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Accueil > Essential Oils > Use of essential oils
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Use of essential oils

Physical use
Energetic use
Domestic use
In this section, we will see that there are 3 differents possible uses of essential oils :
physical use, psychoemotional (or energetic) use and domestic use.
Of course, some add up (physical and psychoemotional) but there are some are more indicated than others depending on your intention.

This classification also allows us to isolate energetic uses, which have NO contraindications for ANY essential oil.

We will call physical, any use that implies ingesting essential oils.
Whether or not the goal is physical (for the health).

We will call energetic, any use that does not imply ingesting essential oils.
Whether or not the goal is energetic, psychoaffective or emotional.
Many goals in an energetic perspective imply ingesting essential oils : this will be mentioned if necessary.
It is, for example, the application of a few drops of essential oils on symbolic points, massage or in a bath.

Physical use

DOSAGE

Our first word might sound weird but will be: « sorry ».
Yes : sorry not to be able to bring you the Grail that we've all been after for years, that participants -already therapists themselves- come on advanced applied chemistry courses to find.

This Grail would be the magical formula that would tell us how much essential oil to give every time.

But it does not exist.

The best answer to this question is to say that, like molecules in synthetic medication : there is no dosage.
It varies according to the product, the person you give treatment to and what to cure.

One correct answer though : you can divide the kind of dosage into two.

A very low dosage is necessary when you want to interfere with some information if one system needs a particular stimulation to set the body into action. For instance, stimulating the hormone system.

A higher dosage is necesary when you want to do something "for" the body, "instead of" the body.
Like in anti-infective action.
It would be an illusion to believe that you can prevent the virus of the flu from spreading with only 2 drops of essential oils twice, even of the most efficient one.
To eradicate the cause of the dysfunction, you need heavy artillery!
Otherwise, you hear "it doesn't work".
Which is depressing when you know how powerful and efficient this tool is when used correctly.

Dosage depends on:
  • the essential oil you use
  • the kind of reaction you expect (see the two previous paragraphs)
  • the person's weight
  • the person's typology (ie. sensitive, solid, robust, fragile ...)
  • the pathology
  • potential barriers (heavy metals, blood acidity, toxaemia, hyper-vaccinosis etc.)

1. Skin use

The top use of essential oils.
It allows an easy use, pleasant within high dosage and it also has an effect on emotions, stress while the treatment acts on the physical pathology it is made for. (Via a direct efect on the limbic brain through the olfactory nerve : also see "Energetic use" below.)

  • Diluted

    Dilution is also presented as a sine qua non factor of the skin use of plant essential oils, especially in Anglo-saxon old-fashioned shy aromatherapy. It is not like that though. You will learn and understand this below in the "Pure" section.
    But dilution has many advantages.

    Firstly, to increase skin tolerance to essential oils.
    Secondly, simply because it is cheaper.
    Thridly, it makes your hands glide more easily during a massage.
    And there are other little benefits like it makes smells more refined, more subtle.

    There is no universal rule about dilution allowing everyone to use essential oils, except maybe that of « gloop-plit ».
    This is a rule "grammatically" discovered during a conference by Marc-Ivo Böhning during question time.

    A handful of carrier oil : « Gloop ! » and one drop of essential oil : « Plit ! »
    Thus, you can use almost any oil for a massage and avoid counting ad calculating percentage -which vary anyway between oils and patients. 

    There are only a few essential oils for which this rule is not enough. 
    They are oils that are not sold for therapy (or already highly diluted) but for food processing industry. 
    These essential oils contain thiols (blister agents, vesicants) like Mustard, Horseradish, Garlic and Onion. 
    A responsible company like Gedane will not sell those without having a little word with you first.

    Sometimes, people can react very strongly to an essential oil during a phase in their life.
    Dilution, even high, will then be useless and the best thing to do is to avoid this oil for a while. (Though, it is warmly advised to read the plant's energetic properties and ask onself questions consequently.)

    For any essential oils without phenols, aromatic aldehydes or thiols, a 10% dilution is generally sufficient to avoid any trouble.

    For those with phenols or aromatic aldehydes, a 2-5% dilution is generally sufficient to avoid any trouble.

    For those with thiols (sulfur molecules), dilution below 1% and only use by a professional practitioner is necessary.
    These oils a extremely rare and will not be sold by Gedane without prior discussion. Don't be surprised.

    For citrus essential oils, skin sensitivity can increase the more you apply the oil. Applying it a few inches away avoids this issue.

    The sole of the foot generally tolerates pure essential oils with no problem (except those with thiols).
    Be careful not to protrude on the side of the foot, between toes and not to bring your hands to your face before you have washed them.

    Dilution does not prevent :
    • toxicity
    • potential contraindications
    • photosensitivity.
    Yet, you can avoid pseudo-allergic skin sensitisation that few oils might carry as long as dilution is high.


  • Pure

    All essential oils do not need be diluted for everyone. 
    Even though it is clear that you only prescribe diluted essential oil, a great deal of them don't need it.

    Some essential oils must be applied pure for example.
    ie. plants that help healing (Incense…).
    Alcohol is harmful to young cells, oily creams and carries oils prevent healing.
    Dilution is therefore not beneficial.
    Moreover, essential oils are more efficient when more highly concentrated.

    Same goes for essential oils useful for burns or sunburns.

    Another reason is simply the dosage.
    In order to apply large amounts of anti infective essential oils to cure the flu, you must rub them in pure.
    Otherwise can't give your body enough. 
    We sometimes use the technique of embalming to give sufficient doses of essential oils. See below.
    It works very well if you give enough of pure oil.

    You sometimes must use them pure when necesary but you need to know the subject well :
    avoid applying any essential oil pure if it has any contraindication, or is toxic, dermocaustic or photosensitising.


  • Embalming

    It is a technique to apply essential oils massively for an anti-infective, immunostimulating and boosting action.
    Which results in : getting rid of the flu in no time !

    Have a hot bath, close the door. When you get out of the tub, dry yourself. Don't open the door.
    Oil your entire body up with pure essential oils - except eyes, ears and genitals.
    Keep the door closed. Put your pyjamas on.
    Step out of the bathroom and head to your bed, under your soft blanket. Stay there, sweat as much as you can and wake up all fit!

    Choose anti-infective essential oils.
    Not suitable for babies.
    3-5 ml for a child.
    5-10 ml for an adult.
    If you do it as soon as it declares, it is impressively efficient.
    If it has had time to install, you can repeat the same about 10 hours later.

    After that, keep rubbing the same blend of pure essential oils on your chest during the day : 10-20 drops every 30 minutes.
    This will convince anybody of the efficiency of essential oils because it does work well.

2. Oral use (by mouth)

Use in a digestive perspective mainly.

The oral use is often wrongly considered as the most efficient one.
Old understandable reflex … but wrong.

Indeed, most of an essential oil taken orally on a solid base or diluted in another liquid, will be absorbed by the small intestine and will then go straight to the liver via portal vein.
There, 80% of the oil will be metabolised.

The loss of efficiency is clear if you mean to bring the oil to another system like the respiratory system for example.
To help digestive tract or liver though, it is a perfectly targeted and direct use.

  • Diluted

    Essential oils taken orally are prescribed and sold diluted.
    this makes them less aggressive on mucous membranes (mouth, oesophagus, stomach ...).
    This also birngs them further down into the digestive tube (depending on the dilution subtrate used).

    Dermocaustic essential oils should be highly dluted (around 1%).

    Water-based : With this method, the essential oil reaches perfectly to the stomach and the beginning of the small intestine.
    Then progressively less and less along the digestive tract.
    It is the ideal way to act on the liver.

    Essential oils are not soluble in water.
    This is the reason why you need an excipient in which they can dilute. 
    Excipient has the same role as milk in salad dressing, to mix together oil and vinegar.
    It creates water soluble microbubbles due to their outer layer.
    You need, to surround them with essential oils, rather a lot of excipient.

    We usually use a 10% dilution in excipient and then add a few drops of this mix in a glass of water and drink it.

    there are several different excipients on the market.
    We often have some at home but they are not quite as efficient and practical. 
    Milk as we said earlier, and vegetal milk especially.
    Vinegar can also be used... for household cleaners. 


    Oil-based: With this method, the oil perfectly reaches the stomach, small intestine and colon.

    Just add essential oil to some carrier oil (any vegetal oil used for cooking is suitable).
    An oil rich in omega-3 helps healing the small intestine as well, olive oil or linseed oil take a substantial quantity of essential oil far down in the digestive tract.
    A soaking oil (Calendula, Hypericum, Common daisy…) helps boost clearly therapeutical effects.


  • Lick one drop of one's hand (perlingual)

    For yourself and for people who know essential oils well and are not particularly sensitive to them.
    Taste is indeed very strong. 
    You should never do that with dermocaustic essential oils.
    Photosensitisation nmust be taken into acocunt as well, especially during summer.

    It is an extremely quick and efficient way of using oils.
    They are absorbed by mucous membranes in the mouth very quickly.
    They enter the blood flow without going through the liver.

    One drop on the back of your hand and poof, lick it off. Done.


  • Capsules

    Capsules are useful in that they do not taste like essential oils.
    Of course oils are diluted beforehand.
    Capsules usually don't resist a long time and are not fully waterproof.
    You should make them in small amounts and use them quikly.

    It is a useful way to take strong-taste essential oils and give them a bit like "traditional" medication.


  • Gastro-resistant capsules

    Gastro-resistant capsules can, on top of the advantages of normal capsules, make oils go through the barrier of the stomach and deliver them further down the digestive tract.
    We can then reach the small intestine and colon efficiently.

    This will be useful for worms, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn etc.

    Gastro-resistant capsules are waterproof and so, easier to use than normal ones.
    A state-of-the-art therapeutic tool, but pricey unit according to pharmacists.

3. Rectal use (by suppository)

The use of suppositories has an extremely fast action and you can use a large quantity of oils. 
Essential oils do not go through the liver as they are already absorbed by hemorrhoidal veins.
It is very efficient for nose, ear and throat infections.
Plus it is practical on children.

Suppositories are made with 10% of essential oils max.
Dermocaustic oils should be highly diluted.

4. Vaginal use (with ovarian capsules)

Very specific use (gynaecology, obstetrics, cystitis, vaginal ringworm…).
Only by a professional practitioner.

Essential oils are diluted (max 10% total) in vaginal capsules (usually 3 gramm each) in order to target the area specifically.
Dermocaustic oils should of course be very highly diluted and allergen oils should not be used at all.
this area is indeed particularly sensitive.

Well-chosen essential oils have a local, quick and efficient action.

It is warmly advised not to play around with essential in this area, with chocolate vaginal capsules for example...

5. In a bath

To take care of one's skin, to reduce negative effets of stress, to have a sedative effect before going to bed, to create a sensual atmosphere or only for the sake of lying in a bath of trees and flowers, add a few drops of essential oils in your bath and let your senses and heart enjoy.

Mix essential oils in an excipient first, then pour the mixture into the tub while it fills up.
See "oral use", "diluted", "water-based" for more information and examples of excipient.

Only use non-dermocaustic oils and dilute them well !
Indeed, the pores of your skin are fully opened in hot water and you may be exposed to oils for long time.

Please bear in mind not to use photosensitising oils if you are going to be exposed to the sun or UV afterwards.

If you really want to use dermocaustic oils or photosensitising oils before being exposed to the sun, you can do as follows :
Fill the sink with extra-hot water, add 5-10 drops of essential oils and take your bath.
Thus, the bathroom smells of essential oils while the bath does not contain any.

Do not use any electric diffuser in the bathroom ! 

6. In a perfume

« Mmmmh, you smell really good ! » is a common phrase to hear when you wear essential oils as perfume, rather than a synthetic chemical product.

Essential oils are alive and one can feel it.
Plus, you avoid all carcinogenic subtances, which result in illnesses and allergies.
And... you contribute to the environment's welfare.

Use exclusively non-dermocaustic and non-photosensitising oils and rub 2-3 drops on your neck, chest stomach etc according to the effect you expect.
All this in the whole, entire and full joy of being able to personalise your perfume every day depending on your mood.

Dermocaustic essential oils must be diluted in carrier oil or other essential oils first.

There are numrous ways of having fun and also to make others happy ... imagine Vanilla-Davana or Jasmine-Green pepper or Frankincense-Cardamom-Vetiver !
And now visualise the spell you will cast on the people around you...

Gedane's wide range of natural perfume offers you all that !

7. As a deodorant

Avoiding aluminates and all chemical synthetic horrors which pollute our bodies is possible.

It doesn't necessarily reduce your sweating a lot (it's a natural way out for toxines and it's advisable not to block it 24/7 !!!) but it how good it can smell with essential oils !
And their bactericidal effect neutralises bacteriae involved in bad smell.

Gedane offers natural deodorants  in the Praktiful section.

8. Diffusion

See below "Energetic use".

Energetic use

It would be totally artificial to separate energetic use and emotional use. It is already quite artificial to separate physical and energetic use...

Essential oils display their talents in 3 different ways when it comes to affective, emotional and psychic use : the molecules in presence, the olfactory-limbic system and transports via harmonic resonance and induction.

  • The molecules in presence

    • Many molecules in essential oils have significant effects on stress reduction, sedative induction, and help the feeling of not being emotionally aggressed etc.
    They are often sesquiterpenes, esters and spasmolytic, invigorative, sedative molecules…
    They have interesting adaptogene effects.


  • The olfactory-limbic system

    The olfactory nerve is the only sensitive nerve in the entire body to go straight to the limbic brain without going through neocortex.

    The limbic system is the center of emotions and emotion management.
    Our response to daily or extraordinary emotional stimuli is governed in there. 
    Besides, it is very close (and connected) to the reptilian system, center of instinctive and prime responses. 

    The fact that it doesn't go through the neocortex (as brain thinks, analyses, discriminates and judges) makes it impossible to censor any smell before it touches or stimulates an emotion.

    In their practise, psychologists use smell a lot and essential oils above all others because of their power of evocation.
    Indeed, they can make a direct link with all patients' memories.

    There is nothing more unpleasant than bad smell : one can simply not stay near.
    There is nothing more attractive than nice smell, to sell one's house, to increase sales in a shop or to seduce somebody.
    Not one perfume in the world would sell well if it didn't smell good.

    Smells touch us deep inside, straight to the core of our emotions, it's clear.
    And essential oils are the vegetal world's means to touch the animal world (including us) as deeply as possible.


  • Harmonic resonance and induction

    The energy is a undulatory phenomenon and it abides to the rules of wave physics.
    The energy of a plant is preserved in its essential oil and it transfers to human beings in vibes and there are two main ways to do so : harmonic resonance and induction.

    Harmonic resonance : It refers to the repsonse of a system capable of vibrating on a certain wavelength, to vibrate when another neighbouring system vibrates on that one wavelength. 
    Thus, all information is transmitted from the plant to our chakras, which are in charge of decoding and distributing this information.

    Harmonic induction : It refers to the ability of a vibrating system to modulate its wavelength when another neibouring system vibrates on a very close wavelength.
    Thus, energetic systems change their wavelength slightly thanks to the influence of plants for example. Auric bodies pry in this situation.
    Chakras are also very active in translating and distributing the decoded information to the entire body.

    You can fact extensive explanations about energetic processes, harmonic resonance and harmonic induction in books by Marc Ivo Böhning.

1. To smell

This way of using essential oils is wonderful.
All you need is be a bit sensitive.
Indeed, as we've seen in "the olfactory-limbic system", we are extremely influenced by our sense of smell.
Besides, do we not say "to lead somebody by the nose" ?
Many practitioners access their patients' emotional system this way.

you only have to keep the bottle of oil in your pocket, purse, bag etc. and smell it from time to time throughout the day.
No more and no less. Just smell !
Open up to it, as relaxed as you can, with loose shoulders, eyelids and jaw. This will clearly increase the impact of the plant on you.

It's about coming into contact with the oil as deeply and intensely as possible.
Yet, even a very simple action has a good effect.

2. To diffuse

Diffusion works the same way as smelling.
Yet, there are fundamental differences.
One does not pay as much attention to the plant : one is less attentive to the privileged moment with it.
Diffusion may catch many kinds of people's interest.
It is suitable both for venues and people smelling the essential oils which are diffused.

It is therefore useful to make many people benefit from the smell, ambiance or particular energy at the same time.
Those people can be hamonised in the same place (syntonisation) in order to take them all to a common dynamic (see also Diffusion blends)

Besides, this may is very handy to give a place a nice smell back.
Imagine guests coming to visit unexpectedly in the middle of the afternoon when cooking odours are still tenacious.
Open the windows for moment and then diffuse Palmarosa or Lemongrass and here you go! The room smells good, fresh and ... happy!

Another handy aspect is that of checking epidemics.
Classrooms, waiting rooms, medical practises, home etc.
When the flu starts showing up, it is easy to diffuse essential oils which strengthen immune defences and general tonus to diminish the impact of the virus.
It often passes off before it passes on!

Indeed, if diffusion does not bring enough molecules in the body to have an anti-viral or anti-bacterial effect, it is enough to cause a stimulation of the immune system.
It is a stimulus-trigger action so even a little amount of oil is enough to deliver the right message for the body's response.

Hereby, the flu infects less pupils where essential oils are diffused.
Please bear in mind that this is how the efficiency of aromatherapy was rediscovered in the Middle Ages when families of perfumers were the only ones to be spared from plague.

Types of diffueser : many diffusers exist.
All are good to use, all have advantages and drawbacks.

3. To carry with you

Carrying an essential oil in your pocket (or bra: ask for sample bottles) is more interesting than you think.
The vibration is there, the physical action isn't.
Which means there are no contraindications or limitations of use !

The vibration of the plant through its essential oil is passed on to us via our chakras (as described in "Harmonic resonance and induction")

The best is of course to be able to carry the bottle at the level of the chakra to stimulate.
Necklace-bottles, bottle under pillow or even under wooly hat and all other little inventions are play and personal.

One the great advantages is to be able to get used to the vibration of a plant, to "tame" its energy.
Indeed, you may reject the smell of a plant which is perfect for you at the beginning (this is a sign you need it).
The first step will then be to tame the oil.

Carrying the bottle with you for 2-3 weeks helps a great deal.
Then you can start taking it out and play with it in your hands (like a rosary).
Later, you can wear it from time to time, a bit away from your nose so you can smell it subtly.
Generally... this should do. You should by then appreciate the fragrance, even like it!

4. In a massage (Contraindications like any physical application)

Massage is by far the best way of using essential oils.
Not only is it extremely pleasant but it is also extremely efficient.
And why is that?
Simply because when you relax, you open up to the plant, you let your body and your mind relax and the access doors to your emotions and spirit are wide open.

You allow your energetic system to welcome vibrations far more efficiently to co-vibrate in harmonic resonance and induction with the essential oil.

It is highly advised to dilute the oil. See Gedane's Zénitude blend for example.
Firstly, it offers a gliding substrate, and then you can massage a wide area without using up a whole bottle of essential oil every time.
See "Physical use, Skin use, Diluted"

5. One drop on a symbolic point (Contraindications like any physical indication.)

Chakras are doors you'd better knock on.

One drop of essential oil straight on a chakra develops its power.

By the way, it is better to place your hand on the chakra for one or two minutes in order to make it react, to bring the energy in it, and to stimulate the energetic harmonisation between the plant and the person.

  • Ting points (start and end points of meridians on hands and feet)
  • Marma points
  • Acupuncturepoints
  • Previously wounded areas
  • Old scars etc.
all deserve an application of essential oils with an energetic harmonisation.

See  course Aromatherapy and chakras.

6. In a spray

This is one of the must-dos of energetic aromatherapy !

Stand calmly in front of a beautiful tree or lake, a cracking fire or simply in your armchair, or start meditating and just spray 2 or 3 times around you.

Almost all practical aspects of energetic use are gathered there :

  • opening up to the oils
  • the smell, hence the emotions they evoke
  • this mist reaches all subtle bodies and faces all chakras
  • dynamisation by diffusion
This is really the perfect way to benefit from all energetic aspects of essential oils.

Plus the spray can be used to give a place a good smell quickly.

Some suggestions about various uses are available in the Sprays section.


7. Reflexology

  • Foot reflexology (see courses in aromatherapy and reflexology by Géraldine Viatte)
  • Hand reflexology
  • Amerindian reflexology (see the book by Marc Ivo Böhning)
  • Reflex zones by Teirich-Leube, naso-sympathicotherapy
  • Auriculotherapy
  • all other réflexologies
offer a wide range of applications.
This as much on the physical aspect as on the energetic or affective-emotional one.

Not only is it pleasant but it increases greatly the effect of the session.
It would be a shame to miss this therapy catalyst.
It's like boosting an engine : you boost the therapeutical effects of your movements.

8. As perfume (Contraindications like any physical application)

In case you never read the list of ingredients in your perfumes,
here is an exercise that might be of interest for you and your life of conscience and awareness !

On top of that, there are psychoaffective advantages linked to olfaction :
  • anti stress
  • emotional balancing
  • etc.
and to the application on a symbolic point.

Perfume is mostly worn on the neck (5th chakra) or better, on the chest (4th chakra) and can go wherever you want to take the essential oil.

Use is described under "Physical use"


Gedane's perfume are made of essential oils as well as  Sprays Chakras which allow you to use all the subtlty of essential oils and direct application on symbolic points.


9. Bath (Contraindications like any physical application)

Just like massage and perfume, both described above,
the olfactory effects (i.e. psychoaffective) and energetic effects are not only there,
but sublimated by mind and body peacefulness which prove our ability to open up to ourselves,
and to let ourselves co-vibrate with the plant of which the oil is here essential.

Use described under "Physical use".

Domestic use


  • In shampoo and liquid soap
  • In household cleaning products
  • In ambiance sprays
  • In laundry detergent
  • In cupboards and wardrobes (against odours and moths)
Drying laundry. When you see bees coming to smell drying laundry on the balcony, you cannot help but wonder how lovely it would be to put on essential oils too and have charming creatures caressing you... !
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