Jane Barber/aromatherapy for Pleasure week 5 Aromatherapy for Pleasure Week 5 Carrier Oils & Creams

Jane Barber/aromatherapy for Pleasure week 5 Lets have a look at what we learned last week:- How do Essential Oils get into the body? How do Essential Oils leave the body? What effects do Essential Oils have on the systems of the body?

Jane Barber/aromatherapy for Pleasure week 5 Carrier Oils & Creams Essential Oils must not be applied neat to the skin They must be diluted in a carrier medium This carrier medium must be vegetable based A carrier can be an oil or a cream All Aromatherapy massage is performed with a Carrier Oil

Jane Barber/aromatherapy for Pleasure week 5 Purposes of a Carrier Oil Act as a lubricant for massage so that the hands can perform a fluent massage Provide a suitable medium for the dilution of essential oils Not affect the therapeutic effects of the essential oils Be absorbed by the epidermis of the skin Allow the natural vitamins (A,D,E) of the carrier oil to nourish the skin

Jane Barber/aromatherapy for Pleasure week 5 Carrier oils come from; Seeds Nuts Fruits Can you think of any vegetable oils that fall into these categories? Grapeseed, Wheatgerm Sweet Almond, Peach Kernel Olive, Avocado

Jane Barber/aromatherapy for Pleasure week 5 Methods of Extraction Best quality Carrier Oils are extracted by Cold-pressing, in effect, Virgin oils No heat or solvents are used which means that the oils are rich in vitamins Hot Extraction is used for oils that do not readily produce their oils e.g. Grapeseed

Jane Barber/aromatherapy for Pleasure week 5 Differences between Essential Oils & Carrier Oils Essential Oils Have an odour Are not oily Are volatile Are not used neat Soluble in alcohol Slightly soluble in water Carrier Oils Have little odour Are oily Are not volatile Can be used neat Not soluble in alcohol or water

Jane Barber/aromatherapy for Pleasure week 5 Essential oils & Carrier oils Essential oils all have a very small molecular structure, this is why they are absorbed by the skin into the bloodstream Carrier (vegetable) oils have larger molecules than essential oils, they are not absorbed into the bloodstream, but they will absorb through the Epidermis, carrying the essential oils with them

Jane Barber/aromatherapy for Pleasure week 5 Mineral oils Mineral oils (e.g. baby oil)have much bigger molecules and are not absorbed into the skin These stay on the skin surface & hinder essential oil absorption This is why it is important to use a Carrier oil or cream that is vegetable-based

Jane Barber/aromatherapy for Pleasure week 5 Carrier Creams Vegetable Carrier Creams are an ideal medium for employing the use of Essential Oils Essential Oils blend readily with them They are absorbed into the skin as far as the Epidermis They are more controllable than oils

Jane Barber/aromatherapy for Pleasure week 5 Carrier Oil Safety Be aware that those people who are allergic to nuts will be allergic to carrier oils that are obtained from nuts e.g. Sweet almond, peach kernel, walnut Avoid using any nut oils Vegetable oils are oily Be careful if any are spilt on the floor, wipe up immediately Store in a cool place They will go rancid quickly

Jane Barber/aromatherapy for Pleasure week 5 So what have you learned? What is a Carrier? Why are vegetable oils used? Name some Vegetable oils What are the differences between Essential Oils & Carrier Oils? What types of oils could you use if you had a nut allergy?