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Aromatherapy for
Children, Part 1
by
Francoise Rapp
Although the use of aromatherapy is
typically associated with
adults, children can also benefit from the healing and soothing
powers of aromatherapy. They are very attracted to different
scents and love to experience it through diffusion, baths,
massage, inhalation, and even topically.
Children particularly enjoy creating aromatic blends for their
own use. Whether creating a blend to help calm themselves at
night, or helping to identify the essential oils or blends to
use on burns or wounds, aromatherapy can be a fun way for
children to participate in their healing through an effective
natural therapy.
There are few rules of thumb when it comes to aromatherapy for
children. First of all, since children are much more sensitive
than adults, the concentration of essential oils in their blends
should be at least three times less than adult blends. I also
recommend that children under the age of 5 should not use
aromatherapy directly (bath or massage). Instead, use the
essential oils in a nebulizer and run it for just 10 minutes in
the room. The other option is to use hydrosols or floral waters
instead of essential oils in their bath.
Children can safely use the following essential oils: Lavender,
Roman Chamomile, Orange, Lemon, Neroli, Rosemary, Eucalyptus,
Grapefruit, Marjoram, Dill, Cardamom, Rose, Basil and Melissa.
So what are the most common childhood ailments, and how can you
safely use aromatic blends on your children? Try creating the
following recipes at home for a natural healing alternative. In
future Health and Beauty editions, you will learn more about the
holistic aspects of aromatherapy for children and teenagers.
To create these blends, pour your essential oils into a 10-ml
bottle, and fill will organic vegetable oil.
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Colds and Flu
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-2 drops Rosemary 1,8 cineole
-2 drops Eucalyptus
Rub blend on the chest and middle back. Add a few drops of the
aromatic blend to your child's warm bath water and let him/her
soak for at least 15 minutes. Pour 4 drops of the aromatic blend on a tissue and have your child breathe it in deeply.
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Wounds and Burns
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Dab 1 drop of pure, undiluted Lavender essential oil on the
afflicted area. Do it just once.
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Immune System Booster
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-2 drops Rosemary 1,8 cineole
-3 drops Ravensara
Massage the solar plexus and lower back, chest and middle back.
Add a few drops of the aromatic blend to your child's warm bath
water and let him/her soak for at least 15 minutes. Pour 4 drops
of the aromatic blend on a tissue and have your child breathe it
in deeply.
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Sweet Dreams
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-1 drop Roman Chamomile
-2 drops Lavender
-2 drops Orange
This is a wonderful blend for story time! Massage the forehead
and temples, neck and back. Add a few drops of the aromatic
blend to your child's warm bath water and let him/her soak for
at least 15 minutes.
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Toothaches
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-2 drops Roman Chamomile
Rub the essential oil directly on the cheek.
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Joy and Laughter
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-3 drops Orange
-2 drops Lemon
Massage the solar plexus and abdomen, friction the back. Pour 4
drops of the aromatic blend on a tissue and have your child
breathe it in deeply.
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Tummy Aches
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-2 drops Basil
-2 drops Dill
Massage the tummy clockwise with the blend as needed.
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Lack of Appetite
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-2 drops Cardamom
-2 drops Dill
Massage the solar plexus and abdomen. Pour 4 drops of the
aromatic blend on a tissue and have your child breathe it in
deeply.
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Motion Sickness
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-4 drops Lemon
-1 drop Ginger
Massage the solar plexus. Pour 4 drops of the aromatic blend on
a tissue and have your child breathe it in deeply.
| (c) Francoise Rapp, 2002. Permission is granted to reproduce this article in your print or electronic publications, providing you use the article in its entirety, including the brief bio trailer, all links and references within. Please let me know if you use this article by email to
francoise@aromalchemy.com.
This article was originally published by Francoise Rapp in "The Arom'Alchemy Newsletter," a weekly ezine dedicated to healthy mind, body and soul through the use of aromatherapy. Join her for many aromatic moments to come by subscribing at
www.aromalchemy.com/education.
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