1 Building a Blend that Works Debbie Moore MIFPA Vice Principal Penny Price Aromatherapy

2 Blending Blending essential oils, vegetable oils, creams, hydrolats and gels is a creative process that should be done with science, intuition and integrity together to create the perfect blend.

3 Synergy  Synergy is important – it means ‘working together co-operatively’. This is not just synergy within a singular oil, between the oils in a blend but also with the chosen carrier.  The blend should also be synergistic with the person using it.  Antagonism – you may choose two or three widely diverse essential oils to create an active blend. This is still creating synergy and needs experience to employ.

Blending mediums Use carrier oils if -  You need to moisturise large areas of the body  You need their therapeutic properties  It is a blend for massage Use carrier lotion if –  You need a non-greasy base that is very easy to apply and will be absorbed quickly into the skin.  You are treating the elderly and children.  You want to use specialist carrier oils but not in an oily base. 4

5 Hydrolats Use hydrolats if-  You are treating inflammation  You are making a compress  You are treating delicate facial skin  You need a non-oily bath base

6 Other carriers  Cocoa butter  Coconut solid  Shea butter  Green clay  Calamine powder  Fullers earth  Beeswax  Shampoo base  Shower gel base  Conditioner base  Cleansing milk base  Skin wash base  Vitamin E cream  Face and body scrub base  Ad infinitum!!!

Rules for blending  30 drops to 100mls of carrier  Half this amount for people under 7 and over 80  Half this amount for very sick clients  Double the amount for deep seated pain  Use 10 drops per 100mls for the facial area 7

8 Mixing and blending  Mixing essential oils is an art that is totally individual on two counts:  It is individual for the client for whom the mixture is being blended and,  It is individual to the therapist who blends the mixture.  This may mean that if your client went to another therapist with the same complaints, he/she would not necessarily be prescribed the same essential oil blend that you would have given. The relationship between therapist and client is unique and individual.

9 Mixing and blending  The good, empathetic relationship that you create with your clients is paramount as to whether the blend works or not; if he/she trusts you and believes in your ability to create a blend that will improve their condition, then the blend is much more likely to be effective.  We must never under-estimate the power of faith in the healing process. Time spent developing such a relationship will not go unrewarded.

10 Choosing essential oils  It is not necessary to choose one top note oil, one middle note oil and one base note oil as is suggested in some books. It is more important to choose the essential oils that the client needs.  For example, if your client is stressed and unable to sleep, it may be that you would choose three base note essential oils in your blend.

11 Choosing essential oils  If you are making a straightforward blend, then you would choose 3 or 4 oils that are recommended to treat that complaint and you would use 30 drops per 100ml carrier.  This is a 1.5% blend. It is possible to use a 3% blend, or even more if the situation calls for it.

12 Choosing essential oils There may be several reasons for the way you decide to choose a blend for a particular client:  According to the fragrance – for a delicate client emotionally, or for someone who needs deep relaxation but not necessarily needing to address physical needs  According to chemistry – to select oils because of their synergistic chemical properties to treat specific ailments (the cross-reference is based on this principle)  Psychological needs – the client may not like the prescribed blend and may need alterations that incorporate aesthetics rather than pharmacological weight

13 Chemistry  You need to know the chemical component parts of each essential oil  The pharmacological effects of each component part also need to be learned  This ensures that the client will have every opportunity to get well

14 Chemical properties  Terpenes: Mildly therapeutic, forms bulk of oil, antiseptic  Sesquiterpenes: Mildly therapeutic, slightly hypotensive, anti-inflammatory  Alcohols: Analgesic, antiseptic, antiviral, stimulating  Phenols: Antiseptic, anti-infectious, immuno-stimulating, nervine  Aldehydes: Anti-infectious, nervine anti-inflammatory, hypotensive,

15 Chemical properties  Ketones: Mucolytic, lipolytic, sedative, cicatrisant  Esters: Antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, cell regenerating  Oxides: Mucolytic, bronchio-dilators  Lactones: Photosensitising, expectorant, febrifuge  Acids: Anti-inflammatory

16 Take into account -  The condition you want to treat  The odour intensity of the essential oils (if oils are in the blend)  The medicinal properties of the oils  The psychological effects of the oil  The ratio of oil to carrier  If using only hydrolats that you blend with the same principles in mind as if you were using oils

17 Blending oils There are several guidelines to choosing the correct essential oils:  Use a Medical Encyclopaedia. Always look up an ailment, whether you are familiar with it or not. This will help understanding of the ailment and lead to a rational choice of oils.  Use a cross-reference where you can. If this is not possible, look up each individual essential oil until you find 2 or 3 that will deal with the problem.

18 Blending oils  Break down the condition into pieces! For example, to treat Endometriosis, first look it up. You will then discover that the condition entails pain, inflammation and hormonal imbalance.  Look up oils that will help these 3 effects and cross-reference them to find the most effective essential oils to help with endometriosis.

19 Lets have a go!  Blending by symptom (chemistry)  Blending by aroma  Blend by cross-reference

20 All of this…..  Is to make sure that you feel safe and competent, BEFORE you treat serious physical conditions.  Quality of oils is paramount to the success of the treatment.  Home treatments are necessary to effect a continuous healing.

21 Conclusion  Method of application and choice of oils is an individual exercise for each client/person.  No two people are the same and so treatment will always vary from one person to another and from therapist to therapist.  Be confident in your blending techniques, if you have chosen with integrity then it will be right for your client.