Healing Strands

GERANIUM ESSENTIAL OIL (Pelargoneum graveolens)

Geranium essential oil has a rich, sweet rose like odour that is often used with citrus and floral oils. It has a regulating effect on most systems of the body and I often use it when mood swings need to be balanced. Combined with calming lavender and uplifting grapefruit oils it makes a nice rounded blend for when i am feeling both blue and also when I need to calm down.

It blends well with a lot of oils including lavender, rose, jasmine, neroli, petitgrain patchouli, sandalwood, juniperberry, bergamot, and citrus oils.

Geranium is a balancing oil so it can be used to calm and ease nervous tension, stress and can help with PMS & menopause. It is often used in skin care to help balance sebum production making if useful for both oily and dry skin types.

Below are some suggested uses for Geranium essential oil:

• Burn 2-3 drops in an oil burner to create a calming, balancing atmosphere or blend 3 drops of geranium with 2 drops of grapefruit and 1 drop of ylang ylang.
• Add 20-25 drops to 50 ml of vegetable/ carrier oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond or apricot kernel) for a great soothing body oil.

PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL (Mentha piperita)

Peppermint is used in a lot of things, from the gum you chew to freshen your breath to the toothpaste you use to clean your teeth. Peppermint oil is a common smell, that almost everybody could name something with peppermint in it!

Peppermint essential oil is used extensively in not only the food industry but also in perfumery and in aromatherapy. It has a penetrating grassy-minty, sometimes camphoraceous odour that most people associate with chewing gum or toothpaste. But did you know it can also be used to treat a range of ailments including:

• headaches
• nausea
• mental fatigue
• shock

Its therapeutic properties:

• make it a great stimulant if you need a clear head
• means blending it with eucalyptus or marjoram makes it a good massage oil for sore, aching muscles

It also makes a fantastic tasting lip balm too!

Below are some suggested uses for Peppermint essential oil:

• Burn 2-3 drops in an oil burner to create a refreshing, uplifting atmosphere or blend 1 drop of peppermint with 3 drop of lemon for a clean, headclearing atmosphere.
• Blend 6 drops of marjoram with 2 drops of eucalyptus and 2 drops of peppermint and add to 25ml of carrier oil for an effective muscle relief massage oil.

GRAPEFRUIT ESSENTIAL OIL (Citrus paradisi)

Grapefruit essential oil has a beautiful fresh, sweet citrus scent that is reminiscent of the fruit itself. It is historically used as a food flavouring and fragrance in soaps but can also be used in personal care products. I love grapefruit essential oil not only for its therapeutic properties such as being an astringent, antiseptic and anti-depressant, but also for its scent. Sweet yet with a tangy twist than orange essential oil it's my go-to oil when I want that sweet orange-like scent but with a bit of a kick. It blends well with a lot of oils including lemon, palmarosa, bergamot, lavender, geranium, rosemary as well as most spice oils. In any blend, it rounds out the scent very nicely, giving it a light, refreshing twist.

Grapefruit essential oil has many uses in aromatherapy including stress and nervous exhaustion, oily skin, fluid retention and even jet lag. it is said to enhance emotional balance, poitive energy, confidence, vitality and creativity and self-empowerment.

Below are some suggested uses for Grapefruit essential oil:

• Burn 2-3 drops in an oil burner to create a refreshing, uplifting atmosphere or blend 2 drops of grapefruit with 2 drops of black pepper and 2 drops of ylang ylang for a more exotic fragrance.
• Add 20-25 drops to 50 ml of vegetable/ carrier oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond or apricot kernel) for a refreshing and invigorating body oil.
• Blend 7 drops of grapefruit with 3 drops of sandalwood and 2 drops of lavender and add to 25ml of carrier oil for a soothing yet uplifting massage oil.

What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the art and science of using and blending essential oils – concentrated plant extracts with healing properties. Aromatherapy massage is an alternative and complementary therapy that uses essential oils to promote healing and enhance physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. This holistic treatment affects some of our most powerful senses – touch and smell. The therapist will use a combination of cold pressed vegetable oils and top quality, pure essential oils to create a beautiful smelling, highly therapeutic, individualised massage oil.

What are essential oils?

Essential oils differ from vegetable oils in that they are highly volatile and odorous. They are extracted, in various ways, from all different parts of the plant – leaves, flowers, twigs, bark, wood, roots, and resin. Some plants even produce different oils from different parts of the same plant e.g. we get neroli oil from the petals, petitgrain from the leaves and bitter orange from the peel of the fruit, all from the bitter orange tree (not to be confused with sweet orange). For this reason it is important for the user of essential oils to be aware of the part of the plant the oil was extracted from so that they know the differences in the therapeutic effect of the different oils. It is also a good idea to be aware of the method of extractions of the oil as some types of extraction methods produce inferior oils compared to other methods.

Benefits of Aromatherapy Massage

An aromatherapy massage is different from a normal relaxation massage in that it utilises certain techniques to compliment the oils being used. At Healing Strands, an aromatherapy massage uses techniques such as reflexology, lymphatic drainage, acupressure and traditional Swedish movements to create a totally unique massage experience. For this reason, our aromatherapy massage is extremely gentle and relaxing to both mind and body and because of the use of aromatic essential oils, the massage becomes a multi-sensorial experience. Depending on the oils chosen, it can leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed, uplifted, alert, energised or even just plain happy! Aromatherapy massage can be used in more ways than just to feel happy.

Some of the most common benefits an aromatherapy massage can have are:

• induced sense of relaxation & rejuvenation

• relaxes tight muscles

• reduces stress & tension

• encourages natural sleep

• stimulates blood circulation and boosts the immune system

• relieves pain

• enhances mood and encourages a sense of wellbeing

The Massage

 

Every individual oil is different and while each essential oil has a set of specific properties, they interact as differently with each other as they do with you as individuals. Based on your unique circumstances, a personalised blend of essential oils is created and then applied to your body through a specialised massage routine which includes pressure points, reflexology, lymphatic drainage and Swedish massage techniques.

As the main purpose of the massage is for the oils to be applied to the skin so they can work internally, you may find that the pressure used is lighter than you are used to. The massage is designed to help you relax, so make the most of it!

Aromatherapy and essential oils are becoming more and more popular but at the same time people know less about how it works and how to use essential oils. Here is a short list of 9 different ways essential oils can be used in everyday life: 

1.     Use an oil burner to diffuse into the air. This can create an atmosphere or be used (with the right combination of oils) to clean and fragrance the air.

2.     As part of your facial beauty regime you can include a facial steam. Add 1-2 drops into a bowl of boiling water, place your face over the bowl, cover with a towel and breathe deeply. This will not only be helpful to your respiratory system, but your skin as well!

3.     Massage oils are very common and popular, and they are extremely easy to make yourself. Add 1 drop of Essential Oil to 2mls of vegetable or carrier oil (such as grapeseed, sweet almond or jojoba oils).

4.     Although it is recommended that Essential Oils are not used directly on the skin, certain oils, like tea tree and lavender can be used to treat minor skin conditions. Lavender can be used for minor cuts, burns and insect bites while tea tree is traditionally used for treating acne, although this should not be seen as a long term alternative. Seek professional advice from your local Aromatherapist for the best way to use tea tree oil to treat acne.

5.     Essential Oils added to distilled water at a ratio of up to 10 drops of EO to 60mls water and placed into a bottle with a misting spray nozzle. This can then be sprayed on the skin for a refreshing pick me up throughout the day.

6.   Having a bath on a regular basis is, in itself, a pampering delight. Adding a few drops of your favourite essential oil (up to 6 drops) mixed in 15-20mls of milk makes it even more so.

7.   Though most of us would like to have perfect hair, it is quite common to suffer from one or more conditions such as dandruff, dull, lifeless hair, and split ends. Adding a few drops of eucalyptus to your shampoo will help dandruff problems; adding lemon will lighten and create shine for blonde hair, whereas rosemary will create shine for brunettes. Adding a few drops of lavender to some jojoba or grapeseed oil and massaging into the hair before shampooing, will help keep the hair hydrated and therefore help to protect against drying and split ends.

8.      Linen spray can be used to freshen the sheets and towels. Add 20-30 drops of EO to 60mls of distilled water and spray lightly onto sheets and towels to freshen.

9.      Revive old potpourri by adding a few drops of EO to the mix and stir.