It is difficult to imagine a more useful and pleasant addition to bath procedures than essential oils. They enhance the relaxation and healing properties of the bathhouse and will turn a trip to it into a real holiday for body and soul.
The benefits of essential oils in baths and saunas
The bathhouse has long outgrown its original purpose; now it is not just a house for washing the body. Here you relax, heal your body and spirit, and gain strength. To maximize the benefits of this procedure, you can use essential oils. Volatile substances contained in oils heat up and actively penetrate through steamed skin and the respiratory tract into the body. The choice of esters is very diverse. Each person can find wonderful aromas to suit their taste, depending on the goals they are pursuing. Some of them will help get rid of diseases and strengthen the immune system, others will help you lose weight, and others will give you vitality.
How to choose and store essential oils correctly
You should buy essential oils in pharmacies or specialized stores. You need to purchase only natural esters, preferably from well-known manufacturers, but it is better to avoid synthetic substitutes. The production of esters is a labor-intensive process, so they are not cheap. They must be stored away from sunlight in a cool place, since under the influence of ultraviolet radiation many components of the esters are destroyed. Therefore, they should be brought into the sauna during bath procedures; they should not be stored there.
Contraindications for use
Before you go to the steam room, armed with the treasured bottle, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications; each oil always comes with instructions with a list of diseases for which you should not use it. The general restrictions always remain the following:
- body reactions to ether such as itching, sneezing, allergies or odor intolerance are reasons to refuse its use;
- many oils are contraindicated for hypertension, as they can aggravate the situation, which is especially important in conditions of high temperature and humidity;
- oils should not be abused during pregnancy. In general, during this period it is better to refrain from experiments on the body;
- infectious diseases in acute form;
- epilepsy;
- inflammatory processes of internal organs.
Table: effect of essential oils on the human body
| Purpose | Essential oils | Action |
| Medical purpose | Juniper, dill, anise | They will help with a cough that does not go away for a long time, as they have pronounced anti-inflammatory and mucolytic effects: they liquefy mucus and remove it from the lungs. |
| Eucalyptus, mint, fir, lemon balm, tea tree, neroli, bergamot, patchouli, basil, rosemary, lemon. | Antiseptic effect, perfect for the prevention and treatment of colds, as well as diseases of the upper respiratory tract. | |
| Geranium, lemon verbena, basil, jasmine | They have an antispasmodic effect, will help normalize blood pressure and get rid of headaches. | |
| Wormwood, rosemary, Chinese lemongrass | They will help with loss of strength, cope with stress and nervousness. | |
| Pine, sea buckthorn, geranium, yarrow, sage, chamomile, celandine and valerian | Actively fight skin diseases such as psoriasis, dermatitis, irritation, peeling, including those caused by frostbite. | |
| Spruce, pine, fir, cedar | Anti-inflammatory, regenerating and antibacterial effects. An ideal combination for healing various skin damage. | |
| Lemon, juniper, sandalwood | Promotes increased sweating and removal of waste and toxins from the body | |
| Cypress | Helps ease the symptoms of menopause | |
| Mint | Improves blood circulation | |
| Sage | Stimulates immunity | |
| Cosmetological purpose | Lemon, grapefruit, orange, rosemary or juniper | Effective for weight loss, have a fat-burning effect, give skin elasticity |
| Rosemary, Santal, Patchouli, Melissa | Have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin and hair, fight dandruff | |
| Melissa, eucalyptus | Help fight swelling | |
| Lavender, lemon, sage | To cleanse the skin and normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands | |
| Rose, juniper | For skin rejuvenation | |
| Orange, jasmine, patchouli, neroli | Relieves dry skin | |
| Aromatherapy | Jasmine, rosemary, vanilla, sandalwood, bergamot, ylang-ylang and spruce | They are aphrodisiacs and are used to increase sexual desire. |
| Rosemary, geranium | To stimulate brain activity, increase self-confidence, improve memory and performance | |
| grapefruit | To restore strength and energy, combat nervous tension, increase vitality | |
| Fir, cedar | They help overcome depression, nervousness, and a negative outlook on things, increase vitality, charge with optimism, put you in a positive mood, clear your mind and calm you down. | |
| Orange, jasmine | Helps improve mood and normalize sleep | |
| Basil | Helps clarify consciousness, facilitates decision making | |
| Lavender | Calms, relieves irritability |
Methods of Use
There are several ways to use essential oils in the sauna:
- using aromatic water: 5–7 drops of oil are added to 300 ml of water poured into a metal container with a wide neck and placed on the heater;
- applying oil to the walls of the steam room, for this a few drops of oil are spread over the surface with strokes, preferably closer to the floor, the temperature there is lower, the oil will evaporate more slowly;
- splashing aromatic water on the heater, the steam is distributed throughout the steam room, carrying with it particles of ether.
Volatile substances contained in ethers easily penetrate the body through breathing and open pores; such methods are equally effective both for treating diseases and for aromatherapy and improving the condition of skin and hair.
To dissolve the oil in water, you need to use some kind of emulsifier. That is, the ether is first added to a teaspoon of sea salt or honey, and then dissolved in water. The same mixture can be added to the water for steaming a broom, then the benefits of its use will increase several times.
Essential oils can also be used depending on the time of year. In winter, it is better to use esters that have a bactericidal effect to prevent seasonal diseases, for example, coniferous ones, and in summer, oils with refreshing and tonic effects, such as citrus fruits, are suitable.
Some oils combine well with each other, enhancing each other’s actions:
- to remove waste and toxins from the body: four drops of lemon and juniper esters, 2 drops of sandalwood;
- for weight loss and cellulite elimination: five drops of juniper and tangerine esters and seven drops of lemon;
- for a calming effect and elimination of nervousness: three drops of ylang-ylang and orange esters, five drops of bergamot;
- to improve immunity: five drops of spruce and eucalyptus esters, three drops of peppermint;
- to improve the condition of the skin and heal the skin: three drops of lemon and rose esters, four drops of lavender.
Essential oils should never be dropped onto hot stones, as they are flammable.
Bath massages
Another great way to heal your body is bath massages using essential oils. They are done in two main ways:
- using a bath broom. This device has been popular since time immemorial: most often steamed with birch, but there may be other options: oak, fir, linden and others. The broom is soaked in water with the addition of a few drops of essential oil or a mixture of oils dissolved in an emulsifier. A proper massage begins with stroking from the feet to the head, in the opposite direction on the sides, then with patting movements throughout the body. The use of a broom increases blood circulation, the skin becomes more receptive to essential oils, in addition, with the help of the wind, hot steam, saturated with the beneficial elements of the ether, is drawn to the body. This massage will help get rid of many diseases;
- classic oil massage. A base oil is used as a base; it can be olive, jojoba, grape seed or any other. Essential oil is added to it at the rate of 3-4 drops per 10 ml. oils It is better to prepare the massage mixture immediately before use, but if this is not possible, you can add a few drops of an oil solution of vitamin E; it will inhibit the oxidation of beneficial substances. The mixture is applied to the skin. In this case, the movements can be very diverse: pressing, point-like, stroking. If the purpose of the massage is to combat cellulite, gentle pinching movements and the use of massage jars or gloves will be useful. Which essential oil to add depends on the purpose of the massage. Classic massage is an ideal option for improving skin condition, combating excess weight and treating skin diseases.
Rules for using essential oils in the bath
For proper use of oil in the steam room, you should pay attention to the following recommendations:
- Any essential oil can cause allergies, so it is very important to check for individual reactions to it before visiting a bath or sauna. In addition, here the body is in unusual and even extreme conditions of high humidity and temperature, which means it is more vulnerable to the effects of substances. To do this, a drop of ether diluted in base oil is applied to the inner bend of the elbow or the aroma of the oil is inhaled. If redness, itching, or sneezing occur, you should not use the oil. You should also pay close attention to your odor tolerance. The bathhouse is a place of rest and relaxation, and everything should bring only pleasure. If you don't like the scent, it's better not to use it;
- essential oils have a number of contraindications for use, you need to read them very carefully;
- the first time you need to add 3/4 drops of essential oil to a liter of water, and inhale its vapors for no more than two minutes; if the body tolerates the ether well, you can increase the concentration of the substance and the duration of the procedure;
- Before pouring water with essential oil onto hot stones, you need to pour clean water over them to lower their temperature;
- You should not use essential oils in a bath more than once a week.
Essential oils will add variety and benefits to bath procedures, which will become an effective session of body cleansing, health improvement and aromatherapy.
