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Here's a short list of some examples of ways to enhance your daily life with essential oils. |
| 1. Diffuse in air with a ceramic or electric diffuser to clean or fragrance the air. |
| 2. Facial steam - add a few drops of oils to boiling water, place your face over the bowl and drape your head with a towel and breathe deeply. |
| 3. Bath water - add 4-10 drops to your bath or jacuzzi. |
| 4. Skin spray - add 4-10 drops of oil to 60 mls (2 oz) distilled water in a misting bottle then spray skin for a fresh uplift to the day. |
| 5. Linen spray to freshen sheets & towels - same as the skin spray but mix 20-30 drops to 60 ml (2 oz) and spray your sheets. |
| 6. Remove the cap from the oil bottle and breathe deeply for a quick pick-me-up. |
| 7. Room spray - same as linen spray but the concentration is 50-75 drops to 60 ml (2 oz) of distilled water. |
| 8. Hand or foot bath - add 4-6 drops of oil to warm water and soak your hands or feet in it. For tired feet, also add 2 tablespoons of epsom salts to the water. |
| 9. Massage oil is easily made by adding 10-20 drops of oil to 30 ml (1 oz) of carrier oil, such as grapeseed, olive, sweet almond, jojoba, etc. Cut the amount of essential oil in half for children. |
| 10. After your shower, put a few drops of oil on a washcloth and rub vigorously over your body. |
| 11. Put a few drops of eucalyptus oil on a cloth by your pillow at night to help breathing when struck by a cold or flu. |
| 12. Hot compresses are wonderful on sore, tired muscles. Add 5-10 drops of oil to hot (not boiling) water. Soak a cloth in the water, wring it out and place on the affected area. Repeat as needed. |
| 13. Cold compresses - for headaches and swelling. Same as hot compresses but use cool to cold water. |
| 14. Sniff lavender or peppermint for headaches. |
| 15. Dab tea tree on acne pimples to help clear up the infections. |
| 16. Revive old potpourri mixes by adding 10-20 drops to the mix and stirring. |
| 17. Create your own perfumes by blending favorite oils in beeswax or oil bases and apply. |
| 18. Sniff peppermint oil for nausea, including morning sickness, motion sickness and carnival rides. |
| 19. For infant colic, apply a warm - not hot - compress with roman chamomile on the tummy. |
| 20. Massage menstrual cramps with clary sage diluted in a vegetable carrier oil like grapeseed or jojoba. |
| 21. Gently massage varicose veins with a massage oil containing cypress. |
| 22. Add a few drops of eucalyptus to your shampoo to help dandruff problems. |
| 23. Help smooth wrinkles by massaging nightly with a few drops of frankincense diluted in sweet almond oil or rosehip seed oil. |
| 24. For depression diffuse jasmine or rose in the air. |
| 25. After a long night on the town, add juniper to your bath to help detoxify your body. |
| Remember, that essential oils are generally too concentrated to use directly on your skin. They need to be diluted for application. As with anything, there are exceptions. |
| Lavender and tea tree are the most commonly used oils that can be applied directly on the skin (neat) in small doses. |
| There are many excellent resources on essential oils and their effects on body, spirit and mind. Some oils have contra-indications so it is important that you learn about any oil before using it. |