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Carrier oils are almost as important as the essential oil. The quality of the carrier affects the quality of the blend or product.
Carrier Base A carrier oil is the base into which you mix the essential oils. It dilutes the essential oils. It allows for the correct strength of the blend and prevents skin irritation. The use of the blend will also determine the carrier that you choose.
Pure and Natural A carrier oil is made with only pure, natural vegetable oils. Different vegetable oils have different qualities and uses. Elegant carrier oil blends are made from more than one vegetable oil .
Cold Press Vegetable oils used for carriers are cold-pressed. The oils are squeezed from the fatty portions of plants - the fatty acids. These vegetable oils are heavy and do not evaporate. Vegetable oils with little to no scent are preferred for aromatherapy carrier oils.
What they Carry Natural vegetable oils are absorbed into the skin. The carry the essential oils into the skin gently preventing irritation. Essential oils also improve absorption. For this reason never use anything but pure plant base oils.
Aromatherapy Grade Be sure to buy only cold pressed oils for carriers, otherwise the base oil will lack therapeutic value. Also oils extracted with solvents have chemical impurities. Get your oils from a health food store or qualified aromatherapist.
Keeping Natural Oils Fresh To prevent aromatherapy carrier oils from going rancid keep them tightly capped and in the refrigerator. Because of the purity they have no chemical additives or preservatives. They are sold in small bottles and will keep for nine months properly stored.
Different Carrier Oils Choose your aromatherapy carrier oils for their different therapeutic benefits and based on how you intend to use them.
Sweet Almond Light, nutty, golden oil with a mild scent, it is a favorite massage oil ingredient. It is therapeutic in soothing the skin. It relieves itching and irritation. It nourishes and leaves the skin glowing.
Grapeseed This is probably the lightest and silkiest oil. It also has almost no scent, only a light pleasantness. It is used in aromatherapy for facials. The astringent properties tone, firm, and tighten the skin. This effect can be increased by certain essential oils giving you younger looking skin instantly. The one draw-back to this oil is that it is not cold pressed, but solvent extracted.
Avocado The rich, emollient moisturizer is used for dry and mature skin. Avocado is laden with moisture rich fatty acids and vitamins A and E which nourish and heal aging or dry sin. Your skins will look and feel moist and supple as youth after this treatment. Severe dry skins conditions also benefit.
Olive (Olea europaea) This light green or yellow-green oil is well known as a culinary oil, but less so for its therapeutic properties. This oil is so gentle on tender, delicate skin. It is used for soak making for baby soap and it can soothe and heal dry, cracked, ore skin. It softens and soothes both skin and muscles making is a great massage oil base. One of the more stable oils, it can keep outside of the refrigerator for one year.
Macadamia Nut (Macadamia intergrifolia ) This oil is a light, clear amber and has a slightly nutty odor, and a light texture. The oil contains palmitoleic acid which promotes soft supple skin.
Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) Jojoba oil, a liquid plant wax, looks like an oil, but really is not. Because it is a wax it is great for hair and scalp treatments and for oily skin and acne. Our body uses it like our own oils, to nourish, soothe and protect. It is readily absorbed and leaves no oily residue. It is choice for aromatherapy treatments for acne and oily conditions. Its antioxidant properties prevent it from going rancid and it can be added to other blends to extend shelf life.
Evening Primrose The essential fatty acid is known for its anti-inflammatory healing properties. It is a great oil for women, tending to female inflammations. The gamma-linoleic acid in this oil fight free radicals, inflammation and hormone imbalances which dry the skin.
Wheat Germ Oils This vitamin-packed carrier oil is an antioxidant powerhouse. The topical application of vitamins penetrates the skin for direct repair and healing. The rich, thick, honey-colored oil packs a load of B,A and E vitamins. It is widely used for scars and stretch marks. Use on cracked heals and feet, or corners of the mouth. Mae the most of the healing and antioxidant properties by adding it to oil blends to increase effectiveness and shelf life.
Copyright Native Enterprises, LLC 2009. All rights reserved.
About the Author:
Dana is a licensed massage therapist in Atlanta, GA, USA, where she has practiced for over 17 years. For more information on clinical therapies, nutritional counseling or products visit Native Bodyworx at http://www.nativebodyworx.us. Visit Dana's blog for health and wellness information or if you have questions for Dana. http://nativebodyworx.blogspot.com.
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