Pouring a few drops of the essential oil onto a tissue and placing it near your pillow when you sleep, can help ease congestion, calm agitated minds, even enhance regular sleeping patterns. Lavender is particularly calming for babies and young children and works well with this method. Steam inhalations are possibly the most effective way of diffusing essential oils into the bloodstream, especially if one is suffering from tension headaches, stress or anxiety. This is because there are two olfactory nerve tracts that run right into the limbic system, the part of the brain dealing with memory and emotion. This is one of the reasons why aromatherapy can evoke such powerful responses in people.
Inhalations are wonderfully effective when treating colds, sinus problems and influenza.
Adding a few drops of Tea Tree or Eucalyptus to boiling water and breathing the steam into the nasal passages can soothe and decongest the respiratory system. One can also use candles for diffusion, by pouring a few drops of the oil into the hot wax. This is a fantastic way to enhance the mood or create a romantic atmosphere in a room. Ylang-ylang is known as one of the most seductive of the aromatic oils. Diffusion kits on the market include lamp rings, which are clay or terracotta rings which get placed directly on the light bulb.