Aromatherapy Bath Oil: Relaxation At The End Of A Hard Day

One of the best ways to relax after a long hard day is to relax in a nice tub of warm water that has been laced with aromatherapy bath oil. This simple act can go a long way towards rejuvenating your body and mind. The essential oils used to give these bath oils their pleasing odors have the ability to stimulate our senses in a way that seems almost magical.

How It Works

How does aromatherapy bath oil work? Our bodies take in the oils through the pores of the skin and also by inhalation. When we breathe in the scent of aromatherapy bath oil, it moves to a part of the brain called the limbic system. This area controls human emotions and moods, plus our memory and learning ability.

Certain scents affect our brains in different ways. They can cause us to become more relaxed or alert, promote a soothing sensation, or even relieve pain. Some essential oils have the ability to adjust themselves to whatever your body may require in a given situation. This type of oil is called adaptogenic. We really do not understand exactly how these oils do what they do. What we do know is that somehow, they manage to affect our thinking and our sense of well being.

What types of scents are available in aromatherapy bath oils? There are so many different scents that it would be difficult to list them all. Some of the most popular are basil, bergamot, chamomile, cinnamon, citronella, clove, eucalyptus, ginger, jasmine, lavender, lemon balm, oregano, patchouli, peppermint, rose, rosemary, sage, sandalwood, tea tree, thyme, ylang ylang... and the list goes on and on!

Resolving Various Health Problems

Aromatherapy bath oil scents can be used to help many different issues. The following scents have proved useful for anxiety and stress:

• Bergamot
• Lavender
• Ylang-Ylang
• Jasmine
• Chamomile

These aromatherapy bath oils work well for depression:

• Sage
• Lavender
• Sandalwood
• Chamomile
• Ylang-Ylang

If you are having difficulty sleeping, try these scents:

• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Patchouli
• Sandalwood
• Ylang-Ylang

Anyone who has trouble concentrating would benefit from:

• Bergamot
• Peppermint
• Lemon
• Basil

Different Methods Of Using Oils

In order to get the most usefulness from aromatherapy bath oils, you can enjoy them in other ways besides in your bath. An aromatherapy diffuser is a device used to disperse the oil vapors throughout an entire room. Simpler methods work well, too. An easy and portable way to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy bath oil wherever you happen to be is to let 3 to 4 drops of the oil soak into a tissue, which you will then place close to you. Any movement around the tissue will cause the oil's aroma to waft out into area around you. This method is limited, however, as it will not let the benefits of the oil permeate a room like a diffuser would.

Candle As Diffuser

You can also try using a candle as a diffuser by letting it burn long enough so that there is a pool of melted wax around the wick. Blow out the candle, and place just one drop of oil into the wax. Then, relight the candle, but be VERY careful, as these oils are highly flammable. The heat from the flame will allow the oil's scent to disperse.

A better way to utilize a candle for aromatherapy purposes would be to purchase a regular candle diffuser. The innovative gadgets use a small tea light candle which sits beneath a  vessel designed to hold an inch or so of essential oil. Burning the candle heats the oil, which diffuses it into the room for your enjoyment.

Lamp Ring

One of the most popular types of diffusers is called a lamp ring. Inexpensive yet effective, lamp rings are made from terra cotta clay and sit directly onto a light bulb. They have a little groove that goes all the way around the ring, and this is what holds the essential oil. The light bulb's heat warms the oil, which then diffuses into the room. Use caution when adding the oil to the ring, because if any of it gets on the bulb, it could cause it to break.

Aromatherapy bath oils are a pleasant and natural way to relax and help us feel better.