Fun Aromatherapy Gifts for Mom
It’s almost Mother’s Day. Time again to choose between a set of pretty pajamas or a pre-packaged cosmetic gift box.
If that sounds like an assignment too drab to tackle one more time, how about giving a gift of aromatic health?
Aromatherapy essential oil products can be a creative way to surprise any woman with a gift tailored especially to her minor physical challenges and personality. To help you, I have prepared a list of common everyday health complaints and essential oils that can help. I’ve also suggested three ways to turn them into presents any woman would love to receive. Time is running out, but these suggestions can be turned into a wrapped present in just a few hours.
First, what is aromatherapy?
Put simply, aromatherapy is the art of using essential oils for emotional and physical healing. Poor lifestyle choices and environmental contaminants can disrupt our body’s natural balance. Using the proper essential oils can help restore equilibrium. Choosing the right oil can help soothe stress and anxiety; promote healthy sleep; focus the mind; and address any number of other minor disturbances.
Hold on! What exactly are essential oils?
Essential oils are the “ingredients” of aromatherapy. They’re compounds extracted from plants known to support health and well-being. Inhaling the aromatic fumes of essential oils stimulates the limbic system. That is the part of your brain responsible for your behavior, emotions, and long-term memory.
It’s important to know that inhalation is just one form of aromatherapy. It’s equally good to diffuse essential oils and inhale more gently as they waft through your indoor spaces. Or mix them into pure pharmaceutical grade almond oil or shea butter, and apply them directly to your skin.
How long have people been using aromatherapy?
The practice has existed for more than 6,000 years. Ancient Egyptian healers placed small herbal cones under a patient’s headdress. As the cones melted, the essential oils were absorbed into the patient’s scalp. In pre-Columbian Mexico, the sick visited healing huts with hot, indoor water pools. Medicinal flowers, leaves, and herbs were laid on rocks throughout the pools. As steam penetrated the plants, vapors were released into the air in a form of aromatherapy.
Much more recently, several controlled research studies have demonstrated the science behind essential oils and their plant-based compounds. A team at Johns Hopkins found that essential oils from garlic and herbs kill persistent Lyme disease bacteria. Other researchers have linked lavender with improved sleep and peppermint with migraine pain relief. These are just a few of the evidence-based research studies proving the effectiveness of aromatherapy.
Best essential oil for Mom, based on her unique needs
Before offering my short list oils to choose from in creating your Mother’s Day gift, let me offer a few words of caution.
- First, children under age 5 should not be exposed to essential oils.
- Second, people with severe asthma and chronic lung disease should avoid aromatherapy, as it can aggravate symptoms.
- Third, pregnant women should avoid basil, marjoram, sage, and large amounts of peppermint essential oils.
- And finally, only 100% pure essential oil will have therapeutic benefits. Anything else is just a floral perfume that smells good but has no effect.
Allergies and Sinus Congestion – Eucalyptus
Anxiety and Stress – Lavender, Neroli, Vanilla
Appetite Control & Weight Loss – Grapefruit
Arthritis – Frankincense
Chronic Pain Conditions – Jasmine
Digestion Issues (Heartburn, Nausea and Constipation) – Ginger
Dry, Cracked Skin – Patchouli
Headaches (especially from PMS or menopause) – Rose
Memory and Mental Alertness – Basil
Menopause Hot Flashes, Intimate Dryness & Irritability – Clary Sage
Muscle Cramps or Spasms – Marjoram
Sleeplessness – Lemon
Sore, Tired Feet – Peppermint
3 Easy Ways to Make Aromatherapy Gifts
You may decide to use just one essential oil for your aromatherapy gift. Or you can combine a few. Some practitioners prefer one approach over the other; but both are recognized as beneficial.
Make a Body Cream – It’s simple. Buy a bottle of organic, unscented body cream (available at health food stores and many conventional pharmacies) and mix in your essential oil(s). You’ll find essential oils in small bottles at homeopathic pharmacies and most health food groceries. How much oil should you add? As much as you like, until the cream becomes aromatic. Create your own label for the bottle and watch her face go from perplexed to delighted as she begins to understand what you’ve made for her.
Create an Aromatherapy Tea – Here you buy bulk herbs rather than oils. Again, choose just one or mix a few together. Present them in a small tea canister along with a mesh diffuser teaspoon. You can even brew her first cup by letting the herb mix steep for 5-10 minutes. As she sips her cup, the aromatic fumes will fill her nostrils and provide the therapeutic benefits you had in mind.
Assemble an Aromatherapy Kit – Choose an aromatherapy diffuser and small assortment of essential oils based on her temperament and health goals. Diffusers are easy to find in the cosmetic/pharmacy section of most health food store. Essential oils will be available there, too. As the store clerk can explain, add water and only a few drops of each oil to diffuser’s water tub. Turn it on and within seconds, a luscious and healing steam will fill the room.
What’s Not to Like?
I’ve been giving aromatherapy gifts like these for years. Some people are instantly excited; others are initially confused. What are essential oils, they ask. How am I supposed to use this? But once explained, everyone gets “excited to try it.”
So, here’s to all the women out there who deserve a wonderful Mother’s Day. Enjoy your special day! And be well.
- Kate Vozoff is CEO of Amazing-Solutions, a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Instructor, and writer with special interest in women’s health and naturopathic medicine.
