Base or Carrier oils

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Base Carrier Oil
Few essential oils are used neat, but are mixed into fixed plant oil base like almond, soya or wheat germ. ( Fixed oils do not evaporate quickly on exposure to the air like essential or volatile ones.) These base or carrier oils contain certain benefits themselves, not least their content of iodine and vitamin E.
They also act as a balancing and stabilizing agent. A carrier or base oil should be pure, and preferably cold pressed when it retains its essential vitamin content better. it should have little or no smell of its own, and it should be penetrative.
The quantities of essential oil to base oil will vary a little from oil to oil, but unless otherwise stated you should use 2-3 drops essential oil to 5ml ( 1ts ) base oil for use on the body, and one drop essential oil to 5ml (1ts) base oil for the face.
Almond Oil
The plant: The almond tree (prunus amygdalus, Rosaceae ) is a native of the eastern Mediterranean, but not established in other warm countries. It was introduced to Britain during Roman times, and its nuts were a common ingredient in Medieval cooking.
The Oil: The fixed oil of almond are extracted from two types of almond tree, the bitter almond (P.amygdalus var. amra) and the sweet almond (P. amygdalus var, dulcis). Only the latter is used in therapy. The nuts contain about 50-60 per cent oil, which is also used in baking and confectionery. The oils is a lovely clear pale yellow, more or less odourless with a slight nutty note. Olein is its principal constituent, with a tiny proportion of glyceride and linoleic acid. It has a define action on the skin as a softening agent, being a good lubricant, nourishing and revitalizing. Shop bought oils are often adulterated , so be aware.
Its Uses: An almond remedy is wonderful for dry skin, wrinkled hands, but it is also very beneficial for eczema and skin irritations of any kind. Warm some almond oil gently in a bain-marie then dissolve in it the same amount of cocoa butter, Remove from the heat, mix until paste-like and apply to the hands. Put on some cotton gloves and allow the oil to penetrate for at least an hour (overnight).
Castor OIl
The Plant:Castor oil comes from a tall, quick-growing, perennial, woody schrub or a small tree (Ricinus Communis, Euphorbiaceae ) native to India, but is now seen in many warm countries. It often grows as an ornmental, but it is also of value as a windbreak and a shade tree. It bears seed profusely and it is these that are pressed for the oil. This was known to the Greeks and Romans as a purgative laxative, which is still a major role of the oil today; lots of common laxatives contain a proportion of castor oil.
The Oil: It has a very viscid consistency, is colourless, has a slight fragrance, and is disagreeable to taste. The major constituents are, palmatic and other fatty acids, ricinoleic acid and glycerine.
its uses: The ancient Egyptians called the oil KIKI, using it as an ungent for skin rashes, and in embalming. it is still useful for numerous skin complaints, ranging from eczema to dryness of the skin. For very dry eczema, mix 30 ml (2tbsp) of castor oil with 15ml (1tbs) of almond oil and 2 drops of wheagerm oil, and apply to the affected part. Because the oil is so viscid, it is a good idea to mix with another carrier oil to help its penetration. when in India I drove past field upon field of the plant. My skin was so dry from the heat and dust that I asked the driver to stop so I could rub my hands and face with the leaves and berries of the plant. Indian women also do this to keep their skin young looking and supple.
Grapeseed Oil
The Oil:Grape seeds contain between 6 - 20 per cent oil. The oil is a pale greeny yellow in colour and is very pure, high in poly-un saturates, and extremely light - it is almost as thin as water. This means that it is easily absorbed by the skin, which is very useful in aromatherapy because the essentials can penetrate very quickly.
Its uses:The seeds and leaves of grapes are rather astringent, So I tend to use the oils for conditions like acne.
Soya Oil
The Plant: This comes from the soy or soya bean plant (Glycine hispida or soja, Leguminosae), an erect annual sometimes reaching 1 - 1.75 m (4 6 ft) in height, which is native to China and Japan. Although used in the East for the last 4,000 years, it did not appear in Europe until the end of the seventeenth century, nor in Britain until the beginning of the twentieth century. It is high in polysaturates, and one of the most popular of cooking oils. The bean itself is one of the world's major and most nourishing foodstuffs (it is the only plant source containing complete protein).
The Oil: There is approximately 12-25 per cent oil in the beans, and this contains many acids (oleic, linoleic, stearic, palmitic, etc) and traces of chlorophyll. It is a very nourshing oil of a very pale colour with a tinge of yellow; It is a good carrier oil as it is quickly absorbed when applied to the skin. It must be of the best quality, though. I use it a lot in preparations for acne.
Its uses:The French value soya oil for its medicinal properties: The linoleic acid content helps lower cholesterol levels. Take some every day in your salad dressings, on top of freshly cooked vegetables, or with rice dishes.
Wheatgerm Oil
The plant:Wheatgerm, the germ of the wheat grain, is a highly nutritious food, rich in proteins (one of the few plant sources which provide near complete proteind), and vitamins B and E.
The Oil: Wheatgerm oil contains a very high proportion of vitamin E, which is said to be the skin vitamin.
Its uses:Because of its high proportion of vitamin E, it is very effective in contributing to the treatment of skin problems when used as a carrier oil.Another benefit of using wheatgerm oil is that as it is an antioxidant it stabilizes essential oils and makes them last longer. Add a drop or two of wheatgerm oil to any remedy.
Reference: The Encyclopedia of Plant Oils/Daniele Ryman

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