Archive for September, 2009

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Aromatherapy Oil - Uses Of Mandarin Oil

Friday, September 18th, 2009

What is Mandarin oil? Mandarin oil is extracted from the Mandarin tree, or Citrus Reticulata. The tree is part of the Rutaceae family (or orange family) and is commonly found in South America, southern Europe, and Japan. Pure essential Mandarin oil is extracted from the outer peel of the fruit by means of a method known as cold compression. Steam distillation of the leaves and twigs of the tree is used to make Mandarin Petitgrain oil. Mandarin essential oil is golden yellow in color and has a fresh citrus aroma. The essential oil can be blended with other citrus oils, such as Neroli, and with spice oils such as clove, cinnamon, and Nutmeg.

Properties of Mandarin oil: Mandarin oil has several properties that make it an effective healer in most aromatherapy treatments. It is has antiseptic, antispasmodic, and diuretic properties, and is a laxative and digestive. Mandarin oil can also be used as a sedative as well as a stimulant. Mandarin oil contains metyl methylanthraniate and limonene as well as geraniol, citral, and citronellal. It is non-toxic, non-irritant, and non-sensitizing. Mandarin oil is extremely popular because it is safe and can be used by children as well as pregnant women.

Health Benefits of Mandarin oil: Mandarin oil can be used to treat digestive problems. It has a calming as well as stimulating effect on the liver, stomach, and intestines, and has been used for centuries as an effective cure for all digestion related ailments. It is especially useful for treating children and pregnant women. When mixed with a carrier oil such as sweet almond, safflower, or grape seed extract, Mandarin oil can also be used as a treatment for stretch marks, acne, oily skin, and age spots. Mandarin oil also plays a significant role in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Known as the “happy oil,” it is popular as a mood-lifter. It also helps to de-stress the nerves and soothe the mind. Finally, Mandarin oil can also be used to relieve muscle aches and cramps. Simply add 10 drops of Mandarin oil and 5 drops of Geranium oil to your bath water. Keep in mind that water does not mix with oil, and so it best to add the oils to a cup of milk first, and then add the milk to the water.

Other uses of Mandarin oil: Apart from its cosmetic and health-related uses, Mandarin oil is also useful around the house, owing to the antiseptic properties. It works as an excellent natural cleaner, which not only disinfects the room and but also has an uplifting fragrance.

Word of caution: If you have applied Mandarin oil onto your skin, it is best to stay indoors and avoid direct sunlight. The oil reacts poorly with sunlight and will leave brown spot on your s

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Aromatherapy: Natural Menopause Treatment

Friday, September 11th, 2009

Menopause is referred to as the last phase of a woman’s reproductive cycle. Menopause is characterized by the end of menstruation in women, at least for a year. Menopause is a phase after which a woman becomes infertile, with absolutely no possibility of conceiving.

Women have three transitional stages in their reproductive cycle, thereby imparting a change to their lives. A woman is said to have changed from a maiden to a matron by menarche (commencement of menstruation) and then to a crone (an old lady) by what is referred to as menopause.

The common signs and symptoms of menopause are:

  • Dryness in the vagina.
  • Change in menstruation, that is, inhibition of menstrual cycle.
  • Loss of hair on head and sometimes, tufts of hairs on face.
  • Night sweating or hot flashes.
  • Increase in weight in some cases.
  • Mood swings.

There are a number of home remedies that may be followed in order to avert the symptoms of menopause. One such home remedy is the employment of aromatherapy to cure menopause. Aromatherapy involves the usage of the components which are derived from softer plant tissues. The major components of aromatherapy are essential oils which are volatile and highly concentrated oils extracted from flowers or fruits of the plants.

Essential Oils - Effective Menopause Remedies

You can deploy aromatherapy to treat the symptoms of menopause as follows:

  • First of all, you need to regulate the hormonal balance of your reproductive system so as to relieve the symptoms of menopause. You can use various essential oils like cypress essential oil, fennel essential oil, chamomile essential oil, marjoram essential oil, and sage essential oil which play a vital role in relieving the symptoms of menopause.
  • You can use lavender essential oil, lemon essential oil, grapefruit essential oil, pine essential oil, thyme essential oil and sandalwood essential oil to treat hot flushes, one of the predominant symptoms of menopause.
  • You can use these essential oils to massage your body, mix them in your bathwater, use them as cool compresses, as well as in an infusion.
  • You must always dilute the essential oils with carrier oils like jojoba and olive essential oil as essential oils are highly concentrated and may cause side effects if applied on skin directly, without dilution.

Although aromatherapy is a potent therapy that can help you to cope with the problems associated with menopause, there are also a number of other things that can be used to ensure that the transition from menarche to menopause is smooth. Proper nutrition and regular exercise goes a long way in ensuring this. DO consult your doctor for more information on how to effectively deal with meno

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Aromatherapy For Postpartum Depression Treatment

Friday, September 11th, 2009

Depression during the postpartum period is common. In fact, about 85% of all women experience mood swings and some kind of mood related disorder. While postpartum blues among women is common, it is often mild and does not require any treatment. Postpartum depression (PPD) on the other hand, a more severe form of postpartum blues, can have you feeling overwhelmed, irritable, anxious, and tearful. While mild forms of PPD can be treated by several methods such as aromatherapy, among others, if the depression persists and worsens, it is best to consult your doctor for advice.

What is PPD: Typically, PPD occurs during the first few months after delivery. The degree of symptoms varies among women, and it is akin to the kind of depression that one can suffer from at any other time. The most common symptoms of PPD are feeling depressed or sad, feeling like crying, loss of interest, feeling guilty and worthless, tiredness, insomnia, changes in appetite, and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts.

How can aromatherapy help: Aromatherapy has been known to be helpful in combating PPD. In fact, many essential oils as well as other aromatherapy products are available in the market that are meant specifically for treating PPD. Some of the most common aromatherapy methods for helping in alleviating symptoms of PPD are as follows. Keep in mind that it is important to leave your baby with another responsible adult so that you can enjoy some alone time without the infant.

Aromatherapy baths are extremely uplifting and relaxing. In order to prepare this bath, mix five drops of ylang-ylang, jasmine, bergamot, clary sage oil, or neroli into warm water. Make sure to mix these oils quickly so that they are evenly distributed in the bath water. Now, simply soak in the tub for 15 to 20 minutes and soothe your nerves. If for some reason you are unable to soak in a tub and can only shower, you can add a few drops of the same oils to your wash cloth or sponge. Rub your self gently all over with it and take in long deep breaths while doing so.

When you’re not bathing or showering, you can simply add a few drops of these oils to a handkerchief or tissue and inhale frequently. You can also light scented candles and place in them in the room, or place aromatherapy sachets under your pillow.

If you suffer from more severe symptoms and are having a hard time dealing with the mood swings, you should use oils from various parts of an orange tree. Neroli from the flowers of an orange tree, petigrain from its twigs and leaves, and of course, orange from its fruit are extremely helpful in uplifting spirits and rejuvenating the

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Massage Therapy - Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Friday, September 11th, 2009

What is lymphatic massage: Also called lymphatic drainage massage, lymphatic massage is a technique to improve and enhance lymphatic flow, which in turn removes toxins and impurities from your body tissue, thereby boosting your immune system.

The lymphatic system of the body plays a vital role in healing injuries and protecting you against various infections and diseases. It filters out toxins from the body, thereby cleansing and purifying it.

Sometimes, your lymphatic system gets enervated and you sense pain and soreness in your lymphatic passages. As such, lymphatic massage serves to alleviate the affliction, thereby ameliorating the lymphatic flow in the body.

Lymphatic massage as a therapy was developed long back in 1930s and is a highly delicate form of massage that serves to stimulate your entire lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is generally stimulated by muscle contraction facilitated by deep breathing, exercise and manual manipulation in the form of massage, with no central pump to stimulate the system.

Lymphatic massage involves the application of light pressure movements coupled with soft pumping movements in the direction of the lymph nodes.

Benefits of lymphatic massage:  Some of the advantages of lymphatic massage are

  • First and foremost, lymphatic massage serves to unclog your lymph system including lymph passages, nodes and fluids by cleansing the system manually, in a clockwise fashion.
  • The correct massaging technique will help in opening the passages of the lymph system and can increase the volume of lymph flow by up to twenty times.
  • A lymphatic massage can help cleanse and purify almost all the cells of your body from bacteria as well as toxins. As such, lymphatic massage serves to protect you against various diseases like cold and flu, joint pain, headache, migraine, depression, acne, fatigue, mood fluctuations, anxiety, loss of appetite, muscular cramps, menstrual pain, and arthritis.
  • Lymphatic massage serves to stimulate and enhance the immune system, improves digestion, and detoxifies the body as well.
  • Lymphatic massage is a boon for people afflicted with sports injuries. Lymphatic massage helps in the regeneration of tissue to heal these injuries.

Precautions: Lymphatic massage is quite safe, though there are minor contra indications. Some of the probable side effects are acute inflammation, thrombosis, malignant tumors, and some heart problems. Also, as mentioned earlier, lymphatic massage is a delicate form of massage and as such, precision and astuteness in the delivery of the massage is critical. You must get the lymphatic massage only from an

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