partum
Herbs For Pre-Menstrual Tension

Headaches/Migraines/Insomnia

Get A Good Night's Sleep
Herbs For Headaches
Herbs For Insomnia
Herbs For Migraines
More On Insomnia

Injuries

Herbs For Burns & Scalds
Natural Care For Bone Fractures
Herbs For Dog Bites

Skin Ailments

Herbs For Eczema
Herbs For Poison Ivy
Natural Acne Treatments
Natural Care For Dermatitis
Natural Care For Stretchmarks
Natural Care For Wrinkles
Stop Cold & Canker Sores

Natural Pet Care

Herbal Healing For Pets
All Purpose Herbal Pet Kit
Dealing With Fleas
Pets & Essential Oils
Traveling With Catnip


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