Archive for April, 2011

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Aromatherapy Lamps | Fagrance Or Aroma Lamps

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Aromatherapy, one of the most popular alternative therapies today, is applied in a number of ways. Aromatherapy involves the use of several essential oils that are extracted from the flowers, seeds, leaves, roots, and stems of the plants that have medicinal properties. The essential oils are very concentrated and are used after dilution only.

In addition to aromatherapy massages, aromatherapy baths, and steam therapy, essential oils are also used through sprays and diffusers. Aromatherapy lamps are becoming very popular nowadays as essential oil diffusers. An aromatherapy lamp is also referred to as aroma lamp. The aroma diffused by these fragrance lamps is naturally inhaled while breathing. The chemical components of the essential oil inhaled have the ability to stimulate your brain and make you feel refreshed and alert. The aroma of an essential oil is due to the presence of some specific organic compounds in it. The fragrances of these essential oils differ from each other, depending on the plants from which the oils have been extracted.

There are a number of aromatherapy lamps or more precisely, fragrance lamps, are available in the market. The types of fragrance lamps are as listed below:

  • Electrically operated lamps: These lamps are low wattage lamps, and you can place a pad on the lamp with a few drops of essential oil dropped on the pad. It will slowly diffuse the aroma in your room and make the environment pleasant for many hours.
  • Terracotta or earthen lamps: In these lamps, a few drops of the essential oil are added in the lamp oil. As the lamp oil burns, it spreads the aroma of essential oil in the environment. The disadvantage of this type of lamp is that some constituents of the essential oil get destroyed due to the temperature and you do not get the full advantage of the essential oil used. Similar types of ceramic lamps are also available these days.
  • Terracotta rings: The rings made of terracotta are placed on the aromatherapy lamp after applying the essential oil on the rings.

The uses of aromatherapy lamps are as follows:

  • One of the most common uses is uplifting the mood and providing relief from mental strain and emotional stress. The oils most commonly used for this purpose are lavender oil, clary sage essential oil, and sandalwood oil, among others.
  • Aroma lamps are also used for treating respiratory disorders such as nasal and chest congestion and common colds and a cough. Peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil are mainly used for this purpose.
  • Citronella oil is used in fragrance lamps for driving away the insects.

While using an aroma lamp, you can add essential oil of your choice that suits your specific requirements. However, it is always best to consult an aroma therapist first.

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Aromatherapy Sprays | Aromatherapy Fragrances

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Aromatherapy has emerged as one of the most popular alternative therapies during the recent years for treating a number of diseases and disorders. While these ailments may be both common and chronic, aromatherapy has devised several methods of treating most of the ailments. Most people think that aromatherapy is about massages with some aromatic oils. However, as the name suggests, the actual concept and basis of aromatherapy is the aroma or fragrance, and of course, the medicinal properties of the particular essential oils used for the treatment of certain specific disorders. These essential oils are derived from flowers, roots, stems, and leaves of herbs and plants known for having excellent medicinal properties. The essential oils have been used for over centuries as a result of their inherent properties.

In aromatherapy, such essential oils are used in a number of ways such as massages, inhalation, and baths, or simply by making the environment pleasant and healthy by using these essential oils in diffusers, vaporizers, and aromatherapy sprays. The use of an aromatherapy spray is done for treating physical and psychological disorders:

  • Aromatherapy fragrances have the ability to reduce mental tension and emotional stress, and as a result, they help in uplifting the mood and making you feel full of energy and enthusiasm. Such an aroma spray makes the environment pleasant and induces a feeling of well-being. An aroma spray has the ability to create a sense of peace and happiness by soothing and calming the nerves. The essential oils used for this purpose include lavender essential oil, sandalwood essential oil, chamomile essential oil, and germanium essential oil, among others.
  • Aromatherapy sprays are also used for the treatment of the ailments of the respiratory system such as common colds and chest congestion. These sprays are made by using eucalyptus and mint essential oils.
  • Aromatherapy sprays can be used for relieving headaches and migraines; these are prepared by using pepper mint, marjoram and clary sage essential oils.
  • A number of aromatherapy sprays are available in the market, referred to as deodorant sprays or body sprays. Theses sprays are made by innumerous combinations of these essential oils. Such an aroma spray not only eliminates the problem of body odor but also keeps you fresh and agile by uplifting your mood.

While aroma therapy sprays are readily available and have minimal side effects, it is best to may seek the advice of an aroma therapist for selecting an aroma spray for your specific needs.

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Essential Oils Distillation by using Oil Distiller

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Essential oils have been used since ancient times for various culinary and therapeutic purposes. In today’s modern world, essential oils find extensive use in aromatherapy for the treatment of several disorders and ailments. These essential oils are the main tools of the aromatherapists worldwide. These essential oils are extracted from various herbs, shrubs, flowers, seeds, roots, and a number of plants that unique medicinal properties. Since the yields of essential oils are very small and the cost involved in the process of extraction is so high, most of these oils are very expensive.

The methods used for extraction of essential oils are listed below:

  • Steam distillation process
  • Cold pressing process
  • Solvent extraction process
  • Maceration method.

Though the process used for the extraction of essential oils depends upon the plant being used for extracting the oil, the steam distillation method is most commonly and popularly used as it gives optimum and uncontaminated yield.

Essential oils distillation is done by using the essential oil distillation equipment. The equipment is referred to as an essential oil distiller. An essential oil distiller mainly consists of a still with two small openings in which the source material is placed and saturated steam is made to pass through this material at a very high pressure. The heat of the steam makes the oil evaporate from the plant material. The vapors of the essential oil mixed with steam are forced to come out from the small opening provided at the top or side of the essential oil distiller which is then collected through a pipe. This pipe water is cooled which condenses the essential oil vapors and the steam. The essential oil floats on the surface of water. Now this oil is carefully separated from top of the water bath.

Distilling essential oils from the parent plants is not easy and it requires a lot of effort and time. The essential oil obtained by steam distillation method is in its purest form with all its culinary, medicinal, and aromatic properties retained to the fullest.

If you are a do-it-yourself enthusiast, you can extract the essential oils from plants and herbs of your choice which are easily available in your area. For this, you will need to get your hands on the required essential oil extraction equipment. However, while handling the essential oil you need to be very careful as most essential oils are very strong in nature.

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Massage Oil Candles | Essential Oil Candles

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

Massage candles are candles that are constituted of aromatherapy oil, mainly, oils which are used for massaging purposes. Aromatherapy is a technique that may be used to treat various psychological and physiological problems, making use of concentrated plant extracts including essential oils, carrier oils, absolutes, infusions, and phytoncides. Aromatherapy essential oils can be used directly for topical application and massaging or can be used as aromatherapy accessories like candles, soaps, and incense sticks.

Massage oil candles are the scented candles, constituted of herbal extracts or pure essential oils. These essential oil candles are not made of ordinary wax; rather they contain soy bean wax as the major ingredient. Massage candles burn without smoke and have a relaxing effect on the mind and body, imparting a sense of wellbeing and tranquility.

Some of the uses of massage candles are listed as under:

  • One of the major uses of aromatherapy candles is to augment your mood and make you feel elated. You may light the candles to saturate the ambience with the fragrance, and then feel the effect of these candles on your state of health.
  • You can use aromatherapy candles to create a serene and pleasant ambience while bathing. A bath with hot water with the pleasant fragrance of the aromatherapy candles can work wonders for you, also enhancing your memory and concentration, and, in turn, your productivity.
  • Aromatherapy candles can also be used to decorate your home or office. Massage candles are available in different colors and shapes and can really enhance the interiors.
  • Aromatherapy candles are sedative in action, and if you are suffering from insomnia, these candles might serve as elixir. Aromatherapy with chamomile and lavender oils are known for their sleep inducing property.
  • Aromatherapy candles may also be used in an aromatherapy massage. The scent of the aromatherapy candles coupled with warm massage oil soothes the body and mind, averting a number of ailments.

While aromatherapy candles have numerous uses, you must be cautious while buying these candles. When buying the massage oil candles, you must be selective to pick the candles with the aroma that might please you the most. When you light the candle, you must ensure that it burns evenly, which would otherwise cause accumulation of essential oil in the center of the candle, shortening its lifecycle.  Also, you must never leave the candle unattended to avoid incidences of fire. You may seek the help of an aromatherapy professional who can help you select the candles that would best serve your purpose.

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