Archive for July, 2009

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Aromatherapy Toenail Fungus Treatment

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Though toe nail fungus might seem scary, it is a relatively common condition that affects many people all over the world. There is no particular age of getting infected. It is a condition that could affect just about anyone. Usually, toenail fungus is seen in men more than in women. This is because men wear closed shoes and socks whereas women wear stockings that let the air through and mostly open toe shoes. There are a lot of medicated creams available to treat this condition however, they usually fail to penetrate into the nail and therefore are unable to eradicate the fungi.

Most people struggle with toe nail fungus, not knowing what exactly will cure it. The answer is simple—Aromatherapy. Onychomycosis, or nail fungal disease, is caused by a fungus which eats into the keratin which forms the protective outer layer of the nails. To replenish the lost keratin, often its production is increased causing deposits of keratin that separate the nail from the nail bed. The nail might either break or completely come off the toe and therefore this problem should not be ignored.

Toe nail fungus is a condition that occurs in the presence of excess of moisture. It is also very contagious and could be spread during communal bathing and through swimming pools and gym showers. If someone in your family has it, it is a high likelihood that you will get it too.

Toenail fungus is something that needs to be treated as soon as it occurs. It doesn’t go away on its own and therefore if you expose your nails to a lot of moisture, you put yourself at a great risk. Toe nail fungus makes the toenail thick and brittle. The nails become so painful that walking can become a painful activity. Also, the nails lose their color and become hard and yellow or brown. If your nails are abnormally thick or have changed color, it is best to see your doctor.

Essential Oil for Toenail Fungus

Lavender essential oil is an effective for toe nail fungus cure. Get yourself a bottle of the essential oil. If you are not able to find it, oregano essential oil and tea tree essential oil work wonderfully well too. Clip as much of the toe nail as you can and then wash your feet thoroughly. When your feet are completely dry, put a single drop of the essential oil on the nail before going to bed. Repeat this everyday and keep clipping your nail as it grows. In a few weeks, the nail fungus will have disappea

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Essential Oil for Chest Congestion Relief

Friday, July 31st, 2009

The cold and flu virus can cause severe chest congestion. Today these viruses are very common and since they are contagious, once one person in the family gets affected, all the others are put at risk. These viruses are all around us but strike only when a person’s immune system is weak and immunity is low. Runny nose, congestion, sneezing, cough and fever are common symptoms of congestion.

Aromatherapy Oils for Chest Congestion

The best known essential oil for chest congestion is Eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus has an active chemical compound that is used in almost all chest rubs and decongestants. Eucalyptus is also used in steam inhalation and is inhaled to get quick relief. If there is excess bronchial mucus, eucalyptus helps get rid of it and flushes it out as phlegm. The essential oil of eucalyptus is used in clearing out any sinus blockages and works a lot like menthol.

The active compound of eucalyptus is tannin, which is essentially an astringent. It helps reduce inflammation in the mucus membrane and helps relieve the upper respiratory tract. It also helps loosen up the phlegm so that it can be expelled.

Eucalyptus also has germicidal and antiseptic properties. Eucalyptus oil has been studied closely by various chemists and it has been found that the oil is excellent against the staphylococcus bacteria that are airborne and cause boils and infections on the skin.

Pine essential oil has also been used successfully for decongestion. In fact, the oil has been successfully used to draw out congestion which is deep set. There are many other oils that give relief from congestion, besides these two. Lavender and Peppermint oils combat infections and reduce inflammation. They loosen up the cough and ease congestion.

To get instant congestion relief, it is recommended that you mix the oil with boiling water and inhale the steam. If you have a humidifier at home, you can mix eucalyptus, peppermint or lavender essential oils with water and use that in the humidifier. Breathe this steam and you will feel relaxed, your chest congestion will improve drastically.

You can even use a mixture of lavender, tea tree, niaouli, sandalwood essential oils and jojoba oil to make a chest rub. Massage this on your chest, shoulders and feet every night before sleeping. You will get rid of your congestion within a few days only. You can blend in tea tree oil, sandalwood oil, sweet almond oil and lemon oil to make a chest rub if you have a severe cold an

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Aromatherapy for Dry Skin Care

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Dry skin can be a real bane for those who have it. The skin tends to lose its moisture when the weather is dry, like in winters. Now imagine a skin that is already dry. That skin can in fact chap and crack in the cold weather.

Dryness of the skin is usually characterized by rough, cracked and chapped skin, flaky complexion and formation of fine lines and slight wrinkles. People who have dry skin are at the risk of developing wrinkles more readily. Also, they are frequently plagued with skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

There are plenty of dry skin products that claim to work wonders on dry and scaly skin. However, most of them are not even worth trying. If dry skin has troubled you for long and you have no clue how to remedy it, perhaps its time for you to try aromatherapy essential oils.

Essential Oil for Dry Skin Treatment

These essential oils are extracted from plants and herbs and have strong medicinal qualities. Most skin products claim to contain these essential oils. However, in most of them, the claims are false. That is why it’s better to go in for real aromatherapy essential oils rather than skin products that make tall claims.

If you have mature skin that is dry, it is best to use lavender, geranium, neroli, rosemary, and rose essential oils. These are oils that encourage the production of sebum in the hair follicles on the skin. These are also anti inflammatory and can reduce any puffiness, blemishes and irritations that have been caused by the dryness of the skin. The essential oils also rejuvenate dry skin and help add new skin cells that make the skin glow. These oils are very good and have such a potent effect that they are commonly known as ‘anti-aging’ oils.

When used in small amounts, peppermint essential oil also has the capacity to increase the production of sebum in the skin. Carrot seed oil, chamomile and helichrysum are also great anti inflammatory oils that reduce inflammation of the skin. If you have any discolorations or other problems related to dry skin, these oils can help you get rid of those too. In fact, these oils also help get rid of skin conditions formed due to over exposure to the sun.

If you really want to see excellent results from your essential oils, it is advised to use them with water based cream or lotion. The water resolves dryness by being absorbed by the skin cells and the oil remedies skin conditions in addition to forming a protective layer to prevent further damage. The layer of oil prevents any transpiration from the skin thereby preventing any loss of water due to evaporatio

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Aromatherapy for Sore Throat

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

A sore throat is pretty common and can be caused due to any bacterial infections, talking, singing or even yelling. Sometimes, if the infection is severe, the larynx or what is commonly called the voice box, becomes inflamed and painful and it becomes difficult to breath, talk or swallow. You may even develop laryngitis which is often accompanied with fever, chills and pains. Of course, since it is the voice box that is affected, voice becomes hoarse and sometimes it is almost impossible to emit even a sound from it.

Singers for whom the voice box is a source of their career, preservation of their voice is imperative. Therefore, many of them, time and again resort to essential oils for this very purpose. For centuries, the most popular cure for sore throat has been herbal teas. A tea brewed from the marjoram herb has been often used by singers all over the world. If the tea is bitter, honey, which is another soothing agent for the throat, is added to make it sweet.

Essential Oil for Sore Throat Cure

These days, marjoram essential oil is used to relieve one from the pain of a sore throat. If your throat is inflamed, sage, thyme, hyssop along with marjoram essential oils can be used. They have a bactericidal effect that gets rid of all the harmful bacteria that might be causing you this distress. These oils are also antiseptic and are therefore used as gargles to kill bacterial infections and soothe the throat.

Essential oils are not only used for gargling but can also be sprayed into the throat for an instant effect. The antibacterial oil comes directly in contact with the harmful bacteria in this method, and instantly rids you of both bacteria and irritation. The essential oils are usually not directly used in their concentrated forms. They are first diluted with water and then using a spray bottle, sprayed into the throat. Neck wraps made of aromatherapy products also help soothe the inflammation and bring relief. If your glands are swollen, this neck wrap can provide you relief.

These oils also work well with aromatherapy steam. Eucalyptus and lavender oil are usually used to create a steam that helps recover voice faster. However, the steam has to be inhaled everyday till the voice recovers fully and there is no pain left in the throat.

The essential oils that are usually used for sore throats are bergamot, tea tree, eucalyptus, thyme, lavender, marjoram, lemon, sandalwood and sage.

To make a throat spray, you can use a few drops of marjoram oil, three tablespoons warm water and two pinches salt. The ingredients should be mixed well and used several time

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