Bathtime Recipies

One of my favourite ways of enjoying both the therapeutic and the solely pleasurable aspects of aromatherapy is in a bath soak. It is an ideal method of aromatherapy if you don’t have a partner at hand. It is also delightfully simple and lazy !!

I wouldn’t  recommend using more than  4 different essential oils  in a blend  for baths (or massage ).It is also advisable  not to use more than 12 drops in any one  bath.

Blend the oils beforehand, mix them, run the bath, add the oils, and relax in the bath for 10-15 minutes. For bathing, I dilute the essential oils into 10-15 ml carrier oils. I find they cling to the skin and thus last longer this way.

Sensual and relaxing bath soaks.

These recipes are not rigid, unchangeable formulae – for example, although I have great respect for the aphrodisiacal/soporific/muscle relaxant qualities of Clary Sage, I don’t particularly like the smell of the oil much; therefore, I tend to use less of it in a blend or I mix it with an oil I prefer – often one that is highly odiferous – such as Patchouli or Vetiver, for similar effect. For sensual, relaxing baths, this is quite permissible. Where therapeutic baths are concerned, though, it is more important to adhere a little more strictly to the recipe as many of these blends are synergistic.

Invigorating/Tonic baths.

I mentioned in the introduction to Aida’s Aromatherapy  that idiocyncratic reactons to certain essential oils can occur – what has one effect on one person can have none (or the opposite), on another. Well, during my research into invigorating /tonic baths, I combined Basil and Rosemary, 5 drops each, (both stimulating oils). Subsequently, I felt so sleepy and weak that I felt I needed a lie down!! Now, this combination may well work for you – you may feel as bouncy and rejuvenated  as a new born lamb, I don’t know ! email me and let me know !

Obviously, showers and cooler baths are more enlivening, (especially first thing in the morning), however, with a shower, a lot of the essential oils – and hence the therapeutic effects – are lost down the drain. Keeping the plug in may help.

Therapeutic Baths.

I have often joked about waiting for someone I know to get sick before I could start my Therapeutic bath section, having experimented on these hapless individuals with my aromatherapeutic talents beforehand…..This harmless joke has, however, rebounded on me and I am now able to begin this page with (personally verified by yours truly):

Abcess (ear)

NB don’t get the inside of the affected ear wet. Obviously, consult a doctor for antibiotics, and do use painkillers, but the above recipe will reduce the painful facial muscle spasms that can occur with an ear abcess; it will also aid a restful nights sleep due to the sedative nature of the oils. Using Marjoram in a burner can also bring relief.

Anxiety

All the oils in this list of recipes are hyperlinked, so if you wish to look up a particular oil mentioned here in reference to physical health problems that may arise from anxiety, go to the “ailments” page or to the “essential oils” page to find the best recipe for your individual needs.

Backache

“Backache” is often used loosely as a blanket term to describe symptoms that can result from a large range of root causes. On this page, I’m concentrating mainly on Lumbago which can become chronic and a misery for the sufferer of this “hard to pin down” condition. Basically, the usual causes are bad posture, obesity, repetitive bending and lifting of objects (not necessarily heavy ones), lack of physical fitness, sudden twisting of the spine and pregnancy.

Aromatherapy can ease the pain and relax the muscles on a temporary basis, but unfortunately, doesn’t offer a miracle cure.

Hangover

AKA the morning after the night before. Unless you’re straightedge, you know the feeling – you can’t face your usual cup of coffee and just want to stuff yourself full of carbohydrates (pizza is a good standby!). The following recipes may help soothe shattered nerves, rejuvinate and make the day possible after all!