PREPARATION OILS FOR APPLICATION

Essential oils can be added to a range of carrier bases: vegetable oils, unscented lotion or cream. The choice of base depends on how the mixture is to be used, and is also a matter of personal preference.

Types Of Carrier Oil
There are many suitable vegetable oils, each with its own benefit. Unrefined, cold-pressed oils are the best for aromatherapy. The basic oils are widely available, while special and macerated oils are available from suppliers. As a guide, use 15-20drops of essential oil in 50ml (2fl oz) of base oil for mixtures to be applied to the skin. Reduce the ratio to 1:10 for preparations to be used on the face.

Basic Oils
Sunflower Helianthus Annuus
This oil is taken from the seeds of the giant yellow sunflower. It can relieve eczema and dermatitis, lower blood cholesterol, soothe rheumatism, and ease leg ulcers, sprains and bruises. It may also have diuretic properties.

Sweet Almond Prunus Amygdalis Var. Dulcis
Almond oil is takend from the kernel of the almond nut, but it is difficult to obtain cold-pressed almond oil. This oil alleviated inflammed and irritated skins, helps to relieve constipation, lowers blood cholesterol and is good for eczema, psoriasis and dry skin.

Special Oils
These can all be used alone or as 25 per cent of a basic carrier oil.

Evening Primrose Oenethera Biennis
Yellow evening primrose flowers open at dusk, one circle of flowers at a time. The flowers open so quickly that the buds can be watched as they open. The flowers' seeds are cold-pressed when the stem has finished flowering. Evening primrose oil will relieve arthritis, lower blood cholesterol, help PMS, and soothe wounds. It is excellent for eczema, psoriasis and dry skin, and is said to have a beneficial effect on wrinkles.

Hazelnut Corylus Avellana
Cold-pressed hazelnuts yield an amber coloured oil. Hazelnut oil has astringent properties and can be used to relieve acne, stimulate circulation and protect against the harmful effects of the sun.

Jojoba Simmondsia Chinensis
Jojoba is not an oil but a liquid wax, which gives it excellent keeping qualities. Jojoba is an analgesic with anti-inflammatory properties, and it will soothe arthritis and rheumatism, acne, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin and sunburn. Jojoba is good for the scalp, and is a useful addition to shampoo.

Rose Hip Rosa Canina
These small berries produce a syrup, a rich source of Vitamin C, and a golden-red oil. Rose hip oil is anti-aging and will help to regenerate tissue. It softens mature skin, and is good to use for burns, scars and eczema.

Macerated Oils
The process of macerating (soaking) plants in olive or sunflower oil enhances base oils with the plants' therapeutic properties. These macerated carrier oils can be added to a base vegetable oil, lotion or cream to enrich it. Macerated melissa and lime oils can also be used to enrich base oils.

Calendula Calendula Officinalis
Often referred to as marigold, calendula has anti-inflammatory and astringent properties, and can relieve broken and varicose veins. Apply directly in undiluted form to ease sprains and bruises.

St. John's Wort Hypericum Perforatum
With its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, St John's wort will help to relieve haemorrhoids, sprains, bruises and arthritis, and can heal burns, sunburn and wounds.

Carrier Lotion And Cream
Unperfumed lotion, made from emulsified oil and water, can be used instead of vegetable oil as a carrier base. Lotion is ideal for all self-application techniques as it is non-greasy. Use an unperfumed cream base if one richer than a lotion is needed.

To prepare a blend for use on the body, mix 15-20 drops of essential oil with 50ml (2fl oz) of lotion or cream. For a blend to be used on the face, mix 5 drops of essential oil per 50ml (2fl oz) lotion or cream. For a foot, reflex treatment (see Swiss Reflex Therapy) add 50 drops of oil to 50ml (2fl oz) of cream.

Safety Note
Except for a cream blend to be used in Swiss Reflex Therapy, use only half the specified quantity of essential oils in any base carrier - vegetable oil, lotion or cream - if the mixture is to be used on children and the elderly.

Preparing A Blend For The Body Using Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oils are excellent carriers for massage. The essential oils readily dissolve in them, and they allow the hands to move continuously on the skin without dragging or slipping. Mineral oil, such as baby oil, is from a mineral, not a vegetable source. It aims to protects the skin by keeping moisture out and will not allow essential oils to penetrate: it is not suitable as a base oil.

Ingredients

• essential oils
• vegetable carrier oil

Equipment

• screw-top bottle
• label and marker pen

Tips
Care should be taken not to use too much of the mixed oil as it can stain sheets and clothes. To stop too much oil coming out at a time, place your fingers over the top of the bottle, tipping it against them. Apply the fingers to the area to be treated, repeating only if you need more oil.



Pour 15-20 drops of your chosen essential oil or oils into a 50ml (2fl oz) screw-top bottle.

Fill the bottle to within 2cm (3/4in) of the top with your chosen vegetable carrier oil. Use a funnel, if preferred, to avoid any unnecessary spillage.

Screw on the top and label the bottle with the quantity of each oil used, what the mixture is to be used for, your name and the date.













Preparing A Blend For The Body Using Lotion
A bland, non-greasy lotion is preferable to oil as it is less messy and is absorbed quickly by the skin. A lotion base is better for self-application techniques, as a vegetable oil bottle will become greasy and can easily slip through your fingers.

Ingredients

• bland white lotion
• vegetable oil (optional)
• essential oils

Equipment

• screw-top jar or bottle
• label and marker pen

Tips
Prepare a blend with a cream base in the same way. For a preparation to use on the face, mix 50ml (2fl oz) of the base lotion or cream with only 5 drops of your chosen essential oil.



For a lotion to use on the body , fill a 50ml (2fl oz) jar or bottle three-quarters full with an unperfumed white lotion, or a lotion mixed with a little vegetable oil, if preferred.

Add 15-20 drops of the chosen essential oil or oil blend. Screw on the top and shake thoroughly. Add the rest of the lotion but do not fill right to the top, to allow room for reshaking.










Screw the top on firmly and shake again. Label with the contents, use, your name and the date. For a facial lotion, mix 50ml (2fl oz) of the base lotion with 5 drops of essential oil.

DAILY BODY CARE

Our bodies are protected for much of the time with clothes, and because of this, the skin of our torso is usually in a better condition - softer an smoother - than that of our arms and legs, which are more frequently exposed with sunlight.

Conditioning Treatments
The arms and legs benefit hugely from the daily use of creams and lotions containing essential oils; improvements are particularly apparent when moisturizing bath or shower oils or gels have not been used as a matter of course. If your skin is dry or flaky, put your essential oils into a carrier oil to add a gleam to your skin.

For a bath treatment for dry skin, grate 15g (1/2oz)unscented, non-alkaline soap into 120ml (1/2cup) boiling water, and stir to dissolve the soap. When cool, add 8 drops of your favourite essential oil or oil mix. Hold your mixture under the running tap to dissolve in the bathwater and make some bubbles. If you prefer lots of bubbles, add oils to a non-drying bubble bath.

If you have normal to oily skin, which is not known to be sensitive, give yourself a body rinse before leaving the bath or shower. Dissolve your essential oil or oils into 15ml (1 tbsp) vodka, and mix with 1 litre (11/2 pints) spring water. Add 120 ml (1/2 cup) white wine or cider vinegar to the spring water mixture for an extra zingy feel.

If you have a problem with body odour, use the vodka rinse above, but without the vinegar. Add 3 drops of nutmeg essential oil and 3 drops of cypress essential oils; both of these have deodorizing properties.

For hard, rough skin on elbows and heels, use a facial exfoliating mask, followed by a moisturizing body lotion or oil to which 2-3 drops of essential oil have been added.

Cellulite is caused by ineffective blood circulation, which leads to poor lymphatic drainage and fluid retention. Aromatherapy can help with a daily regime. Pummel the area vigorously before applying essential oils in a carrier lotion or oil.





Varicose veins can be painful and unsightly. A cool compress, made with cypress, clary sage or niaouli oil and applied to the affected area, can help.






Varicose Vein Treatment
Apply the essential oil blend or lotion mix to the whole leg before following the directions below. Upward strokes are important to help the blood move towards the heart. Use phlebotonic oils such as clary sage, cypress and niaouli.


Massage the upper half of the leg first with upward movements. This clears the valves to allow the blood to pass more easily from the lower leg.

Massage in an upward direction only, using the palms of both hands. Make long, firm strokes alternately with each hand up the calf muscle.



Take the fingers of both hands alternately up the calf muscle. Complete the sequence by repeating step 2.








Anti-Cellulite Treatment
Cellulite is recognized by its resemblance to orange or grapefruit peel. A daily aromatherapy treatment, along with an improved diet and a thorough exercise plan, will boost the circulation and improve lymphatic drainage, helping to disperse the cellulite.

After firmly rubbing in your prepared oil mix or lotion, take both hands alternately up the outside of the leg. Use loofah or bristle brush if preferred.

Use the heel of your hands to pummel the cellulite vigorously. This stimulates the circulation and allows quicker penetration of the essential oils.





Continue to work over the cellulite area using the heels of both hands alternately. Maintaining the firmness of the strokes, repeat step 1.

Useful Essential Oils
Essential Oil

Skin Types
DRY SKIN
Chamomile (Roman) Chamaemelum nobile
treatment: anti-inflammatory (irritable skin)

Geranium Pelargonium graveolens
treatment: anti-infectious, cicatrizant

Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
treatment: antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, cicatrizant (healing)

Patchouli Pogostemon pathouli
treatment: anti-inflammatory, cicatrizant

Rose otto Rosa damascena
treatment: anti-inflammatory (blotchy skin), cicatrizant

OILY SKIN
Cedarwood Cedrus atlantica
treatment: antiseptic, antibacterial, cicatrizant

Lemon Citrus limon
treatment: astringent, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory

Ylang ylang Cananga odorata
treatment: tonic, balancing, calming, hypotensive

MATURE SKIN
Clary sage Salvia sclarea
treatment: regenerative (cellular aging)

Frankincense Boswellia carteri
treatment: antioxidant (combats aging process), cicatrizant

Anti-Aging
Clary sage Salvia sclarea
treatment: oestrogen-like, regenerative (counteracts cellular aging)

Frankincense Boswellia carteri
treatment: antioxidant (combats aging process)

Lemon Citrus limon
treatment: antisclerotic (combats aging process)

Skin Conditions
PSORIASIS (INCLUDING NAILS)
Bergamot Citrus bergamia
treatment: cicatrizant

Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
treatment: cicatrizant

ECZEMA
Bergamot Citrus Bergamia
treatment: anti-infectious (weeping eczema), cicatrizant

Geranium Pelargonium gravoleus
treatment: analgesic, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory,m cicatrizant

ACNE ROSACEAE
Chamomile (German) Matricaria recutica
treatment: anti-inflammatory, cicatrizant

Chamomile (Roman) Chamaemelum nobile
treatment: anti-inflammatory, cicatrizant

Frankincense Boswellia carteri
treatment: analgesic, cicatrizant

ATHLETE'S FOOT AND NAIL FUNGI
Clary sage Salvia sclarea
treatment: antifungal (skin condition)

Geranium Pelargonium graveolens
treatment: antifungal, anti-infectious

Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
treatment: antifungal, antiseptic

CELLULITE
Cypress Cupressus sempervirens
treatment: diuretic

Fennel Foeniculum vulgare
treatment: diuretic, circulatory stimulant

Juniper Juniperus communis
treatment: diuretic, lypolytic

VARICOSE VEINS
Clary sage Salvia sclarea
treatment: phlebotonic (circulatory problems, haemorrhoids, varicose veins)

Cypress Cupressus sempervirens
treatment: phlebotonic (haemorrhoids, poor circulation, varicose veins)

Niaouli Melaleuca viridiflora
treatment: phlebotonic (haemorrhoids, varicose veins)

SWISS REFLEX THERAPY (SRT)

Historical evidence suggests that treatment involving the foot treatment is as ancient as massage. Reflexology uses the energy flow lines in the body which culminate as refelx points in the feet, hands, ears and tongue. Each reflex point represents a particular organ or part of the body. If any malfunction occurs in the body, a blockage will occur in the energy pathway,and tiny cystslline deposits are formed at the reflex point representing the malfunctioning area.

A reflexologist can feel these blockages and reflxology treatment aims to break them down. If you have acute or recurrent health problems, you are advised to consult a qualified reflexologist: the treatment is not only relaxing, but it can bring effective, lasting relief from symptoms.

Foot reflexes can be used as an aid to health by using Swiss Reflex Therapy. SRT is not reflexology, although it does manipulate the foot reflexes, which are massaged in a particular way. The therapy was devised by the author in Switzerland i n 1987. It enables people with bronchial or spinal problems to treat themselves at home.

Ideally, attending a practical SRT course is the best way to learn, although the basic principles are more simple to learn than reflexology. SRT can be used at home for self-treatment and, with daily practice, positive results are achieved fairly quickly.

Use a bland moisturizing cream base and add essential oils: 30 drops of essential oil to every 30ml (2 tbsp) of the cream. Vegetable ois is not suitable for use in SRT.



Swiss ReflexTreatment takes an equal number of drops of essential oil to millilitres of base cream. Stir the cream well after adding your chosen oil.








Swiss Reflex Therapy
Always begin a treatment with the solar plexus reflex area, to relax the body, and end with the kidney-bladder area to help eliminate any released toxins.

The first time you experience pressure on a blocked reflex, the pain may be quite severe and is usually made worse by any stress you are under at the time. You should work only to your own pain threshold and massage the problematic reflex for one full minute, when you will find that the pain diminishes and gradually disappears altogether. If there is no pain, you are either not onthe right reflex, not pressing hard enough, or there is no problem with the part of the body which that reflex represents.


Rest your right foot on the knee of your left leg and massage the solar plexus area with the whole length of your right thumb in a circular motion.

Work as firmly as your pain tolerance level will allow, and hold on to the toes with your left hand if you find it easier. Keep circling, maintaining the same pressure until you feel it easing. Continue until the discomfort has completely gone.

If it still feels painful after one minute, the original pressure may have been too strong.

Using circular movements again, massage any reflex areas which present a problem: for example, the lung area if you have bronchial problems, the digestive system for constipation (massaging in a clockwise direction), and the spinal areas for backache, muscular pains, rheumatism or arthritis. For a long area like the spine, do a small area at a time, moving down and repeating until all the spine has been covered. Change your hand position depending on the reflex being treated.



When you have covered the relevant problem area, massage with the full length of your right thumb in a firm oval movement . Again, hold the toes with your left hand if you find it easier. Follow the kidney-urethra-blader: the pressure should be from kidney to bladder, with no pressure being applied on the return half of the circle. Repeat th whole three-step sequence on your left foot, changing your hands over for easier movement.

DAILY HAND, FOOT AND NAIL CARE

Our hands are exposed daily to the elements and to household detergents, and our feet carry us wherever we want to go. Both deserve as much attention as the face, and will benefit greatly from aromatherapy.




Having well-cared for hands is a beauty asset. To give you hands a treat, prepare a mix using oils of geranium and rose otto and work well into the skin.

Hand Care
It is said that there are two ways to tell a woman's age: by her neck and by her hands. Our hands, like our necks and faces, are always exposed to the air and are always on visible display. However, it is easy to neglect them when leading a busy life.

Treatment Essential oils can be added to a base lotion and used after each time you wash your hands. Patchouli is one of the best oils for cracked, dry skin, and clary sage helps delay cellular aging. If your hands are neglected and in need of a boost, try giving them an exfoliating "mask" treatment before going to bed. After using an exfoliating face mask on your hands, apply your hand lotion. Cover your hands with cling film (plastic wrap) and pull on a pair of cotton gloves, or cotton socks, over the cling film. Keep the mask in place for an hour before rinsing off.





For cracked knuckles, try patchouli oil mixed in a carrier cream or lotion base and applied to the affected area on clean, dry hands










.
Foot Care
Think of the amount of work our feet have to do - we walk on them daily, often in inappropriate footwear, and yet we give them surprisingly little care and attention.

Treatment
Spend some time each week giving your feet a treatment massage, which benefits your feet and the rest of your body at the same time. Keep them as scrupulously clean as your face, regularly removing dead skin at the heels and drying properly between the toes. Watch for any broken skin between the toes as this may be a sign of athlete's foot - a fungal condition which can be difficult to treat once it takes hold. Plastic shoes are a common cause of athlete's foot as they create moisture and cause the feet to sweat, creating the ideal conditions for fungus to develop. Essential oils can be used to treat all fungus-type infections as well as viral ones, including warts and verrucas. You will also need to address the underlying causes. These may be related to stress and poor nutrition, and will be helped with relaxing essential oils.

Nail Care
Strong, well-manicured nails on the hands and feet play an important role in a woman's appearance. Brittle, damaged or weak nails can detract from this. Essential oils can be used to improve nail condition.

Treatment
Essential oil of lavender is particularly good for strengthening nails. Each evening, put your finger on to the nozzle of a bottle of lavender oil, tip the bottle, and rub the oil into the cuticles. After two or three months you should see some improvement as the treated nail grows through.











Giving yourself a foot massage not only feels good but also energizes the many reflex points on your feet, which in turn correspond to different parts of the body.


















For tired or swollen ankles, a cool compress soaked in Roman chamomile and lavender oil is both soothing and refreshing and can also alleviate any inflammation.






Nail Treatment
Pampering your nails with this weekly treatment will keep them healthy and strong. If your nails are particularly weak and damaged, you may prefer to apply this quick treatment every evening. Because its growth is a slow process, the results are not immediate - it will be a couple of months before you see any improvement, but it will be worth the wait.

Ingredients

• warm water
• lavender essential oil

Equipment

• bowl
• cuticle stick
• cotton bud (Q-tip)

Tip
Sucking a jelly cube each day is said to strengthen the nails. If you often have white flecks across your nails, increasing the calcium in your diet could also help.

Soak your fingertips in warm water before gently cleaning the surplus cuticle from the nails.

Use a cotton bud (Q-tip) to apply neat lavender oil to each cuticle to strengthen them.

DAILY SKINCARE

The sooner a woman begins a good skincare routine, the more she will reap the benefits as she gets older. A good moisturizer is arguably the most important item in a woman's wardrobe - you can replace your clothes, but not your skin. It is well worth investing in an efficient, quality moisturizer that you like to use.

There is a vast array of commercial products available, designed for every skin permutation imaginable: teenage, normal, dry, oily, mature, sensitive and allergy-prone skins. Although well-formulated cosmetics without essential oils may benefit the skin, a natural, quality range with added essential oils will increase the benefits.

Choosing Products
With aromatherapy, you should only have to choose between two basic product types because all essential oils are normalizing, giving exceptional care to the skin. If the skin is normal to oily, then look for a cleansing milk and moisturizing lotion.

Always pat your face dry with a soft towel after rinsing. The skin on the face needs careful handling, whatever our age.

Choose cleansing and moisturizing creams when the skin is more dry and in need of nourishment. Look for products which have good quality bases and which don't contain alcohol, lanolin or other animals. Night creams containing lanolin make your skin greasy, as the molecules are actually too big to penetrate the skin, and the cream will "sit" on top of your face all night, rubbing off on the pillow. Prepare your products with well chosen essential oils in a concentration of 0.5 per cent.

Tips For Healthy Skin
If you wear make-up, it is important to cleanse your skin thoroughly before bed. In the morning, toner on cotton wool (cotton ball) is usually sufficient. Give yourself a treatment mask once a week. After a mask, you should moisturize twice, as masks draw out moisture as well as toxins. If you don't wear any make-up, a mask once a fortnight is usually sufficient.

If you don't wear make-up, use a mild toner only at night-time after cleansing. Moisturize first thing in the morning, after cleansing and toning.

Creating Your Own Products
To make your own skincare products, use unperfumed bases, adding the appropriate essential oils, 1 drop for each 10ml (2 tsp) of carrier. Cold spring water is an excellent basic toner.

Oily Skin Or Acne
daytime base lotion with 10 per cent spring water added slowly while stirring.
night time base lotion with 10 per cent hazelnut oil added slowly while stirring.

Spring water can be used as a basic toner for all types of skin. Add your chosen essential oils.

Dry Or Mature Skin
daytime base lotion with 25 per cent rose hip or jojoba oils added slowly while stirring .
night-time base cream with 50 per cent rose hip or jojoba, or the macerated oils of lime blossom or melissa added while stirring.

At The Menopause
Try using hormone-like essential oils such as clary sage and niaouli which both have oestrogen-like properties.

Skin Disorders
A skin problem can arise from many causes, some of which may be more obvious, than others. It may stem from an internal physical problem, such as poor digestion or painful periods, or from a mental problem, such as deep-rooted anxiety or grief. The effects of on-going mental and emotional stress can also cause skin problems, which in turn may aggravate the condition as we become worried, anxious and embarrassed about how others see us.

Roman chamomile is excellent for soothing dry, irritable and inflammed skin. Try adding a few drops to your moisturizer and apply daily.

Aromatherapy Treatment
Aromatherapy can play an important part in the treatment of skin disorders. The oils are not only able to treat the physical symptoms but, through their aromas, can also affect the mental state of the sufferer. For example, many people suffering chronic, painful skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, may have high stress levels because of the impact of the disease on their physical appearance.

Essential oils are able to break this cycle effectively, lightening the mind as well as tackling the physical symptoms. Where the skin is already being moisturized, whether on the face, hands and/or body, it is easy enough to combine appropriate essential oils with the existing treatment for a two-in-one effect. For example, arthritis oils added to a hand and body lotion base reduce pain and inflammation at the same time as making the skin less dry and scaly.

For severe eczema it is very beneficial to change your diet to one that is dairy-free, eliminating cow's milk and related products from what you eat. This is usually enough to cure the condition, although it can take a few months for the results to be evident. Meanwhile, correct use of the appropriate oils will bring relief from the symptoms.

Acne rosacea, a form of acne which usually attacks women over 30, has similar symptoms to Acne Vulgaris (see The Teenage Years).

It seems to affect women who like highly seasoned foods and drink large amounts of tea and coffee. Dietary changes will be highly beneficial in all cases, while the use of aromatherapy treatments will improve the condition of the skin.

Blending Essential Oils With A Moisturizer
For customized skincare, select the appropriate essential oils and add them to a good quality, bland base cream. Add a little rose hip carrier oil if your skin is particularly dry.

Ingredients

• 40ml (8 tsp) unperfumed base cream
• rose hip oil (optional)
• blend of appropriate essential oils

Equipment

• small jar
• swizzle stick or teaspoon
• spatula (optional)

Tip
Always apply creams to the face with clean hands, and best of all using a spatula, to avoid transmitting germs from your fingernails to the cream, and possibly to your skin.


For dry skin, add 5ml (1 tsp) rose hip oil to a jar containing 40ml (8 tsp) base moisturizing cream.

After blending your own selection of appropriate essential oils, add 5 drops to the moisturizing cream.

Stir thoroughly with a swizzle stick or the handle of a clean teaspoon to blend the mixture.

BEAUTIFUL SKIN

Looking and feeling good is important for most women. Commercial products can do much to treat beauty emergencies, but the only effective, long-term solution is optimum health in body and mind.

By carefully placing objects of natural beauty in your home, you can help your mind to relax and unwind. Soft candlelight is traditionally associated with feelings of peace and harmony.

Beautiful Skin
A good complexion is a huge beauty asset: it helps a woman to look good and this, in turn, will boost morale. The skin is the largest organ of the body. It is always on display to the outside world and is worth taking care of. The skin has a slightly acid mantle, which keeps out harmful bacteria, and it is not a good idea to use excessively alkaline cleansers, such as soap, to wash the skin, as these destroy the necessary acid balance. The condition of the skin is a good indicator of general health within the body.

Life style
The condition of our skin is affected by or lifestyle and general well-being, including our diet, how much exercise we take, our work, our family and our mental attitude.

Strategically placed oil and water mixes can increase humidity levels and also release aromas.

To some extent, we are what we eat. Our circulatory system carries the nutrients from food around the body; without a healthy diet, the body's cells receive insufficient nutrition. Regular exercise is also important. A sedentary lifestyle, when combined with a lack of exercise, means that food nutrients are not transported around the body efficiently, and toxins in the lymphatic system are not completely eliminated. This can lead to cellulite and other problems in the body and with the skin. A diet which includes plenty of water, fresh fruit and vegetables will help to keep our bodies free from toxins and promote a blooming, clear complexion.

Our day-to-day environment can also affect our bodies. Most homes and offices are centrally heated, and this has a drying effect on skin and hair. Keeping a bowl of water beside each radiator will help to increase humidity. Women who spend a great deal of time outdoors should take care to protect their skin from excessive exposure to the sun, rain and wind: these are all damaging to the skin, and will promote wrinkles and early aging. Protect your skin from exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays, on the sunbed or outdoors, to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Whether you are a working mother, a full-time mother, or a full-time career woman, feeling happy with what you do is important. This, in turn, is reflected in the condition of the skin, hair and nails. When we are unhappy, we tend to feel negative about ourselves and are more likely to focus on our tiny imperfections. This can leave us feeling even worse and creates a vicious cycle which can lead to depression. With a positive mental attitude, on the other hand, we feel happier and more buoyant, our stress levels decrease, and we look and feel in a healthier state.

The Aging Process
Like all other organs, the skin deteriorates with age. Typically this is characterized by the slowing down of cell regeneration, and the fact that dead skin cells gradually take longer to be discarded. As we grow older, our skin becomes less moist and loses its elasticity. Facial expressions are ore likely to develop into wrinkle lines. As oestrogen production decreased during the menopause years, there is a thinning and dehydration of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin).

Enjoying some quiet time alone each day is important. It allows you to recharge your batteries, giving you space for relaxation and contemplation without any outside pressures.

Many factors play a part in skin aging: heredity, menopause, occupation, exposure to the sun and wind, poor diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, prolonged stress, insufficient sleep, even crash diets (which can cause wrinkles) and excessive washing (which can dehydrate the skin). The aging process is also partly due to the formation of free radicals in the body, developed from a reaction between sunlight and oxygen. These molecules are unstable and, in their search to stabilize, reactions occur in the body which can cause cellular destruction, resulting in skin aging and internal disease.

Aging is beyond our control, but we can help to minimize its effects by giving our bodies the best attention possible. Lifestyle factors need to be addressed and then supported by a daily care regime with suitable lotions and creams, which can help to improve the elasticity and appearance of the skin, hair and nails.

Apply a lotion containing analgesic essential oils to relieve aches and pains in the shoulders.

It has been shown that essential oils can be used successfully to combat the effects of aging. Research studies have shown that many essential oils have cell regenerative properties, and essential oils products help to promote a much healthier, younger-looking skin. The essential oil molecules penetrate the skin and are able to work at the germinative layer, where the new cells are formed. These improved cells eventually reach the surface of the skin where the appearance is vastly improved.















Eating plenty of fresh raw vegetables, fruits and salads will keep your energy levels high.

CARING FOR HAIR AND NAILS

Both the hair and nails are made of keratin, a modified skin tissue, and both are present to protect us from harm. The hair and nails benefit from good nutrition, and care with essential oils can improve their appearance.

Teenage Hair
Hair problems for teenagers will often mean greasy hair. Greasy hair needs frequent washing with a suitable shampoo to prevent the excess oil from causing spots around the hairline. However, the rubbing action on the scalp stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum and can make the problem worse. If you have greasy hair, shampoo it no more than once a day. Add an astringent essential oil to an unperfumed shampoo for your own aromatherapy treatment at home. Take care to apply the shampoo to the hair and not the scalp.












If your hair lacks lustre, try adding the appropriate oils to an unperfumed conditioner base. After shampooing, gently comb the mix through to the ends of your hair.



Hair loss can also be a problem for some young women. This can be brought on by the stress of exams and personal worries, and also by harsh treatment of hair that is already weak, such as dragging it back too tightly from the forehead with hair hairbands. Mixing essential oils with your shampoo can help to strengthen weak hair. Handle hair with care, and ease it forward slightly before adding hairbands and accessories.

Conditioning
The condition of our hair is crucial to how we look, and good hair treatment brings its rewards. Hair should be trimmed regularly - with no more than 1cm (1/2 in) removed - to keep the ends strong. This is especially important with long hair: the more often long hair is trimmed, the faster it will grow and the better it will look.

If your hair is in poor condition, use a separate conditioner: products which aim to combine a shampoo with a conditioner are rarely effective as they cannot do both jobs well. Add essential oils your hair needs to an unperfumed, basic conditioner. Apply the mixture to your hair and scalp after shampooing and towel-drying. Cover with a plastic bag to keep in the heat, and leave for 30 minutes before rinsing well.

Tips For Healthy Hair

• Add 8-10 drops of essential oils to 50ml (2fl oz) of unfragranced shampoo (not baby shampoo - it is not especially mild).
• Give yourself a daily scalp massage with soothing essential oils to arrest and prevent early hair loss.

Lavender oil is very useful for treating difficult nail conditions. Add a 2-3 drops to 5ml (1 tsp) carrier oil and use as required.

Nail care
Nail-biting is often connected to stress and has a strong emotional component. It can be a difficult habit to break. Because teenage girls are often concerned with appearance, the desire for beautiful, manicured nails may help to overcome the problem.

Strong and beautiful nails begin at the cuticle. Use an oil mix and gently massage it on to the cuticle and surrounding area daily. After three months, you will see improvement in your nails.

To encourage strong, healthy nails, you have to care for the cuticle as well as the nail, as this is is where nail growth begins. Health disorders can cause ridging and thinning of the nails. Psoriasis and fungus under the nail tips can be treated with lavender or geranium oils. As with skin and hair, the nails give an indication of inner health.

Tips For Healthy Nails

• Discouraged nail-biting by coating the nails daily with neat lavender oil. The unpleasant taste of the oil will stop the chewing.
• Apply neat lavender oil daily to the nail cuticle to improve the condition of weak nails. Results will show in three months.

Useful Essential Oils
Essential Oil
hair
Caraway Carum carvi
treatment: stimulant, encourages hair growth, aids scalp problems.

Cedarwood Cedrus atlantica
treatment: antiseptic and stimulant to scalp, reduces greasy dandruff, helps to renew hair growth

Clary sage Salvia sclarea
treatment: regenerative, improves poor hair growth

Juniper Juniperus communis
treatment: antiseborrhoeic (greasy dandruff), antiseptic (greasy scalp)

Lemon Citrus limon
treatment: antibacterial, astringent (reduces greasy dandruff)

Rosemary Rosmarinus offinalis
treatment: stimulating to circulation, helps renew hair growth

Ylang ylang Cananga odorata
treatment: tonic to scalp, aids hair growth

Nails
Geranium Pelargonium
treatment: anti fungal (athlete's foot, skin and nail fungi)

Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
treatment: anti fungal (athlete's foot, skin and nail fungi), healing (strengthens weak nails)

Tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia
treatment: anti-infections, anti fungal (skin and nail infections)

Skin
Geranium Pelargonium graveolens
treatment: cicatrizant (healing), useful for open acne

Juniper Juniperus communis
treatment: antiseborrhoeic, antiseptic

Lemon Citrus limon
treatment: antibacterial, astringent

Petitgrain Citrus aurantium var, amara (fol)
treatment: anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, useful for infected acne

Cedarwood Cedrus atlantica
treatment: antiseptic, cicatrizant, stimulant (skin and scalp problems)

Stress
Clary sage Salvis sclarea
treatment: calming

Geranium Pelargonium graveolens
treatment: relaxant (agitation, anxiety)

Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
treatment: calming and sedative

Lemon Citrus limon
treatment: calming and sedative

Petitgrain Citrus aurantium var. amara (fol)
treatment: balancing and calming

Emotions
Bergamot Citrus bergamia
treatment: sedative, neurotonic, cicatrizant, antispasmodic (anxiety, agitation, grief, fear, mood swings)

EVERYDAY SKINCARE

Embarrassing and unsightly skin conditions can be improved by following a healthy diet and a regular skin-cleansing routing using suitable products. The important thing is to follow both of these recommendations if you want to see positive, lasting results.

Regular cleansing and moisturizing your face will keep your complexion at its best.

Lifestyle Changes
A good starting point is to make a record of your dietary intake each day for a week. By studying this, you will be able to make any necessary adjustments. Try substituting fresh fruit for crisps and chocolate, or fresh juices and/or mineral water for carbonated, sugary drinks. At the same time, monitor improvements to your skin.

If you support yourself by taking aromatherapy baths to relieve stress and follow the skin-cleansing regime below, you should see visible results within a week. If you do not, it may be because the diet and/or care treatments have not been strictly followed. Remember, too, that acne is often worse just before menstruation, and that teenage acne usually subsides by the early twenties.

Daily Skincare Routine
To see immediate improvement to the skin, a five minute skincare routine should be established and carried out twice a day. Essential oils added to unperfumed creams or lotions can be useful for treating difficult skin conditions and to help with the added emotional difficulties of low self-confidence. With perseverance (and improved lifestyle habits), this routine has proved to be extremely effective. Once the skin begins to improve, stress is reduced and a positive, rather than a negative, cycle is created.


Cleanse the skin with a light, water-soluble cleansing milk. Make your own by blending 1 drop each of rosemary, lavender and geranium oils into 30ml (2 tbsp) base lotion. Rinse off with cold water.

Make a gentle, purifying mask by adding 2 drops each of cedarwood, juniper and lemon essential oils to 30ml (2 tbsp) base cream. Apply to face and leave for ten minutes. Rinse off thoroughly with cold water.

Add 3 drops each of lemon and geranium oils to 50ml (2fl.oz) distilled water. Wipe over the face and neck as a tonic. Follow with a moisturizing lotion mixed with 2 drops of hazelnut oil.

Problem Skin
The hormonal changes of puberty lead to increase production of sebum by the sebaceous glands in the skin. From the normal, peach-like skin of childhood, a young woman may find her skin (particularly on her face) changing in texture. The pores become enlarged and more open and the skin becomes oily - particularly on the forehead and in a "T-panel" leading down the nose and on to the chin. These open pores are a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to spots, pimples and blackheads, which is why a regular and effective skin-cleansing routine becomes so important.

A spotty skin can become a problem if it develops into acne (Acne vulgaris). This is a medical condition and requires special care.

The feet are prone to patches of dry, rough, skin. Moisturizing your feet on a regular basis will help to keep them smooth and soft.

Drinking plenty of water can vastly improve your overall health and vitality.




Teenage Care
Acne is caused when excessive amounts of sebum form a blockage at the skin's surface on the face, shoulders and back. Cysts, blackheads and red pustules develop, which can lead to pockmark scars. It is difficult to improve the skin once these scars appear.

The rise in the incidence and severity of teenage acne seems to be connected with some aspects of today's modern culture. Insufficient fresh fruit and vegetables in the diet, chemical additives in food, and air pollution all cause a toxin overload which puts extra strain on the body. Taking good care of your skin and body will really help.

Tips For Healthy Skin

• Stick to a suitable daily skincare routine.
• Exercise for half an hour three times a week.
• Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Drink 6-8 glasses of mineral water a day.

Regular steam inhalations with juniper can help clear blocked pores or blackheads.








Stomach ache or period pains can be treated by applying a compress using basil, lavender and sweet marjoram. A piece of soft cotton or linen soaked in a water-oil mix makes a good compress.