Aromatherapy

Archive for April, 2008

Each night the national news is reporting on the various economic disasters that are occurring in the American economy. Fortunately, there is an incredibly easy way for us Americans to support our own economy and our own friends and neighbors. Soy candles are produced by companies based in the United States and sold by companies based in the United States. This makes the process of buying American made candles extremely easy!

Soy candles start with a plant – the soybean plant. Soybeans are grown by American farmers. After planting the seeds in the spring and carefully nurturing the crop during the summer, the soybean is ready for harvesting by the farmer each fall. The beans are then transported to facilities which crush the bean, separating the meal from the oil. The soy meal (or meat) is used by many manufacturers in the production of both human and animal food. The soy oil is sent through a partial hydrogenation process that turns the soy oil into soy wax. The was is extremely soft.

The soybean wax is very soft so it works very well with containers. However, freestanding candles such as pillar candles and taper candles can not be made purely of soy wax because it is so soft. Any freestanding candle that is marketed as soy must have some other ingredient in it (paraffin wax is very common) so the candle will not become a complete blob of molten wax the first time it is burned. Another possible wax used to “firm” the soy wax is palm wax – a natural renewable resource. Other vegetable waxes, such as bayberry, candelilla, carnauba, castor, jojoba oil, ouricury wax (from the Brazillian Feather Palm) or rice bran may also be used to firm the soy wax to form the freestanding candles.

Soy wax candles are non-toxic so they are safe for humans as well as pets. Soy candles are extremely clean burning, producing at least 90-95% less soot than paraffin wax candles. The soot which is produced by burning a soy candle is black like it is with paraffin wax candles, but mostly a white color which may not be noticeable to the naked eye. There is very little black soot produced with a pure unscented soy candle. Adding fragrance and other additives to preserve color or to form freestanding candles can create more of the black soot. Soy candles also burn at a cooler temperature than paraffin wax candles which results in 20-30% longer burn time.

Soy wax is famous for accepting any fragrance that is added to it with incredible ease. Pound for pound, soy wax can hold more scent than paraffin wax. This means that your unlit soy candle will throw scent just as well as the burning soy candle, potentially filling your entire room with delicious fragrance. The fragrance is evenly distributed throughout the candle, so the scent at the end is the same as at the beginning.

Paraffin wax candles are a petroleum based product – meaning they are made from oil. This increases the American dependence on foreign oil supplies and further erodes the American economy. The all natural soy wax candles do not depend on foreign oil or foreign economies because they originate from the soybean plant, grown by American farmers. Soy candles are not just a healthier alternative for our bodies but also a healthy alternative to the economy of the United States.

Many of the usual discomforts can be easily addressed by natural aromatherapy. The nose has nerve endings which are stimulated to bring the body and mind together. Many products like candles and soaps are able to be used for simple every day aromatherapy. When your ready to go to the next level, all of the benefits of applying essential oils can easily be learned in order to get as much as possible from the aromatherapy experience.

Getting a massage with essential oils is a great way to get aromatherapy. Some prefer to try it out on themselves, or even to help a partner to relax. Finding out which ailments can be helped by particular oils is an important first step for the beginning massager. Mixing the oil with a common base oil can be done by a quick measure of about half an ounce of base oil combined with about five drops of what ever type of essential oil is called for.

By combining massage and aromatherapy you can achieve mental and emotional well being. If used in conjunction with acupressure this can be of enormous benefit. A little time in reading up on this will be well worth the experience.

One of the reasons massage using natural aromatherapy oils can be so helpful is because you are getting the benefits of direct physical application along with inhalation of the essential oil. Since the space is enveloped in the scent, anyone in the room will feel better, whether they are on the massage table or not.

Be sure you have some private time in a comfortable spot when you try out an aromatherapy session on yourself. One relaxing way is to soak in a scented bath before treating yourself to an aromatherapy massage that you perform on yourself. Locking the bathroom door can assure you that the relaxation you gain in the bath won’t be lost before you do your massage. Allow enough time to properly apply the essential oils wherever they are needed on your body. Massaging gets the effects deep into the lower skin levels and will help improve circulation in the area you need it.

Very few people have the luxury of experiencing a home massage. More people, are therefore, opting to visit professional spas. Most spas will offer a selection of treatments and there is always the option of bringing your favorite oil blends.

Getting the most from your experience is what’s most important, whether the aromatherapy is self administered, or if you choose to seek out a spa. Being able to feel comfortable in a private setting is the key to getting all of the emotional benefits, as well as physical.

Any number of oils can be used in an aromatherapy massage, but you will want to know if you have any natural allergies to a given plant and let the masseuse know before hand. If you have none then you will want to choose smells that relax and remind you of pleasant things.

A number of aromatherapist consider synthetic fragrance oils are less desirable than plant derived essential oils as elements of perfume. However, synthetic fragrance oils are not effective therapeutically because even though they are copies of essential oils, these synthetic extracts have different structures and, therefore do not enter the skin naturally.

It is very important that you test your fragrances in small batches of product before you commit to making larger batches. Developing perfumes and new fragrances is time consuming and is only done by skilled perfumers. Fragrance oils are always liquid; they will usually leave an oily residue on paper, and are not as volatile as essential oils so the scents often last much longer.

You will find fragrance oils referred to as aroma oils, aromatic oils, and flavor oils, are blended synthetic aroma compounds or natural essential oils that are diluted with a carrier like propylene glycol, vegetable oil, or mineral oil. Because an oil’s aroma is just as important as its chemical fingerprint, all oils also undergo strict olfactory (smell) evaluation. Never take any oils internally without consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner.

Oils from plants were used for a number of purposes such as cosmetics, spiritual relaxation along with the purpose of embalming and mummifying their dead people.

Fragrance oils are widely used in soap making, candle making, for making potpourri, body lotions, hand lotions, bath salts, bath bombs, cosmetics and for many other products. So that you do not get it wrong always produce fragrances in small batches of product before you commit to making larger batches. Commercial soaps extract the moisturizing glycerin that is naturally produced when making soap.

When working with fragrance oils they will be a mixture of either synthetic or essential oils. Fragrance oils are man-made and may, at times, include real essential oils in their basic makeup. Take care not to take fragance oils internally as there will be dire consequences. Put a few drops of fragrance oil on a cotton ball and put it in your vacuum for a wonderful aroma every time you clean.