Aromatherapy Advice

The world is fast waking up to the wonders of tea tree oil. The famous beauty brand “The Body Shop” has an entire line of products made from tea tree oil. These products are very helpful in preventing blemishes. They deeply purify and cleanse your skin along with absorbing excess oil. Body Shop is one of the many companies that have woken up to the amazing uses of Tea tree oil especially for acne.

Tea tree leaves were earlier used as a substitute for tea, which is how tree oil got its name. The Tea Tree oil is obtained from steam distillation of the leaves of the tree Melaleuca alternifolia. Among the 100 compounds contained in the oil terpinen-4-ol mainly accounts for most of the antimicrobial actions. This tree is native to the New South Wales located in Australia.

Tea Tree oil was used in Australia as a potent antiseptic much before any scientific research. However the recent studies support use of tea tree oil in skin care and various aliments including acne, dandruff, toenail infection, fungal infection, and Athlete’s foot. It is also used in toothpaste, mouthwashes, soaps and shampoos all over the world. It is also used to cure flu, cough and to clear congestion.

Tea Tree Oil Acne Treatment

Tea tree oil contains terepinen-4-ol that is mostly responsible for its antimicrobial properties. This helps in killing the harmful bacteria. Using tea tree oil to acne lesion helps to kill Propionibacterium acnes, the skin-dwelling bacteria that is responsible for causing acne.

Tea tree oil is very effective in treatment of moderate acne. A random trial was done to prove this by the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Department of Dermatology on 124 people. This trail compared the effectiveness and tolerance of 5% tea tree oil and 5% benzoyl peroxide. The results showed that there was significant reduction using tea tree oil, albeit with slower onset of action.

Even though tea tree oil took more time in showing results, there were fewer side effects like burning, itching, dryness and stinging that benezoyl peroxide group showed.

Another study in 2007 on 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris also gave notably better results than placebo.

Using Tea Tree Oil for Acne

Unadulterated tea tree oil should not be applied to acne lesion as it causes burning, itching, dryness, redness, skin irritation and even blistering. The concentration that is advised is 5% tea tree oil gel which can be applied to effected areas.

To make 5% tea tree oil solution mix 5 parts of tea tree oil to 95 parts of water (5cc of 100% tea tree oil to 95cc of water).

Brenda Harper, Calfornian aesthetician uses it on a regular basis with clients who experience acne, with “wonderful results,”. She recommends application of Glycolic acid after dabbing tea tree oil on the affected areas and waiting for 15 minutes.

While tea tree oil is safe, as long as not used internally. Data on oral use of tea tree oil is very little and reports of side effects of oral ingestion.

Aromatherapy products are very popular. They are used for their healing powers, both physically and mentally. Aromatherapy products are believed to help relieve medical ailments including arthritis and asthma. These products are commonly used for mental well being as well including relieving stress and curing migraine headaches.

Aromatherapy products have traditionally been used by women more than men because of their scents. However, more men are beginning to appreciate the healing powers of aromatherapy products. They especially seen to enjoy the sensually scents that get their women into the mood for some love making.

There are many aromatherapy products and accessories on the market to choose from including oils, candles, soaps, and diffusers. The products and accessories that are right for you depend on the what you plan to use it for and what leisure activities you enjoy. If you are in and out of the shower each day in five minutes then aromatherapy soaps probably aren’t going to do you much good. It also depends on how much you want to spend on these products.

Aromatherapy products are fairly inexpensive and long lasting. The price you pay will depend on where you make your purchase as the quality of the aromatherapy products. You need to make sure any aromatherapy products you purchase contain only 100% natural herbs and plants. If there are any artificial ingredients added then you won’t get the same healing powers from them. Aromatherapy products can be purchased at retail stores, specialty stores, on the internet, and at fairs and craft shows.

The process of making your own aromatherapy products is very simple and entertaining. For some it is a hobby while others use it as a money making process. Aromatherapy candles and soaps are the most common homemade aromatherapy products on the market. Aromatherapy oils are a top selling product. They are used to make these aromatherapy products. They are also used in diffusers. Aromatherapy oils can be added to your bath or placed in a bowl of hot water.

To add some romance or relaxation to your home, try using aromatherapy candles. They will do more than look pretty and smell great. They offer you a variety of features including relieving stress and helping you sleep better. Aromatherapy soaps are another great aromatherapy product that can help you feel refreshed as well as rejuvenated. There are many soaps to choose from. Some are for medical ailments and others are for relaxing. Some aromatherapy soaps help resolve the issue of acne as well as work for sensitive skin.

Aromatherapy products continue to be a top selling item all around the world. It seems as if millions of people have embraced the idea that these products have healing powers. The type of aromatherapy products you use depend on your personal preferences, but you will definitely benefit from these aromatherapy products. You can get an aromatherapy reference book or research the internet to find the right aromatherapy products and scents for your needs. You will be amazed at the selection of aromatherapy products to choose from.

Did you know that the Egyptians were among the first to discover that oils extracted from plants can be used for both medical and cosmetic purposes? Maybe these oils were even used for embalming purposes – a technique about which very little is known!

Greeks, Romans and the Chinese have used aromatherapy extensively for luxuriously scented baths, for elaborate massage using these lovely scented oils and for religious purposes like making the incense used in ceremonies (particularly the Chinese). When the French perfumier Gattefosse accidentally discovered the lavender aromatic oil which healed his burned hand, he came up with a book on aromatic oils which has lent its name to aromatherapy.

How the oils act

Basically aromatherapy oils are used as a soothing element – they help in soothing both body and mind and the oils for this are all extracted from plants flowers, roots, bark and seeds. These oils can be used either diluted or undiluted for a soothing effect. The oils enter the bloodstream when gently massaged, and they react with the hormones and the natural enzymes of the body producing the desired effect and relaxing the body.

These oils are known to have extremely beneficial effects on the skin and actually help when the skin is inflamed or when there are unexplained aches and pains. It is also a known cure for stress related problems, post delivery problems and many other conditions. These oils can be used in a spa or at home.

Aroma oils are today synthetically produced and blended for effect and are known to be equally effective as cures.

* Use them in your bath for healing the skin and relaxing the body.

* Oil diffusers are a great way of spreading the healing smell throughout the room. You can also use them in a spray.

* Learn about the properties of each oil before you decide to use them. See if they address your particular need.

No one knows how exactly these oils act on the body but the fact that they do and have done so over ages, and also have beneficial effects cannot be denied. So if you need a sweet smelling quick fix after a tired day at office, just rub the aroma oil or run it in your bath and heal yourself.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has a sweet and floral scent that is not only pleasant to smell, it has many important therapeutic qualities for your health. You have to make sure you are buying a pure, medicinal-grade lavender, or you will be getting additives that don’t have any benefits other than the scent. One sure way to make sure you are getting a high-quality lavender essential oil is to check the back of the bottle – if it has a caloric value then it is safe to ingest, and therefore pure. Many of the oils on the market in health food stores do not have the caloric value, and you can’t ingest it.

LAVENDER OIL FOR RELAXATION

My favorite way to enjoy lavender oil and its benefits is by diffusing it into the air. Investing in a diffuser has many benefits, as the lavender oil is suspended in the air in your home and is absorbed through your nose directly to your brain and cells. It will help you relax and sleep deeply.

If you don’t own a diffuser, you can rub lavender oil on your feet for the calming effect. Within 20 minutes it will be present in every cell in your body! If you don’t want it on your body, you can put a few drops on your pillow next to your nose.

LAVENDER OIL FOR SKIN PROBLEMS

To stop the itching and swelling of a bee sting, put a drop of lavender oil on the sting directly. It will start feeling better immediately. You can put lavender oil on a cut to help assist in stopping bleeding. Lavender oil can assist with chapped or sunburned lips, scar tissue, cold sores, sunburns, open wounds, dandruff, and rashes.

Lavender oil can decrease the pain of minor burns, if you apply 2-4 drops of the oil to the affected area.

Do you have eczema or dermatitis? You know how difficult it is to rid yourself of unsightly eczema… use your lavender oil! Use a V-6 vegetable mixing oil with a few drops of the lavender oil and apply directly to the eczema.

Essential oils are highly concentrate liquids that are extracted from various plants. They contain aromatic compounds and are used therapeutically for aromatherapy applications such as inhalation, massage and bath. They can be taken from different parts of the plants including leaves, stem, seeds, flowers, bark, roots and fruit. They also require special handling and storage.

These tips will provide you with information on buying and storing your essential oils.

Buying Your Essential Oils

* Always buy from a reputable source. Some unscrupulous vendors will cut or dilute essential oils compromising their integrity and effectiveness. You should only use pure, natural essential oils for health and wellness purposes.

* Do not purchase essential oils that are stored in clear or plastic containers, or bottles with rubber stops or seals. Essential oils degrade materials like plastic and rubber and light will damage them.

* Do not confuse fragrance oils, perfume oils and synthetic oils with essential oils. There is not substitute, especially when you are using them for health and wellness purposes. Additionally, some synthetic oils can cause adverse reactions in some people.

* Watch for synthetic essential oils. Oils such as strawberry, cucumber, rain, carnation and lilac are always synthetic. If they are in the vendor’s stock it may be an indication that the rest of the inventory is synthetic as well.

* Make sure that your essential oils pass the purity test. Place a drop of essential oil on a piece of paper. Ideally, it will evaporate quickly, leaving no oily mark behind. If there is an oily mark left, it is an indication that the oil has been cut with vegetable oil.

* Give your essential oils the sniff test. Take a good whiff. Pure essential oils will give out a full, round scent that is rather strong. A little bit will go a long way. Diluted versions are not as strong.

Storing Your Essential Oils

* Store essential oils in a cool, dark, dry place, away from heat, light and moisture. They should be sold in dark glass containers and should be stored in them as well. Light, heat and moisture will degrade the oils altering their effectiveness. Bottles should be closed tightly when they are not in use and do not touch the inside of the lid or the reducer top when you use the oils. Your own oils from your skin can affect the essential oils and cause them to lose their effectiveness.

* Oils that are old should not be used for health and wellness purposes. Pay attention to the shelf life of essential oils. Some oils will break down and change over time which can be a few months for some oils and years for others. Some old oils, however, can still be used for fragrance purposes like in potpourri.

* Some oils such as Citrus varieties are prone to oxidisation, so you should store them in a cool place, preferably refrigerated if you have the space. However, you must make sure the refrigerator settings are not set too low, temperatures around five or ten degrees celsius are fine.

* If you store your carrier oils in this way during the summer it is worthwhile taking them out of the fridge twelve hours before you need to use them, so it gives them a reasonable amount of time to adjust to room temperature. You may find some carrier oils have small fatty particles forming, but a simple shake of the bottle will help them dissolve again as the oils warms up.

* Having space in your fridge for your essential oils may be a luxury for many of us, so a good alternative is to invest in a storage box. It does not need to be anything fancy, just a dedicated box that helps keep all of your oils together and away from ambient temperature changes.

For thousands of years aromatherapy headache treatments have been used for migraine and tension headache. You may have heard of it before this but wondered how aromatheray and headache go together. Indeed, until modern medicine discovered the pills and pharmaceuticals that would treat headaches, scents of oils and plants were about the only things used. Now, we have purified essential oils to use.

The lack of treatment was so profound that stories in literature talk about people trying to sleep off a “sick headache” by putting a wet cloth on their heads that was scented with lavender.

Let’s get one thing straight first of all: aromatherapy has not been shown to stop an acute headache like a migraine. But remember, one of the things that accompany migraine is anxiety, so part of the treatment of headaches in general is to practice stress reduction techniques such as biofeedback techniques, and to use aids that may reduce stress and anxiety.

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

One of the official terms used in aromatherapy headache work is aromachology which is the study and use of essential oils to promote well being.

One of the main theories is that certain scents may have an effect on the limbic center of the brain (see diagram). The limbic center of the brain is responsible for emotions that are common to all humans, and certain basic behaviors such as the one that induces the females to nurse and protect their toddlers, or the one which induces these animals to develop ludic behaviors (playful moods). Emotions such as fright, love, hate, passion, and sadness all originate in the limbic system in addition to some personal identity and memory.

Some researchers believe that the connection from the olfactory center in the nose, to the limbic center in the brain is what is responsible for the reaction to scents. Essential oils could work on the central nervous system and perhaps affect autoimmune function. These ideas are just theories at the present time and have yet to be proven.

Cautions With Aromatherapy Headache Treatments

As mentioned above, discuss with your doctor if you have asthma before using any type of aromatherapy.

Other considerations are: do not use if pregnant unless your doctor approves, do not use if you have seizure disorder, it is best not to use on children as they are more sensitive to some odors. Use only organic essential oils and keep oils in a cool dark place and discard if separating. DO NOT ingest essential oils!

How Do I Use Aromatherapy Headache Treatment?

There are several different ways to use aromatherapy for headache treatment, such as a few drops in a warm bath, in a diffuser, and the old fashioned way of a few drops rubbed into the temples. Trying to figure out what aromatherapy is and how it can help your headaches can be quite confusing.

If you have never used aromatherapy or don’t know what it is, you might want to read a little more about aromatherapy headache treatments and how this can impact the lifestyle of a migraineur. When a headache hits, no matter if it is a migraine or a severe tension headache, it is important to find a quiet place and try to relax. Of course you should take your medication as soon as possible as having scented oils around will not stop the pain.

Learn some meditation techniques and use them during this time as a type of biofeedback. This will not only relax you, but help reduce the pain. Aromatherapy can be used as an adjunct here to assist with relaxation.

One of the things to remember when exploring the world of aromatherapy is that pure organic essential oils are always the best. In fact, if you can find organic oils, those are even better. Organics tend to be consistent from bottle to bottle.

I have used essential oils in a diffuser when doing yoga and it does create a sense of calm. I prefer lavender but lemon is nice too! These oils can be mixed into massage oil and you can give it to the massage therapist to use just for you. A few drops in a hot bath is excellent when trying to relax during a headache.

Which Aromatherapy Oils Are Best For Headache?

As mentioned above, lavender has been used for stress reduction for hundreds of years and is a pleasant scent. It generally results in calming the mood.

Eucalyptus has been used for headache by rubbing it on the skin, but quite frankly it doesn’t work! Like menthol, it may open the nasal passages if used as an inhalant, so if you are congested with a headache this use may help.

Peppermint oil has shown to have some effectiveness in treating a tension headache. The oil is mixed 10% to 90% ethanol, and rubbed lightly across the forehead. The mechanism is unknown but The American Academy of Family Practice has noted in a study that it most probably does work.

Sandalwood is supposed to help with mental fatigue, which can be a part of the recovery after a bad headache. Note that although much is written about sandalwood for headaches, no studies have shown yet that it can effectively treat a headache.

Aromatherapy is a powerful method of treating a person’s mood and inducing relaxation. It is commonly considered a form of alternative medicine, and rarely is used in western medicine, but it is gaining in popularity, and more and more people are experimenting with the power and potential benefits of aromatherapy treatments in today’s hectic world.

The field of aromatherapy is actually a rather simple field to learn about. It is based in part on scientific properties of plants and scents, and in part upon experimentation with the different combinations of essential oils, herbs, and salts which are all a part of aromatherapy products. There is no set body of knowledge, and nothing more than a few basic supplies that you need to get started. Thus, aromatherapy is practiced by hundreds of thousands of people at home, and it is a very accessible practice and hobby to get involved with.

Aromatherapy is based on the use of essential oils and herbs, all created from organic plant materials. The theory of aromatherapy states that when burned or otherwise used to create an aroma, the mind can mentally relax and the properties of the plant can seep into the person’s body. In addition, many European practitioners use the antiseptic and antiviral properties of the plants to prevent diseases, although this is rarely practiced in the rest of the world. It is absolutely true that many plants and oils have been proven to help cure mild diseases and prevent others, but because of the “new age” approach taken by most practitioners, aromatherapy has not caught on very well in America, and will likely not be explored in depth for some time.

What cannot be denied, however, is that aromatherapy is a very good way to help people relax, whether it is as a hobby of combining materials to create soaps, candles, and incense, or if it the use of the products and oils, on their own, or in combination with other forms of relaxing

Including some basic aromatherapy techniques in your other forms of relaxation and therapeutic techniques can be very beneficial. Combining fragrant and beneficial essential oils with your basic carrier oil is a great way to make a more potent massage oil, and using fragrant incense while meditating or practicing yoga is a useful method of bringing your focus back to the activity at hand, and a good way to keep your eyes on the clock while still being involved completely in the activity.

In order to best explore the world of aromatherapy, get a good book about the application of aromatherapy products and creations, as well as a book about the properties of herbs and oils in therapeutic use. While some colleges and universities are offering programs including a certification in aromatherapy, this certificate is practically useless to you, even as a practitioner, and it will cost you a great deal. The best method of getting involved is to pick up a book or a low cost aromatherapy course which you can use to learn more.

It is widely known that using massage as a form of foreplay can greatly enhance the passion in your relationships, It is also commonly accepted that there are certain scents that enhance our mood and encourage passion, while others have the effect of an aphrodisiac and increase sexual excitement. Combine them both and a massage using the right combination of scents can promote feelings of intensity and passion within seconds and can launch your relationship to new heights of intensity and pleasure. Aromatherapy unlocks feelings and sensations in the brain and helps the body to breathe and heal. This process has a magical effect on both partners and love and passion blossom as a result.

The products or scents used for this type of aromatherapy massage may come in many forms. Some even include instructions on methods of erotic sensual massage. these product may be in the form of bath oils, massage oils, or massage bars and many include sample packs that contain several different sample scents for you to experiment with. It is always wise to experiment with the different scents as some will have much stronger effects then others.

Learning Massage

Learning to give a good massage not only help your partner feel good, it will help build your relationship as a whole. A great massage can helps to promote trust, and increases passion and can take your relationship or union to new levels of comfort well above most other forms of arousal, physical, spiritual, or otherwise. The connection that grows between two people as a result of the adoption of sensual massage keeps people reaching for aromatherapy massage oil as a part of their love life.

There are many avenues which may be explored that will teach you how to massage your partner. There are massage guides and books that will introduce great techniques and teach you how to massage safely without injuring each other. It will teach you what parts of the body are more sensitive and how to properly use aromatherapy massage oil to get the most out of the massage experience. There are even classes available to couples that introduce the art of massage and teach proper methods. Regardless of the method used to learn sensual massage, combining aromatherapy with the experience will greatly serve to loosen up the muscles and vastly enhance your sexual experience.

Imagine coming home from a stressful day and wondering how to diffuse the unhealthy stress that is being experienced. Some methods of dispelling stress include exercise, involvement in a hobby, and being involved in a stress relief center.

Unfortunately, many individuals today turn to destructive methods or the use of synthetic items to dispel that stress. These harmful substances can include cigarette smoking, the use of alcohol etc. Rather than using these harmful methods of neutralizing stress there are other alternative methods. One of those alternative methods is the use of aromatherapy.

When considering aromatherapy it is important to understand what aromatherapy is and the essential oil properties of the various aromas that are utilized to reduce stress, alleviate other physical conditions as well as serving in other practical ways around the household.

What Is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is a therapeutic technique that utilizes the scents of various natural items found on the planet. These natural items can include trees, flowers, spices, etc. These scents are extracted from the natural products and are distilled into therapeutic oils that capture the essence of these natural items.

The essential oil properties of aromatherapy can be therapeutically accessed by the individual in two separate ways. Those two separate ways include the application of the oil upon the skin and the diffusing of the oil’s aroma by heating up the specific aromatherapy oil through the use of a diffuser.

In both instances, the affects of the oil help the individual to address specific physical conditions and emotions that they are experiencing.

Essential Oil Properties

There are specific uses associated with essential oil properties. Some of those essential oil properties deal with the therapeutic treatment of individuals who are experiencing various conditions or practical household uses that these essential oil properties can address.

For example if an individual is experiencing a headache, the essential oil properties of lavender can prove to be very beneficial. This can be accomplished by placing a few drops of lavender on the temple portion of the head and rubbing the oil around that particular area. Or, if an individual feels fatigued, allow the aroma of rosemary to permeate your senses. The use of rosemary helps to promote alertness within an individual and stimulate their memory.

In addition essential oil properties can be used as a practical deterrent for some insects. For example a few drops of peppermint around the doorway or window will help to deter ants from entering the home.

Dating back centuries, many people have talked about the amazing virtues of the essential oils as having healing properties. Recent studies have shown what some people have already known for over two centuries and that is the amazing benefits of an aromatherapy massage.

A recent study done in London by the Royal free any University College Medical School, used at group of independent reviewers to analyze the results of aromatherapy massage on over 1300 reference studies. Those studies showed that short-term benefits were obtained on psychological well being, supporting the positive effects on anxiety. The also found that aromatherapy massage also helped reduce nausea and pain. There are some additional studies being conducted to determine if aromatherapy Boost the effects of massage done with the essential oils.

Various Types of Oils Used

Basically, a distillation process extracting them from flowers, plants, woods and herbs obtains the essential oils used in the aromatherapy massage. These oils are all part of the plants biological makeup, as well as giving them their own unique to scent. Over the centuries and through many trials and errors, people eventually found out which oils worked best for treating certain ailments.

For example, anyone with aches and pains would benefit or from a mixture of black pepper, rosemary, fir, lavender and marjoram with their aromatherapy massage. Tendonitis can be massaged with the compound of lavender, peppermint and rosemary. Anyone with sunburn can find relief by using chamomile, peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus.

People have been using massage therapy for very long time for relaxation and stimulation. Incorporating essential oils into the massage enhances the benefits even more. There are great benefits from simply inhaling the fragrances, however, in aromatherapy massage; the benefits are even greater when the oils are massaged into the skin. With a good aromatherapy massage, the patient benefits from the oils, the massage and the scent.

If a person has poor circulation, they can enhance their circulation by using a combination of black pepper, carrot seed, Sage, lemon and thyme along with a good massage. This form of aromatherapy massage will definitely help with poor circulation.

For babies with stomachaches, try applying a mixture of dill and geranium. For any women having problems sleeping due to a pregnancy, try a light aromatherapy massage with Roman chamomile and lavender.