Lavender temple massage
Five quiet minutes at the bedside with a few drops of lavender oil in a carrier. A small ritual of slow touch before the lamp goes out.
Steps
Prepare the oil
Two drops of true lavender essential oil into a teaspoon of carrier oil; sweet almond, jojoba, or a plain organic sunflower oil all work. Stir with a clean fingertip.
Warm the oil between the palms
Pour the oil into one palm. Rub the palms together for a few seconds so the oil is no longer cold.
Touch the temples
Place the fingertips of both hands at the temples, just outside the eyebrows. Move in very small, slow circles. Eight or ten circles is enough.
Move to the neck
Run the fingertips down behind the ears and along the sides of the neck, very lightly. Two or three slow passes on each side.
Sit still for one minute
Rest the hands in the lap. Breathe slowly through the nose. The smell of the oil settles. Then go to bed.
Lavender essential oil is for external use only and must always be diluted in a carrier; never apply it neat to skin and never near the eyes. Skip on broken, irritated, or sunburnt skin. Not suitable for infants and toddlers under three; for children three to twelve use only one drop per teaspoon of carrier and on the neck rather than the temples. Pregnancy and breastfeeding: a dilute external application like this is generally considered fine in the second and third trimesters; in the first trimester or if you would prefer to skip essential oils, ask your midwife. Known fragrance sensitivity, asthma triggered by scent, or a history of contact dermatitis: do a small patch test on the inner forearm first and wait twenty-four hours.