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Using Aromatherapy to Benefit Your Baby

American Indians have used plant medicine to heal for centuries. Aromatherapy uses the essence of the plant to distill and extract essential oils that are then used to heal, calm and soothe individuals including babies. Essential oils are an important part of aromatherapy. Essential oils are natural, pure and do not contain any harmful toxins. What better natural product to place on the sensitive skin of a baby? Essential oil recipes can be made to heal skin conditions common to babies such as diaper rash and heat rashes. The oils used in aromatherapy are taken from all parts of the plant including the bark, flowers, leaves, and stems. There are many different essential oils to choose from that can be used to make baby's world calmer, smell more pleasant and promote healing.

Did you know that a young baby identifies the world around him/her by using the sense of smell? Even a baby inside its mother's womb identifies with his amniotic world using the sense of smell. This ability to identify using smells carries from the womb to the outside world as studied by Davis and Porter in during studies accomplished during 1991 - 2000.

Parents have used aromatherapy to soothe babies using oil massage and to heal health issues such as getting a fussy baby to sleep, relieving skin irritation including cradle cap and to form a bond between baby and mother by way of a massage. Aromatherapy has also been used in treating colic, colds, earache, eczema, anxiety, and for teething.

In many parts of the world including Africa, India, Pakistan and the West Indies the strengthening bond of massage is passed on from one generation to another and is practiced on babies, and continued throughout childhood, adolescent and into adulthood. Massage using essential oils not only is a bonding experience but can be a healing one as well.

Massage also increases the emotional development of the child. Baby massage has many other benefits such as of course the bonding already mentioned, giving the baby a sense of security, the emotional well-being, healing touch for the skin, massaging aids in digestion and stimulates the respiratory system by decreasing coughs, and bringing relief to congested lungs and nasal passages. Massaging with essential oils also reduces irritability and calms a fretful baby. It is shown through experience that babies receiving massages have stronger immune systems that can resist infections better and have less frequent health problems. Babies who receive regular massages have greater coordination, more flexible joints and improved muscular movement.

Use gentle essential oils when massaging a baby such as lavender and chamomile. Use a lotion for the carrier instead of oil when massaging a baby. After age two the child's skin is better structured to accept oil as opposed to a lotion.

Essential oils to explore for use on your baby are geranium, lavender, rose, roman chamomile, lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, and also sweet orange.