Aromatherapy

Archive for August, 2007

Aromatherapy essential oils are the core of the practice of aromatherapy. Before we get into how essential oils are extracted let us first define some terms that may seem basic and simple but are actually a little misleading. First we need to define the proper use of the word essential in this discussion. Essential means the essence, or the unique scent, of the plant that the oil is extracted from. So aromatherapy essential oils are not necessarily any oils of any great importance, essential just means that the oils are derived from the essence of the plant. The other definition is the use of the word aroma in aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is more about the use of essential oils, which are categorized based on their aroma, than it is about the use of the actual smell or scent of the oil. The oil is identified by its smell but the smell of the oil is not always what is used in therapy.

So now that we have aromatherapy not based on aroma and essential oils that aren’t really very essential at all, we need to find out how these oils are extracted from the plants. Remember that the key to identifying essential oils is their essence, or their scent, so when the process is complete you need to be left with a product that you can identify and use. Aromatherapy essential oils try to be as pure as possible as many therapists do not like any chemical compounds used in the extraction process that may linger after the process is finished. There are chemical methods used to extract essential oils but the more popular methods are water and pressure.

Two Of The More Popular Extraction Methods

One very popular method of extracting essential oils for aromatherapy is called distillation. Distillation is the process of using steam to extract the oil and then rapidly cooling the steam back into water form. Since essential oils and water do not mix it is easy to get the essential oil out of the resulting mixture causing the resulting product to be very pure. The more common essential oils such as peppermint and lavender are extracted using distillation. The water created as a byproduct of the distillation process is also very popular among those that use aromatherapy essential oils and those byproducts are called hydrosols. Hydrosols such as rose water are extremely popular as skin care products.

One of the simpler ways to extract aromatherapy essential oils is by simply putting the raw plant under a press and squeezing the oil out and this is called expression. The citrus plants are very concentrated in essential oils so the process of simply squeezing the oil out of them is inexpensive very effective and offers a very pure resulting product.

Aromatherapy diffusers work a lot like a humidifier. A humidifier is a device that you add water to and the humidifier turns the water into steam and distributes that vaporized water to a designated area. People usually use humidifiers in cooler climates because the cold can sometimes cause the air to be very dry which can cause homes, and skin, to start cracking. Aromatherapy diffusers run on the same basic concept. You put in scented oil and the diffuser vaporizes that oil and distributes it in a designated area.

Aromatherapy is the practice of altering your environment by adding scents to it that are supposed to relax you or just make your general surroundings more pleasant. Aromatherapy diffusers are the more popular devices used to distribute those scents. There are a wide variety of diffusers that can either give you a constant distribution of scent or a timed-release distribution designed to last over a long period of time. Aromatherapy diffusers come in all shapes and sizes to met any need.

The Variety Of Aromatherapy Diffusers

Aromatherapy has become extremely popular in recent years as an alternative way to relieve stress and address other concerns that a person may have. Since aromatherapy is something you could theoretically do anywhere you are, it stands to reason that there is an aromatherapy diffuser designed for any occasion. For example, there are portable car diffusers that you can plug into your car lighter and have your aromatherapy with you while you drive. I guess it beats the evergreen tree hanging from your rear view mirror.

Going beyond the car lighter model, the aromatherapy diffuser is designed to fit your specific need as far as room size and strength of scent are concerned. There are personal sized diffusers that can fit in a workspace like a cubicle or a desk all the way up to industrial sized diffusers that are designed to offer constant aromatherapy to a large room or hall. In between you have diffusers that are designed to cover just about any scenario you may need for your aromatherapy needs.

An aromatherapy diffuser is a device used to distribute aromatherapy scents to a designated area for a designated amount of time. Some of them can keep the aroma going constantly and others can offer intermittent blasts of the aromatherapy scent. They have diffusers small enough for your car and also big enough to fill your house with aromatherapy. Whatever your need is there is a diffuser out there that can do the job for you.

Aromatherapy is a thriving market. While vendors can possibly make a nice amount of money, a thriving market is a double edged sword. Because of the many vendors trying to sell aromatherapy kits and secrets to the public, many possible consumers do their research about aromatherapy before making a purchase. With aromatherapy certification, vendors can increase their commercial success by proving they are experts in their field.

Spend Ten Dollars, Get Ten Thousand

Aromatherapy certification is actually very easy to obtain for people that have worked with aromatherapy for years. To get a certificate, people must take an aromatherapy test to prove they have knowledge on the subject, akin to testing out of a class at college. For ten dollars and half an hour of their time, testers can receive a certificate demonstrating that they have exceptional knowledge of aromatherapy. They know what ingredients are useful for, how to mix those ingredients together, and how to store the blends they’ve created.

If your computer broke down, would you trust the next door neighbor’s kid to fix it, or would you turn to a specialist with technical training in the field? Just like that example, aromatherapy certification can increase a commercial aromatherapy vendor’s ability to sell by proving they’re not just trying to rip customers off. Even if that’s not a vendor’s intent, their personal recipes and blends may not be the best available, and everyone wants the best for their money. With aromatherapy certification, vendors can assure customers that they have the best knowledge and expertise concerning aromatherapy.

Certificates, just like college degrees, have been proven to increase customer faith in a company because they increase reliability. However, unlike college degrees, an aromatherapy certificate is extremely cheap to obtain. For about $10 instead of $150,000 and thirty minutes instead of four years, people can prove they have extensive knowledge on aromatherapy. Better yet, they don’t even have to drive anywhere. Many tests are available online, allowing people to take the tests whenever it suits them best. They never even have to leave the comfort of their home.

So what can you lose? You too can increase your profits substantially with aromatherapy certification. For a few dollars and a few minutes of your time, you can easily earn another five or ten thousand dollars every year. All you need is an adequate knowledge of aromatherapy, such as ingredients, recipes, blends, and application, things you learn simply from practicing it. Bolsters customer faith and your earnings with aromatherapy certification today!

Aromatherapy is the science of using scents to help alter your mood and your health. If there is any place your mood needs altering, it’s behind the steering wheel of your car. Problems drivers often face are stress, fatigue and car sickness. Some drivers have found help working with one of the many commercially available aromatherapy car air fresheners. But you just can’t buy any old smelly aromatherapy car air fresheners. You need to get to know your nose and have it tell you what scents are best.

Relax…But Not Too Much

Aromatherapy car air fresheners use therapeutic grade level of essential oils in a diffuser or ready made hanging freshener. These essential oils are powerful enough to work on your nerves. On the one hand, it’s great to know that scents like lavender and marjoram can help you calm down. On the other hand, you can’t risk falling asleep behind the wheel. If, however, you adore these scents and they make you feel happy and safe, then you can consider having them in your aromatherapy car air fresheners, but only in combination with other scents. Scents that can help put you to sleep are:

lavender marjoram chamomile sandalwood

Can I Keep My Eyes Open

One of the scariest – and luckiest – moments of this writer’s life is when she woke up behind the wheel of her car going onto Route 30 in Pennsylvania. I had fallen asleep behind the wheel and slept from my apartment to Route 30. Why I wasn’t killed, I do not know. Perhaps I was saved in order to have you read this article. (Lucky you!)

Scents are incredibly effective in helping your mind stay alert. If I had a bracing, stimulating, blow your head off aromatherapy air car freshener in my car that fateful morning, I would not have fallen asleep. You might need to experiment with your aromatherapy car air fresheners to find the scent that helps you revive but does not give you a headache. These WAKE UP scents include:

Eucalyptus Bergamot Rosemary Lemon Pine Motion Sickness

If you are like me, after a while in the car you get motion sickness. There are some scents that quickly help to relieve nausea. These scents can often be found alone or in combination with other scents in aromatherapy car air fresheners. These scents can include:

Lavender (there’s that lavender again!) Peppermint Ginger

If you are looking for an easy, inexpensive way to elevate your mood, get rid of a stale odor in your home or become alert quicker in the morning then aromatherapy candles may be beneficial to you.

What Aromatherapy Candles Are

Aromatherapy candles are candles that are infused with essential oils, which are what make these candles work. These essential oils are derived from such things as plants, flowers, wood and fruit. Aromatherapy candles come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and are filled with various essential oils.

You can purchase these candles from a wide range of web sites. These sites will provide you with a listing of essential oils that are in the candle and what their therapeutic effect is. Of course, aromatherapy candles can also be purchased from such stores as Bath & Body Works and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Whenever you purchase these candles just make sure that they contain essential oils and not fragrance or perfume.

How Aromatherapy Candles Work

These candles work because they are volatile and thus they are able to release their scent into the air at higher temperatures and thus the therapeutic vapors of the essential oils are emitted. Once they are in the air you are able to inhale the healing scent.

Aromatherapy candles are made from bees or soy wax, but the soy are the most popular. They should not be made out of paraffin as this can be harmful. Real aromatherapy candles should also be made of pure essential oils. Without the essential oils the candle will merely smell nice, but it will not emit any healing scents.

The therapeutic effects of these candles range from helping you fall asleep to energizing you. If you choose to purchase a lavender or tangerine candle it will help you to release your tension. On the other hand, if you want to relieve your tension, then you should get a chamomile candle. Of course, these candles can also be used as a memory aid if you purchase ginger aromatherapy candles. In order to elevate your mood you will need a bergamot candle, which will make you feel happier. There are also candles that can calm your mood, alleviate your stress and enhance your memory. Since you will probably want more than one type of candle, you will be glad to know that these candles are inexpensive.

The Various Types Of Aromatherapy Candles And Accessories Available

Most of the time all you have to do is light these candles and enjoy them. However, you can find a lot of great accessories to help you enjoy these candles even more. For instance, there are some great candle holders available that will to the look of your home’s décor. Of course, this only increases the scents that add value to the ambiance of your home. For this reason a lot of people enjoy using these candles in their bathrooms. You will discover that the decorating and atmosphere options with these candles are absolutely endless.