Posts Tagged ‘Aromatherapy’

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Aromatherapy Tips for Beginners

Friday, July 10th, 2009

Aromatherapy is a practice of using unstable plant liquids like essential oils and various aromatic compounds, which have a constructive affect on physical and mental health. The major components of aromatherapy are as follows:

  • Herbal concentrates: Herbal concentrates refer to by-products of the steam distillation process used to extract essential oils. Herbal concentrates are commonly used for skin care.
  • Essential Oils: Essential oils are non greasy oils, extracted from plants and herbs which may be used for blemishes and scares, smoothing age marks, toning, and spot treatment of acne and wrinkles, thereby giving you flawless skin tone and texture.
  • Infusion: Infusion refers to the aqueous extract of plant material.
  • Carrier oils: These are plant based triglycerides which are oily in nature. Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils for usage of the latter on skin.

If you are using essential aromatherapy for the first time, you need to be cautious and check whether you are allergic to the various components of aromatherapy like essential oils. You may take a drop of essential oil on a cotton swab and apply it to the inside of your wrists or to the inner elbow. Then cover the tested area with a bandage for twenty four hours. If there is no redness or itching, it is absolutely safe for you to use aromatherapy.

While you buy essential oils for the first time, you must take several factors into consideration so as to choose the right essential oils. You must base your choice of essential oils on factors like your preferred fragrances and the desired effect from usage of essential oils. Also, there are certain essential oils that are not suitable for people of particular ages or people suffering with certain ailments. As such, you must be careful in your choice of essential oils.

You must also be careful in the usage and dosage of essential oils. If you are using essential oils in a bath, the dosage would be ten drops of essential oils in twenty drops of soap solution. On the other hand, if you want to use essential oils for facial massage, you should use two drops of oil diluted in the appropriate carrier oil.

You must also develop a knack to judge the purity of essential oils. There are certain products that may contain essential oil but may not be purely essential oils.

You may consult an aromatherapist to help you in choosing the essential oils and also guiding you in estimating the

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Aromatherapy Skin Care

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

Aromatherapy is a luxurious and healing system of natural care that has a variety of therapeutic uses. Aromatherapy for skin care has been one of the earliest and most popular uses of this body of knowledge. Aromatherapy involves the use of various scents and fragrances that are derived from essential oils that are extracted from aromatic herbs. Aromatherapy doesn’t just smell great, but is also extremely healing and is an important facet of skin care. Aromatherapy massages are a luxurious experience as the scents relax your nerves and the massage nourishes your skin. Our skin is most susceptible to environmental damage as it is the most exposed part of our body, which is also why it needs particular attention.

The best way to keep your skin healthy and glowing is by following a healthy well balanced diet, along with aromatherapy skin care. Before you begin your aromatherapy treatments you need to make sure your skin is cleansed thoroughly, so as to remove any residue from cosmetic products or debris that collects on the outer layers of skin. Gentle scrubs and exfoliates are recommended for this purpose. Aromatherapy oils or essential oils are the main ingredient you will need, and it’s vital that you choose the right oil based on the skin type to maximize the benefits.

Aromatherapy skin care may be practiced in a variety of ways, from massage oils, to baths and sprays. Application of essential oils in different manners helps to optimize their effect. Aromatherapy oils may be used in combination with bath salts or bath gels, for a relaxing and healing soak. A massage before a soak may be even better. It’s important that you find the right method of application for yourself as failure to do so will only result in diminished benefits.

Here is a brief list of some essential oils and their properties to help you choose the right one.

  • Lavender: Balances, soothes, normalizes and clarifies the skin.
  • Eucalyptus: Purifies, balances, cools and invigorates the skin.
  • Peppermint: Revitalizes, refreshes, cools and energizes the skin.
  • Ylang Ylang: Sensual and euphoric, it allures the skin.
  • Bergamot: Normalizes and uplifts the skin, builds confidence.
  • Lemon: Energizes, uplifts, refreshes and strengthens the skin.
  • Patchouli: Sooths and uplifts the skin.
  • Clary sage: Tones the skin, balancing for the emotions and very uplifting.
  • Chamomile: Soothing, balances and rejuvenates the skin.

Different skin types will require different combinations, but it ultimately depends on your personal preference

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Aromatherapy Uses

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

Aromatherapy and its essential oils can be used for a variety of purposes and offer multiple benefits. Aromatherapy is basically a discipline or alternative medicine that employs the use of essential oils that are extracted from herbs. The natural essences and scents of aromatic plants and aromatherapy herbs are used not just for purposes of relaxation and pleasure, but also for healing physical conditions and for psychological well being. Aromatherapy can be used to treat skin conditions like acne, respiratory conditions like asthma or bronchitis, muscular and circulatory conditions like arthritis or varicose veins, and fungal infections like athlete’s foot to name a few.

Aromatherapy can be used in different ways with different methods.

  • Aromatherapy massage: Aromatherapy massage is one of the most popular fields of aromatherapy that is widely used for purposes of pleasure and healing. It offers a variety of benefits, from providing the most exquisite relaxation to treating muscle spasms and aches and pains.
  • Oil Burners: Oil burners work by diffusing the essence of aromatherapy oils in the air we breathe. This method again helps with relaxation and to combat a variety of psychological conditions stemming from stress. They also help relieve and treat respiratory disorders.
  • Vaporiser Rings: Vaporiser rings work in the same manner as oil burners, and diffuse the sweet healing aromas into the air we breathe.Inhalation: Inhalation is one of the most popular methods of treatment for various conditions, particularly for those of the respiratory system. This is the simplest for of aromatherapy.
  • Aromatherapy Baths: Aromatherapy baths are not just luxurious, but extremely healing. They offer tremendous benefits for a variety of skin conditions, musculoskeletal problems, circulatory problems, and also as pain relievers. Moreover there is nothing more relaxing and no method more effective than this to beat stress.
  • Compresses and Diffusers: Adding aromatherapy oils to compresses and diffusers is often recommended for a number of physical ailments to provide relief and healing.

The use of aromatherapy, irrespective of the method of use, can help strengthen the immune system, thereby improving your overall health. Its psychological effects are widely recognized as it creates a feeling of comfort and well being. Some of these benefits are explained because of the inherent properties of aromatherapy oils. They possess anti fungal and anti bacterial properties, that make them effective against many types of ailments. The antiseptic and restorative properties of aromatherapy herbs are believed to not only induce relaxation but stimulate circulation as well. Inhaling aromatherapy vapors is the most effective use of aromatherapy as they affect the limbic region of the brain, which dictates our emo

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Relieve Back Pain - Acupressure

Friday, March 20th, 2009

Acupressure is a traditional Chinese treatment that involves physical pressure being applied to certain pressure points on the body. This massage technique has been medically proven to have superior benefits than a traditional massage. Some acupressure therapists also include the use of Aromatherapy to improve results. Aromatherapy uses Essential Oils which are extracts of medicinal plants and herbs and contain compounds that have therapeutic effects.

Backaches are classified and treated according to their location, intensity and duration. Backaches can be classified as upper, middle or lower backache and can be either acute or chronic. An acute backache is generally a sharp pain that does not remain for more than a few days. A chronic backache is a duller, throbbing ache that lingers for over two weeks. Although hereditary, which we cannot do anything about, does play a small role in backaches, the main culprits can easily be addressed and eliminated. These are:

  • Poor Posture has an adverse and immense effect on your back. Sitting or standing incorrectly as well as wearing high heels can put unnecessary pressure on your back and is often the root cause of most back problems.
  • Sleeping on a mattress that does not support your weight can cause chronic back aches; even the position that you sleep in can affect your back.
  • Obesity is a cause for concern and as obesity escalates so does back problems. Your backbone supports your upper-body. As it is not one solid bone but is in fact made up of several bones, it cannot take the burden of added bodyweight that comes along with obesity.

There are several pressure points on the hip, thigh, leg, spine, kidney and solar plexus that are involved in treating backaches with acupressure. This massage will also help to eliminate back pain as it identifies and corrects muscle imbalances. An acupressure massage that includes aromatherapy is paradoxically invigorating yet relaxing. Oils like sage, horsebalm and mountain dittany contain natural muscular relaxants. Cardamom and rosemary have high concentrations of Borneol which is a very effective antispasmodic compound that controls and reduces muscle spasms.
Essential oils are very strong and cannot be applied directly to the skin. They have to be diluted in a carrier oil before use. Several oils can be mixed together for optimum results. Make sure that you always use good quality essential oils and ensure that your bottle is not marked as having fragrance or perfume oils. These oils are not essential oils and have no therapeutic uses. You can make your own aromatherapy massage oil by mixing an equal number of drops of rosemary, birch, ginger and chamomile essential oils. Add four times the number of drops of lavender essential oil and mix the oils thoroughly. Your carrier oil will have to be at least five times as much in volume as this mixture

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