Aromatherapy

Archive for September, 2008

If you want to relax and loosen after a long tiring day at work all you need is a glass of wine, soft music and a soothing aromatherapy that harmonizes with the other two. Aromatherapy uses essential oils to improve your mood and soothe your nerves. These oils are distilled scientifically from plants and herbs. Most of these oils bear a calming aroma that revitalizes your frame of mind and make you feel elated.

Aromas & Natural Scents

Aromatherapy is a natural way of killing bad odors and foul smell that some times contaminate the air. It almost acts as air ionizer and purifier. To create your custom smell you can mix these oils add distill water and spray in your room to impart the fragrance that matches your persona and style and reflects your mood. There are different kinds of smells that build your mood for distinct situations. Aromatherapy scents can revivify your spirits, spur the energy level, act as an aphrodisiac or just create a romantic environment.  

These scents are environment friendly and always better to use than the deodorizing aerosols. Aromatic candles are another way to making your room look beautiful and smell excellent. Lighting these candles that usually come in different gentle and vibrant colors adds to the beauty of your home and spreads mood enhancing scents in the air.

Scents that lifts up your spirits

When you want to feel better and whack off your depression generally you eat chocolates, ice cream of drink coffee. There is a better solution to this. Use citrus oils instead. Lime orange, lemon or grapefruit can yield excellent results to tackle your depression. These scents naturally stimulate a lethargic mood and induce clarity.

Citrus, mint, or pine will freshen you up. Jasmine, gardenia, and sandalwood are woody fragrances that are ideally used to instill romanticism. Rose or Ylang Ylang is excellent antiseptics, natural sedatives and antidepressants. These also bear the qualities of an aphrodisiac.

You can easily use aromas to revive from a sad depressing mood. Aromatherapy actually helps you to improve the quality of life by instilling positivism. You might associate some fragrance to your favorite memories that you cherish. Learn to build up your mood by collecting those fragrances that induce a sense of fervor and zeal to your life whenever it turns dismal and dull.

Invigorating Scents

Sandal wood, Sage and Lavender used individually or infused together emanate wonderful fragrance that invigorates your mood. These oils stimulate the production of serotonin which reduces stress and helps your body and mind to relax. People suffering from anxiety, stress and insomnia have effectively being treated with these oils for excellent results. Lavender, Bergamot and Sandalwood slow the heart rate and relieve muscle tension.

These oils also reduces pain by triggering the production of enkephalin and endorphin that heightens your sexual feelings as well. Our body’s smell system is closely related to the limbic system of our brain and any the smell reaches the brain immediately and satisfies our mind and soul.

Massaging these oils and all over your body also produces satisfaction and relaxes the body. Massaging increases blood circulation and aromatic oils are absorbed more quickly into the system of your body.

Celebrate seasons with exquisite aromas

You can also celebrate the seasons with the scents of fruits and flowers that invoke happy memories. Summer memories are attached with citrus and floral scents, winter with apple and fresh cinnamon or pine, autumn with pumpkins, berries and other fruits, spring with dahlia, daisy, cucumber, country meadow and crabapple.

Natural Aromatherapy is part of a mind-body health science that always enhances your sense of contentment and comfort and brings enthusiasm in life.

For thousands of years the human race has used herbs in a great many ways. These uses can be placed into three distinctive groups; religious, culinary and medicinal. In the following article we will debate each of these categories in order concentrating upon medical uses and essential oils.

Through the ions o time there have been various other uses of herbs which we will not be looking at here and these include them being used as currency, as a disinfectant and as a perfume or powerful smell to mask disgusting odors. Herbs come from many parts of the planet and each race commonly had unusual uses for them. It is interesting to note that the Ancient Egyptians, Ancient Greek and Sumerians, the Romans all wrote about them in detail and other writings exist from Ancient India and China. We shall be focusing on modern uses.

The Use of Herbs In Religion

Herbs are still used in numerous across the globe.  The majority of Christians will recognize myrrh from the Nativity (myrrh is the dried sap of Commiphora myrrha). Hindus will be extremely familiar with the Tulsi plant, which is a type of Basil, as it is grown by many and praised as a Goddess. In Pagan and Wiccan religions herbs are used extensively in spells, rituals as well as for healing.

Herbs In The Kitchen

The leaves of different plants are used in the kitchen however there is a distinction between leafy vegetables, such as spinach, and a herb, such as basil, in that the latter are used in minute amounts due to their distinctive, and powerful flavor. Virtually every person in the world has benefited from the these amazing plants which are capable of lifting the plainest meal into the realms of a culinary masterpiece.

The Use of Herbs in Medicine

As well as being intense in flavor a herb can also have a profound effect upon the human body. Some types are used as recreational drugs, such as cannabis, which can cause legal problems as they can also have useful medical properties which are still being researched by scientists.

Essential Oils

An essential oil is the oil extracted from a variety of plants. Essential oils are usually produced by the method known as distillation but some require a different process of extraction such as such as solvent extraction or expression.

Essential oils have a variety of uses, such as perfumes, bath oils, flavorings, burning (for scent) and in cleaning products. However most people know of their use in medicine and especially in aromatherapy and other forms of alternative medicine. I use lavender oil in a variety of ways, I add it to my mixture for my oil burner to make the room smell nice but I also use about three drops in a bath when I suffer from aching limbs. When my limbs are terribly painful I gently massage it into the muscles but only when it is mixed with a carrier oil. As well as helping to relax the muscles it also helps me sleep more soundly.

Herbs should be handled with with safety in mind as some can be extremely destructive to the human body (in large quantities). Special care should be taken if you are pregnant as something that seems safe could be alarmingly problematic, such as peppermint oil which should be avoided completely in its dilute state. However spearmint and a few other mild oils can be used but to avoid the risk of miscarriage you should avoid all herbs and essential oils unless you know for certain they are safe.

The awesome thing about herbs is that growing your own is as hard as buying a herb kit and placing it near a window. To discover more visit http://store.landscapinginfo4u.com/

Doctors and beauty experts say that some amount of oil is essential to keep our skin healthy and glowing. Going further, oils can even influence our mental condition. No wonder then that essential oils are a rage today.

Essential oils are obtained from the seeds, peel, bark, flowers, roots, and leaves of various plants. Although this term is comparatively new, people have been using essential oils for physical and mental health since time immemorial. Ancient Ayurvedic texts from India report the use of such oils to treat various aches and pains and induce relaxation of mind and body. Today, apart from Ayurveda, essential oils are used in aromatherapy, cosmetics, perfumery, and incense. They are also used to impart flavor to certain dishes and to add fragrance to domestic cleaning products.  

Essential oils are concentrated liquids, and they have the essence of the plant from which they are derived. Its not that all parts of a plant yield essential oil, for example, orange peel, cedar wood, almond seed, and clove flower are the respective parts of the plants that are used to obtain oil.      

As essential oils are marketed in concentrated forms, they should not be applied undiluted on the skin. They are diluted with the help of carrier oils like olive or hazelnut by qualified and experienced aroma-therapists, so avoid mixing and matching oils on your own at home! Use of undiluted essential oil or the wrong mix can trigger severe allergic reactions. For the same reason, never allow kids to handle essential oils without adult supervision. As essential oils smell really nice, kids may have the tendency to consume them. So, if you keep these oils at home, store them in a locked cabinet and out of children’s reach.    

Before your aromatherapy session, request a patch test with the recommended essential oil. This is especially important if you are prone to allergies in general. Some oils are not known to cause any allergy, but even then, never bypass this step. Essential oils are inflammable so it’s essential to store them properly. In addition, use very small amounts of oil and never consume essential oils.

Citrus, lavender, sandalwood, jojoba, chamomile, tea tree oils are some oils that are used as massage, bath, or skin care oils. These help to nourish skin, reduce inflammation, and tackle infection and keep skin soft and fresh. A skin care expert or an aroma-therapist will tell you exactly which oil will be suitable for your skin type. Apart from widespread use in skin care, essential oils are used to relax the body and the mind.

Jasmine, basil, frankincense, sandalwood, peppermint are some oils used in aromatherapy to treat fatigue. Frankincense, orange, lemon, and rose oils reportedly induce a sense of well-being and happiness. Confidence boosters include grapefruit, cypress, and jasmine oils; grapefruit and jasmine oils are also excellent stress busters. If you suffer from low confidence levels or are constantly depressed, aromatherapy sessions can help. While jasmine, orange, grapefruit and rosemary oils can enhance your confidence, rose sandalwood, and lavender can lift your spirits.  

If you don’t have the time or the money for expensive aromatherapy sessions you can simply light incense sticks containing essential oils at home. They will not only add fragrance to your home, but will have a soothing effect on you. You could also buy perfumes that contain essential oils like lavender or jasmine. The options are many for the seeker!

The popularity of essential oils can directly be attributed to the therapeutic effects that are obtained by using such oils, which are produced through steam distillation, and also solvent extraction, and are absorbed by the skin, or they may even be inhaled after which a balance in activities is achieved that makes using essential oils well worth the effort. Different components of these essential oils will provide different benefits.

There Are Greater Therapeutic Value Because No Fertilizers, Pesticides Etc. Are Used

Perhaps the more superior among these essential oils are the organic essential oils, which have (supposedly) greater therapeutic value because when extracted, there is an absence of fertilizers, pesticides as well as any other dangerous chemicals. Another benefit to using organic essential oils is that often such essential oils are extracted from plants grown in high quality soil and also with the help of environmentally friendly processes. In fact, you will find that there are certain organizations that actually certify organic essential oils as well as organic plants, which means you should ensure that you are only buying certified organic essential oils to get better results, as well as for guaranteed therapeutic benefits.

Yet another advantage to using organic essential oils is that they have superior aroma, which can be attributed to the fact that they are more concentrated as compared with other types of essential oils. In addition, there is also more potent flavor, which also makes the organic essential oils more suitable for cooking dishes with fresh flavor as well as for healthier dishes.

When you compare organic essential oils to other essential oils that are used for cooking, you will find that the organic variety like organic basil extracts are more exciting as well as give you a more appetizing taste. In addition, they come without glycerol molecules, which means that you won’t be having any fatty oil grease on your tongue. The end result is that you get a healthier as well as antibacterial and antiviral benefit that will also help to combat diseases as well.

However, organic essential oils are also well suited for application to the skin with the help of massages as well as through bathing. It is also possible for it to be inhaled in order to get the most out of its therapeutic effects. Because they are considered more superior to other essential oils, organic essential oils will also cost more, and those that are made from harvesting in the wild are also decidedly more expensive as well.

For many years lavender essential oil has been used in the production of perfumes and for aromatherapy treatments. The lavender scent has a calming quality which helps to reduce anxiety and aid in relaxation. The oil comes from the distillation of flower spikes from specific lavender plants. It is one of the more popular and widely used essential oils in the world today. This oil is used in many commercial products to help with numerous skin ailments. Lavender essential oil is also used to help relieve the pain of migraine headaches when breathed in as a vapor or diluted and rubbed on the temples or other pressure points. When lavender essential oil is added to a vaporizer, the oil can help treat cough and respiratory infections. Another interesting use for lavender essential oil is a mosquito repellent. When worn as a perfume or added to lotions or hair products, this oil will naturally repel mosquitoes and other pesky insects. Before the invention of mosquito repellant, lavender essential oils were all that people had to rid themselves of these insects which explains why it is included in the commercial repellants today.

First Aid Use

There are many holistic first aid uses for lavender essential oil. Diluted or undiluted, the oil may be used as an antiseptic and pain reliever when applied to minor burns, stings and insect bites. It is used for the treatment of sunstroke and sunburn. When lavender essential oil is added to chamomile, it is an effective treatment for eczema. Lavender essential massage oils are effective for the treatment of muscle and joint pain, and chest rubs can provide relief of asthmatic and bronchitic spasms. This oil is also used as a treatment for head lice. Undiluted oil on a comb will eliminate nits.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have found that lavender essential oil may play a role in the reduction of advanced mammary tumors in lab rats. Researchers are constantly looking into potential breast, liver, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancer treatments with the involvement of lavender essential oils.

France is highly known for its many perfumes and emollients which are derived from and with lavender essential oil. There are certain areas of France that are covered with acres and acres of lavender. Lavender from this area of the world is highly fragrant and tourists flock to these areas yearly. It is no wonder that with all of its properties and fragrance, that lavender essential oil is the most popular of the essential oils.