Bathing With Aromatherapy
Thu. Dec. 10, 2009
BATHING WITH AROMATHERAPY
Use the skin patch test first:
THE SKIN PATCH TEST
If you are unsure of how your skin will react to an essential oil, apply one drop of the oil to some carrier oil to the inside of your wrist or forearm. Check the spot for any itching, redness, burning or irritation after a few hours, or if needed to be applied before a massage a couple of minutes. If you have very delicate skin and wish to be extremely careful, you can cover the spot with a Band-Aid and leave it for 24 hours.
When using essential oils in a plastic fibreglass tub some essential oils can cause staining. Using oils in baths is an uncomplicated, efficient and pleasing way to relax and receive the therapeutic benefits. Water itself has therapeutic value, which enhances the powers of the oils. The addition of a few drops of the right essential oil can do more to enhance your bath than almost anything. A full-body bath is defined as “the complete immersion of the body in a fluid or in a vaporous medium such as steam” (Green 2,000, p. 254). The effects of a full-body bath will vary according to the temperature of the water and the duration of time the individual will be immersed. The essential oils or hydrosols should be added to the bath once the individual is in it. Once the individual is in the bath, add the appropriate essential oil drops that have been combined with a dispersant. Do not add undiluted essential oils directly to bath water. Add 1 – 4 drops of essential oils in 2 tablespoons of carrier so that the oils spread evenly over the surface. Placing essential oils in the bath prior to immersion can lose some of the desired effects, as well as increase the chance of irritation to the mucus membranes of the vaginal/rectal area. There are some oils, such as jasmine, when 1 drop will be sufficient and other oils, like lavender, when 3 drops would be fine. Avoid essential oils that are dermal irritants, dermal sensitizers, and mucus membrane irritants in baths. This means that the body picks up a very thin, even layer of oil as a person enters the bath and it guards against a whole drop of oil settling on the skin, which can be slightly irritating. When essential oils are put directly into bath water without a dispersing agent, they can harm the skin because essential oils are soluble with the lipid membranes of cells. The oils have an unmatched ability to disperse within minutes throughout the body when absorbed by the skin. This is similar to how nicotine and hormone skin patches rely on transdermal absorption to deliver drugs into the bloodstream. Adding essential oils to bath water is challenging because oil does not mix with water. For even dispersion, drop in the oils while running the bath or add 1 – 4 drops of oil to a cup of Epsom salts. Epsom/sea salt baths are highly effective in aiding and supporting the body in detoxifying, both physically and emotionally. (Note: Do not use Epsom or Sea salts with people who have high blood pressure) or bath salts which will mineralize and increase the buoyancy of the bath or bath gel base and pass this mixture under the faucet. Either method will help the oils disperse evenly and prevent stronger oils from stinging sensitive areas.
If a person has moderately sensitive skin use less rather than more essential oil. Specific essential oils are mentioned throughout the program. Agitate the water to disperse the concentration throughout the bathwater. Essential oils are lipophilic and hydrophobic, so most often the essential oils will quickly seek to be absorbed by the skin.
The average time for a full-body hot bath 100 degrees F is twenty minutes or less. The water should be at the desired temperature. The warm water gently disperses the oil and surrounds you in a soothing, healing immersion. As you soak, your pores open to absorb the hydrating fluid. You inhale the fragrant steam and become permeated with your bath oil blend. Although bathing is thought of as one of the gentlest applications of aromatherapy, total immersion can have undesirable results if the wrong oils are chosen.
In general, aromatherapy full-body baths are useful to:
Reduce stress/anxiety
Alleviate muscular aches, pains, and tension
Soothe mental or physical fatigue
Stimulate circulation
Enhance lymph circulation
Reduce pain and stiffness
Increase local circulation
Improve tone and health of skin
Aid detoxification
You can also use premixed bath gels containing essential oils as a liquid soap in the shower or bath. Lather down with the bath gel, let it soak in, and then rinse. To maximize benefits, leave them on the skin or scalp for several minutes to allow the essential oils to penetrate. You can create your own aromatic bath gels by placing 1 – 2 drops of essential oil in ˝ ounce of unscented bath gel base. Water temperature should be comfortably warm, i.e. a little more than blood temperature. A too hot bath is debilitating and a person will feel tired and relaxed.
Adding hydrosols:
According to Catty (2001), “for babies up to six months add filled to baby depth. For children up to twelve years of age, add 1 teaspoon of hydrosol per year of age, up to a maximum of 8 teaspoons. Adults can use from 30 to 250 milliliters (or 1 to 8 ounces per tub).”
Taking a bath or shower before going for treatment is fine, although try not to use a highly scented soap.
CAUTION: If an individual gets red blotches or irritation on the skin while bathing, this means that too much essential oil was added to the bath, a dispersant should have been used, or the person has experienced an idiosyncratic or allergic reaction. Should irritation occur, recommend a light oil or aloe vera gel (if the person is not allergic to it. Skin patch test first) without essential oils; the irritation should dissipate within an hour.
However, after the massage do not take a bath or shower for at least six hours because the oils that the body needs will be washed off. After a treatment a very fine layer of oil remains on the skin and is slowly absorbed into the system. Do not use talcum powder or anything else on the skin after the pre-treatment bath.
Talc, especially, blocks the pores and will hinder absorption of the essential oils. Unless otherwise indicated, certain essential oils should not be used in baths. Contraindications of specific essential oils and carriers are included throughout the program.
Recipe for calming bath:
Use 1 drop of lavender, 1 drop of chamomile essential oil blend, 1 drop of geranium essential oil, mix into 1 tablespoon of dried milk, stir into the bath water. Children under age 3 add one half the milk mixture to the bath, under age 1 do not use.
Recipe for bath:
Add 4 drops lavender to a handful of unscented bath salt (Do not use for people who have high blood pressure) or powdered milk, add this to your bath water. Cleopatra was famous for her milk baths. After soaking in this wonderful aromatic bath, apply after bath body oil (16 drops of lavender to 4 oz. of Grapeseed blending oil. Grapeseed is a very good antioxidant).
In the wonderful book “The World of Aromatherapy” by Jeanne Rose and Susan Earle, there is a chapter titled ‘Bathing in the souls of flowers’ by Barbara Bobo. What a wonderful way to experience aromatherapy and the use of essential oils. Fill the bath tub and add 2 drop of an essential oil into a bath salt (Be careful of using bath salts with people who have high blood pressure) or shower gel for children ages 2 to 8, and 1 – 4 drops for children over 8 and adults. Not only is this a very relaxing experience, but it can relieve aches and pains and is good for the skin. (Do not add essential oils to a bath without an agent to disperse the essential oil such as bath salt.)
Aromatic Blessings,
Marlene Mitchell
Certified Aromatherapy Teacher
Representative of Canada for
the Alliance of International Aromatherapists
Website:www.aromatherapyinstitute.com
info@aromatherapyinstitute.col
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