Aromatherapy Carrier Oil
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The use of aromatherapy carrier oil is a
personal and lifestyle choice. It is one that can
bring you pleasure, beauty and well-being. For this reason,
the practice of aromatherapy has become the fastest growing
fields in alternative medicine and holistic healing.
There are several types of oils used in aromatherapy. You
have essential oils, absolutes, floral waters or hydrosols,
resins, infused oils, herbs, natural substances, and of
course, the ever dependable aromatherapy carrier oils.
Unlike any other oil used in this ancient art form,
aromatherapy carrier oils are not made from herbs or fruits.
Aromatherapy carrier oils are almost entirely made from
vegetable oils.
Some people refer to aromatherapy carrier oils as base oils.
This is because they are most often used to dilute highly
concentrated essential oils when applied to the skin. |
Not only are aromatherapy carrier oils used
for that, but they are also used in combination with
absolutes and CO2s, two other types of aromatherapy oils.
Aromatherapy carrier oils carry the essential
oil onto the skin. Different aromatherapy carrier oils offer
different properties and therapeutic benefits for you so
choosing the right carrier oil is very important.
Aromatherapy carrier oils are not like any other oil used in
aromatherapy. Often, they are cold-pressed and extracted
from fatty portions of vegetables. They do not evaporate,
unlike essential oils, and their fumes or aroma are not
quite as strong.
Some fine examples of aromatherapy carrier oils are sweet
almond, apricot kernel, grape seed, avocado, peanut, olive,
pecan, macadamia nut, sesame, evening primrose, walnut, and
wheat germ. Most of the aromatherapy carrier oils you find
in grocery stores are not cold-pressed. When aromatherapy
carrier oils are heated, they lose some of their therapeutic
benefits. That is why it is in never advisable to purchase
your carrier oils from grocery store.
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Aromatherapy carrier oils are different from
mineral oil so don’t ever mistake one for the other. Mineral
oil is never used in aromatherapy not only because it is not
a natural product but because they may prevent the
absorption of essential oil into the skin. Aromatherapy
carrier oils on the other hand function specifically to help
the skin absorb essential oil.
Another significant difference between aromatherapy carrier
oil and essential oil is that the latter does not go rancid.
Aromatherapy carrier oils can go rancid, especially if
they’ve been sitting there for long. The aromatherapy
carrier oils that you purchase must be natural and
unadulterated to prevent the oil from going bad faster than
normal. The only exception to this rule is aromatherapy
carrier oil that contains a blend of natural vitamin E.
Vitamin E acts as a natural preservative so its addition
shouldn’t pose a problem. |
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