Aromatherapy

Archive for the ‘Essential Oils’ Category

Essential oils are wonderful. They are natural, easy to use and can really spice up your life! In fact, people have been using essential oils for centuries—long before you could walk into a pharmacy to purchase expensive medications. People from all over the world have discovered wonderful uses for these great essential oils. If you have never tried essential oils before, then it is time you learn what you can do with them.
You may think that essential oils are only for people that use them in spiritual ceremonies, or for people who shun traditional medical care. This is not true. Essential oils can do so much more for you that they are certainly worth a try. Here is a look at three great uses for essential oils.
Using essential oils for your health: Even people who do go see a doctor on a regular basis, can get a lot of use out of essential oils. Even very common and widely available oils are handy to have around the home for your health. Tea tree oil is probably the most popular. You can use tea tree oil to soothe skin irritations, fight acne and skin blemishes and even help do away with bug bites. Other essential oils can help with congestion and fight off colds. Rub peppermint or eucaplyus on your body with a carrier and it will quickly help break up congestion in your chest. There are many great uses for essential oils that can benefit your health, so learn all you can about these wonderful and helpful oils.
Massages with essential oils: Many people love a good, deep tissue massage. There are lots of spas that specialize in massages, or if you are lucky, you have a partner who will give you a massage now and again. You can ramp up your massage by using essential oils. Either use the oils with a carrier and rub them into your skin, or use them in a diffuser while you are getting a massage and breathe in the scents. Either way, they will benefit you and help you relax. If you have never had an aromatherapy massage, do your research into the types of oils you like. You may find a spa near you that can specialize in these kinds of massage. These types of massage will relax your body and your mind.
Essential oils for aromatherapy: Perhaps the most popular way of using essential oils is through aromatherapy. There are many ways that oils can be used for this purpose. You will first want to find the oils that you like the best and then you will want to use them around your home. You can even put a fee drops in your bath for a relaxing touch. Look into the different types of diffusers that you can use and you are well on your way of benefitting from aromatherapy and the many essential oils that are on the market.
Once you get the hang of using essential oils, you will love what they do for your mind, body and your spirit.

Aromatherapy massage oils are commonly used in combination with massage therapy as well as acupressure to treat certain conditions and afflictions. This type of treatment is note not advisable for all ailments – check with your physician first. The reason for this is due to the way that different herbs and botanicals react with your body.

Befor you start using aromatherapy oils, ou need to be aware of both the benefits and dangers of using as they relate to specific aromatherapy massage oils. Most of the oils used for aromatherapy massages are highly concentrated and cannot be used “neet” – in other words, they cannot be used in their concentrated form – they must be diluted. Also, you should know that some aromatherapy oils are for the skin, and others are for diffusers or burners – most of these cannot be combined!

Oils That Warm and Oils That Cool

One of the many benefits of aromatherapy massage oils are their warming and cooling properties. Some muscular conditions will benefit from a warming oil which will allow the muscles to relax and recover from their condition. Sesame and peppermint oils can cause warming to form in the place where the oil is applied and are great for massaging sore and overused muscles. Arnica and sandalwood are great when the muscles need to be cooled down.

Treating Muscle And Joint Pains

Aromatherapy treatment is often used to give relief to people who suffer from muscle and joint pain. Amongst some common conditions relieved by aromatherapy are arthritis, rheumatism, and cramps. Aromatherapy massage oils can be effective in lessening inflammation and relaxing tight muscles that are often the cause of cramps. Muscle pain will often benefit from the massage therapy, but when combined with aromatherapy, it becomes even more effective.

Once again, massage itself does wonders for sore and tires muscles. But when combined with the relaxing properties of aromatherapy massage oil, there are more benefits for the person.

Creating The Mood

Aromatherapy massage oil can also be used to set the mood or ambience. A person being massaged usually seeks to be more relaxed and calm, which is where aromatherapy massage oil enters. Many of the aromatherapy oils available in the market today cater to this purpose. Aromatherapy massage oil can be applied on the skin for the essences to permeate the skin and work their magic as well as be a stimulant to the sense of smell of the individual being massaged.

There are certain scents that can help improve your emotional well being. When you use essential oils with aromatherapy, then you are on your way to making your mind healthy and active. While there are many essential oils out there that you can buy, there are some that are better than others to help your emotional well being. Here is a closer look at these oils and what they can do for you.
When you take a look at all the types of essential oils on the market, you are probably left feeling confused. They all smell differently and have their own healing properties. Add to that fact that you get even different results when you mix different oils together, then it is no wonder you don’t know where to start. The first thing you should do before you buy expensive oils is that you need to know exactly what you want to use it for. If you are wanting to improve your emotional, then you need to know the oils that will accomplish this.
Choosing essential oils can actually be quite delightful. You know the names of some of the more common oils, but there are probably many out there that you have never heard of. When using oils to help your physical and psychological well being, take a look at the oils that are just for this purpose.
So what is the best essential oil to heal your mind? The answer is as simple as lavender. Those that know even a little about essential oils and aromatherapy will tell you that lavender can help you relax and will relieve stress. You can add a little lavender to your daily routine or have it in the room when you are feeling stressed. Are your kids working on a project or feeling stress studying for a difficult test? Help them recharge by using lavender in the room or give them lavender soap for their baths. You have probably seen baby products infused with lavender. That is because it does work.
What are other oils that work well? Vanilla is a popular essential oil that can melt away the day’s stress. Mix that with lavender and you have a heavenly scent that will help your emotional well being. Sweet almond, sage and sandalwood can also give you a sigh of stress release. You can find air fresheners and even candles that contain these popular scents. Have you have heard of clary sage or bergamot? Check them out today if you need to alleviate the stress.
There is one word of caution that you should know when using these oils. What works for one person, may not work for you. It is interesting to note that aromatherapy and certain essential oils are highly personal. You will have to experiment to see what type of oils will stimulate your mind and body. Take your time to take to a person who is experienced with this field and get their opinion for what will work best for you.

Getting your feet wet in therapeutic aromatherapy, beyond burning a scented candle or soaking with a pleasing pre-packaged bath salt blend, can be a little daunting to many people. All those little bottles of pricey liquids, electric contraptions, and fancy-sounding blends – how does one actually use essential oils to improve their health, happiness and well-being? It’s easier than one might think – getting started can open a whole new world of fun and effective natural remedies that can lift your mood, calm your nerves, and support healing of a great many common ailments. The trick, like beginning anything really, is just getting started. Start with some commonly used oils like Lavender and Tea Tree, and you’ll open up the doors to a whole realm of natural medicine for you and your family. Read on for an introduction to a few of the many ways of using these wonderful gifts from nature.

Aromatherapy really has a bad name in North America. Kinda soft and fuzzy, and maybe a little too ‘new age’ for many folks. But essential oils share many traits with other natural medicines; they’re really concentrated plant extracts that just happen to smell exceptionally good. ‘Volatile-Plant-Extract-Therapy’ would be a much more appropriate name. ‘Volatile’ simply means ‘easily evaporated’ – in this sense, essential oils are more like alcohol than oil. But unlike alcohol, essential oils are made up of very complex molecules that have a great breadth of healing properties. These properties vary greatly depending on the plant from which the oil was extracted. Many oils are known potent antibacterials, antivirals, anti-inflammates, and stimulate wound healing. Of course, their aroma’s DO have profound effects as well; laboratory studies have conclusively shown this in clinical settings. Inhalation is the simplest method of using essential oils, and is an excellent place to start with aromatherapy.

When inhaled, essential oils effect our limbic system, the seat of the brain’s emotional centers. Many oils have been found to sharpen concentration, reduce tension and anxiety, and even reduce depression. How can we reap these magnificent benefits? There are a few simple, cost-effective ways to prepare essential oils for inhalation and experience these wonderful effects: the ‘handkerchief method’, making your own ’smelling salts’, and making your own aromatherapy ‘mister’. More advanced users will want to use an electric diffuser that disperses a fine mist of essential oil throughout your environment. With a little research, you’ll be able to find the right oil or oil combination to suit your needs, and we’ll go over several effective ones here.

Simple inhalation is very straightforward – for example, put a part or two of an oil or blend on a tissue and inhale (careful with some oils though – peppermint, for example, can burn the sensitive skin around your nostrils if put in direct contact). You can even leave the tissue, handkerchief, or piece of cloth in a room or your workspace and the oil will continue to evaporate and have its effects. Making your own ’smelling salts’ is similar, and your preparation will last a while longer. To make the salts, fill a small vial with natural sea salt and part essential oils into the salt. The amount of oil is not too critical – enough that there is detectable aroma, and not so much that the salt gets completely wet. Just unscrew the cap and inhale from the bottle whenever you need a lift, or, like the handkerchief, leave the vial open in your space, letting the aroma slowly fill the area. A ‘mister’ can be used infuse a room with aroma – just add essential oils to water in a small spray bottle (20 parts per 2 cups of water is a good starting point), shake before each use and spray. When you’re ready for a greater impact from the aromatic use of oils, find a quality cold-air nebulizing diffuser. These units make fine mist of oil, creating a significant concentration in your environment, and can have valuable health benefits beyond stimulating the smell sense – they can purify the air in your home or office, and can help with many infectious illnesses when used as directed by a health practitioner.

Here are a few easy recipes for the inhalation method (Note: in all recipes, the number of drops of oil can be used as a ratio, which you can increase or decrease as you need): For uplifting the mood and brightening the mind – 4 drops of Rosemary Cineol, 3 drops of Lavender, 2 drops of Lemon and 1 drop of Peppermint, OR 3 drops Clary Sage, 2 drops Bergamot and 1 drop Sweet Orange. For calming anxiety – equal parts of Roman Chamomile, Bergamot and Orange, OR 3 drops Lavender, 2 drops Neroli and 1 drop Bergamot. For creating a harmonious atmosphere – 3 drops Jasmine, 1 drop Ylang Ylang and 1 drop Sandalwood, OR equal parts Geranium, Patchouli and Bergamot. For simply bringing calm or inducing sound sleep, pure French Lavender oil by itself may be perfect. These and other blends can make wonderful natural perfumes when diluted to 15% in Jojoba oil; Rose and Jasmine oils can be used this way by themselves. Other single oils to consider for your environment are Balsam Fir, which has a lovely ‘deep forest’ scent; Juniper Berry brings a brighter evergreen aroma; and Lemon Tea Tree is a powerful oil where offensive odors may be a problem.

Aromatherapy massage and topical application – Ideally, this is done with a partner, but self-massage will work as well. Creating your own massage oil is a straightforward process – just dilute 10 – 20 drops of essential oil (single or blended) per ounce of carrier oil. There are a variety of carrier oils available; Sweet Almond is a great all-around oil and is recommended for general aromatherapy massage. As for the massage, itself, any technique will do – let your intuition be your guide. The blends listed above will work effectively as massage oils as well, when diluted in a carrier, though here are a few more fun recipes: For a sensual massage, per ounce of carrier oil, add – 8 drops Sandalwood, 6 drops Rose, 4 drops Lavender and 2 drops Ylang Ylang. For opening the heart, try 4 drops Spikenard, 4 drops Lavender and 2 drops of Rose. Finally, for sheer relaxation, use 6 drops Lavender, 4 drops Neroli and 2 drops Bergamot. Note that topical application of citrus oils (Orange, Bergamot, Tangerine, Lemon, Lime, etc.) should be avoided on skin that will be exposed to direct sunlight in the following few days – these oils are known to be photo-sensitizing, and can make the skin more susceptible to burning by UV rays. The feet are excellent receivers of essential oil energy; this is the basis of reflexology. Many oils that can irritate sensitive skin elsewhere can be applied ‘neat’ (undiluted) to the bottoms of the feet; the tops of the feet are more sensitive, though this area will also have significant energetic results.

Don’t be afraid to create your own blends! You will certainly find particular oils that you enjoy – and aromatherapy is like that. It is the oils you find most enjoyable that are likely those that are most effective for you. An important starting note is to change the ratios of oils you are blending very slowly. Start with one drop of each oil in a small vial, mixing them and allowing a few minutes for them to blend before adding more oil 1 drop at a time. In general, citrus oils (Orange, Bergamot, Tangerine, Lemon, Lime) tend to bring alertness while calming at the same time. Herb oils (Peppermint, Rosemary and Basil) tend to be invigorating, while floral oils tend to be relaxing (Lavender, Chamomile, Jasmine, Neroli). This is only a guideline – many oils have complex properties and will affect individuals differently – use your nose as a guide.

Medical aromatherapy, the use of essential oils to treat specific medical conditions, requires a bit more knowledge in many cases. There are a few excellent examples of employing oils for common needs: Lavender works very well for minor burns; it is anti-inflammatory and helps the skin regenerate. Blended half and half with Tea Tree, it can be used in place of other antibacterial agents on small cuts and scrapes. Helichrysum italicum oil is a remarkable healer of bruises and sports injuries; it can be used undiluted or at a 5-10% dilution in Hazelnut oil. Melissa oil is documented as an excellent treatment for the herpes virus. For support for common colds, inhale equal parts Lavender, Rosemary and Eucalyptus. For support in clearing chest and sinus conditions, use Lavender, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus. These blends can be added to a carrier oil and rubbed into the chest, inhaled from a steaming bowl of water (with the eyes closed!) or used in a diffuser. The greatest promise for medical essential oil use lies in their profound ability to eradicate bacteria and viruses – this is where the need of an experienced professional arises, however. As with any medication, matching the correct oil and it’s application with the illness is critical, otherwise the oil may have no effect, and the patient may not heal. When done properly, however, remarkable results have been achieved.

Chakra acupuncture combines the wisdom of ancient Indian medical knowledge and Chinese acupuncture. In Indian traditional medicine (such as Ayurvedic medicine), the chakras are seven key energy centers. The word comes from the Sanskrit for wheel of light. In contemporary alternative therapies the two systems have been usefully combined, both in reaching a diagnosis and in treatment. Aromatherapy and the use of essential oils add a third level to this way of healing.

The seven principal chakras, or energy centers, are the material incarnation of the spiritual. They are located on the midline of the body, in line with the spine from the cranium to the groin area. There are many more chakras, but these seven ” the root, spleen, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown chakras ” are the most important. The chakras correspond more or less to the organs in Chinese medical terminology. The fourth chakra, for example, correlates with the liver and spleen in Chinese medicine. The different chakras are foci for different types of power and consciousness, such as personal power (third chakra), sexual potency (second chakra) and creative energy (fifth chakra).

The chakras are not only concerned with the flow of energy in the body but also with mediating positive and negative energy from the surrounding environment, that affects physical, emotional and spiritual health. Chakra imbalances are caused by stress, illness, poor nutrition and social and spiritual problems, amongst other things. Similarly to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is concerned both with energy locations and the flow of energy, or qi, along channels or meridians. Yin and yang are the positive and negative forces of qi. Both acupuncture and the chakra circulatory system aim to restore balance, to release energy blockages and boost qi.

Chakra acupuncture brings together the power of the two systems. Acupuncture needles inserted at the chakra locations are believed to achieve the aim of revitalizing the life forces and unblocking the energy channels.

The philosophy of aromatherapy, using essential oils, complements Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine still further. The oil can be inhaled, applied to the hands or feet, matched to the particular chakra that needs re-balancing or simply placed within the patients energy field. The specific oil used may also be chosen according to principles of color therapy, with different colors corresponding to different chakras and their particular energies. Different oils also have differing energizing effects.

Chakra acupuncture is a holistic option that is a favoured path to healing for many people in search of spiritual balance. It is a drug-free way of looking after our emotional and physical selves that recognizes the connectedness of mind and body and treats both entities together.