Archive for August, 2009

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Aromatherapy Headache Relief

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

Nothing beats a relaxing head massage, especially when you’ve got a pounding headache. Unfortunately, sometimes headaches can be so severe that even a good massage doesn’t help to alleviate the pain. This is where aromatherapy can help.

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses the extracts from different plants to promote healing. Although the name suggests that aromatherapy works on smell alone, the truth is that most of the ingredients used in aromatherapy also have some intrinsic medicinal value. So, in effect, a cure is achieved by combining the medicinal property of these aromatic compounds along with the soothing or enlivening power of their smell.

The plant extracts that are used in aromatherapy are known as essential oils. These essential oils are extracted from various parts of the plant using different methods such as steam distillation and cold pressing. These essential oils are very potent in nature and must never be applied directly on the skin. However, when combined with a carrier oil, such as almond oil or jojoba oil, they may be massaged onto the skin. This form of massage therapy is known as aromatherapy massage and is particularly useful in getting rid of nasty lingering headaches that just refuse to go away.

Essential oils for Headache Treatment

The aromatherapy essential oils that can be used to provide relief from a headache are:

  • Peppermint essential oil: Peppermint is famous all over the world for its cooling effect and this property of peppermint essential oil can also be used to cool the head and alleviate headaches.
  • Lavender essential oil: It has a very soothing smell and aids in inducing a deep sense of relaxation. This is very useful in relieving stress induced headaches.
  • Sandalwood essential oil: It is well known for its medicinal properties. In addition to being a very good essential oil for curing depression and anxiety, it is also used in treating headaches caused by stress and anxiety.
  • Rosemary essential oil: It has a fresh smell and is very useful in alleviating muscular tension by increasing the circulation of blood. It can be used in a soothing aromatherapy massage to cure stiff and tense muscles and headaches.
  • Eucalyptus essential oil: Another, Fresh smelling oil, it is used in a number of massage lotions and ointments. This is due to its peculiar property, whereby it cools the surface of the skin while simultaneously warming the muscles below. This amazing property of this oil can be used to good effect in curing headaches and reducing muscular tension.

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Massage Therapy - Hand Massage Therapy

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

Our hands and arms are the most overstressed parts of our body on account of the high dexterity of these organs of the body. As these organs are over exerted, it is quite obvious that these parts of the body become enervated. In order to regain the vitality of these organs, massage therapy is a good way out.

Hand Massage Techniques

You may use various massaging techniques to completely relax your hands and arms and relieve pain. Some of the massaging techniques for arms and hands are:

  • A soothing massage after bathing with hot water can do wonders for aching hands. A hot water bath is supposed to relax and sooth the muscles of arms and hands. You are then recommended to undergo a gentle hand massage with olive or castor oil to alleviate pain from these parts of the body.
  • You can employ various herbal oils to massage your hands. You may use mustard oil, avocado oil, or olive oil for the massaging purpose. Take two to three drops of oil, use the thumb of one hand and apply pressure on the palm of the other hand, preferably in circular movements.
  • Flexing your arms at regular intervals is also a good method to alleviate pain in the hands. Flexing of hands causes complete contraction and relaxing of the arm, thereby relaxing the arm muscles.
  • You may soak your hands in lukewarm water for a span of 15-20 minutes. You may also add salt in the hot water. This will relax and sooth the muscles of your arms, thereby relieving pain and alleviating fatigue in the hands.
  • Pulling your fingers until they ‘pop’ or cracking your finger bones is another good way to relieve tension from your hands. Don’t be too hard on yourself and avoid keep in mind that although quite harmless, cracking your fingers and knuckles can irritate other people and is not considered to be good manners.
  • You can also use a dab of herbal balm to effectively cure pain in the arms and hands.
  • You may also use various essential oils like neroli essential oil or various other citrus essential oils like lime or orange essential oils to relieve pain in arms. These essential oils soothe your muscular system, thereby alleviating pain in the arms and joints of the hands.

These are a few massage techniques that are used to cure pain in the hands. You must follow these methods even if you do not sense pain in your arms as these techniques will protect you from any incidence of pain in the hand

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Aromatherapy Oils For Relaxation

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

Essential oils are highly concentrated oils that are extracted from the soft and tender plant tissues like leaves, flowers, and fruits by various processes like distillation and expression. Essential oils can be used for a variety of purposes and are very handy in treating various physical ailments. Also, essential oils may be used to soothe the psyche and relax mind.

Some of the essential oils that are used to relax your body as well as mind are:

  • Patchouli essential oil: Patchouli essential oil is supposed to be anti inflammatory in action and acts as a soothing agent for your body. It serves to contract and relax your muscles, thereby relaxing the entire body.
  • Orange essential oil: Orange or any other citrus essential oils can be used to relax your mind and body. Orange essential oil regulates your digestive and circulatory system and also serves to boost your immune system. As such, orange essential oil is highly instrumental in soothing your entire body and mind.
  • Tangerine Essential oil: It is used to alleviate the health of your digestive system which directly affects your efficiency and mood. As such, tangerine essential oil plays a vital role in relaxing your body and mind.
  • Lavender essential oil: Lavender essential oil is known for its soothing aroma which is a mood booster. As such, you may use candles with lavender content to rejuvenate your body and mind, thereby relaxing your senses.
  • Sandalwood essential oil: Sandalwood essential oil has medicinal properties and it cures various ailments of the body. It is highly recommended to cure mental afflictions like anxiety and depression.

You may prepare a blend of essential oils to serve the purpose of revitalizing and relaxing your mind and body. Prepare a blend of four drops of lavender essential oil and two drops each of germanium, lavender, and tangerine essential oils in a container and dilute the blend with four to five drops of carrier oils like jojoba or grape seed oil.

You may also prepare a blend of ten drops of sandalwood essential oil, five drops of chamomile essential oil, and two drops each of coriander or rose essential oil and dilute it with olive or jojoba oil.

Sniff the appropriately diluted blend of essential oils or you may use the oil in bathing water to relax your body and mind.

Essential oils are very effective in relaxing your body with absolutely no side effects. You must be cautious when storing essential oils as they are volatile in nature. Also, you must not use essential oils when you suffer from some chronic illness like diabetes or when you are p

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Aromatherapy Oil - Citrus Essential Oil

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

Essential oils are highly concentrated oils that are extracted from the soft plant tissues like leaves and fruits by various extraction processes like distillation and expression. Citrus essential oils are extracted from the rind on the fruits by the process of cold compressing.

Some of the citrus essential oils are listed as follows:

  • Orange Essential oil: Scientifically called Citrus sinensis, orange essential oil has a soothing aroma. It is highly recommended in the treatment of colds and flu. Orange essential oil is also instrumental in curing high blood pressure and indigestion. It is good for boosting the overall health of your digestion as it helps in regulating your appetite and is useful in abdominal distension and pain, and in curing nausea, flatulence, and vomiting. Orange essential oil is also useful in regulating the oil balance of your hair and relieves dandruff.
  • Neroli essential oil: Technically, neroli essential oil is the extract of the flowers of the bitter orange tree. Neroli essential oil may be effectively used to cure muscular aches and pains and afflictions of the circulatory system. Neroli essential oil is also helpful in curing skin problems like scars, stretch marks, and wrinkles. It is known for its soothing effect on the mind and as such, is used to treat anxiety and depression.
  • Petitgrain Essential oil: Petitgrain essential oil is also extracted from the leaves, stem, and unripe fruits of the bitter orange tree by the process of distillation. Petitgrain essential oil is similar to neroli essential oil but it is stronger. It is highly instrumental in curing depression.
  • Grapefruit essential oil: Grapefruit essential oil is known for its cooling and detoxifying properties. It may be used to reduce your body weight and boost your lymphatic and immune system. Grapefruit essential oil has an immense soothing effect on the body and especially on the mind and as such, creates a feeling of positive energy.
  • Lime essential oil: Lime essential oil is extracted by processes like cold compressing and distillation. It is primarily used for skin care and boosts your respiratory and immune systems.
  • Tangerine Essential oil: Tangerine essential oil is highly instrumental in regulating your digestive system and it stimulates your gall bladder. As such, it is useful in dealing with ailments and problems pertaining to the digestive system.
  • Bergamot essential oil: The essential oil of bergamot boosts the immune system of the body and is instrumental in healing the wounds by stimulating cell regeneration.

As such, citrus essential oils are highly instrumental in curing various ailments of the body and significantly contribute to Aroma

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