Posts Tagged ‘aromatherapy essential oils’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Aromatherapy Oil - Patchouli Essential Oil

Friday, August 21st, 2009

Scientifically called Pogostemon cablin, Patchouli is a bushy herb belong to the mint family. The herb is a native of North America and is extensively cultivated in India, China, Caribbean, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The essential oil of patchouli is extracted through the process of steam distillation.

Patchouli Oil Uses

Patchouli is generally used as an oil for various purposes. Some of the uses of Patchouli oil are as follows:

  • Patchouli oil is known for its fabulous aroma and as such, it is extensively used in making perfumes and incense sticks.
  • Patchouli oil is an excellent insect repellant. You may either use the leaves of the plant or you may also apply patchouli oil on your body so as to fend insects away. Patchouli oil has been extensively used in the past for this purpose. It has even been used to keep away silk moths while silk was being transported from China to the Middle East.
  • Patchouli oil is also used in detergents and paper towels and tissues on account of its marvelous fragrance. It may also be used to make air fresheners.
  • Patchouli oil can serve as a potent hair conditioner. It will help to relieve dandruff and split ends in your hair.
  • Patchouli oil can be used as an essential oil and is widely used in aromatherapy. It has a soothing effect on your body and it is an excellent tonic for the central nervous system, thereby helping you enhance your memory and concentration.
  • Patchouli oil is an antiseptic and anti inflammatory agent and is known for its ability to cure a variety of ailments like arthritis, asthma, and bronchitis.
  • Patchouli oil can also be used as a sedative.
  • Patchouli oil is also helpful in curing several commonplace ailments like nausea, headache, vomiting, cold, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
  • Patchouli oil is also essential for your hormonal or endocrine system as it has a balancing effect on the endocrine system.
  • Patchouli oil is also known for its ability to appease you when you are stressed as it reduces nervousness and anxiety.
  • Patchouli oil is helpful in curing various fungal infections like candidiasis.
  • Patchouli oil is effective against viral ailments too.
  • Patchouli oil may also be used to enhance memory and concentration as it helps in stimulating as well as relaxing your brain.

As such, Patchouli oil serves a variety of p

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Aromatherapy Oils | No Comments »

Aromatherapy Oil - Carnation Essential Oil

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

Aromatherapy relies heavily on essential oils extracted from natural items like leaves, roots, flowers, and stems of plants. A lot of herbs are also used to make essential oils. A lot of the oils extracted from these natural items have therapeutic properties and are useful for curing many of our body’s ailments. The properties of the essential oils determine whether they should be applied on the body or diffused and inhaled. The essential oils can help heal eczema, acne, and can be used as antiseptics to treat wounds. As fumes, they help the body to relax, de-stress, and cure insomnia, fatigue, and pre menstrual syndrome.

There are many therapeutic effects of carnation essential oils, some of them being removing inflammation, curing hair loss, and relaxing the muscles. Also if you are experiencing flatulence, carnation essential oil can prove really beneficial. Some of them include:

  • Reduction of wrinkles - The oil is mixed with a carried and then applied directly to the skin.
  • Curing skin eczema - Repeated use of the essential oil has been seen to cure eczema.
  • Minimizing rashes - The essential oil can also help in minimizing rashes caused by allergies or bacteria.
  • Improve skin tone - Carnation oil can also act as a conditioner for the skin by improving the texture and the tone of the skin.
  • Maintain healthy skin - The oil is also helpful in maintaining good health of the skin.  To see the full benefits of the essential though, it is important that you use only a small amount of the oil for a long period of time.

The carnation essential oil is made out of the carnation flowers. One of the stronger essential oils, one has to be careful while handling and using this oil. The storage of the oil should be given special attention to. It is important to store the oil in a dark and cool place, preferably away from direct sunlight. To avoid sunlight, usually the bottles in which carnation essential oils are stored are dark. The bottles are either dark amber or coral blue in color.

The dilution of the oil should be optimum, too. There are recommended specifications for diluting the oil. The oil is never used directly. Instead it is mixed with a fixed quantity of carrier oil. Usually this carrier oil is grape seed, avocado, almond, or wheat germ oil. Even with the diluted oil, it is important that a skin patch test be done before the oil is liberally used. Use the oil on a small patch of skin and wait for an entire day to check for any skin irritations that might occur. If you experience no side effects, then you can start using the oil. The oil should never be taken for internal use and should be significantly diluted if it is to be used on chil

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Aromatherapy Oils | No Comments »

Aromatherapy Oil - Peppermint Essential Oil Uses

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

Peppermint has been used in candies and sweets for ages, and not without good reason! Extracted from the Mentha Piperita plant, peppermint essential oil has a very distinct, fresh, menthol smell. The oil itself is light yellow in color, and has a viscosity like that of water. In aromatherapy, the oil is known to stimulate the mind and increase focus. It also has healing properties for the skin, cooling it and healing redness and itches. Furthermore it helps with headaches, sinus problems, chest congestion, and bolsters the digestive system.

The peppermint herb is endemic to the Mediterranean, and is now cultivated in many other countries like the USA, Italy, the UK, and Japan. The oil is extracted by steam distillation just before flowering.

Therapeutic properties:
Peppermint oil has many healing properties. It is an analgesic, antiseptic, anesthetic, antispasmodic, antiphlogistic, antigalactagogue, carminative, astringent, emmenagogue, cephalic, cholagogue, decongestant, febrifuge, expectorant, nervine, hepatic, stimulant, cordial, stomachic, vasoconstrictor, sudorific, and vermifuge.

Uses of Peppermint Essential Oil:

  • Because of it invigorating properties, it is excellent for mental fatigue, stress and depression. It revitalises the sprit and encourages mental agility. For students, it can help to increase concentration. It helps to give relief from headaches and migraines. It can also help shock, nervous stress and vertigo. This strong oil clears the respiratory passage, and helps with coughs, sinus congestion, asthma and pneumonia.
  • It is also helpful for the digestive system. It stimulates the gall bladder and bile secretion. It can be used against colic, dyspepsia, crams, spastic colon, flatulence and nausea.
  • It can also give relief from toothaches, aching feet, muscle pains, rheumatism and painful periods. When applied to the skin, it can relieve skin irritation and itching. It can reduce redness and inflammation. Because of its cooling action, it is used for dermatitis, acne, scabies, ringworm and other skin diseases.

How to use:

  • Peppermint oil blends well with rosemary, lemon, marjoram, lavender, and eucalyptus. It can be mixed with these to achieve different results.
  • Vaporisers - Add a few drops of peppermint oil into a vaporiser to clear up coughs and headaches. It will energise the mind and spirit. When allowed to diffuse in a room, it can act as an insect repellent.
  • Aromatherapy baths - Add a few drops of peppermint or blended oil into a hot bath. This will provide instant energy, and help with aches and pains in the body. It can also help with colic, bowel disorders, cough, and skin problems.
  • Using a sprayer, spray this oil all over your room to keep away ants.
  • Make a mouthwash with diluted peppermint oil to help with bad breath and gum problems.
  • It can be made into a cream or lotion, which will cool the skin and help heal skin problems.

Precautions
When diluted, peppermint oil is bearable, but otherwise it is very strong. Applied undiluted on the skin it may even burn the skin. It should not be used on babies or pregnan

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Aromatherapy Oils | No Comments »

Aromatherapy Oil - Sage Essential Oil

Friday, June 26th, 2009

The actual name of sage is Clary Sage and since the medieval times, this herb has been one of the most used tonics for many ailments. Popularly known as a sure shot remedy for digestive disorders, there was a time when sage was used to clean eyes by taking out the mucous from them. Sage is picked from hotter climates to make for great smelling essential oils. The hotter the climate, the more aroma it gives out. It is mainly found in southern Europe.

Uses of Sage Essential Oil

  • Sage has been commonly used to treat various digestive disorders, menstrual cramps, kidney ailments and was used as a tonic for the upkeep and general good health of the nerves.
  • Scientifically known as ‘salvia officinalis’, sage literally means ‘to heal’. Considered sacred by the Romans, this herb was used liberally in cooking and was also taken in as a medicine. There was also a time in history when women were claimed to be heretics and witches because they saw the medicinal properties of the herb and used it to numb the pain during child birth. It has since been used as a traditional medicine in many parts of the world.
  • In many parts of the world, sage was considered to be a very potent aphrodisiac. It was also considered a means to increase life span. The herb is perennial and grows at high altitudes. It has deep blue colored flowers which contain high amounts of esters and ketones. Today it has been realized that sage oil should not be used in pregnancy because it is toxic and could cause an abortion by over stimulating the uterine muscles.
  • Today too, sage oil retains its reputation as a cure for digestive ailments. It is still considered one of the better natural aphrodisiacs and is also used as a sedative and a deodorant. Vapors of sage oil have been associated with feelings of euphoria and therefore it is also considered to be a great stress reliever.
  • Sage essential oil is a great remedy for pre menstrual syndrome, varicose veins, fatigue and problems related to menstruation and menstrual flow. Women going through menopause also find sage oil beneficial.
  • Sage has many analgesic properties and is an anti viral diuretic. It is also anti bacterial, anti viral and fungicidal.
  • Sage essential oil is prescribed for infertility, anxiety, herpes, thrush, angina, stress, and nervous debility. It also produces natural anti-oxidants and therefore helps prevent cancer.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Aromatherapy Oils | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »