Aromatherapy

Archive for October, 2008

Do you persistently have trouble falling asleep at night? Do you consistently wake up in the middle of the night? Do you awake in the wee hours of the morning and can not get back to sleep? Does your sleep pattern or lack of sleep cause you to function below par during the day? If any of these scenarios sound familiar to you, you may be experiencing insomnia.

It is estimated that over 30% of adults experience insomnia periodically with over 10% experiencing chronic insomnia. Persistent lack of sleep can be detrimental to the mental and physical health of the body. During the act of sleeping our bodies under go various processes which focus on repair and regeneration.  

It is important however to remember that insomnia is a symptom and not a medical issue unto itself, meaning something is causing it. Therefore if you experience chronic insomnia you need to visit a physician to determine the underlying reason for your inability to sleep.

Many individuals do not like the idea of taking medication especially sleeping aids. If you fall into this category there are many lifestyle changes and natural remedies that you may find beneficial. For instance what you ingest can have a significant effect on your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Foods that contain stimulants should be avoided. Caffeine products such as coffee, chocolate, most teas, and soda pop should be cut out of your diet. Stop smoking, nicotine is a stimulant. Ensure you are getting enough vitamin B12 and iron in your diet, this can be simplified by taking a supplement. Over eating in general can have adverse effects on the amount and quality of your sleep, avoid eating at least three hours before you plan on going to sleep.

Exercise is important to your overall health including your ability to sleep, regular exercise is a must. Many experts suggest exercising in the morning, if this is not possible than make sure you exercise early in the evening. Incorporate relaxation practices into your daily life, this can be as simple as locking yourself in the bathroom for ten minutes a day to simply unwind from your hectic day. Stress and tension have a very negative effect on your body’s ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.

If you are looking for a natural remedy you may want to try essential oils and aromatherapy. This option is easy to use and requires very little time or effort. There are a number of different oils that you can use and a variety of applications. A few of the essential oils that you can use to promote sleep and relaxation are: chamomile, neroli, oregano, sandalwood, ylang ylang, tangerine, and lavender.

To use essential oils for insomnia or to promote sleep in general there are several different applications that can be implemented.

1. Use several drops of your chosen essential oil in your diffuser, this should be done in the evening while you are winding down getting ready for bed. Never leave your diffuser on throughout the night, it must always be attended as it is a heat source.

2. Use 8 to 10 drops of the essential oil of choice in your bath water. Add the oil only after you have finished running your water and make sure you mix it into the water so that it isn’t sitting on top of the water in a little puddle.

3. Another option is to put several drops of the essential oil on a tissue and place it inside your pillow case. You will have to replace the tissue nightly before sleep.

4. Mix your essential oil into your favorite carrier oil and massage onto your body before bed.

Play around with the applications until you find the one that works best for you and for best results chose an essential oil that you enjoy the fragrance of. Again you may have to experiment with a couple of different essential oils until you find which work best for you. Another option is to mix a couple together for instance chamomile and lavender work together very effectively. Be patient and use over a few weeks before you determine whether an oil is working for you or not.

To learn more visit Essential Oils, Aromatherapy and Pheromones.

Alopecia is a readily observable condition and may prompt some to hide behind a hat or scarf. When your hair falls out without any rhyme or reason the condition is called Alopecia. There are many remedies to be found on the internet and even drugstores but you might want to try an alternative treatment such as the use of an alopecia aromatherapy recipe.

Hormone imbalances, lack of proper nutrition and hair care, and stress are all reasons for receding or loss of hair. These conditions are treated with essential oils used in aromatherapy if the condition is not a result of alopecia. With this is mind, it makes sense then that an alopecia aromatherapy recipe would have a direct impact on your stress levels, any hormonal imbalance or malnutrition.

Essential oils have special properties which have been used for thousands of years to treat common ailments which are why many people believe in the healing power of a real alopecia aromatherapy recipe. Because chamomile, clary sage, and ylang ylang can lower your stress levels, it’s only natural that they can lower your hair loss, as well. Two of the more effective herbs used in an alopecia aromatherapy recipe are thyme and rosemary. They are soothing and usually work well, especially if the cause is hormone imbalance.

When you are about to mix and apply your alopecia aromatherapy recipe, you must take special care not to apply the essential oils directly to the scalp. Rather, you must blend them with carrier oil as most essential oils should not be used straight onto skin. When combined with essential oils, coconut oil, almond oil and olive oil have amazing effects.

The majority of the alopecia aromatherapy recipes should be mixed in a container that will also be the applicator such like a squeeze or spray bottle. Doing it this way allows for the aromatherapy treatment to be applied directly to the scalp with less mess. You may stain clothing and some surfaces, if you’re not careful, when mixing and applying essential oils.

Into your bottle of carrier oil, add five drops each of thyme, ylang, ylang, and rosemary essential oils. Use only 2 droplets of lavendar, thyme, chamomile, cedar wood and clay sage, and you will have all that is required for your alopecia aromatherapy recipe. You should take care to blend the oils effectively as well as do an allergic reaction test on a small area of your skin.

All you need to do to kick start new hair growth with your alopecia aromatherapy recipe is massage a few drops onto your scalp so as to stimulate the hair roots. Because there are quite a few essential oils in the world, you should research a few others to see what their medicinal properties are and whether they would work.

We live in a stressful world. Those things that can cause stress in our lives are personal relationships, work, finances, illness, etc. To help cope with these stresses there are many things that individuals can do. Some of those things included a walk in the park, meditation, yoga, listening to music, etc.

One additional stress relieving activity is through the use of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy utilizes various scents to help the body emotionally, mentally and physically. Generally, aromatherapy uses essential oils.

Essential oils are liquid in nature and are usually drawn and created from certain natural elements. Those elements could be leaves, roots, spices, trees, flowers, grasses, and fruits. Within the category of essential oils a certain subcategory has been established. The subcategory is known as rare essential oils.

One such rare essential oil is Spikenard. When considering the use of this rare essential oil it is important to know what constitutes a rare essential oil, what Spikenard is and what the uses of this oil are.

What Are Rare Essential Oils?

Rare essential oils are those oils that provide a unique scent or aroma. This uniqueness is based on the substance or combination of substances that are used in comprising the rare essential oil. Often this uniqueness is based on the limited availability of the flower, spice, tree, etc. In addition the rarity of the essential oil may be determined through a blending or combination of ingredients.

What Is Spikenard?

One such rare essential oil is Spikenard. The Bible alludes to this oil as the one that Mary Magdalene used on the feet of Jesus. The reason for this essential oil being labeled as rare is because it is taken from the Spikenard plant that is found in the Himalayas.

The actual oil is produced by crushing the stems of this flower and through a distilling process it is produced into a usable form. When created into an oil form the appearance of the oil takes on an amber color.

Uses Of Spikenard

This rare essential oil serves a number of purposes when used as oil or in incense form. One of the best methods to take advantage of this scent is through the use of a diffuser. A diffuser is a device that helps to circulate essential oils into the air as part of aromatherapy.

Some of the popular uses of Spikenard are to treat insomnia, difficulties during pregnancy, excessive gas and to aid in addressing sleeplessness. One of the precautions to remember when utilizing rare essential oils is that they are not recommended for an individual to inhale if they have asthmatic problems.

Aromatherapy uses aroma or smells to heal and invoke a certain mood. What makes the smell is something called essential oils. These oils are actually oils that are extracted from plants and they have been used for centuries in all kinds of natural healing including aromatherapy.

The sense of smell can be one of the most interesting and odd effects on your body. Your sense of smell comes from olfactory nerves which are located on your nose forms a response to your brain which is called the Limbic system which control your memory. An example of how this works, when someone remembers a homemade meal that your mother have made, and now every time it is cooked you can remember the smell whether it is good or bad.

In aromatherapy, essential oils are used which are inhaled due to their scent. In addition, they can be applied to the skin for a nice scent of your body and absorption into your blood stream! Essential oils are used in many massage oil mixture, lotions and creams.

You can use these oils by visiting an aromatherapist and there are many techniques you can use at home. You can buy your own oils and mix them yourself or purchase them pre mixed.

You can use aromatherapy in conjunction with or as an alternative to prescription medicine – just be sure you get your doctors OK first. Most of them are safe, although if you are allergic to a certain type of plant you will probably be allergic to it’s essential oils too. When using them remember they are very potent so you must dilute them before using on your skin.

Aromatherapy essential oils work at treating minor problems and may be good for improving one’s immune system too. They may help to relieve everything from menstrual cramps to joint pain and may even improve one’s skin tone. Use them to help make circulation better, reduce dandruff, eliminate headaches, and even sleep better.

Bath salts are a commonly used form of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is used for relaxation by using scents which help body and mind to relax. The oils used in scented candles, potpourri, and in homemade bath salts are gathered from the essential oils gathered from plants. Essential oils gathered from different types of plants give the scented item a different smell. Aromatherapy experts believe that different scents evoke different types of emotions and responses.

When they are added to bath water scented bath oils, they can make a bubble bath an aromatic utopia. Scented bath oils and salts are available for purchase at a variety of boutiques and spas; the problem is that many of the scented bath salts are quite costly. If you make your own bath salts, it’s a great way to save a little and still have a pleasant aromatherapy experience at bath time.

Don’t be afraid to get the whole family involved when you set out to make your own bath salts. A fun idea to plan for your child’s sleep over or birthday party is to make your own bath salts. When the party is over, each child takes home some of the bath salts they made themselves. Making your own bath salts and giving them as gifts is always an option during the holidays. When you make your own bath salts, you will wow your family and friends with your craftiness.

To make your own bath salts you will need to do the following. When you are making your own bath salts you’ll need to gather the ingredients before starting. The items you will need to make your own bath salts are Epsom salt (also known as Dead Sea salt), a small bottle which contains an essential oil (there are a wide variety of scents to suit your personal preference) and finally some baking soda. Food color can be added to the baking soda to make your homemade bath salts more visually appealing. You will also need to find jars that you can use to store the homemade bathing salts.

You would be happy to know that the recipe to make your own bath salts is very easy to follow to the extent that you can compare it to making macaroni and cheese. What you must do first is mix a few drops of essential oil, 2 cups of salt, and 2 teaspoons of baking soda together. After thoroughly mixed the ingredients together transfer the mixture to a glass jar. Fasten the jar. Now that you have created your own blend of bath salts, you can settle into a steamy, fragrant bath full of suds.