Archive for July, 2010

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Health Benefits Of Cypress Essential Oil

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Cypress essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from the twigs of the evergreen Cypress tree. The oil yield is of the order of around 1.5% only. Cypress oil is colorless to pale yellow in color with a mild spicy and masculine odor.

Cypress essential oil has been used since ancient times for various therapeutic purposes.  It has excellent antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, hepatic, and sedative properties.

Uses Of Cypress Essential Oil

  • Known for its sedative and soothing effect, cypress oil is used for calming and relieving irritation, anger, and stress. It calms stressed brain nerves and provides immediate anxiety relief. For this, vapor therapy should be used, in which a few drops of cypress essential oil are dropped in boiling water and the vapors are inhaled. This is also very beneficial for whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma, and other lungs disorders.
  • Cypress oil has great astringent properties and strengthens your teeth and gums. It is also used for preventing hair fall.  Regular massage with cypress oil blended with some good carrier oil like jojoba oil or olive oil will also ensure that your skin and muscles stay taut and firm.
  • Cypress oil is a wonderful anti spasmodic agent. If you happen to suffer from muscular spasms or spasms of the respiratory system, you can massage the affected area with a cypress oil blend for immediate relief.
  • Cypress oil possesses great diuretic properties as well. Therefore, it helps in increasing the frequency of urination, which results in the removal of toxins from the body. It is especially useful in reducing blood pressure and cleansing the kidneys. Increased urination also helps in removing excess fat from the body.
  • Since cypress oil has good hepatic properties, it is very beneficial for liver. It maintains proper discharge of bile from the liver and also protects it from infections.
  • Cypress oil also has good sudorific properties. A sudorific substance is one that causes sweating. It, therefore, removes toxins, excessive salts, and water from the body through sweating and makes you feel lighter and fresh. It cleans up your skin and protects you from acne and other skin disorders.
  • Cypress oil is also known for being a very good vasoconstrictor. It is, therefore, used for the treatment of excessive bleeding, nose bleeds, and heavy menstruation.

Like any other essential oil, you must always consult your physician or an aromatherapy specialist before using the Cypress oil.

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Essential Oils For Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), also referred to as spastic colon, is a functional disorder of the bowel. Further, it is characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, discomfort, and constipation. Sometimes, irritable bowel syndrome may also cause diarrhea. The major causes of irritable bowel syndrome are microbial infections of the gastrointestinal tract and stress.

You can employ aromatherapy to relieve irritable bowel syndrome. Aromatherapy involves the use of concentrated plant extracts like essential oils to relieve ailments.

There are various methods and modes of application of essential oils to cure irritable bowel syndrome. Some of these are as follows:

  • Topical application: You can apply the essential oil directly on the belly, particularly around the navel to relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
  • Internal consumption: You can consume a drop or two of palatable essential oils like peppermint essential oil to alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

However, you must be highly cautious about this mode of usage of essential oils. These oils can also be consumed as capsules.

Some of the essential oils that can be used to relieve irritable bowel syndrome are as follows:

  • You can use clary sage essential oil to regulate bowel movements and relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
  • Anise essential oil is antispasmodic and antiseptic in action. It helps relieve the digestive tract of harmful micro-organisms responsible for irritable bowel syndrome.
  • Cinnamon essential oil is also known for its anti-septic properties. It also helps relieve irritable bowel syndrome if the cause of the affliction is a microbial infection.
  • Other essential oils that can be used are ginger and fennel essential oils.
  • As irritable bowel syndrome is also caused by stress, you can use lavender essential oil to relieve mental depression and tensions. It helps ameliorate your mood and makes you feel elated.
  • Other essential oils that can be used to relieve stress and thereby, irritable bowel syndrome, are neroli, rose, sandalwood, and frankincense essential oils.
  • You must always dilute these essential oils with a carrier oil like coconut, jojoba, or olive oils Essential oils are highly concentrated oils and their usage without dilution can cause adverse effects like skin irritation and rashes.

Do consult an aromatherapy specialist for expert guidance on the usage of essential oils to treat irritable bowel syndrome. It is important to first detect the cause of the affliction, which can be either microbial infection or stress, before proceeding with aromatherapy treatment.

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Aromatherapy For Aging Skin Treatment

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Aging is the natural process of degeneration of the body. It encompasses physiological and physical changes over a period of time. The physiological aspect is marked by the reduced functionality of various biological systems of the body. While aging in itself cannot be stopped or prevented as such, physiological aging can be controlled by means of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

With regard to the physical aspect of aging, it is characterized by wrinkles, dark spots and patches on skin, weakness in muscles and bones, reduced body movement, etc. Similar to physiological aging, physical aging also cannot be cured or treated; however, the appearance of its signs can be delayed.

Essential Oils To Prevent aging of Skin

In this regard, aromatherapy can be used to prevent aging skin. Some of the essential oils that can be used to cure or delay the symptoms of aging are as follows.

  • Cranberry essential oil is one of the most effective against aging. It is a rich source of anti-oxidants, which serve to slow down the process of gradual degeneration of the skin and hence delay the formation of wrinkles and patches.
  • Another essential oil that be used to prevent or treat wrinkles is rose essential oil. It works by filling the crevices in skin that are caused by the wrinkles, resulting in smoother looking skin.
  • Lavender essential oil can also be used to inhibit the signs of aging, such as wrinkles and patches.
  • Patchouli essential oil is also an extremely effective anti-aging agent. It is most widely used to prevent wrinkles.
  • Lemon essential oil causes the regeneration of skin cells, which compensates for the loss of cells resulting from the degeneration process, thereby preventing aging.
  • Tea tree essential oil helps to eliminate the microorganisms that accumulate on the skin. Often, it is these microorganisms in the pores of the skin that act as catalyst when it comes to skin aging.
  • Germanium essential oil is effective against wrinkles, patches and dark spots.
  • Eucalyptus essential oil is considered to be highly beneficial in treating wrinkles.
  • Some of the other essential oils for aging skin treatment are lemongrass, juniper, mandarin, tangerine, sweet basil and neroli.

You can also use a blend of these essential oils to treat aging skin. However, keep in mind that you must dilute these essential oils before you apply them to your face and body. Essential oils are highly concentrated, and if used without dilution, they can have adverse effects such as skin irritation and rashes. Further, it is important that you consult an aromatherapy specialist in order to acquire a better understanding about the methods, proportions, and combinations in which these oils can be used.

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Snoring Remedies | Stop Snoring With Aromatherapy Oils

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Snoring is the sound that is produced through the airway that connects the mouth and throat. This sound is produced when you are asleep. Almost everyone knows a person who snores. The loudness and pitch of sound varies from person to person. This is due to the extent of narrowness of the airway. More narrow the airway, greater will be the vibration of the soft palate and hence, louder will be the snoring sound.

It can be very uncomfortable for you if your partner snores. Some chronic snorers snore so loudly that their own sleep is disturbed. In some cases, snoring has even been a factor in divorce cases.

Snoring can be cured in many ways such as by changing the sleeping posture, by exercising the vocal chords, and through massage with essential oils. There are also surgical procedures, over the counter medicines, and nasal strips and sprays that may be used to minimize snoring. Of all these methods, the use of essential oils to cure snoring is the most natural one. This technique of using essential oils to cure common ailments is known as aromatherapy.

For the treatment of snoring, essential oils with relaxing and astringent properties are used. You can use any of the following aromatherapy techniques to cure yours or your partner’s snoring problem:

  • Marjoram essential oil is widely used to cure snoring. Take a jar of marjoram oil and while going to bed, simply open the cap of the jar and place it on the table near your bed. A sweet aroma will gradually spread through your room. This aroma relaxes the soft tissues in the throat and  helps eliminate snoring.
  • Mix a few drops of lavender essential oil with some carrier oil like jojoba oil or olive oil and gently massage around your throat and back. Lavender oil is well known for its soothing and sedative effect. Therefore, it will result in sound sleep as also relax the tissues of the throat and soft palate.
  • You can also use peppermint spray to cure snoring. Just before going to bed, spray some of the liquid four to five times in your throat. Do not eat or drink anything after this. This will help you breathe easier and will eliminate snoring.

Like any other alternative therapy, aromatherapy may give good result in some cases and may show no results in others. If you do not get any relief from these methods, do consult an aromatherapy specialist or your health care provider.

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