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Aromatherapy Tip for the Beginner to Advanced
Journaling – one of the most important aspects of Aromatherapy
By Penny Keay
As you begin your learning of the use of essential oils you will find that keeping good records is a must.
Whether you are a beginner or advanced –
the best aromatherapist get to ‘know’ their oils and what they do for them and others by writing things down.
You have several methods you can do this.
Simply keep a notebook (such as a 3 ring binder), a recipe card filing system or other file folder.
Today the options for keeping records are many.
They can be handwritten or typed and printed from a computer, etc. Use the method you feel will be the most beneficial for you.
The next question is what should I be keeping records of?
You will want to keep at least two types of records –
One of the essential oil and one for the condition(s) you use it for. This will make quick
references when the time comes for you to find out what worked for you previously.
Start with a set of records about the essential oils used.
Things like its common name, botanical name and species, and country of origin.
These are easily found on the bottle labels. We always include this information and most essential oil companies do.
Also include on this card a record of the conditions you used it for and the results you received/achieved.
A simple example would be:
Eucalyptus – Eucalyptus globulus, Australia:
Used for:
Chest congestion – It worked great for Me when inhaled but Bob didn’t appear to respond as well (but he did better with
Eucalyptus – Eucalyptus radiata – see that entry)
Muscle soreness – Bob overworked this weekend – made a massage blend with
Sweet Almond oil in a 3% dilution and it worked great!
Then on another set of cards for your Conditions You’ll want to make an
Entry or Card for Chest Congestion and one for Muscle Soreness.
Writing down the essential oils you used at the time and the results for the individuals you used the essential oils on.
So Chest Congestion might look like this:
Chest Congestion:
Eucalyptus globulus: worked on me. I inhaled it using a personal inhaler.
Eucalyptus radiata: gave Bob relief when used in a steam bowl.
Muscle Soreness:
Due to overworked muscles:
Eucalyptus globulus: 3% dilution with Sweet almond oil.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita): 2% dilution in Jojoba
Recipe:
Eucalyptus globulus – 3 drops
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) – 3 drops
Sunflower oil - 1 tablespoon
(This is a 2% dilution of essential oils to Carrier oil)
This is just a simple way for you to remember what did and didn’t work and more importantly
what essential oils can do for you for a given ailment.
Before long your list of properties for each individual essential oil will become very long.
You will soon find out why in aromatherapy when someone asks you what ‘such and such’ essential oil is good for –
you will most likely answer the same as we do. “There are too many to list." And then we add....
"But what condition are you having problems with? Maybe we can find a few essential oils that will work for you! “
As you continue to use and study essential oils your file folder or notebook will be the best guide for you and your family.
It will be your own personal Aromatherapy book of reference! And it will be what works best for you!
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