What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy consists of the inhalation and body application of essential oils that are extracted from aromatic plants. Aromatherapy is used for relaxation, balance, rejuvenation or to enhance or restore body mind and spirit. Essential oils that are pure are extracted from many parts of the plant such as the leaf, resin, flower, twig, seed, root, rhizome, rind and berry.
Aromatherapy is used to strengthen the process of self healing by stimulating the immune system indirectly. Essential oils are used quite widely and their usage ranges from deep, penetrating therapeutic uses to the very subtle use of a perfume or fragrance.
Many people consider aromatherapy to be ancient, although timely. Many adopt a modern approach to it and consider it being in tune with nature. Aromatherapists blend different essential oils to produce new aromas once they have established their technical understanding of an oil’s constituents.
Aromatherapy provides very individual results for each person. Although there are many general agreements regarding the action that certain oils have, texts from Aromatherapists’ descriptions can vary in an oils properties and characteristics. Similar to medicine, two individual recipients can be affected quite differently by the oil.
Aromatherapy and its uses have been around for centuries. Oils, resins and fragrant plants have been used in their combinations of some form such as ceremonial, pleasurable reasons and medicinal reasons in most civilisations.
Many early trade routes actually derived from perfumes and aromatic plants. Ancient Egypt documents some of the earliest uses of aromatherapy. Papyruses dated back 3000 years contain remedies for many illnesses and similar aromatherapy applications that are still used as remedies today. The Ancient Egyptians utilised aromatic plants and their oils to make medicines, massage oils, skin care products, embalming preparations, cosmetics and perfumes.
The Ancient Egyptians were not the only users of Aromatherapy. There have been other documents detailing the use of aromatic oils discovered belonging to Ancient Africa, Greece, Baylon, China and Mesopotamia. The oldest book in China, the Chinese Yellow Emperor Book of Internal Medicine which was written in 2697BC contains information on the properties of over 300 plants.
Aromatherapy’s modern term was coined by the French Chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse in 1928. Another French doctor, Jean Valnet published his own work in 1964 known as The Practice of Aromatherapy. Robert Tisserand then released a book called The Art of Aromatherapy in 1964 and managed to capture interest in the ancient healing art in America. The art of Aromatherapy and its healing science has become more widely known in the Western world.
The popularity of Aromatherapy in the West is rapidly being accepted as an alternative or complimentary therapy. It is now a billion dollar business. It is common to find many mainstream doctors in Europe practicing Aromatherapy and health insurance companies are even paying out for aromatherapy treatments.

Treat Your Backache with Aromatherapy Massage

Backache and pain can be debilitating and hinder a person’s fulfillment in life. There are many different types of back pain, from upper and lower back to chronic. Chronic back pain is pain that continues every day and lasts longer than two weeks.

Sometimes back pain is the result of sleeping wrong, or on a mattress that isn’t adequately supporting your weight. It may also be the result of being overweight. When a person becomes overweight they tend to accumulate fat around the abdomen. When this occurs, it throws the posture and balance out of alignment and the back is then used to make up the difference. This can lead to serious back pain.

Other factors that can lead to back pain may include poor posture, not standing up straight, wearing improper shoes or very high heels, or straining your back as a result of picking up or carrying something that was too heavy to lift.

Some people have jobs that require an undue amount of strain to be placed upon the back. It is important that these people wear a back brace or safety belt to protect their backs from damage.

Another factor that can cause severe back pain includes pregnancy. A pregnant woman’s growing and expanding uterus can lead to back pain and discomfort. She may even find that it is nearly impossible to get a full night’s rest without tossing and turning. A good remedy for this is for the pregnant woman to purchase a body pillow and to sleep on her side holding the pillow. By keeping one leg up and across the pillow, she will take the pressure off her back, relieving pain and tension.

Aromatherapy massage can be a wonderful tool in treating chronic back pain. There are many natural essential plants that contain wonderful healing properties that when massaged into the skin will relieve pain and pressure at the cellular level. Heating the massage oil is also very effective and will feel wonderful. It is important to make sure that if you feel any strong pain, then to stop the massage at once. Also, if you are pregnant, it is important to read the safety precautions on the label and make sure that you don’t use any essential oils that can cause harm or danger to the baby.

A great massage oil for back pain and ailments may be made by using two drops of Eucalyptus oil, two drops of Lavender oil, and 1 drop of Lemon oil. Take this blend and add it to 1 ounce of carrier oil. A great carrier oil to use for this blend is jojoba oil.
You can derive even greater benefit by heating your massage oil before using it. You can heat it by putting the oil in an amber colored jar, then placing it in a bowl of hot water. Don’t try to microwave it, this can cause the oil to become too hot and burn the recipient during the massage. By treating back pain with massage and aromatherapy, you can successfully manage and treat the pain at its source.

Aromatherapy to Increase your Energy

People are just plain busy. From working the 9-5, keeping up with children’s schedules, and trying to maintain everything all at once, it is amazing that anyone gets any sleep at all. Lack of sleep is so prevalent, that studies show that over 80 percent of Americans are not getting enough rest. It is important to get enough rest every night so that the body can begin to heal itself. Whether the illnesses are physical and affecting the body, or of the mind, and wreaking havoc on emotions, or if they are spiritual and hindering your spiritual growth, it is extremely important that you take the time to rest every night.

Children and teenagers are also not getting enough sleep every night. It is said that due to the high demands placed on school children these days, that finding the time to get enough sleep and rest is becoming a dream.

Not getting enough rest is harmful to everyone and the effects it takes are not to be ignored. Besides being grumpy, moody, and edgy, not getting proper rest can lower body functions and encourage sickness. The Immune System may become slow or sluggish and not work at optimum level, thereby allowing different colds and flu to come and infect the body.
Work and school performance also suffer when people don’t’ get adequate sleep. Some studies have shown that a lack of sleep will alter the body’s natural hormones and speed up the effects of aging. Along with those factors, a tired body doesn’t have the energy to exercise. Therefore due to the increase in a sedentary lifestyle, those who suffer for lack of sleep will eventually see their metabolism slow down and gain weight.

There are many different reasons why people sometimes have a hard time falling asleep. Some of the reasons include fear, stress, anxiety, depression, too much caffeine, medications (prescriptions and non), stimulating herbs, or physical pain. People may have a difficult time falling asleep if they have a condition known as Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea is characterized by a lapse in the respiratory system and will interrupt the process of breathing during times of sleep. People with Sleep Apnea may wake periodically throughout the night, just to begin breathing again.

For people who suffer from any of these conditions they may feel as if they are trapped in a never-ending cycle. First, they need to work or go to school, yet they don’t have the energy to stay awake and focused. They aren’t receiving the proper rest that they need to function on their optimum level. They spend their days exhausted, waiting for nigh to come. Then, when nighttime comes along, the cycle begins again, and the person can’t fall asleep.

There are some herbal remedies that you can take to help stimulate the mind and increase your energy level throughout the day. To begin with, you can make your own inhaling oil from Juniper, Peppermint, and Geranium. This herbal formula can be mixed and placed on the end of an inhalant tube. It will stimulate the mind and body by increasing blood flow and promoting self-awareness.

Aromatherapy

Essential oils are extracted from aromatic plants, as well as from grasses and different types of trees. They are also known as “essences” or “volatile oils”. They tend to accumulate within the plant fibres and it is believed that their function is to help with the pollination process as well as to prevent attacks from potential predators.

Plants are potent – they have essences – usually these essences are used as a means of attracting insects for pollination purposes. Other uses for these essences
are for wound healing (i.e. when trees and shrubs undergo damage from extreme winds etc).

Essential oils are extremely concentrated products and a lot of them can show some degree of toxicity even at relatively low doses.
The mantra in aromatherapy, as in homeopathy, is that “less is more” and research has shown time and time again that applications that are diluted are often as effective, if not more effective than stronger based ones.

Essential oils are used extensively throughout aromatherapy. Their uses are numerous and wide ranging, however, they must be used with care and by a properly qualified aromatherapy practitioner who understands how these oils work and is aware of their powerful properties.

Particular care must be taken when using essential oils on the young (especially babies) and the elderly as these two age ranges have less developed mechanisms
for detoxification purposes. Further, the very young and the elderly are probably more likely to be sensitive to essential oils. Some oils, especially eucalyptus and
or peppermint oils can cause respiratory problems if used too close to the baby’s nostrils. Lavender or neroli oils would be a much safer option to use on a small child, however and can be applied in a small amount in a baby’s bath or for massage purposes.

Essential oils have to be kept away from contact with the eyes. If you get some essential oils in your eye – you must wash your eye out with irrigated
sterile isotonic solution. In fact, any place where you are having your aromatherapy treatment should have an emergency eye-wash station.
Wash your eye out for 15 minutes then seek medical attention as soon as possible.
If an essential oil is accidentally spilt on furniture, then it is likely to remove the finish on the furniture due to its terpinic nature. So, you must endeavor to remove
it as fast as possible with a tissue.

Although essential oils can be dangerous taken internally (depending on which oil it is) – there are some which can be used to gargle with i.e. for a sore throat or
respiratory problem. A few drops of Fennel or tea tree oil completely dispersed in a glass of water should benefit these ailments considerably.

Essential oils don’t last forever – a maximum of two years usually. Keep your oils in bottles with tightly closed lids and out of direct light – oxygen is known to
degrade oils and in so doing causes them to lose some of their beneficial properties and possibly even turning some constituents into irritants.

Fighting Cellulite with Aromatherapy

In today’s world, fashion means everything. Many women are living lives that promote health and beauty. They get plenty of sleep every night, eat right, and get plenty of exercise. However, they are still plagued with unsightly cellulite. Underlying layers of fat that appears as dimpled skin causes cellulite. Some people refer to Cellulite as “Cottage Cheese” or “Orange Peel” skin due to its appearance. It is said that nearly 95% of all women have some degree of Cellulite, and scientists believe that hormones attribute to the cause of Cellulite. It isn’t a result of being overweight, but the effect that hormones are having on the layer of fat under the skin. That is why some very thin people may still have some degree of Cellulite. The most effective method that has been shown to help Cellulite is exercise.

It is also beneficial to treat Cellulite as you would any other toxins in the body. Purifying and detoxifying the body is very helpful, as is periodically fasting and cleansing the body. Living a life that includes regular daily exercise and a nutrition-rich diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables also help. One area that cannot be overlooked is water. Your water intake can play a very important role in the treatment of Cellulite. Drinking plenty of water will help flush out the system and will help release Cellulite once it has been broken down by the body and be eliminated properly.

Cellulite can have a very devastating effect upon self-esteem. This can be especially true for women who are dedicating themselves to maintaining their personal appearance and standards of beauty. It can be increasingly frustrating to deal with stubborn Cellulite that seems to be fighting all efforts of its removal. The important step in the treatment of Cellulite will be in patience. You will find that you need to stick with your plan, continue exercising, and be diligent in your fight against Cellulite.
There are some great herbs and plants that can assist you in your quest to rid yourself of Cellulite. These herbs help to break down fat deposits in the body, and will also help to eliminate them. Remember that drinking plenty of water is vital to flushing out the system and removing impurities, so whenever you are on a treatment against Cellulite, increase your daily water intake for maximum results.

Using herbal essential oils in massage oils is a great way to treat Cellulite and to help encourage it to break down. Grapefruit has also been shown to be effective in increasing metabolism and assisting in the removal of fat as well as in releasing toxins. Adding grapefruits to your diet is a good step as well as drinking pure grapefruit juice.

You can make great massage oil that is applied directly to the Cellulite areas by using 4 drops of Juniper, 4 drops of Sweet Fennel, and 2 drops of Cypress. Blend this with one ounce of carrier oil such as Sweet Almond or Jojoba Oil. Deep massage techniques are beneficial for breaking down the fat and smoothing the skin.

Aromatherapy and Anger

It is an angry world that we live in. People are becoming increasingly more violent and unleashing their wrath on innocent victims daily. The human mind is a delicate organism and scientists are learning more about it every day. Emotions play a vital role in the overall development of a human being, yet sometimes emotions run rampant and that can be a dangerous thing. Not only is it a danger to the person who is living their life based on the next emotional whirlwind, but also it poses a threat to those who are in the surrounding environment. Spouses, children, friends, and co-workers all feel the effects of a person who is living their life in anger. Many people haven’t learned how to deal with their emotions and the pain and trauma from their earlier memories. Sometimes the root of the anger may extend back to the early years of childhood. The most important work that needs to be done to treat anger is to access the root of the problem and bring the person to a point where he or she can make internal healing. This process may be a life long journey to reach the place where forgiveness can be released.

Aromatherapy can help to bring those who suffer from anger into a quiet and tranquil place. It may be very uncomfortable at first, to try to let go of the anger, even if just for a few minutes, and to surrender yourself to the quietness and tranquility of peace. During times of childhood abuse, neglect, or injustice the doorway opens and the mind becomes unbalanced. If there is an area where a child has unresolved issues that aren’t solved, something will fill that place. It may be depression, fear, anxiety, or in some instances anger. And all issues may not have taken place during childhood. The root of the anger may rest in a failed marriage, self blame for mistakes made in adulthood, and other situations where guilt and regret may have given way to anger. Through meditation, prayer, and the long road to forgiveness you can make peace with your past issues and work through the issues of anger.

Using Aromatherapy techniques can help bring peacefulness and calmness. Especially when doing self-work. If you are using techniques such as meditation or prayer to focus with issues and work through them, you can use Aromatherapy candles that contain herbs that combat anger. What this means, is that these herbs have qualities that when their aroma is released, help bring peace and tranquility to the recipient. The scents work to quiet the mind and relax the senses. Many herbs have sedative properties, and by releasing their scent, you will enjoy the benefits of their relaxing qualities and that will help create the environment of peacefulness.

You may find that if you suffer from extreme anger, that carrying an inhaler may be therapeutic. You can fill the inhaler with your choice of scent and breathe in the aroma when feeling angry. This will help quiet the mind and relax the nerves, senses, and emotions.

Here are some herbs that are effective in treating anger: Rose, Orange, Vetiver, Bergamot, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, and Chamomile.

Relieving Headaches with Aromatherapy

These are stressful times that we are living in, and many people unfortunately bear the witness of this by suffering from headaches. Headaches are caused by a number of different reasons. In fact, often times headaches are a sign of something else that may be taking place in the body. For example, an infection in the jaw or an impacted tooth can result in a headache. Stress, tension, and anxiety can result in painful headaches. Sometimes the source of the headache is an allergy or sinus pressure that results in what is known as a sinus headache. Straining the eyes can also cause headaches, and this is very common with those who work with small print, computer screens, or fine detailed objects.

Those who work with loud noises also suffer from headaches; these include construction workers and even elementary teachers. Some headaches are migraine, and though they are excruciatingly painful, there is no known cause for the headache.

The most common choice of remedy for headache is Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, and Aspirin. For those who suffer frequent headaches the thought of taking “medicine” daily may not be very appealing. If the headache is caused by an allergy or a sinus infection, treating the source of the infection and clearing it up will help prevent future headaches.

Headaches resulting from eyestrain may signify the need for a visit to the eye doctor. In fact, if you were glasses and are suffering from frequent headaches, it may be a sign to have your eyes checked; you may need a stronger prescription. Just as your headache may signify a visit to the eye doctor, it may also be a warning that you should visit the dentist. If you are having trouble with your teeth, then you may have discovered the cause of your headache! For those whose work requires a strong demand on the eyes, it is helpful to take frequent breaks from the task at hand and to literally “palm” the eyes. Just use the palm of your hands to gently massage the eye area while the eyes are closed. This will help relieve some of the stress from the eyes. If your work requires you to sit in front of a computer screen, make sure to take frequent breaks and to get up and walk around.

Headaches should not be ignored, and any time that you have a persistent headache you should seek the advice of a medical professional. Headaches may be the result of an underlying, yet serious medical condition that needs treatment immediately.

Aromatherapy however, is very beneficial in treating many headaches. It is also a preferable alternative to high doses of aspirin. Aspirin thins the blood and can lead to stomach irritation and other dangerous side effects. A wonderful treatment for headaches is to create massage oil using Basil and Rosemary essential oils. Add 5 drops of Basil and 5 drops of Rosemary to 1 ounce of carrier oil, such as Sweet Almond. Use this massage oil at the temples and across the forehead when you feel the first signs of a headache.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy consists of a therapy that involves the use of concentrated essential oils. These oils can be massaged into the skin, inhaled or put into a bath. It remains unknown exactly how essential oils work although there is evidence to suggest that it does. It is now considered as an alternative medicine or as a complement to conventional medicine.

Aromatherapists use concentrated essential oils that are extracted from plants to treat conditions that are aromatic and volatile. Unlike herbal medicines, the oils are not concentrated from whole plants but extracted. The oils are extracted from leaves, roots, flowers, resin, bark, grasses and peel.

People have been using aromatherapy for thousands of years dating back as early as ancient Egypt, China and India. Aromatherapy today is used as a treatment for a wide range of conditions and is said to relive physical and psychological illnesses. The theory suggests that when a person smells an essential oil, the limbic system, (which is the part of the brain that stores and retrieves learnt memories and controls emotions and relaxes you) is triggered. Other theories suggests that the essential oils are through the skin and their medicinal properties act on the problem.

Aromatherapy is used to treat a wide range of conditions such as anxiety, insomnia and stress, muscular aches and pains, headaches, asthma, digestive problems, eczema, menopausal and menstrual symptoms.
You can buy many aromatherapy oils from pharmacies and health shops and use them to treat yourself or you can be treated by an Aromatherapist. An Aromatherapist will massage essential old into your skin. If you decide to treat yourself, you can add the essential oils to your bath, inhale them via steaming water or use an oil burner or diffuser. Nowadays there is a wide range of toiletries that contain essential oils and many claim to increase one’s wellbeing along with having healing properties.

There is currently a lack of good research which proves whether or not essential oils work via inhalation or skin absorption. However theory suggests that it is possible to predict aromatherapy’s effects based upon the chemical make up of the essential oil. So far there is no scientific evidence that is conclusive that any of the theories are true or false.

There have, however been good quality trials which studies the effects of aromatherapy on many groups of people. The studies have compared aromatherapy with the affects of dummy treatment and no treatment at all. The findings suggested that aromatherapy can assist with some conditions such as its mild and short lasting anxiety soothing effects, possibility of helping relieve alopecia, possibility of preventing bronchitis, fungal infections and acne may be relived by tea tree oil.

The majority of this research has not been conclusive and to firmly establish whether there are beneficial effects of aromatherapy, much more research is required.

Aromatherapy and Beauty Products

Today, many beauty products are turning to Aromatherapy to enhance their products. Aromatherapy uses the art of fragrant herbs and flowers to bring healing to the mind, body, and spirit. There are many herbs that have qualities that enhance beauty both internally and externally. These flower and plant extracts are showing up in hair products such as shampoos and conditioners, deep therapeutic massage oils, face creams and moisturizers, anti wrinkle formulas, skin lotions, perfumes, hair dyes, and bath oils.
Herbs and plants are diffused and become Essential Oils. These are the oils that were derived from the plants, and they contain the same properties as the plant. Essential oils may be added to a carrier or base oil. The base may be a simple oil for massage and bath oils, or it may be a shampoo or conditioner. For creating many products, one or more Essential oils will be added.

You can create your own beauty products such as bath gels, lotions, moisturizers, and facial masks by using the proper bases. Many herbal and health food stores will carry a variety of bases that you can use. You can create bath gels by using a bath gel base and adding essential oils such as Chamomile, Aloe Vera, Lavender, Rose, Rosemary, Rosewood, Jasmine, Neroli, Geranium, and Ylang Ylang.

Bath Salts are a wonderful way to relax and detoxify the body at the same time. You can create your own bath salts by using either Epsom salts or Sea Salts. Simply add a few drops of your favorite Essential Oils to the salts. You can also blend complimentary oils together with the salts. Add the fragrant salts to the bath, and then soak for at least 20-30 minutes. Some great Essential Oils that you may add to your bath salts include Sandalwood, Frankincense, Cypress, Rosemary, Chamomile, Jasmine, Rose, Tea Tree, Geranium, Lavender, and Lemon.

You can create your own purifying and toning facial masks by using clay that you can purchase in a health food store. Clays come in various forms according to your skin type. You can also add different essential oils to your clay masks for a wonderful soothing and refreshing mask.

By adding your own Essential oils to make your own beauty products you can take complete control of your beauty products. Not only can you make wonderful beauty products and treatments for your skin, but you can also make many remedies that will add strength, vitality, and shine to your hair. A Chamomile infusion will bring highlights to blonde hair, and you can use a conditioner base to make your own Chamomile conditioner.

Rosemary is fantastic for keeping your hair toned and free from buildup and you can create your own dandruff shampoo by adding Lavender, Sage, Cedarwood or Birch to your shampoo base. Lavender is also great for adding body to baby fine, or thin hair. There are many natural beauty remedies that you can make that will not only perform wonders, but are healthier than many commercial products. By using organic Essential Oils, your skin will be nourished, cleansed, and toned while moisturized with the exact herbal formula that your skin requires.

Aromatherapy and Stress

In today’s society, people everywhere are being plagued by stress. From hectic work schedules, lack of nutrient enriched diets, not drinking enough water, a lack of sleep, and the pressures of juggling family, life, and work stress and stress related illnesses are prevalent.

Studies have proven just how serious stress is to the human body and how it is the cause of many diseases. One of the leading causes of heart ailments is stress and those who have suffered heart attacks are instructed to remove stress from their lives and to live a “quieter and more peaceful” existence.

For many people, however, this advice is often trickier to obtain than it seems. Removing stress sometimes requires a lot of hard work, which may be stress causing in itself. Sometimes life just doesn’t offer us the benefit of removing all stress factors. If you have a co-worker or boss that is causing stress, you may feel that changing jobs would be the solution to the problem, but not everyone is afforded the luxury of “changing jobs” at whim.

Sometimes tragedies such as divorce can be the trigger of deep-rooted stress, and there is no way to remove the stress without going through a process of grief and emotional and spiritual healing. However, we are not destined to be turned over to these causes of stress and its effects without a way of escape. There are many steps that one can take to lessen the effects of stress in their lives and to regain a sense of control and strength while restoring peace and tranquility.

Some of the basic ways to lessen the effects of stress is to make sure that you are eating a well balanced diet and abstaining from heavily processed, and overly sweetened foods. These “Comfort Foods” such as chocolate, candy, and fried greasy meals may bring temporary satisfaction, but will load the body down with waste and defeat the purpose of health and healing by bringing stress to the body from the inside out. Now the body is suffering from external and internal stress. This is a time to think of cleansing the body, nourish yourself with plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and drink plenty of water. By boosting your immune system you can rest assured that you will be able to deal with the stress (and its root cause) with health and vitality, and not succumb to sickness, which is often the result of an overly stressed system.

Try adding some peaceful times of meditation and prayer as well as aromatherapy to bring peace to your mind, body, and spirit. Using aromatherapy candles during quiet times, whether meditating, praying, or simply reading a favorite book can do wonders. Some herbal scents that are known for reducing stress and anxiety include Lavender, Lemon, Rose, Chamomile, Black Cohosh, Hops, Passionflower, and Valerian.

You can enjoy the aromatherapy benefits of herbal teas as well as by adding a few drops of any of the above listed essential oils to a hot bath, and then soaking for 20-30 minutes.