Essential Oil

One of the nicest things about essential oils is the grand variety of things you can use them for and the stunningly wide range of ways in which you can use them. I have tried to break these many methods down into categories and give you simple instructions for each method.
DIRECT/TOPICAL APPLICATION
Because of the molecular structure of essential oils (the molecules are extremely small and the chemical structure is quite simple), they absorb readily into the body through the skin. This effect can actually be increased by the use of a good carrier oil. A good carrier oil allows you to use less of the more expensive essential oil with the same, or even increased, therapeutic effects.
A FEW GUIDELINES AND SUGGESTIONS FOR TOPICAL APPLICATION:

There are many good books showing these points and how and when to use them. Two of my favorites are Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Connie and Alan Higley and Releasing Emotional Patterns with
Essential Oils by Carolyn L. Mein.
• WASH
You can use an essential oil, diluted in distilled water, to wash infected areas such as wounds, grazes, cuts, and for other body and facial treatments.
• LOTIONS
Essential oils can be added to prepackaged lotions and creams or to ones of your own making. Be sure that the lotion you use is perfume free. Buy the simplest, purest product you can find. I find essential oils in a little distilled water or light carrier oil are more effective than any lotion.
• AS PERFUMES OR COLOGNES
Some single essential oils and many of the blended oils at Butterfly Express, llc have a nice enough aroma to wear as perfumes or colognes.
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• AURICULAR THERAPY
This is a method of applying the oils to the rims of the ears, and occasionally, to the earlobes. This is well-documented in the books by Higley and Mein referred to previously.
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Our noses can differentiate several hundred different odors at the same time. Fragrances such as those of essential oils can bring about the deepest emotions and sensations in us. The smell of something familiar from your past, such as the aroma of baking bread, can take you by surprise and bring you either memories of times when you were happy and safe, or take you back to scenes of severe distress.
The sense of smell is closely related to memory; olfactory memories are very accurate and almost indelible.
Since the olfactory system is, literally, the doorway to the subconscious, it would be logical to use aroma in psychotherapy. This is being done, but the research is in early stages and made difficult by the fact that every person’s olfactory associations are different. There are some oils, however, that seem to have similar effects on most people. You will, no doubt, quickly develop your own list of favorites.
DIFFUSER
There are a wide range of diffusers on the market. They can be divided into two basic groups: heated and non-heated. Heat and essential oils was discussed in some depth in Chapter 3 on shelf life. For a simple method, place a few drops of oil into a bowl and pour warm water