Offering a multitude of curative properties, essential oils have been used since ancient times. With today's rising demand for aromatherapy, essential oils are commonly being used to treat many illnesses at home and at facilities such as hospitals, clinics, maternity wards, hospice care, schools, and even in the workplace. Sources of essential oils include parts of herbs, shrubs, and trees. Some of the plant parts that are used are the fruit, seed, root, stem, leaf, or flower petal. There are many methods of extracting oils depending on the their source. Distillation, where steam is passed through organic material to separate the oils from them, is used for plants that are sensitive to heat. To press oil from peels they are expressed. There are many questions regarding this part of essential oil - how to extract them? Well, its all in here. The process of drawing the essence from a plant by immersing it in heated oil is called maceration. And enffleurage extracts the essence within flowers as they are pressed between plates of oiled glass.

Many have asked on essential oil - how to use them effectively on the body? Lavender oil, used for aromatherapy, is extremely popular and is one of the most used of all the essential oils. It is extracted from the flower by distillation. Lavender blooms are pale purple clusters at the end of soft green, leafy spikes. The blossoms yield a sweet herbal fragrance.

One of lavender's greatest attractions is its versatility. Its broad applications have ranged from being used as an insect repellent to being used as a sedative. Other therapeutic characteristics that are attributed to lavender are its antiseptic, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. These attributes are responsible for killing bacteria, fighting fungal infections, boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure, aiding the nervous system, renewing cells, suppressing coughs, increasing bile production, and reducing muscular pain. For infants and children it is often used to treat colic, infections, and other medical conditions related to childhood. To help a child get to sleep add a few drops of lavender and almond oil to the water for a soothing bath.

A great application of lavender essential oil - how to use in massage? By adding lavender to massage oil it can make massaging along the spine a relaxing and healthful experience. When gently applied to the abdomen it can relieve menstrual cramps. And for arthritis and rheumatism, massaging painful areas with lavender can ease aches and pains. The treatment for many psychological illness, such as manic depression, can be enhanced by the therapeutic properties of lavender.

Lavender Essential Oil is the best oil to use for massage. Many massage oils consist of a blend of essential oils added to a base oil. How to choose the blend? One common blend is a combination of lavender essential oil and a base of almond oil. It's possible to increase the potential of marjoram oil, rosemary oil, or juniper oil, by adding lavender oil to any one of them.

For many types of headaches creating a cold compress with lavender oil, positioning it on the forehead or on the back of the neck can bring relief. Another way to alleviate a headache is by massaging the temples with a touch of lavender oil. Overworked or fatigued muscles will also benefit from a lavender massage. Add a few drops of lavender oil to a steam bath to relieve the symptoms of sinus congestion, coughs, cold or influenza. Or use it to massage a sore throat.

There are many essential oils that can bring many therapeutic rewards to daily life. And lavender, with all that it offers as an essential oil is one of the most effective, and the most versatile.