Although the use of aromatherapy is typically associated with adults, children can also benefit from the healing and soothing powers of aromatherapy. They are very attracted to different scents and love to experience it through diffusion, baths, massage, inhalation, and even topically.

Children particularly enjoy creating aromatic blends for their own use. Whether creating a blend to help calm themselves at night, or helping to identify the essential oils or blends to use on burns or wounds, aromatherapy can be a fun way for children to participate in their healing through an effective natural therapy.

There are few rules of thumb when it comes to aromatherapy for children. First of all, since children are much more sensitive than adults, the concentration of essential oils in their blends should be at least three times less than adult blends. I also recommend that children under the age of 5 should not use aromatherapy directly (bath or massage). Instead, use the essential oils in a nebulizer and run it for just 10 minutes in the room. The other option is to use hydrosols or floral waters instead of essential oils in their bath.

Children can safely use the following essential oils: Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Orange, Lemon, Neroli, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, Marjoram, Dill, Cardamom, Rose, Basil and Melissa.

So what are the most common childhood ailments, and how can you safely use aromatic blends on your children? Try creating the following recipes at home for a natural healing alternative. In future Health and Beauty editions, you will learn more about the holistic aspects of aromatherapy for children and teenagers.

To create these blends, pour your essential oils into a 10-ml bottle, and fill will organic vegetable oil.

Colds and Flu
2 drops Rosemary 1,8 cineole
2 drops Eucalyptus
Rub blend on the chest and middle back. Add a few drops of the aromatic blend to your child's warm bath water and let him/her soak for at least 15 minutes. Pour 4 drops of the aromatic blend on a tissue and have your child breathe it in deeply.

Wounds and Burns
Dab 1 drop of pure, undiluted Lavender essential oil on the afflicted area. Do it just once.

Immune System Booster
2 drops Rosemary 1,8 cineole
3 drops Ravensara
Massage the solar plexus and lower back, chest and middle back. Add a few drops of the aromatic blend to your child's warm bath water and let him/her soak for at least 15 minutes. Pour 4 drops of the aromatic blend on a tissue and have your child breathe it in deeply.

Sweet Dreams
1 drop Roman Chamomile
2 drops Lavender
2 drops Orange
This is a wonderful blend for story time! Massage the forehead and temples, neck and back. Add a few drops of the aromatic blend to your child's warm bath water and let him/her soak for at least 15 minutes.

Toothaches
2 drops Roman Chamomile
Rub the essential oil directly on the cheek.

Joy and Laughter
3 drops Orange
2 drops Lemon
Massage the solar plexus and abdomen, friction the back. Pour 4 drops of the aromatic blend on a tissue and have your child breathe it in deeply.

Tummy Aches
2 drops Basil
2 drops Dill
Massage the tummy clockwise with the blend as needed.

Lack of Appetite
2 drops Cardamom
2 drops Dill
Massage the solar plexus and abdomen. Pour 4 drops of the aromatic blend on a tissue and have your child breathe it in deeply.

Motion Sickness
4 drops Lemon
1 drop Ginger
Massage the solar plexus. Pour 4 drops of the aromatic blend on a tissue and have your child breathe it in deeply.
Order what you need to create it yourself by clicking here.


In Good Health,
Françoise Rapp.

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