Aromatherapy is a holistic treatment which uses concentrated oils, called essential oils, from plants in order to help alleviate symptoms such as anxiety, pain and insomnia.
As well as other methods of conducting aromatherapy treatments, people with home saunas have recently begun to use essential oils in the sauna too. Rather than merely being an exciting trend to spice up their bathing, using aromatherapy oils in these environments maximises the health benefits already granted by a sauna. It is a simple way to bring even more of the spa experience into your home, tailored to your exact needs.
A useful side-effect of performing aromatherapy in your sauna room is that certain oils may have antibacterial properties and can thus help keep the premises in pristine condition.
Which are the best oils to use for home spa aromatherapy?
That depends largely on what you intend to achieve. The first and most important tip, which applies to any usage of aromatherapy oils, is to remember that these are extremely concentrated oils. You really do only need one or two drops to create the beautiful smell and additional effects that you desire.
If you are interested in the anti-bacterial effect mentioned above, the oils to pick are the strong-smelling eucalyptus or peppermint. Eucalyptus can also help to improve respiratory issues and enhance your concentration, while peppermint can help with pain and boosts your energy.
Other popular and gorgeous scents commonly used include:
- Rosemary, which uplifts your spirits and may help to improve your memory and general brain function.
- Lavender. Already beloved by people everywhere as a calming scent, lavender aromatherapy is known to help reduce stress and help with insomnia.
- Sandalwood. This beautiful subtle scent can help you to stay grounded and reduce tension.
Some less common scents include ylang ylang, marjoram, jasmine and geranium. Don’t be afraid to branch out into exotic scents and try new things.
How to create your own herbal sauna experience
After you have diluted the essential oils as directed by the packaging or the vendor, you can add the mixture of water and oils to the hot rocks of the sauna, just as you would do in a non-therapeutic environment. As the water evaporates, the diluted oils will become immediately fragrant. In an infrared sauna, you can use a cordless diffuser to have the same effect, or dilute your oils into a spray bottle and take that in with you.
For the ultimate amplification of your experience, you can add fresh herbs to the sauna. Crushed and added to pure rock salt in a stainless-steel bowl, these release their scent into the room to complement or enhance your aromatherapy scent. Good combinations of scents include lavender and jasmine for relaxation, peppermint and marjoram for invigoration, and eucalyptus and rosemary for a general sense of improved health and wellbeing.
If you’d like your own tailor-made, personal aromatherapy sauna, please get in touch. Here at Aegean Spa our 30 years of experience in the industry means that we can offer you the very best quality products. You can choose from our specialised ranges, or order your ideal sauna made as a bespoke order.
References:
- https://www.aromatherapyassociates.com/history-of-aromatherapy
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8893526
- https://chopra.com/articles/how-to-use-aromatherapy-for-optimized-health-and-well-being
- https://www.growingupherbal.com/blending-essential-oils-for-beginners/