AROMATHERAPY AT HOME

Improve the Indoor Air Quality in Your Home or Office
By Kathleen Karlsen for Aspirations LLC

Indoor air quality is a major health issue in industrialized countries around the world. Many people are estimated to spend an average of 80-90% of their time indoors, whether they are at home, at work or at school. In colder climates, the time spent indoors is even higher. The concentration of individual air pollutants that lower indoor air quality in typical buildings can easily be 100 times higher than the level of contaminants in outdoor air.

Essential Oils for Healthy Home Environments
Essential oils are a practical and cost effective solution to offset many of the detrimental effects of poor indoor air quality. In addition, psychologists report that aromas penetrate deeply into our unconscious and emotional worlds because we react instinctively rather than intellectually to the vast array of scents in our environment. Knowing this, we can enhance our moods as well as our physical health by improving indoor air quality with oils that are wisely chosen and properly diffused.

On the physical level, essential oils help combat biological contaminants by binding to the airborne molecules of fat that typically carry unpleasant odors. Citrus oils are great air fresheners in offices, schools and public places and very few people object to the smell. Synthetic air fresheners, on the other hand, only mask the undesirable odors. Essential oils also have well-documented antiviral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties to further improve indoor air quality. Some powerful and relatively inexpensive "bacteria busters" are cinnamon, clove, lemon, eucalyptus, lavender and pine oils.

Essential Oils for Every Season
You can also pick your oils in relation to the time of year. In spring and summer, light, refreshing essential oils are the most appropriate for optimal indoor air quality. These include geranium, lavender, pettigraine, lime/lemon and sandalwood. Oils appropriate for autumn and winter would be warming scents such as cypress, benzoin, nutmeg and frankincense.

Aromatherapy for Every Area of Your Home
Different areas of your home can also benefit from specific scents. Relaxing oils like clary sage, bergamot, rose and jasmine work well in the living room. To rouse couch potatoes from their winter lethargy, improve the indoor air quality with stimulating oils like mints and forest blends! For bathrooms and kitchens, the "bacteria busters" mentioned above along with lemon grass and citronella are excellent. In bedrooms, sleep enhancing oils like valerian, chamomile, hyssop and lavender are good choices.

Aromatherapy Diffusers
Essential oils can be diffused through a wide assortment of clay, glass and metal diffusers commonly sold through essential oil and herb companies. Some easy homemade approaches work just as well, like putting nine drops of oil into a pan of boiling water. You can also add four drops of oil to a cup of warm water in a standard spray bottle. (Be careful not to spray the mist on wooden furniture to avoid discoloration.) Or add some drops to your humidifier.

If you prefer the methods your grandma may have used, create your own perfumed pillows and sachets, potpourris, scented soaps and scented candles. However, make sure you are getting the real thing. Lower quality candles, for example, can emit pollutants such as acetone, benzene and soot, which actually decrease the level of indoor air quality. Some imported candles even have wick cores made of lead. For purity and health, the best options are beeswax or soy candles with natural fiber wicks.

Aromatherapy In the Winter
There is typically a higher amount of air pollution in the air than normal during the winter months due to an increase in the burning of wood, coal, and heating oils and the fact that cold air keeps air pollution closer to the ground. This increased pollution can lead to several different respiratory problems.

The anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and antiseptic properties of essential oils, along with the negative ions and oxygenating molecules that are released when essential oils are diffused all help to reduce chemicals, bacteria, and metallic toxins in the air. Several oils recommended for air purification include cypress, eucalyptus, fir, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, lime and rosemary. When you experience all of the physical and psychological benefits of aromatherapy diifusion in your home, you'll be glad you did!

Oils for Improving Indoor Air Quality

BUY OILS AT WHOLESALE PRICES
To purchase oils at a discount, please call Young Living at 1-800-371-2928 and use Independent Distributor #10279 for your sponsor and enroller or contact Maria Low at marialow2000@yahoo.com.