Aromatherapy in infants can help alleviate your baby's frequent crying, or help the baby to sleep on time.
Aromatherapy is an alternative therapy using essential oils, designed to provide physical and mental benefits for adults and children. In the United States, France, Britain and other developed countries aromatherapy has long been a part of medical therapy.
Benefits of Aromatherapy
Aroma is the gateway to our souls. Research in the United States and Europe are scientifically shown that smell has an influence on the soul than we thought previously. Psychotherapy experts also began to use scent to evoke a mood, enhance performance and concentration power. People of depression can turn into passionate and have a sense of confidence.
Natural essential oil used in aromatherapy is extracted from flowers, seeds, fruit peel, bark, roots and leaves through distillation, extraction or extortion. Such oils typically contain organic acids in addition to terpenes, sesquiterpenes, esters, alcohols, phenols, aldehydes and ketones.
Essential oil marketed is usually not pure, but with a mixture of (carrier) of vegetable oil and added a number of substances such as iodine and vitamin E to have a balancing effect. Vegetable oil is used as a mixture of almond oil, spacing, soybean, grape seed and sunflower.
Aromatherapy for Babies
In baby care, aromatherapy is used to soothe babies and children so as not restless / fussy and can sleep soundly.
Different essential oils have different properties and are used for different reasons. Here are some gentle essential oils are often used for babies: geranium (pelargonium graveolens), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), rose (rosa damascena), roman chamomile (Nobile chamaemelum), lemon, grapefruit, mandarin orange (aurantium sinensis).
There are some essential oils that should not be recommended for infants, among other high volatile oil such as peppermint menthone (Mentha x piperita) and cornmint (Mentha arvensis), hyssop (hyssop officinalis), basil (Ocimum basilicum), and juniper (Juniperus communis).
Ask the expert advice to get the aromatherapy oil that is suitable and safe for your baby. Be careful, because the flavor is too strong it can make your baby's headaches and nausea. Your baby may also have allergic reactions to aromatherapy oils. Always try limited tests first before you apply it to your baby. In principle, you should consult to expert before give aromatherapy to your baby. Infant age, usage, type and composition of aromatherapy oils will determine the appropriate dose.
Some examples of aromatherapy for Babies
- Use the lotion lavender when you massage your baby. In general, essential oils are provided through a mixture of white lotion is better than vegetable oil, which is not easily absorbed by the skin of infants and may be too slippery.
- Use a small drop of lavender oil on your baby's clothes, so that the product is not in direct contact with your baby's delicate skin.
- Change your baby soap with lavender soap, available on the market.
- Use air freshener with lavender or chamomile oil to put in spreader aroma and leave for 15 minutes to spread in the baby room.
