An essential oil passes quickly and easily through the various layers of the skin. It then reaches the bloodstream, spreading throughout the body. The essential oil is in the bloodstream within minutes, and in the exhaled air within an hour.
The cutaneous or general route in aromatherapy can be applied to a wide range of ailments, from headaches to digestive and dermatological disorders. Peppermint essential oil should not be applied over a large surface area or in baths, as it carries a risk of intense hypothermia. Essential oils can be applied to the skin in a number of ways.
This method involves applying a few drops of essential oil to the skin, without first diluting it with a vegetable oil. This reduces skin irritation, but slows absorption of the active molecules. Friction allows large quantities of essential oil to penetrate the body. The essential oil is applied close to the diseased organ, e.g. the stomach for a digestive disorder, or the bladder for a urinary tract infection. However, dermocaustic essential oils cannot be used as rubs. Similarly, exposure to the sun is forbidden after the application of a photosensitizing essential oil. Pure essential oils should be applied over a short period (3 days maximum), while for a treatment lasting several weeks, the essential oil should be diluted in a vegetable oil. For children, 2 to 3 codex drops of essential oil are required 5 times a day.
Applying an essential oil with a compress prolongs the contact time between the essential oil and the skin. Cold compresses repel blood to deeper organs, and are used to soothe burns or inflammatory pain. Warm compresses, on the other hand, draw blood to the skin's surface, thus relieving contractures or muscular pain. Hot or cold, compresses encourage the essential oil to pass through the skin, helping to enlarge the treatment area.
There are 2 dosage strategies:
However, compresses are rarely, if ever, used on children.
Massage has many virtues, and a massage with essential oils is equally suitable for adults and children. Particularly suited to circulation disorders and muscular pain, massage soothes and relaxes, promoting the penetration of the essential oil. The latter is first diluted in a vegetable oil, which reduces skin irritation and prolongs the efficacy of the essential oil by slowing down its absorption through the skin.
The choice ofvegetable oil depends on the pathology to be treated. Not all vegetable oils have the same properties: sweet almond oil is perfectly suited to children's sensitive skin, thanks to its nourishing and regenerative properties. Macadamia oil, on the other hand, has a toning effect, improving lymphatic circulation.
Essential oils rich in phenols (oregano, savory) or aldehydes (cinnamon, clove), however, require greater dilution before cutaneous application.
During an aromatic bath, essential oils penetrate not only through the skin, but also through the respiratory tract, thanks to the inhalation of water vapors. However, all essential oils remain insoluble in water. Their incorporation into bath water therefore requires prior mixing with a dispersant (such as Dispersol, available in pharmacies) or almond milk, for example. The mixture requires 10 drops of essential oil for half a teaspoon of dispersant. An essential oil can just as easily be incorporated into a general bath as into a foot or hand bath. A foot bath requires 4 drops of essential oil mixed with half a teaspoon ofvegetable oil. The aromatic bath covers the entire body with essential oil, ensuring prolonged contact with the aromatic molecules and a relaxing effect. Several essential oils can be mixed in the bath, but no more than 3 may be used.
Not all essential oils can be incorporated into the bath, and dermocaustic and neurotoxic essential oils are not suitable for this type of administration. A bath lasts between 20 and 30 minutes, to be repeated as needed during the day.
Cutaneous use of essential oils offers rapid absorption and targeted efficacy. By choosing the right method of administration - friction, compress, massage or bath - you can meet a variety of therapeutic needs while enjoying a pleasant experience. Thanks to their power and versatility, essential oils become precious allies in the management of your daily well-being.
For more information or personalized recommendations, don't hesitate to consult an aromatherapist or your pharmacist.
Soin-et-Nature offers a specialized range of organic plant oils to meet a variety of health, well-being and natural care needs. Here are the categories available:
These organic vegetable oil products available on Soin-et-Nature enable you to take care of your body and your well-being while respecting a natural and ecological approach.
