Aromatherapy

Archive for December, 2006

Centuries after the Ancient Egyptians used aromatherapy, the practice is still being used. Whether you burn a candle, warm a few drops of oil, or massage the oils onto your skin, aromatherapy promotes physical and mental well-being. Aromatherapy is exciting and it seems to be everywhere you look. With so many essential oils out there to choose from you may feel a little confused; but don’t worry we’ve found the top eight essential oils on the market.

Lavender is by far the most commonly used essential oil. The fragrant flowery scent is used to promote relaxation and lift depression. Sprinkle a few drops of lavender on your pillow at night to help you get to dreamland. Mix lavender with a base oil to rub on your temples (for headaches), sore muscles, or abdominal cramps. Lavender is also useful for relieving the pain from arthritis.

Tea tree oil is right up there with lavender oil. It is known as the most powerful natural antiseptic around. Tests have shown that you can safely apply tea tree oil to your skin without diluting it (it’s one of the few essential oils that you are able to do this with). It can be applied to treat bacteria, fungi, viruses, cuts, and burns. Tea tree oil is also known for its ability to dissolve oil on the skin. Though its primary use is for physical healing, tea tree oil is also known to lift depression and exhaustion. If a revitalizing, nutmeg scent appeals to you then you will enjoy tea tree oil.

Chamomile eases tension, anger, anxiety, stress and insomnia. Chamomile is used in aromatherapy because of its abilities to soothe and relax you. It’s also known to relieve nausea, heartburn, and menstrual cramps. Chamomile’s scent could be described as similar to that of an apple.

Lemon essential oil is stimulating to the mind. It is used for improving concentration and memory. Some people use lemon in aromatherapy because of the respiratory benefits; it helps asthma, bronchitis and sinus infections. Using lemon in your aromatherapy treatment will also help in regulating your body’s immune system. Lemon essential oil is phototoxic so unlike some of the other oils, it should not be used on the skin just before going out in the sun. Lemon’s scent is well, lemony.

Eucalyptus is antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic. It’s mainly used in aromatherapy to relieve congestion, colds, coughs, sore throats, and a stuffy nose. If you have sore muscles eucalyptus can help to relieve them as well. With eucalyptus you’ll get a strong, refreshing, medicinal aroma; if you like a sweeter smell you can mix it with some lemon essential oil.

Geranium has a sweet, floral scent. It’s antifungal, antiseptic, and it reduces inflammation. If applied to a burn, geranium will help it to heal. Geranium is also a mild sedative as well as a muscle relaxant. If you are trying to clear up acne, brighten your skin, get rid of oily skin, or kill lice, geranium can be used to do all of this. Because of its antispasmodic properties pregnant women should not use geranium.

Peppermint eases anxiety, mental fatigue, tension, headaches and depression. With peppermint essential oil your alertness will increase and concentration will improve. It is also helpful with asthma, colic, nausea, vertigo, scabies, and diarrhea. If you’ve eaten too much at dinner or have menstrual cramps you, or your loved one, can rub some peppermint essential oil onto your abdomen to experience the relief it brings. Peppermint can be described as having an energizing, menthol aroma.

Rosemary’s scent is slightly medicinal and sweet. Rosemary gives you relief from arthritis, dandruff, muscle cramping, muscle aches, nausea, and oily skin. It is known to be an antiseptic, antidepressant, and an analgesic. You can also use rosemary as a stimulant and a decongestant. In cases of hypertension, rosemary should not be used.

With essential oils be careful not to use too much. They are highly concentrated and can be too strong smelling or be a skin irritant if too much is used. A rule of thumb is to use the least amount of essential oil possible. A few drops is usually enough to get your desired results.

There are a variety of aromatherapy scents that can be useful for calming and relieving stress. It is true that the very process of Aromatherapy is calming, but some essential oils, in and of themselves, have natural powers for soothing and calming the person that is experiencing the aromas. It is important to know exactly what oils are best for what treatments. Some are better for healing and relieving certain types of pain, while others are better for promoting alertness and are thus stimulating. So, it is necessary that one know exactly what each essential oil is capable of and works best for promoting and fighting against.

Probably one of the most popular oils for calming is lavender. This oil comes from France primarily and is one of the ‘essential’ essential oils. Known for its multi-diverse functions, it can be effective for treating all sorts of ailments. But, the most common use of lavender is calming and relaxing the person. It is a very pleasant herbal and floral scent, and can calm and balance the mind and spirit. It is a hardy plant, and can grow in almost any garden. The oils from lavender, when applied in Aromatherapy, diffuse tension and anger, soothing the ‘uptight’ soul. It is also very good for the insomniac. It helps to give one a good night sleep in spite of tension and stress.

Another scent that is very calming is jasmine. Originating in India, this oil is called the “king†of oils. It possesses a rich, deep scent that is sensual and relaxing. It is also used to prevent mental blockage, nervousness and sadness. It functions quite well as an antidepressant.

Chamomile is another oil that is excellent for calming. From Italy, this oil has a powerful sedating effect. As most know, in the form of a tea chamomile is praised as a marvelous relaxing drink. In Aromatherapy, its properties are not much different. Not only does it calm, but also it reduces pain and stress.

Although it is used as invigorating oil, bergamot can be considered a calming essential oil. This Italian oil is helpful for relieving stress and ‘loosening up’ one’s tensed state.

Rose, as an essential oil is perfect for promoting a calming effect. Originating in Bulgaria, it has been used for such things as hysteria, grief and depression. It is calming and supportive, even being thought to balance out female hormonal cycles.

Clary sage, the essential oil from Russia, is one essential oil with a herbaceous, light, fruity aroma that is irresistible. With its sweet, floral fragrance, it often gives one a euphoric sense after exposure to it. In fact, clary sage is believed to help stimulate the body’s natural production of endorphins that ease fatigue and chronic pain.

Neroli is an exotic oil that is produced in several different countries including France, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt. The oil is extracted from the bitter orange and it is one of the best aromatic anti-depressants. It is good for stress, anxiety, shock, fear and lack of confidence.

Another top oil for calming is sandalwood. This is another oil from India and besides being useful for the treatment of acne; it is a wonderful way to calm one’s nerves. Although these essential oils are very hard to harvest and hard to find, they relax and soothe irritation as well as help lift bouts of depression.

One essential oil that is reminiscent of jasmine is Ylang Ylang. This Madagascaran “flower of flowers†is sweet, exotic, floral and sensual. It has been used as an anti-depressant and is a most exquisite way of calming one body and soul. This essential oil calms anger and releases tension, a true essential oil. As far as the physical effects that Ylang Ylang can help with, it has been known to also fight acne, lower blood pressure, ease muscle spasms, relieve the symptoms of PMS, and fight bacteria, among some of its other uses.

Lastly, a top calming essential oil is vanilla. This oil is found in such tropical places as Tahiti, Madagascar and Java. It is rich, warm and sweet and is a type of orchid. Not only is it one of the most pleasant fragrances of the oils, but also it helps promote a calm and relieves stress in its users. Also it is thought to be an aphrodisiac. These are the top calming aromatherapy oils used today.

The process of diffusion is the way in which essential oils are distributed in the air so that one may inhale them. There is a host of ways in which this diffusion is accomplished. Varying from the very simple to moderately complicated, the diffusion of essential oils for Aromatherapy can be demonstrated in three general methods. Consumers can practice many methods with these products. Here is a look at some of these methods and the products used for them.

The three main ways in which aromatherapy essential oils are diffused are by tissue, steam and candle diffusion. The tissue method is really simple. Merely place a few drops on a tissue, making sure that the tissue is somewhere nearby. Consequently, the aroma will be distributed to you. This method is advantageous because it is quick, easy and can be done anywhere. But, with this method very little vapor is emitted. Unlike the tissue method, using boiling water diffuses far more vapor into the air. Just by pouring boiled water into a bowl and placing several drops into the bowl, vapors are distributed throughout the room. This diffusion method is less convenient than the tissue, but more effective. Being that the vapors produced by boiling water is not long lasting, a favorite method is using candles. In addition, simply lighting a candle, extinguishing the flame, placing a few drops in the soft wax (not on the wick) and then re-lighting the candle, vapors are distributed in the air. The only disadvantage to this method is that it can be dangerous if not done right, since some essential oils are highly flammable and one must take care not to light the oils themselves.

One product that heats the oils in the same way as candle diffusion is the lamp ring. These are terra cotta rings that fasten around a light bulb that are then heated by the light. This is an especially safer way of diffusion than candle, although similar in function. Unfortunately, even though lamp rings are inexpensive, they may not offer an acceptable level of potency. In the process of heating, they have been known to heat the oils too much so that the constituents of the oils are not held in tact. Sometimes the oils splash onto the light bulbs and cause the light bulbs to bust, another hazard.

But, not all diffusion methods require heat. Like the tissue method, there is one product that diffuses the vapors without it. Fan diffusers are units that diffuse the aromas of essential oils by blown air. This is how they work. The oils are placed on small absorbent pad or tray. The tray sits right at the base of a fan. When the fan is turned on, the natural vapors of the oils are diffused in the air and blown throughout a room. One of the advantages to this product is that it can spread the fragrance of aromatherapy oils much farther than other methods. It usually distributes the oils’ aroma with far better effectiveness. The one draw back to this product is that it can be noisy. If commotion is viewed as counterproductive to what one wants to accomplish with aromatherapy, then this is important to consider.

Another product is the electric diffuser. Similar to the fan diffuser, this product utilizes the power of a fan to distribute the oils’ aroma, but it also heats the oils prior to diffusion. These can be very powerful products, but one must consider the fact that heating the oils often diminishes the potency of the oils’ aroma, and thus effectiveness.

Another product on the market for diffusion that takes distribution of aromas to a sophisticated level is the nebulizer. These devices break down the oils’ constituency into their molecular parts and distribute these molecular parts throughout the room where they are created. The nebulizer consists of two parts, the base, where there is a large motor, and the container where the oils are placed. The container looks like a bottle of blown glass, with an unusual shape. The oils are modified by the motor and then are dispersed throughout a particular area. The advantage to this product is that it disperses the oils’ aromas with very little loss to their potency, thus can be more therapeutic. However, there is a downside to these products. The glass containers are very expensive and being that they are breakable can be costly to replace. These are the typical products on the market for essential oil diffusion that you can use for your aromatherapy.

In brief, aromatherapy is the use of volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being. Although the term aromatherapy was not used until the 20th Century, the foundations of aromatherapy date back thousands of years. The use of essential oils in particular date back nearly one thousand years.

The Chinese may have been one of the first cultures to use aromatic plants for well-being. Their practices involved burning incense to help create harmony and balance. Later, the Egyptians invented a rudimentary distillation machine that allowed for the crude extraction of cedarwood oil. It is also thought by some that Persia and India may have also invented crude distillation machines, but very little is known.

Oils of cedarwood, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and myrrh were used by the Egyptians to embalm the dead. When a tomb was opened in the early 20th century, traces of the herbs were discovered with intact portions of the body. The scent, although faint, was still apparent. Although the cedarwood the Egyptians used was distilled by a crude distillation process, the other oils the Egyptians used were most likely infused oils.

The Egyptians also used infused oils and herbal preparations for spiritual, medicinal, fragrant and cosmetic use. It is thought that the Egyptians coined the term perfume, from the Latin per fumum, which translates as through the smoke. Egyptian men of the time used fragrance as readily as the women. An interesting method that the men used to fragrance themselves was to place a solid cone of perfume on their heads. It would gradually melt and would cover them in fragrance.

The Greeks learned a great deal from the Egyptians, but Greek mythology apparently credits the gift and knowledge of perfumes to the gods. The Greeks also recognized the medicinal and aromatic benefits of plants. Hippocrates, commonly called the “father of medicine” practiced fumigations for both aromatic and medicinal benefit. A Greek perfumer by the name of Megallus created a perfume called megaleion. Megaleion included myrrh in a fatty-oil base and served several purposes: (1) for its aroma, (2) for its anti-inflammatory properties towards the skin and (3) to heal wounds.

The Roman Empire built upon the knowledge of the Egyptians and Greeks. Discorides wrote a book called De Materia Medica that described the properties of approximately 500 plants. It is also reported that Discorides studied distillation. Distillation during this period, however, focused on extracting aromatic floral waters and not essential oils.

A major event for the distillation of essential oils came with the invention of a coiled cooling pipe in the 11th century. Persian by birth, Avicenna invented a coiled pipe which allowed the plant vapor and steam to cool down more effectively than previous distillers that used a straight cooling pipe. Avicenna’s contribution lead to more focus on essential oils and their benefits.

Within the 12th century, an Abbess of Germany named Hildegard grew and distilled lavender for its medicinal properties. Within the 13th century, the pharmaceutical industry was born. This event encourages great distillation of essential oils.

During the 14th century, the Black Death hit and killed millions of people. Herbal preparations were used extensively to help fight this terrible killer. It is believed that some perfumers may have avoided the plague by their constant contact with the natural aromatics.

As time progressed, these were more often used. During the 19th century, perfumery remained a prosperous industry. Women would have their jeweler create a special bottle to hold their treasured perfume. The 19th century also was important scientifically as major constituents of essential oils became isolated.

During the 20th century, the knowledge of separating the constituents of essential oils was used to create synthetic chemicals and drugs. It had been believed that by separating the major constituents and then using the constituents alone or in synthetic form would be beneficial therapeutically and economically. These discoveries helped lead to “modern medicine” and synthetic fragrances. This actually weakened the use of essential oils for medicinal and aromatic benefit.

From the late 20th century and on into the 21st century, there is a growing resurgence to utilize more natural products including essential oils for therapeutic, cosmetic and aromatic benefit. The use of essential oils never ceased, but the scientific revolution minimized the popularity and use of essential oils in one’s everyday life.

There are many ways that Aromatherapy can help relieve the tension acquired during stressful times. The essential oils present in Aromatherapy are therapeutic not only to certain ailments that plague a person, but they can also have a calming soothing effect that will lower one’s symptoms of worry. Not only can some oils reduce stress, but also these oils can help one increase their ability to handle stress.

As for the methods of application, these are numerous and varied. One can take a few drops of one of the essential oils, place them in a ceramic candle and heat it with the flame, allowing the oils to diffuse in the air so that it is received through inhalation. Another method involves placing a few drops of the essential oils on your pillow at night. This has the advantage of being inhaled while you sleep, so that, you are not likely to walk away from the room and exclude some of the vapors. And another method that is helpful for relieving stress is dropping a few drops in a bathtub full of hot water. All one has to do is submerge themselves into the warm, soothing waters and sit back. The essential oils are distributed through the air while you can be lying back enjoying the solace of a nice hot bath.

The method of oil distribution through a ceramic oil diffuser is very convenient way of relieving stress. If you do not have the time to take a bath, you can easily place a few drops of essential oils in a diffuser and let the oils be inhaled while you go about your busy schedule while the oils do their work. Lavender or chamomile oils are excellent for this purpose. They have natural essences that promote relaxation. So, even if the mood cannot be attained, the very chemical exposure can.

Placing essential oil drops on your pillow at night is also a very easy and convenient way of allowing the oils to relieve stress. If you do not have the time at home to inhale the precious vapors of an aromatherapy, then you can let it overtake your sleep. By merely applying several drops on your pillow, the vapors of the essential oils will rise and be naturally inhaled by you while you sleep. The best essential oils for this purpose are also lavender and chamomile. These are ideal for such an application. Not only will they help you feel rested, but also they can help you guard against subsequent stressful feelings even after the vapors have died down.

Obviously oils placed in a bathtub are quite perfect for relieving stress. Just sitting down in a steaming hot tub can be enough to help you cope with many of life’s challenges. But, if you place a few drops of essential oils into the tub with you, the oils will quickly distribute themselves in the air and you will immediately inhale the exotic vapors as they help to alleviate much of the stress that you may be experiencing. Just as lavender and chamomile are excellent choices for this, so is sage. Sage is one type of oil that is known to help remove mental stress and strain, although this is used as a tonic.

Some other ways that essential oils can be used to reduce your stress levels is by massages and facials. Some applications of essential oils, especially right on the head, can help you get rid of a headache, particularly if they are rubbed onto the temples. This is not only a symptom of stress, but can also cause higher levels of stress to persist. Naturally, having the oils rubbed into your skin in the course of a massage is ideal. It goes without saying that not only are the oils introduced into your system so that they can do their work, but the effects of a massage can do wonders to the problem of stress.

Some essential oils to keep in mind are oils such as grapefruit and tangerine. These oils can help one feel more optimistic and joyful. These are good choices for individuals that get depressed a lot in concert with their stress. Peppermint oils can help one have a clear mind. This is important if stress seems to be clouding your judgment on certain issues. It helps one stay focused. Also, lemon is known to help with the accuracy achieved at work. If it can be achieved, and no one objects, using lemon at work can help prevent some of the causes of stress in the first place, mistakes on reports, missed appointments and the like. These are just some of the ways that aromatherapy can help you relieve stress.