Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy has been around for a long, long time. Humans have been emulsifying, burning, macerating, pressing and distilling plants for their aromas for thousands of years. Only since the dawn of the New Age and modern Western scientific inquiry, however, has the impression of aromatherapy gotten soft. But now, the same scientific institutions are validating the use of essential oils, and their profound anti-anxiety effects. So now, rather than “running for the shelter of mother’s little helper” when things get a little hectic, you can bypass the liquor store, the pharmacy and the junk-food isle and head confidently to the natural health market for a little bottle of scented bliss. Maybe not as decadents for everyone, but the majority of mothers and generally health and wellness-conscious folks will appreciate the healthful choice for themselves, their children and their families.

The number of studies investigating the therapeutic actions of essential oils has exploded over the last ten years, as popular interest grows in the areas of natural health and wellness. The efficacy of may ‘folk’ remedies is being validated, with many of them having benefits at least as potent as their pharmaceutical counterparts, and most having very limited, if any, side effects. This is especially true with the use of essential oils for reducing stress and lessening anxiety. And what’s wonderful about the oils is that their readily available and easy to use. A mother with active children can just plug in a diffuser and let it do its thing. A stressed-out commuter can do the same. Feeling a little wound up, but want to keep the aroma a little more personal? Apply a few drops of diluted oil to yourself or loved one wherever you like. What oils have these anti-anxiety effects? Let’s have a look…

Lavender has been the most frequently studied of all the essential oils. Its anti-anxiety (or simply ‘relaxing’) action has been documented both in the laboratory (using stressed-out mice and rats) and in clinical environments with actual human beings. Many, many studies have reported the same thing: inhalation of lavender oil brings calm under a great variety of conditions. At least one study compared Lavender oil aroma to that of Juniper, Cypress, Geranium, Jasmine and Frankincense. It was only the Frankincense that had a somewhat similar effect, but not nearly as effective as Lavender. Several studies compared Lavender’s effect to diazepam (Valium) with Lavender’s aroma having similar (but likely more healthy) calming results. In other studies, Lavender has been shown to improve sleep, decrease conflict between animals, and reduce the amount of pain medication needed by recovering hospital patients.

Sandalwood oil is another well-known stress reducer. For those that may not enjoy the floral aroma of Lavender, Sandalwood could be the oil of choice. Its warm, earthy scent is grounding and centering, being used by some spiritual traditions to enhance relaxed, focused meditative states. The science shows similar results – Sandalwood oil topically applied relaxed the body while stimulating psyche. Studies on sleep/wake cycles using Sandalwood oil topically improved the quality of sleep and lessened waking episodes. A small study using Sandalwood suggested the oil may be helpful in reducing anxiety for palliative care patients. Beyond the scope of Western scientific inquiry, Sandalwood oils and pastes have been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of psychological disorders, utilizing its sublime mental-health promoting actions.

While Sandalwood and Lavender have the most data to back them up, many other essential oils have had positive test results. Rose is a standout; it has also been tested alongside Valium (apparently the anti-anxiety gold standard) with better and longer-lasting results. The rose aroma’s effect seem to increase over time, where as benzodiazepines’ effect will tend to decrease – and the test subjects appeared less confused or sedated. Rose, like Lavender, reduced conflict between test subjects as well. For a little variety, you can mix Rose and Sandalwood together (try a 1:4 ratio)…this is a classic Indian aromatic blend combining two of the world’s best known anti-anxiety scents.

Other oils found in research databases include Angelica, Chamomile, Lemon, Lemongrass, Tagetes and Ylang Ylang. Some oils tested didn’t show repeatable results in the laboratory environment, but if you find and oil aroma that you find relaxing, it’s more than likely not purely ‘in your head’; the olfactory (smell) sense is the one of the five senses most directly wired to the brain’s emotional centers. These are, in turn, directly wired to the autonomic nervous system controlling functions such as heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure – all of which are closely tied to one’s level of stress.

So what to do with these stress relieving wonders? They’re really easy to use – one of the great features of aromatherapy. Both topical application and inhalation show repeatable results in laboratory tests. A common method of topical application is to dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil like Jojoba down to 10% or less. Essential oils tend to pass easily into the bloodstream when applied to the skin, so nearly any technique will do. A few drops of your mixture can be placed on the wrists and rubbed together (this is nice, as you’ll smell the aroma as well). For inhalation, there’s a great many aromatherapy diffusers available, from little, inexpensive plug in units, to professional models which make a cloud of pure, intense aroma. For anxiety relief, any model where you can smell the aroma will do the job – the higher end diffusers tend to bathe a larger area in your aroma of choice.

Choosing an oil for yourself (or helping your children / family / loved one’s decide) is easy. What do you (or they) like to smell? One of the simplest yet most profound aspects of aromatherapy for the psyche is the legitimacy of individual of aroma preference. As uncovered by the laboratory studies, oils of greatly differing aromas can have similar anxiolytic action. While some people love flowery scents, others are drawn towards woods and resins. And it may be that someone who likes the relaxing/stimulating aroma of Rose needs that dual-effect; others loving Sandalwood might be better off with its centering/grounding action. In a word: experiment. Many companies will offer small sizes or even samples. Once you find one or more aromas that suit your needs, play with them – have fun! Whatever way you choose to indulge your senses, health, and wellness with essential oils…you can take comfort in knowing the science of aromatherapy is there to back you up.

We get essential oils by extracting them from thousands of plants and herbs all over the world. For centuries, civilizations have used these oils to treat all kinds of infectious diseases. The years have also revealed that each essential oil is useful for treating a specific class of ailments and illnesses. In monitored lab tests these oils been shown to suppress the bacteria growth, fungi, and other microorganisms.

The growth of aromatherapy products in the marketplace has been on an upwards trend for many years. These products are used by millions of people every day all over the world. Aromatherapy oils are developed by a distillation procedure which draws out the “essence” of the plant which then becomes the essential oil that we buy in the health stores.

Aromatherapy blends can be used for more than treating diseases. Often, they’re used to  change a person’s mood andr put him or her into a different mental state.

Aromatherapy and cancer. Aromatherapy blends have never been advocated as a treatment for cancer. But some physicians and health care professionals do recommend it as a way to mitigate some of the side effects of cancer or cancer treatments. Many essential oils can positively affect moods helping to keep the patient in a positive mental attitude without resulting to prescription drugs.

One surprising thing that many people find out about aromatherapy blends is just how many of them are good for fighting insects. If you’re adverse to using chemical products on your skin or in your home, you may want to try some of the alternatives. Citronella oil is useful for keeping mosquitos away. Many people use citronella candles on picnics that extend into sundown with excellent results. You can also purchase citronella laced lotions to rub on your skin to protect against mosquitos. If you study the literature, you’ll also discover aromatherapy blends to repel moths, fleas, ticks, and many other insects.

Unless aromatherapy blends are diluted heavily, they can be very sensitive to the skin. So if you have just started to apply a particular blend, to make sure that you won’t have a reaction to it, test a sample on your skin first. In addition, because these blends are so concentrated, be very careful when using them on children.

Because of their intense concentration, when smelling aromatherapy oils, never put your nose directly over the bottle and inhale. If you do, you’ll probably temporarily overload your olfactory senses and probably get a headache. A safer way is to mimic the way that master cooks smell their dishes. Open the bottle and wave the scent towards your nose with your hand. This will give you a much better realistic indicator of what the oil will smell like in a natural setting.

Because of the popularity of aromatherapy, and the expense of real and natural essential oils, you’ll find some companies that are selling synthetic essential oils – even though they might not be advertised as such. If you are using synthetic essential oils, you are not really engaging in true aromatherapy and you will probably not get the same results.

Aromatherapy is an excellent example of how alternative medicine can be used to good effect. There has been much interest in aromatherapy and in fact much research is ongoing as well as more knowledge is continuously being made available to show how this form of alternative medicine can provide innumerable health benefits. One of the known medical benefits aromatherapy is relief from stress and associated symptoms. The fact is that aromatherapy spas are the best place to get a number of health benefits without much fuss or bother.

Aromatic Scents Plays A Vital Role In Aromatherapy Spa

Aromatherapy spas are able to provide to you many benefits including harnessing the power of aromatic scents that have proven health benefits and which can be used in any nature-based therapy. So, whether you are looking for relief from pain or you need to care for your skin or you need to be alleviated off the tension in your head, an aromatherapy spa can offer you a lot of hope in achieving your goals.

Though the main purpose of using an aromatherapy spa is to improve your health there is much more to it than getting relief from tension as well as pain because it helps to lower stress levels and will improve an anxious person’s state of mind as well. It only requires making good use of certain essential oils and once you are overcome by the scents you will experience a lot of relief and improvement in your mood.

A person that comes out of an aromatherapy spa will never feel tense or stressed out because these are the very problems that the aromatherapy spa helps resolve. Essential oils are vital in making you energetic and help you relax and improve your mood. People that are much stressed will benefit immensely from visiting an aromatherapy spa.

The treatment that you get in an aromatherapy spa goes beyond the core of a person’s body because the mere inhalation of essential oils is sufficient to improve the functioning of the brain as well as the nervous system as the olfactory nerves when stimulated will becalm the mind and body and so promotes greater relaxation. If you feel good then you can buy some aromatherapy candles for your home, however keep in mind that many people find highly scented aromatherapy candles a bit offensive.

An aromatherapy day spa is often considered a kind of mini-vacation that helps to, besides offering you a chance to unwind, also reduces stress that has built up in your mind and body. Now if you are wondering how does aromatherapy work? then the answer is the becalming scents have a special effect on your senses and they also help change the transmission of stress causing brain chemicals in a manner that helps eliminate stress from your entire being.

If you wish to become a qualified homeopath with in-depth knowledge of the cures for various illnesses than you will obviously need to go to homeopathy school. However if all you want is to discover a cure for a short term illness or a chronic problem that conventional medicine has failed to cure then you can often find a homeopathy treatment by either perusing the Internet or consulting with a homeopath. For instance let’s suppose you have been suffering from chronic headaches for a year and the medicine your doctor prescribes does not do much to help. In such a situation you could go on line or consult a homeopath to find out more about homeopathy treatments for headaches.

It Depends On The Symptoms

There are different kinds of headaches and each comes with its own set of symptoms. A tension headache does not feel the same as a migraine or the type of head pain that is caused by fatigue. What’s more some headaches are actually a symptom of an underlying illness. Homeopathy treatments for headachesobviously vary according to the symptoms. Homeopathy treatments for migraine headaches include belladonna and cyclamen. However if your headache is caused by head trauma then arnica would be a more effective cure. Headaches resulting from a hangover or tension are best treated with nux vomica.

Trial And Error

You may have to try more than one of the homeopathy treatments for headaches before you find one that actually works.  Finding the right treatment definitely requires patience. However, if you have chronic headaches that are having a serious negative impact on your quality of life it is best to consult with a homeopath rather than trying to diagnose and treat yourself. By consulting with an expert you should see quicker results since they will easily be able to find the right remedy for your problem.

See Your Health Care Provider First

Before you try any of the homeopathy treatments for headaches you should consult with your regular doctor. Homeopathy can be used in conjunction with conventional medicine. If the conventional prescription is not fruitful then you can utilize it as substitute of ordinary medication.  You will also need to rule out the possibility of any serious underlying illness such as a brain tumor or cancer before you consider homeopathy treatments for headaches. Furthermore although homeopathy is considered quite safe it is always a good idea to include your general doctor in all medical decisions that you make. Though homeopathy has helped lots of people in getting cured of their health related problems but it is advisable to take a sensible approach to it.

There are so many great uses for essential oils. If you are new to the world of essential oils, then you will be surprised at all the ways that you can use these wonderful natural ingredients. One of the best uses for essential oils is to improve your health. Yes! Essential oils can help you keep up with your active and healthy lifestyle. Here is a closer look at how these oils can help you.

Did you know that essential oils are great for not only helping your environment smell wonderful, but also to help improve your health? There are literally hundreds of different kinds of essential oils that you can buy. These are made from natural plant materials that are pressed or steamed to create the oil. Most essential oils are made from various parts of different plants, including the petal, bark, root or leaves. Some grasses, fruits and even seeds and seed pods are used to make essential oils, too. Each of these oils are unique in that they do have healing properties. This makes it easy to find an essential oil to suit all of your health needs.

Do you have joint, muscle or ligament pain? You can use several different kinds of oils in aromatherapy to help ease the hurt muscles. You can also use the oils with a carrier and rub it on the affected area. A few essential oils you can use for this purpose include lavender (great in a warm bath with Epsom salts), chamomile, rosemary and wintergreen. These will really help ease the pain of all sorts of muscle aches and pains.

Using some well-chosen essential oils for your first aid kit is also a great idea. Did you know that tea tree oil can help a whole host of problems? Tea tree oil is THE essential oil to add to your medicine cabinet. Not only can it serve as a disinfectant, but it can also help ease the pain from sunburns, and other skin irritations. Rub some diluted tea tree oil on scraps and minor scratches and it can help heal quickly. If you have been stung or bitten by an insect, then tea tree oil can help take the inflammation and swelling down quickly and naturally.

You can also use a variety of essential oils to aid your digestion. If you are having problems with your digestion system, then the right oil can certainly help you. Ginger can help you. You have probably heard that ginger ale and even ginger cookies can help a tummy when it is feeling sick. It makes sense that ginger essential oil can also do the same thing. Black pepper oil and basil are also tops for easing the digestion system.

When you want to help your body the natural way, then look no further than these great essential oils. Why use expensive medications when you can try to heal your body naturally. Most of these oils are safe for all people and works quickly and effectively.