Making Aromatherapy Compresses

You will find that making your own aromatherapy compress is an easy and effective way to apply healing essential oils to the skin. Compresses are a simple and useful way of treating a wide range of conditions. A piece of clean cloth, a bowl of water ( hot or cold depending on the condition you are treating), your essential oils and some cling film are all you need to make an aromatherapy compress.

Making A Cloth Compress

Compresses are simply cloths soaked in water, to which you add essential oils. The process is the same whether hot or cols, apart from the water temperature.

1. Add 6 drops of oils to 500ml of water in a bowl.
2. Place a piece of cotton on the surface of the water to soak.
3. Wring out all the excess water and place the wet, infused cotton over the skin of the area that needs treating.
4. Cover the compress with cling film and bandage or cover with a towel to keep the compress in place if necessary
5. Leave the compress in please until it has cooled or warmed to body temperature, then soak and reapply as required.

Applying a hot or cold compress alone is known to be beneficial in treating sprains, bruises and muscular aches and pains. By adding essential oils, with properties specific to the condition you need to treat, your home made compresses will have even greater therapeutic effects. When you make a compress, try to remember to keep the size of the cloth in proportion to the area being treated.

HOT OR COLD COMPRESS?
Hot and cold compresses are used to treat different conditions and it is important to know when to use which type of compress.

Hot Compresses
Hot compresses increase ciculation to the affected area and work to relieve muscular aches and pains.
They can be used for:

Abscesses
Arthritis
Boils
Cystitis
Period pains or cramps
Muscle cramps
Rheumatism

Cold Compress
Cold Compresses, especially those incorporating ice, will reduce swelling.
They can be applied to help:

Bruising
Fever
Headaches
Inflammation
Sprains
Swellings.


Hot and Cold
For sprains, arthritas or rheumatism, alternate between hot and cold compresses, changing the compress every three minutes, and finishing with a cold compress.

What oil is best?

There are many essential oils that can be applied in compresses, although a few are particulary versatile and may be used to help with a wide range of conditions.



Eucalyptus





Relieves sunburn, sparins, arthritis, muscular pains and headaches.


Ginger





Warms stiff or aching muscles and wards off winter colds.


Chamomile






Helps to treat sunburn, rashes, sprains, period pains, headaches and burns.


Lavender





Alleviates bruises, sunburn, rashes, sprains, headaches, migraine, burns and cyctitas.