Aromatherapy For Children

Aromatherapy For Children

You may have been considering aromatherapy for yourself in order to relax your muscles, cure the common cold, or to gain more energy. However, there are several ways to introduce your children to aromatherapy, and you can find lots of tips and suggestions for aromatherapy recipes for children that are safe and practical. Here are some of the best ways to perform aromatherapy with kids that will make the experience enjoyable and effective for you and your children.

Essential Oils that Can be Used on Children

One of the first things you'll want to consider when you're thinking about aromatherapy for children is the strength of the oil you're going to be using. Many oils, especially those with high citrus levels or extracts from 'powerful' plants or herbs, may render an allergic reaction in children. So, you may want to avoid oils like bergamot or even lavender until you know how your child's skin and respiratory system will respond to aromatherapy.

There are several methods you can use when you're preparing aromatherapy for kids; you can give your children a massage on the arms, legs, or back (this is especially helpful if you're child is not feeling well, or is an athlete), or you can prepare a combination of oils for your child to inhale in order to receive the medicinal benefits of the oils. You can also use an incense or essential oil burner to keep the smell of the aromatherapy oils you're using in your child's room; this way, you can help to maintain a calm or healthy environment for your child whenever he or she steps in their room.

Some of the best essential oils to use for children include lavender, chamomile, and eucalyptus. These oils are usually gentle enough to use on children, and each of them has wonderful properties that will improve your child's health and mood. Lavender oil is used to help people relax, and is also a great cleanser for acne-prone skin. So, you can use lavender oil as a massage oil for babies or toddlers who are having trouble sleeping, and you can also give lavender oil to your teen or pre-teen in order to clear acne blemishes. Eucalyptus oil is great for clearing the sinuses, so you may want to have your child inhale the stream from boiled eucalyptus oil and water in order to clear chest congestion. For a more peaceful sleep, you can use a humidifier filled with water and chamomile oil for children of all ages.

However, before you prepare these essential oils for your children, you will need to take some safety precautions to make sure that your child's skin is not irritated.