Used for centuries in cultures across the world, aromatherapy is the use of scent, often through essential oils, to promote psychological and physical well-being. Knowing about the different scents and health benefits of aromatherapy will help you decide the best type of aromatherapy for you. Anyone from adults to children can use aromatherapy. However, in very young children, the elderly, and pregnant women, you’ll need to take precautions with using oils and hot water. Essential oils, when inhaled as a scent or applied to the skin, have a variety of health benefits. They can help with physical ailments such as congestion and ease psychological conditions such as anxiety. Learning about the benefits of using aromatherapy can help you choose the best essential oils for your needs.  Aromatherapy can ease the symptoms of certain physical ailments. For example, using eucalyptus essential oil can help with congestion.  Aromatherapy can also ease the symptoms of certain psychological ailments. For example, using lavender or chamomile essential oils can help with anxiety and depression.  In general, using aromatherapy, especially when in conjunction with a warm bath, will relax and soothe you. Essential oils are distilled from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, or roots of a specific plant and contain its true essence. They are neither oily nor are they like a fragrant oil.  Essential oils are usually a clear liquid that is not oily, but rather like water.  Essential oils are neither a perfume nor a fragrance oil.  Essential oils are highly concentrated and you won’t need to use much of it to get its benefits. You will use different essential oils in your bath depending on what you wish you achieve with your aromatherapy bath—relaxation and calming or easing ailments. Each oil has different properties and knowing what these are will help you make the best choice for your needs.  Keep a selection of different essential oils at hand so that you can use them whenever you want or need. Bergamot essential oil can help stress, depression, anxiety and some skin infections such as psoriasis and eczema.  Chamomile essential oil is a powerful calming agent. In addition to being an antiseptic, it can also help lift mood and aid depression.  Eucalyptus essential oil can help with respiratory issues, fevers, and headaches and is a stimulant. It also has cooling and deodorizing properties.  Jasmine essential oil can help reduce tension and stress. It may also help ease childbirth, depression, and respiratory issues.  Lavender essential oil is an excellent choice to relieve stress, but can also be used as an anti-depressant, deodorant, and sedative.  Lemon essential oil can help improve concentration, digestion, and ease the symptoms of acne.  Marjoram essential oil can help ease anxiety and stress, fight fatigue, and may alleviate respiratory and circulatory issues.  Rose essential oil can help with depression, anxiety and digestion. It may also aid circulation and respiratory conditions such as asthma.  Peppermint essential oil has a cooling, refreshing and energizing effect. It can also increase mental alertness.  Tea tree essential oil is an antiseptic that can heal burns and cuts and soothe cold sores and muscle aches.  For a comprehensive list of essential oils and their properties, visit the website at http://www.aromaweb.com/essentialoils/default.asp#essentialoilprofiles . Because essential oils are so concentrated, you’ll need to dilute it with a carrier oil to best use it. You can use a variety of different plant oils as a carrier oil including: sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, olive oil, and sesame oil. These often have the added benefit that they effectively moisturize skin.  Make sure to use a natural, plant based oil. These pair best and most effectively with essential oils. Sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, olive oil, and sesame oil are excellent carrier oils.  Don’t use water or other liquids to dilute your essential oil, which will make it difficult to use it effectively for your aromatherapy bath or shower. Because each essential oil has different properties and may not be ideal for all users, it’s important to read the properties of any essential oil before you use it. It’s also a good idea to do a skin patch test before using an oil as well.  By reading the bottles of essential oils, you can find out about the oil’s now the contra-indications. For example, you wouldn’t want to use eucalyptus oil if you are pregnant, breast feeding, or an epileptic.  Not reading the contra-indications of an essential oil can have a serious affect on your health. Before you use the essential oil in a bath, do a skin patch test. Add 1-2 drops of diluted essential oil to the inside of your elbow. Leave it on and if no irritation occurs after 24 hours, then you can safely use the essential oil in a bath on your skin. There are different methods to deliver essential oils for aromatherapy. From using the essential oils in a bath to heating them with a scent diffuser, you’ll want to choose the most optimal type of method for you.  Essential oils, which are mixed with a carrier oil, in a bath are one of the best ways to use aromatherapy. Because some people have sensitive skin, using an essential oil in bathwater may be too intense. In these cases, people can use heated scent diffusers to reap the benefits of aromatherapy. If you don’t want to put an essential oil on your skin because it is sensitive, for example, you can spritz it on your towels. The scent will help you relax and may help induce sleep.  Making a spritzer for your towels is easy.  Simply take 30-40 drops of your favorite essential oil for sleep and add 1.5 ounces of distilled water. Mix these in a clean spray bottle and then lightly spray on your towels.  The number of drops of essential oil you use will depend on how strong you want the scent to be.  You only need to lightly mist your towels to get the benefits of essential oils. Dousing your towels may irritate your skin.

Summary: Learn about what aromatherapy is. Learn about the health benefits of aromatherapy. Understand what essential oils are. Find the right essential oil for your needs. Use a carrier oil with your essential oil. Be an informed user of essential oils. Decide on a delivery method. Spritz it on your towel.


You won’t be comfortable if you have to sleep with your body contorted into a pretzel, so lay down in the bathtub and see how well you fit.  In order to be comfortable for an entire night of sleep, the bathtub must be long enough for you to stretch out in and wide enough that your shoulders won’t be cramped and you can keep your spine in alignment so your back won’t hurt in the morning.  If the tub isn’t big enough, the floor may be a better option after all. Sleeping on the floor actually has some health benefits and can be good for an achy back!   Make sure you have room to sleep on your back but can also roll over onto your side so you won’t be uncomfortable staying in one position all night. Since people will also be using the bathtub for showers, you will need to make sure it is thoroughly dry before making your bed inside it.  Avoid using the bathtub for several hours before bedtime if possible. If the tub is still wet from someone’s shower, dry it with a towel. You can also use a hairdryer to completely dry the tub. Clean the tub so you won’t get any soap residue or hair on your blankets and pillows. You don’t want to knock a bottle of shampoo onto the floor or have a bar of soap fall on your face during the night.  Remove toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, lotion, etc.) that are in the way or that you might accidentally knock onto the floor while you sleep. Be courteous with other people’s belongings and make sure you replace everything in the morning.
Summary: Measure the tub. Make it dry and clean. Clear away clutter.