Aromatherapy

Archive for July, 2008

There is no one magical pill to cure cystic acne overnight. You need an overhaul of your lifestyle and help from your doctor or dermatologist. Pure essential oil for cystic acne can be an effective weapon in your battle, as long as you support it with sensible body cleaning, a healthy die and following the advice and medication from your doctor or dermatologist.

OUCH

Cystic acne is one of the most painful and embarrassing forms of acne. The pimples are usually painful and dig deep into the skin like boils. They traumatize the skin like wounds and leave permanent scarring. This seems an especially cruel thing to happen to a teenager who is trying to fit in and be liked, especially by the opposite sex. Yes, you may be teased, but if you pay attention, you’ll find that almost anyone in high school or college is teased about something. At least you know that, in most cases, cystic acne can diminish and go away. And if somebody doesn’t like just because you have cystic acne, he or she would not have made a good friend, anyway.

Essential oil for cystic acne could at first be just burning your favorite calming oils to give you a sense of well being and a time to be at peace. Acne is often aggravated by worry. Being calm and learning how to handle stress can greatly assist your body’s natural self-defense systems.

Battle Scars

Essential oil for cystic acne is best for treating any open pimples and helping the scar tissue to not be so deep. It can also help diminish the pain. It can help you keep going in the months before any pills or other medication kick in. Actor Edward James Olmos had cystic acne as a kid, and look at him now. Yes, he has scars, but he’s still attractive and successful.

Many essential oils for cystic acne are good at cleaning out wounds gently and slowing bacteria growth. The three most popular and safe are tea tree, lavender and clove oil. The first two smell a lot better than clove oil, but clove oil is an effective pain killer and is also very effective on minor toothaches. Other oils include jasmine, myrrh, sandalwood and ylang ylang. You can dab them on your wounds with a clean cotton ball or swab, use a drop on any bandages if necessary, or even add three or four drops to a compress to press against any particularly painful area. You can even add a few drops to a bowl or boiling water for a deep clean facial. Adding no more than 6 drops of essential oil for cystic acne to your bath can help not only clean you, but relax you as well, and let you know that you have the strength to get through this.

Having a beautiful skin without ugly acne scars is surely the dream of every woman, and a few men as well. However, their numbers are rather limited and only those with good genes will have the good fortune of having acne-free skin. The skin will only reflect the overall condition and health of the body and being the largest organ in the body needs to be well looked after.

Essential Oils Are Recommended By Dermatologists

If you seek the advice of a dermatologist about the best therapies that can be used to renew the skin, you would no doubt be advised to use anything that has Vitamins C and A, though finding a stable Vitamin C product can often prove to be difficult. It is not an accident that organic essential oils for acne scars should be a natural solution because of the high concentration of bio-available Vitamin C as well as natural tretinoin, which is a Vitamin A derivative.

Essential oil for acne scars are a good alternative to the traditional methods of treating acne such as creams as well as ointments, which though effective, can also have serious side effects such as birth defects. Such serious risks are not worth taking and so you have to look for viable alternatives.

Essential oil for acne scars is an exceptional means of having your own homemade acne treatment. There are some essential oils that are able to dissolve sebum as well as destroy bacteria and also keep the acid mantle of the skin preserved. The only drawback to using essential oil for acne scars is that it can dry the skin, especially when applied in its concentrated and undiluted form. So, you will need to know the safe essential oils, of which just a few are suitable including lavender, lemon as well as lemon tea, and use them without any problem. Other essential oils for acne scars should be mixed with carrier oil like the grapeseed oil and the jojoba.

The advantage of using essential oil for acne scars is that it will not clog the pores and is very clean, which helps in reducing acne. Good examples of essential oil for acne scars include Emu oil as well as tea tree oil, though Emu oil is technically not an essential oil, being derived from the Emu, a flightless bird found predominantly in Australia. However, it can be used as a carrier oil in combination with other essential oils such as tea tree oil that will help in giving softer as well as moisturized skin that will also smell nice, and at the same time reduce acne.

It takes many years of experience with essential oil extraction in order to produce essential oils that are of aroma therapeutic grade. Every step of the essential oil extraction process requires both dedication and knowledge if you want to produce a truly fine oil.

Steam And Hydro Distillation For Essential Oil Extraction

Hydro-distillation and steam distillation are the most common method of essential oil extraction. Both methods are quite similar and involve steam flowing into a chamber where the raw plant material is. While there the small sacs that contain the essential oil to burst. This oil is then carried by the steam out of the chamber and into a chilled condenser, where the steam becomes water once again. From there the oil and water have to be separated. This water is then what the essential oil is that you purchase.

The Right Temperature For Essential Oil Extraction

You cannot have the temperature of the extraction chamber too high or you will either destroy or alter some parts of the oil. For instance, you cannot process lavender at over 245 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise you will get a ‘harsh’ aroma wherein there is more chemical than floral scent and the oil’s therapeutic effects will be lessened. Of course, this temperature has to be held for a specific amount of time so that ALL of the oil’s components are flushed out of the plant. It is important to understand that some of these components will be released quicker than others.

The End Product In Essential Oil Extraction

There are numerous factors that determine the final quality of essential oil extraction. Apart from the plant material itself, time, temperature and pressure are also important, as is the quality of the distillation equipment. Essential oils are very complex being made up of hundreds of distinct molecules that come together to form the aroma and therapeutic properties. Some of these molecules are delicate and can be either altered or destroyed by adverse environmental conditions. Therefore, making these essential oils is a long, slow process.

Conclusion

Sometimes oils are “overcooked” in the essential oil extraction process. Usually these oils can be used in cosmetics and processed food manufacturing. However, sometimes they are sold to consumers as essential oils for use in aromatherapy. These are the less expensive oils that are available. You should know that these have limited therapeutic value. So, this process has to be mastered in order to have these high quality essential oils available.

Essential oils have long played a roll in the health and fitness of athletes around the world – perhaps without them even knowing it! Sports massage for enhanced performance and recovery almost always includes massage blends including Eucalyptus, Wintergreen and Rosemary – essential oils that enhance circulation to the muscles and enhance recovery by clearing post-exercise lactic acid and other waste products. ‘Tiger Balm’ – a popular remedy for muscular aches and pains contains camphor, menthol (found in Peppermint), cajeput, mint and clove oils. Other blends can greatly speed healing time of injuries, getting one ‘back in the game’ as fast as possible. Here we’ll have a look at some of the most popular means of enhancing the sporting life with the magic of essential oils.

Essential oils can promote the health and fitness of athletes in many ways, the most common being the pre- and post- exercise (or competition) massage. Long used by top athletes around the world, sports massage with essential oils plays an important part in warming up the muscles before exertion and removing lactic acid (thereby speeding recovery) after a hard effort. Massage formulas often these essential oils – Eucalyptus, for invigoration, circulation and opening airways; Lavender, with anti-inflammatory effects, relieves pain, relaxes spasms, and brings mental calm without sedation; Rosemary relieves pain, stimulates the mind and body, and has a warming effect on the muscles; Juniper Berry, used in the post-exercise formula, detoxifies and helps eliminate lactic acid from muscles; and Sweet Marjoram which helps relieve cramping in over-exerted muscles.

Example massage blends for pre- and post-exercise: For before exercise and competition, give a gentle rub to the entire body (or just the critical appendages, if so desired) with a blend containing eight drops of Rosemary, four drops Lavender and four drops of Eucalyptus oil in each ounce of ‘base’ oil (Sweet Almond oil is the most common of all oils used in massage). The massage should be vigorous enough to get the blood flowing but not so deep as to provoke pain in any way – generally, quick, light strokes are used. For the post-exercise rub, try a blend including eight drops of Lavender, four drops of Juniper Berry and four drops of Marjoram per ounce of base oil. Stronger, longer strokes are used, moving toward the heart or center of the body. The post-exercise rub can certainly be deeper, but care should be taken not to cause further inflammation in very sore or tight areas – work on these more deeply when the body has had a day or two to recover. Also, you can adjust the concentration of oils to suit your particular tastes and body’s response; in general, higher concentrations of essential oils will be stimulating, and lower ones will be relaxing.

Aromatherapy oils can be used during pre and post exercise baths and showers as well, using the same oils and blends mentioned above. Be sure to add any oils to the bathwater after the bath is drawn so they do not evaporate before you get in. Before showers, essential oils can be applied undiluted to the body; this is particularly advised post-exertion to support the elimination of metabolic wastes. One drop each of Rosemary, Lemon, Eucalyptus and Peppermint essential oils can be ideal for this purpose. After a shower or bath is an excellent time to apply a massage blend to the entire body – the pores are open and the skin is clean, enhancing absorption. Choose a stimulating or relaxing blend depending on your condition.

Essential oils’ medicinal value goes beyond just warm up and cool down rubs. In many sports, stronger healing properties are often needed due to cuts and scrapes, bruises, twists and sprains. Essential oils can powerful healers of skin, muscle and connective tissue. Many oils are known to have strong anti-inflammatory action, and contain certain molecules which signal the regeneration of tissue. And, of course, there’s the stress-relieving ‘aromatherapy’ aspect, which further enhances the healing process.

For treating common bruises, strains and sprains, the most important and effective essential oil is Helichrysum. This essential oil has an incredible synergy of properties for healing of injuries accompanied by inflammation – the molecules in its makeup are pain relieving, anti-inflammatory and regenerative. It has been noted by one author as “practically a wonder cure” when used for injuries so often incurred by athletes. Further, it is an excellent choice for overall health, wellness and fitness, as there are no known side effects which can occur with pharmaceutical preparations for pain and inflammation. To use Helichrysum, simply place a small amount of the oil on the bruised area, either undiluted, or for larger areas or frequent applications, dilute to 10 or 20% in a carrier oil such as Jojoba. Relief is often quick, and injuries that may have otherwise taken many days to heal have been significantly improved in only a day or two. A blend of Helichrysum and Jojoba can also be used for chronic injuries such as tendonitis – simply massage a small amount into the affected area a few times a day.

Active athletes and fitness buffs will often incur minor cuts and abrasions. Essential oils are an excellent choice for caring for such wounds due to their antiseptic and soothing effects. A 50/50 blend of Tea Tree and Lavender is a wonderful, all-around skin healer. The Tea Tree prevents infection while the Lavender sooths the area. Apply directly to cuts and scrapes after the wound has been properly cleansed. If this is too strong a blend for the younger ones, simply apply a drop or two to the gauze portion of a band-aid and cover the wound for the same effect. The ratio of Lavender to Tea Tree can also be increased for an even more soothing result.

Other than the direct sports-related uses of essential oils, the overall health and fitness of any athlete should be supported for top performance. During periods of especially strenuous training or competition, athletes may be particularly susceptible to infectious illnesses – colds, flu and the like. Diffusing Eucalyptus, Thyme, Tea Tree and/or Lemon in your home can reduce the chance of illness, or the spread of colds. Niaouli essential oil, a relative of Eucalyptus, is also an excellent oil for supporting the immune system. The oil is recommended to be applied neat all over the body after showers for best absorption and effect (use 10-20 drops). A strong immune system goes a long way to keeping an athlete happy and in top form.

These are just a few suggestions for incorporating essential oils into the life of the athlete to improve their health, fitness, and performance. There are many variations of the essential oils suggested – if one oil is found offensive, too stimulating, etc., try another, as this is usually the body’s natural way saying the timing of a particular oil is not right, or the oil is not compatible with the individual’s chemistry at the moment. Experimenting with essential oils can be extremely rewarding, and finding the right combination for support of sports performance can add a whole new dimension to one’s athletic endeavors.

Perhaps you want to be absolutely sure of the purity of your aromatherapy essential oils. Or maybe you want to teach aromatherapy. Or perhaps you’re just curious as to how anyone can get the essential oil out of a bucketful of flower petals. Essential oil distilling equipment can be complicated and expensive, depending on how much oil you need. Remember, it takes a lot of the organic material to make even one ounce of pure essential oil. Also, keep in mind that not all essential oils are made by distillation. Some are made by solvent extraction (like jasmine) and others by expression (like lemon or lime). Look in aromatherapy books or websites to see if your favorite oil can be made with essential oil distilling equipment.

Water or Steam

There are two kinds of essential oil distilling equipment – for water distillation and for steam distillation. Steam is faster, but a more intense process. Some organic materials like cinnamon are just too delicate to handle steam distillation and need the slower water distillation to get any kind of therapeutic grade essential oil.

In water distillation, the material you want the oil from and water is heated in a container or beaker, making a vapor. When the vapor cools, it drips into another clean empty container that collects the precious oil.

In steam distillation, the material is placed in a vacuum-sealed container and heated. the steam inside causes a massive pressure that separates the oil from the flowers, leaves, twigs, resin or even sawdust. The essential oil distilling equipment is usually more complex and dangerous for the novice than for water distillation.

The newest kind of distillation is dry steam distillation, which still needs supervision and can only make very small amounts of essential oil.

What The Heck!

Say you’ve decided on purchasing essential oil distilling equipment. Yes, there are websites of companies that can sell you home stills. They can run from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on what they are made out of and how much oil you need. Copper is considered one of the best materials for essential oil distillation equipment, but there are also those made from glass.

There are several main parts to any essential oil distilling equipment. There is a beaker or container filled with water that is heated to make steam. That’s called the boiler. Attached to that is a tube that goes to another container filled with the material you want the oil from. That in turn is connected by tubing to the collecting container, usually made of glass. The oil is usually strained to remove any water or other impurities, then bottled in small dark tight jars. All of this needs constant supervision. The essential oil distilling equipment can only be used for making essential oils – it will make any food or liquor taste horribly.