Archive for the ‘Aromatherapy’ Category

Aromatherapy As An Anti Aging Solution

Friday, May 20th, 2011

Ageing is a natural process and you are bound to lose the glow and tightness of the skin as you grow older. Despite knowing this fact, nobody wants to look older, and most people spend a lot of time and effort in trying to stay younger. Some people tend to look older at even a very young age. This usually happens because of stressful lifestyle, bad eating habits, smoking, excessive drinking, and lack of physical exercise. The first thing most people look for is an anti-ageing medicine. Taking an anti-aging medicine may result in adverse side effects such as hormonal imbalances or other complex disorders. Therefore, it is best to refrain from taking any anti-aging medicine.

Aromatherapy is one of the oldest alternative therapies, and it has gained tremendous popularity during the recent past. In aromatherapy, various essential oils are used for curing a number of common and chronic diseases. These essential oils are derived from the plants known for their medicinal values. Since ancient times, a number of plants and herbs have been used medicinally; some of these are eucalyptus, sandalwood, aloe vera, and cinnamon.

Modern aroma therapists recognize the anti-oxidant properties of certain essential oils, and they have developed several anti-aging solutions by making use of these natural essential oils. In doing so, some believe that they have revealed the anti-aging secrets of these herbal oils. Today, it is a well known fact that you can slow down the aging process by making regular use of certain essential oils that are now known for their anti-ageing properties.

A description of some of the most popular and commonly used essential oils for slowing down the process of ageing is given below:

  • Olive oil: This is probably among the oldest essential oils known to mankind for its unmatched anti-oxidant values. Ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans used olive oil on a regular basis so as to keep themselves younger for longer. Regular facial massages with olive oil keeps your skin tightened and helps in regenerating new skin tissues.
  • Walnut oil: This is also wonderful oil for facial massages. It has the capability of reducing wrinkles and fine lines caused by ageing. It also nourishes and regenerates the skin in a natural manner. Walnut oil is also used for making anti-aging medicine to be taken orally.
  • Grape seed oil: This oil revitalizes the skin and prevents the visible effects of ageing by tightening and moisturizing the skin.

Before using any essential oil, it is always better to consult your aroma therapist for anti-aging solutions.

Aromatherapy for Nasal Infection | Symptoms & Remedy

Friday, May 20th, 2011

One of the types of nasal infections is sinusitis. Sinusitis is referred to as infection of sinuses, which are air-filled sacs located in the skull and connected to the nostrils and nasal passage. This form of nasal infection causes inflammation and pain in the facial regions and a headache. The prime causes of nasal infection are allergy, viral or fungal infections, and certain diseases including diabetes and AIDS. One of the major symptoms of a nasal infection is a headache. Besides this some of the symptoms of a nasal infection are fever, common cold (or flu), and inflammation of facial muscles.

An effective nasal infection home remedy is to use aromatherapy. It puts into use essential oils and other concentrated plant extracts to treat diseases, including nasal infections. Aromatherapy for nasal infection would be highly effective, with minimal or no side-effects. Moreover, it would have a long-term effect and would prevent the infection from recurring. Some of the essential oils that may be used as part of aromatherapy treatment for nasal infection are as follows. Aromatherapy also helps in treating the symptoms of a nasal infection.

  • You can use tea tree essential oil, which is anti-microbial in action. It would not only fend off the virus or fungi causing the nasal infection, but would also strengthen the immune system, preventing nasal infections in the future.
  • Peppermint oils may also be used as part of aromatherapy treatment for nasal infection. It is analgesic in action and as such, alleviates pain and inflammation. It is also an anti-viral agent, destroying the cause of the affliction.
  • Rosemary essential oil can be added to boiled water to be inhaled in steam. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve the condition.
  • You can also use eucalyptus essential oil to treat sinusitis or nasal infections. It helps in clearing the chest and nasal cavities of phlegm, thereby acting as a decongestant. It also helps fight viral infections, thereby helping with the treatment of the ailment.

Other essential oils that may be used to treat a nasal infection or sinusitis are clove oil, cajeput oil, basil oil, and helichrysum essential oil. Some of the other effective remedies are the intake of ginger tea, consumption of the juice of ripe grapes, and inhaling steam.

When you use aromatherapy for a nasal infection, you must consult an aromatherapy expert. Also, if used for topical application, you must dilute essential oils with carrier oils like coconut, olive, or jojoba oil. If used in concentrated form, essential oils may cause adverse reactions on your skin. You must not use an essential oil without testing it for sensitivity and irritation.

Aromatherapy Vaporizers for Aromatherapy Fragrances

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Aromatherapy has been used since ancient times as an alternative therapy. In the recent years, it has gained tremendous popularity around the world. Aromatherapy uses essential oils extracted from various plants that are known for their excellent medicinal values. In older times, aromatherapy was considered to be a massage therapy in which certain aromatic oils were used for giving massages for the treatment of certain ailments. Modern aromatherapy is now not limited to massages or baths using the essential oils. Today, a number of other techniques are widely used in aromatherapy. There are a variety of aromatherapy products available as well. Aromatherapy vaporizers are among those most popular products. An aromatherapy vaporizer is also commonly referred to as aroma vaporizer.

In aromatherapy, it is not only the culinary and medicinal properties of the essential oils that are important, but the aroma or fragrance also plays a significant role in the healing of and recovery from various ailments and disorders. An essential oil vaporizer spreads the aromatherapy fragrances in your living environment in order to enable you to inhale the vapors of the essential oil being used. There are various types of vaporizers available in the market, and you have plenty of choice to select one according to your taste and specific requirements. The types of aromatherapy vaporizers are mentioned hereunder:

  • Essential oil burners: In these types of vaporizers, the essential oil is mixed with the lamp oil and it actually burns the oil. However, due to the burning, some of the very useful properties of the essential oil are destroyed. So, most aroma therapists would not recommend the oil burner type vaporizers.
  • Electric aromatherapy vaporizers: This type of aromatherapy vaporizers is most popular these days and these are easy to use too. A blend of a few drops of the essential oil and some carrier oil are put in the container of the electric vaporizer and it is switched on. A low power heater will slowly heat and vaporize the contents. Within 10 to 15 minutes, you will be able to feel the difference. Your living room will be filled with the fragrance of the essential oil you are using.

There are a number of essential oils that you can use in the vaporizer in accordance to your specific needs. If you are feeling low and depressed, you can use sandalwood oil, clary sage essential oil or lavender oil. For chest congestion and common cold, you can use eucalyptus or menthol oil.

There are so many other applications for which you can safely use the aromatherapy vaporizers. However, do consult your aroma therapist for proper advice.

Aromatherapy Essential Oil Burners | Aromatherapy Products

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Aromatherapy, one of the most popular alternative therapies today, makes use of a number of essential oils. Essentially, these essential oils are the essence of the plants from which they are derived and possess all the medicinal properties of those plants. Earlier, aromatherapy was limited to massages and vapor therapy only. In modern aromatherapy, several different techniques are used, and a number of aromatherapy products are available in the stores such as aromatherapy sprays, aromatherapy vaporizers, and aromatherapy oil burners, among many other such products. Aromatherapy oil burners are one of the most popularly used aromatherapy products as these are very easy to use and cost effective as well.

Aromatherapy oil burners are also referred to as essential oil burners. An aromatherapy burner is meant to diffuse the essential oil in the environment of your rooms. For this, the essential oil to be used is slowly burnt, which results in the spreading of the aroma of the oil in the room. The vapors spread in the atmosphere are inhaled by you while breathing, and you, thus, naturally get the advantages of the essential oil being used. There are a number of models of aromatherapy oil burners available in the market, and these come in various shapes and sizes. Some of the most popular types are mentioned hereunder:

  • Terracotta earthen lamps: As the name suggests, these are made of terracotta in which a cotton wick is kept dipped in the oil and the outer end is lighted. In the lamp oil, a few drops of the essential oil which you need to use at a particular instance are added.
  • Ceramic oil burners: These are also similar to terracotta lamps but are made of ceramic.

The essential oil or a blend of certain essential oils to be used depends on your specific requirements. Some of the most common uses are mentioned below:

  • If you are mentally stressed and tired, add a few drops of sandalwood oil or lavender essential oil in the oil burner and relax. Within a few minutes, you will feel refreshed and relaxed.
  • If you are under the influence of common cold and any other respiratory disorder such as chest congestion, burn a few drops of eucalyptus oil with the lamp oil. This will give you considerable relief from the ailment.
  • For driving away insects, add five to six drops of lemon grass essential oil in the burner.

The disadvantage of aromatherapy oil burners, as compared to other aromatherapy products, is that some of the medicinal properties of the essential oils are lost due to burning. You should always consult your aroma therapist before using any essential oil.