NAHA Article August 2010

Contributed by; Joni Keim

Summertime Aromatherapy

(Excerpts from the NAHA Journal Spring 2001 Vol. 11 Number 1)

Summertime is a glorious time of year. The weather is hot and the days are long; a perfect setting for being with friends and enjoying life. Aromatherapy, the use of essential oils extracted from aromatic plants, enhances the rapture of summer with its ability to capture our senses as well as comfort the afflictions of the season.


Staying Cool in the Heat:

The higher temperatures of the summer season are uncomfortable for many people, especially those whose personal cooling system (perspiration) doesn't function well. Water is the key to staying cool in warm weather, both internally and externally. Drink plenty of water to prevent becoming dehydrated and use water on your body to help dissipate the heat.


Combining water with essential oils provides an oasis of refreshment, perfect for baths and body misting. When the heat has you feeling weary, step in a bath of cool to tepid water, add essential oils -- three drops Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), three drops Lemon (Citrus limonum) and two drops Peppermint (Mentha piperita) -- swirling them around you. Sip a glass of water and put a cool, wet, folded washcloth on your forehead. Take a deep breath and feel revitalized.

If a bath is not available or you are in inescapable heat such as driving on the freeway or sitting at your desk at work, use a body mister. Fill an eight ounce spray bottle with three drops of Peppermint, shake well and mist over your neck, shoulders, arms and legs. Avoid getting the mist into your eyes. Try misting and then standing in front of a fan. It will feel as welcome as an ocean breeze!


Cooling Your Environment


Experience the essence of cool in your home, room, or office with a diffuser and 'cooling' essential oils. Though they will not reduce the temperature, they do create an atmosphere that lifts your spirits and invigorates when too much heat is weighing you down. Diffusers are available in different models designed to disperse the fragrance of essential oils into the air. No home should be without one!


Cooling Citrus-Mint for Diffusing

20 drops Lemon (Citrus limonum)

15 drops Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)

10 drops Lavender (Lavendula vera)

5 drops Spearmint (Mentha spicata)

Mix together well and store in a dark glass bottle. Use in your diffuser according to manufacturer's instructions.


Refreshing Citrus for Diffusing


25 drops Orange (Citrus aurantium)

10 drops Lemon (Citrus limonum)

10 drops Lime (Citrus aurantifoia)

5 drops Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Mix together well and store in dark glass bottle. Use in your diffuser according to manufacturer's instructions.

Cooling Hot and Tired Feet

A foot bath laced with essential oils is the perfect solution to summertime feet that are hot and tired. You will notice that when you tend to your feet, your whole body feels better, and your spirits are uplifted!

Relieving Foot Bath

Fill a bowl or small tub, deep enough to fully immerse your feet, with cool water. Add three drops of Lemon (Citrus limonum), one drop of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), one drop of Lavender (Lavendula vera), and one drop of Peppermint (Mentha piperita). Stir briskly, and then immerse your feet for ten minutes.

Cooling Citrus Foot Bath

Fill a bowl or small tub, deep enough to fully immerse your feet, with cool water. Add three drops of Lemon (Citrus limonum), two drops of Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), and one drop of Peppermint (Mentha pipertia). Stir briskly, and then immerse your feet for ten minutes.


Note: To fully disperse the essential oils in the water, dilute by adding them to a tablespoon of vodka fist, then stir this into the water. The alcohol has the added benefit of adding a 'cooling sensation' to the bath. This type of alcohol is not drying to the skin, especially when diluted in water.

Spirit of Summer Blend


The intensity of summer reminds us of our potential. It embodies endless energy and inspires us to take action and achieve our goals. The following blend is a representation of the spirit and essence of summer. Enjoy in a diffuser, wear as a perfume, or simply sniff from the bottle.


10 drops Orange (Citrus aurantium)

8 drops Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)

5 drops Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

2 drops Litsea (Litsea cubeba)

1 drop Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)


Note: For a perfume add five drops of essential oil blend in one teaspoon of jojoba. Because it contains citrus oils, which can cause phototoxicity, do not apply to the skin before being exposed to the sun.

Check out one of Joni's books available for sale on the NAHA Online Bookstore.

Joni Keim has worked in the alternative health field for over twenty years as an educator, practitioner, consultant, and author (5 books). She has certificates in aromatherapy, holistic health sciences, and energy healing. Joni is a technical advisor, copy writer, and educator in the natural products industry and professional aromatherapy field and can be reached through her website www.joniconsulting.com or email her at info@joniconsulting.com