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A diffuser is a device that allows the scent of essential oils to disperse throughout a room. Typically the oils are placed in the diffuser along with water.
Steam inhalation involves adding essential oils to a bowl of steaming water. The hot water vaporizes the oil, allowing it to be inhaled with the steam.
You can also make massage oils using essential oils. To do this, the oil must be diluted in another type of oil, which is called a carrier oil. Carrier oils can include things like jojoba oil and coconut oil. Do not apply essential oils directly on the skin unless diluted in a carrier oil.
You can also add essential oils to unscented lotions and creams. Like with massage oils, you’ll need to dilute the oil in the cream or lotion before applying it to your skin.
With the advent of modern pharmacology, natural or holistic therapies all but disappeared in the western world. There was now a pill for everything and natural remedies were considered unnecessary. They became known as unproven “new age” treatments and not to be trusted. That has slowly begun to change over the last few decades.
The term aromatherapy as we know it today was first coined in 1937 by the French chemist and perfumer Rene Maurice Gattefosse. He was not a believer of the natural health movement but was interested in the properties that essential oils exhibited. In 1910 he burnt his hand badly in his laboratory. Having lavender oil readily available in his lab for his perfumes he treated his badly burnt hand with pure undiluted lavender oil. The lavender oil immediately eased the pain and helped heal the hand without any sign of infection or scar. During his experiments he also found that minute amounts of essential oils are absorbed by the body and interact with the body chemistry.
Because of Gattefosse's experiments Dr. Jean Valet used essential oils to treat injured soldiers during World War 2 with great success.
In the 1950's a biochemist named Marguerite Maury started diluting essential oils in vegetable carrier oils and using it in massage treatments. She was also the first person to start the use of "individually prescribed" combinations of essential oils to meet the specific needs of her patients. She is known across Europe as the pioneer of aromatherapy.
Since the late 1970’s and early 80's the use of essential oils and aromatherapy has become a major part of alternative and holistic health systems, and has a huge following across the world. Presently, aromatherapy is offered in many traditional healthcare settings and is becoming more and more mainstream.
Generally speaking, essential oils are not recommended for animals. Some essential oils are harmless, especially in small quantities. So it’s not like you can never have essential oils and pets at the same time. There may even be some essential oils for pets that are safe in very small amounts. Always ask your veterinarian for approval before you use oils.