How Does Aromatherapy Work -- the Nose Knows!

How Does Aromatherapy Work? To answer this question, let's start by taking a look at Essential Oils, which are the heart and soul of Aromatherapy.

What Exactly Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are microscopic molecules of "oil" extracted from the flowers, leaves, stems and/or roots of plants such as trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers and herbs. Simply speaking, essential oils contain the distilled essence of the plant.

For example, if you were to simmer a big pot of lavender flowers on the stove for a while, you'd start to notice little blobs of oil forming on top of the water. This is the essential oil - the essence of the lavender flowers.

Note: This is not a good method of extraction because the essential oil quickly goes moldy due to the presence of water. Plus, it takes A LOT of lavender flowers to make even the tiniest amount of oil. It's just not worth it - there's so many other great things you can do with lavender flowers!

Essential oils have microscopically small molecules. There are approximately 40 million trillion molecules in one drop of essential oil. Their tiny size makes it very easy for our skin and our lungs to absorb them. That's why they're so powerful and so effective.

How Do Essential Oils Get Inside Us?

When essential oils oils are absorbed through the skin, such as with massage, they travel into the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system then circulates them into the blood stream.

Once the oils are circulating in the blood, they really get to work, reducing inflammation, fixing imbalances, fighting infection and so on.

Even when you simply inhale an essential oil, such as with a diffuser, the oil is absorbed through the mucous membranes of your respiratory tract and lungs. Then it's transferred into the blood stream to work its healing magic.

How Do Essential Oils Help our Bodies?

Essential oils contain hundreds of natural chemicals. Although each oil has its own unique chemical components, what makes all essential oils special is something called "terpenes".

Terpenes do a lot of work in our bodies.

• They create an environment unfriendly to viruses, bacteria and fungi. This is why they're called 'antiseptic' (which basically means germ killing.) Some powerful antiseptic essential oils are Lemon, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Pine and Lavender. That's why you see them in home cleaning products!
  

• They help reduce inflammation. Symptoms of inflammation include pain, redness and swelling. Some good anti-inflammatory essential oils are Chamomile, Lavender, Sandalwood and Benzoin.
  

• They reprogram our cells so they function and replicate properly. For example, essential oils such as Basil, Pine and Rosemary restore function to the adrenal glands.

• They are sedative. They relax our nervous system and our muscles, which helps ease pain, tension, cramps and muscle spasms. Sedative essential oils include Lavender, Clary Sage, Geranium, and Ylang Ylang.
  

How Do Essential Oils Affect our Emotions?

Inhaling essential oils stimulates the olfactory nerves (sense of smell), which send signals to the brain's limbic system (sometimes called the 'emotional brain'.)

The limbic system controls heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory and hormone production. When the limbic system receives signals from the olfactory nerves, it triggers an emotional, physiological and endocrine (hormone) response.

For example, when you smell Lavender essential oil, its microscopic chemicals immediately trigger your emotional brain to calm your nervous system and relax your muscles. These combined effects reduce your stress and help you sleep.

How Can I Use Aromatherapy to Feel Better?

Aromatherapy is especially well known for its stress-relieving powers. You can use it in a hundred different ways to calm your nerves, ease your anxiety and relax your muscles. You can also use essential oils to clear up troubled skin, revitalize your hair or relieve your aching back.

It's surprisingly easy (and a lot of fun) to make your own bath, body and massage oils, bath salts and body lotions. Even make your own aromatherapy candles! You simply need a little knowledge and a few basic ingredients.

Check out http://www.easy-aromatherapy-recipes.com for some simple, effective aromatherapy recipes.

Try using aromatherapy today - you'll have fun, save money and smell fabulous!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/how-does-aromatherapy-work-the-nose-knows-731992.html

Create Your Own Aromatherapy Oils

Aromatherapy usually involves a massage, however, it can be induced in a bath or filling the room with an aroma. Even though the essential oils used in aromatherapy are from plant extracts, these oils are very concentrated and should not be applied directly internally or externally.

Extracting essential oils is a lengthy process, and it means spending a lot for a small quantity of oil. Purchasing essential oils is also costly; however, you can get the therapeutic benefits of essential oils and aromatic oils quite inexpensively at home.

Step 1: Carrier Oils

In view of the fact that essential oils are very strong, they should be mixed in a different oil, also known as the carrier, before using it as a massage oil or perfume. You have various options for the carrier oil. Sweet Almond oil is the most favorable choice as it is absorbent and lightweight still it has the right fragrance of essential oils. Coconut, aloe-vera and avocado oils are natural moisturizers and therefore the best for dryer skin, whereas grape seed is best for oily skins since it is very light. If you are not sure about using the oils, buy extra virgin olive oil from the local grocery store. Even though we know this oil is best for cooking, it makes an exceptional carrier. Extra virgin is the premium type of olive oil. Besides, if it is good for ingestion, than it is definitely good for your skin!

Step 2: Essential Oils

You can find wide range essential oils at any health or natural food store. At these stores you are sure to find a range of various essential oils. If you cannot find them at these stores, there are websites that sell these essential oils. Try to find the ones in blue or dark brown jars; compared to clear glass as these colors keeps the oils much better. You can try only one or mixture of various essential oils for producing a particular effect.

• Relaxation: ylang-ylang, lavender, sandalwood, chamomile and vanilla

• Energy: spearmint, peppermint, lemongrass and eucalyptus

• Meditation: sandalwood, ylang-ylang, frankincense and myrhh.

These are only some suggestions; there are various essential oils with medicinal properties. An important aspect you should keep in mind about essential oils is that the smaller the amount you use, the more beneficial it is for you! Essential oils are very strong, so you need not to use more to create an effective, strong fragrance.

Step 3: Mix and Use

Wherever you get hold of essential oils, you must find small dark colored glass bottles. Ensure that you check how many fluid ounces every bottle holds. Put 10 to 12 drops of essential oil for every ounce of carrier oil, and use just 15 drops of essential oil for every ounce of the carrier. Consequently, if you are making an ounce of relaxing massage oil, put five drops of chamomile and five drops of lavender. After a day or so add more drops if you want a stronger fragrance.

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Healing With Essential Oils

Pain: Essential oils are especially effective when treating pain. Massaging oils and lotions are some of the very best ways to apply it to the body. Some oils to consider include, clove bun, chamomile, lemongrass and lavender. These are all great for numbing and subsequently reducing pain. To decrease the swelling often associated with pain, it is best to use chamomile, juniper, lavender and rose. These oils help to reduce both pain and swelling. Other essential oils work to reduce pain by blocking the brain’s pain signals. These oils include lemongrass, frankincense and ginger.

Sleep Trouble: Essential oils which are good for inducing sleep, include mandarin, orange blossom, frankincense, tangerine, clary sage, chamomile and sandalwood. These work well when used in bath water or directly on the skin using massage oils or lotions

Headaches: Lavender, peppermint, lemongrass and basil are just a few of the essential oils that work well in alleviating various types of headaches.

Stress: The essential oils bergamot, lavender, marjoram, rose and chamomile, amongst others, help to alleviate feelings of stress.

Depression: Essential oils such as bergamot, cardamom, clove, clary sage, orange and lemon Melissa have antidepressant properties. They work well to help remedy mild levels of depression and the blahs.

Stimulation: If you are having trouble staying alert, you may want to grab these essential oils; basil, cinnamon, black pepper, clove, peppermint, ginger, rosemary or angelica. They help to stimulate the mind and the body.

High Blood Pressure: Most people aren’t aware that essential oils have medicinal qualities. Neroli, tangerine, orange, ylang ylang, Melissa and geranium are known to help lower blood pressure. Of course, this does not mean that one is to ditch their high blood pressure medicine, but these oils are great to take in concert with medication that is already being prescribed.

Bacterial Infections: Some essential oils have very strong antibacterial properties. Some good ones to consider include cinnamon, garlic, savory, clove bud, bay laurel, thyme, bay rum, pine rose, tea tree, myrtle, lemongrass and lavender. The above oils can help treat bladder, gum, skin, sinus, throat and bowel infections. They can either be ingested through the skin or inhaled. The right essential oils can also aid in helping to treat urinary tract infections. Sitzbaths and massages using oils with niaouli or sandlewood rubbed on the belly and around the kidney portion of the lower back can be very effective.

Viral Infections: Many essential oils have strong antiviral elements. Bay, black pepper, garlic, cinnamon bark myrrh, melissa, oregano and rose are some of the standouts. You will also find, if you look closely, that some cough drops and cold medications have some of these same oils.

Essential oils not only smell great, but they also have very strong healing properties. Their use can curtail many common ailments of the skin and the mind. They work well to lift the spirits. If one is interested in using alternative methods to heal sickness or to lift their mood, essential oils and aromatherapy are a fantastic place to begin.

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Enjoying Organic Essential Oils

Organic essential oils taken from organically grown plants and are a pure, unadulterated, therapeutic grade oil that is also excellent for the environment because when farmers practice growing these oils the organic way it prohibit the use or chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides that leave damaging deposits in the soil, air and water supply. The organic essential oils are mainly used in aromatherapy, bath salts and similar products. Many organic essential oils are designed for "over-the-counter" sale in retail shops which you can purchase them at places like health-food stores, healing centers, spas, pharmacies and drug stores. Some of my favorite organic essential oils are lavender, rosewood, peppermint and lemon, which can be used through an inhalator, topically on your skin or put into baths for better relaxation on a stressful day.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy with essential oils can be very effective for both the mind and body. Many aromatherapy oils help you relax plus allow you to balance your emotions and helps you in creating a more positive atmosphere and attitude towards life. It can help in reducing the emotional issues that many people experience with weight gain and certain scents have been shown to help curb your appetite. Aromatherapy can help reduce stress, give you more energy, and help alleviate migraine headaches triggers, as well as improve your complexion and treat skin irritations. Rosewood essential oil has a unique place because the chemicals constituents up to 95 percent of just one ingredient , which is linalool and is considered very mild, soothing alcohol, with strong anti-microbial properties for skin bacteria issues.

Lavender

Lavender essential oil is probably the most well known and most used oil. Lavender also has a profound affect on the mental and emotional state of people and with low doses acts as a sedative, but higher doses are very stimulating for some people. Lavender oil can help relieve insect stings or bites and stimulates white blood cell formation, which strengthens the body's natural immune system and makes it effective for preventing flu and colds. Bergamot is also very good, when blended with tea tree oil and lavender for suppressing the development of cold sores and shingles or chicken pox. It is also sometimes used for treating headaches mixed with other oils like lavender and peppermint.

Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils

Several essential oils listed below are genuine therapeutic grade essential oils, grown on organic farms or ethically and sustainably gathered from wild plants. Therapeutic grade essential oils provide health enhancing benefits via inhalation and absorption into the skin. Some common uses of therapeutic quality, organic essential oils are: Diffuse into the air using an aroma lamp or diffuser, but if you don't have either of these things you can just use a bowl of warm water. Most of the essential oils in general are specifically used for flavoring foods and to help in the perfume industries, but be careful because these are not considered organic therapeutic oils. Some other therapeutic properties are basil which helps with calming an upset stomach and also has a mild anti-spasmodic for muscles, making it great for massages. Eucalyptus is considered by most aroma therapists to be the best choice for most therapeutic uses, as it is milder than most and even safe for children to use. Nutmeg essential oil is another one that is considered spice oils which grows in the tropics and has a strong spicy fragrance, and its therapeutic properties include a strong attraction with the digestive system, including a digestive stimulant for nausea, and to help with the assimilation of food. Rose essential oil is in my opinion the number one oil for balance, including emotional balance and also physical balance, but also helps the nervous system and the female reproductive system.

You should only use the finest organic essential oils like peppermint which is invigorating; lavender used for soothing and calming; lime and orange being citrus are stimulants for the senses. Pure, Organic Essential Oils are a remarkable, energizing and health promoting supplements, which provides better therapeutic healing.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/enjoying-organic-essential-oils-330406.html

Lavender Aromatherapy Improves Health

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils and other natural aromatic compounds from plants to affect one's mental or physical health. Essential oils, are known as hydrophobic i.e. non-water mixing or volatile i.e. air mixing. Essential oils are sometimes referred to as an "oil of" a plant e.g. oil of lavender. Essential oils are referred to as "essential" because they are the perceived "essence" of a plant..

Essential oils and other elements used in aromatherapy are used for relieving a variety of discomfort from indigestion to headaches. Aromatherapy is used to alter mood, inspire confidence, ease depression, and increase energy. In many cultures essential oils are used for their antiseptic value to treat infection. In France, essential oils viewed and considered in a similar way prescription drugs are in the United States. Essential oil treatments can be delivered in many different ways- direct inhalation of vapors, inhalation of steam from a vaporizer, through massage, or through therapeutic baths. It is important to note, however, that essential oils are diluted in carrier oils (neutral, odorless oils) before being used on skin. Essential oils can be used singly or in combinations with other essential oils.

Other products used in Aromatherapy besides essential oils include absolutes, phytoncides, and infusions. Absolutes are essentially purer forms of essential oils that have had their lighter, less dense components extracted with ethanol. Phytoncides are natural antimicrobial liquids used by many plants to protect themselves from rotting or being eaten by insects and animals. Infusions are oils or other liquids that have been infused with herbs, flowers, or berries.

One of the more popular and widely used aromas is lavender. Lavender grows well in rocky environments that have good sunlight. Lavender has woody branches and green leaf-like shoots resembling rods. The grayish green leaves are oblong and in curled spiral patterns. Lavender oil is taken from the flowers of the plant with steam distillation. Lavender oil blends well with many other essential oils including cedarwood, pine, clary sage, geranium, and nutmeg. The flowers of lavender are fragrant in nature and have been used for making potpourris. . Lavender's Latin name Lavare, means "to wash". Lavender essential oil has a calming scent and helps in treating migraines, headaches, anxiety, depression, nervous tension and emotional stress. Lavender aroma eases nervous exhaustion and restlessness and increases mental activity. Lavender essential oil induces sleep and is recommended for insomnia. Lavender essential oil helps ease pains caused by sore muscles, tense muscles, muscular aches, rheumatism, sprains, backache and lumbago. Massage with lavender oil helps relieve pain in the joints. Lavender oil helps in restoring hormonal balance and reduces inflammation of the urinary bladder. Lavender oil is often helpful for respiratory problems including throat infections, flu, cough, cold, asthma, sinus congestion, bronchitis, whooping cough, laryngitis, and tonsillitis. The oil is either used in the form of vapor or applied on the skin of neck, chest and back. It is also added in many vaporizers and inhalers used for cold and coughs.

Lavender oil helps skin because of its antiseptic and antifungal properties. Lavender oil is used for various skin disorders e.g. acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, wounds, cuts, burns, and sunburn.. Lavender oil is added to chamomile to treat eczema. Lavender essential oil is useful on lice and lice eggs or nits in hair. Lavender essential oil is also good for improving blood circulation by lowering blood pressure and hypertension. Lavender oil for digestion increases the mobility of the intestines increases production of gastric juices and bile and so eases indigestion, stomach pain, colic, flatulence, vomiting and diarrhea. Lavender oil also helps improve the immune system. Lavender can be used as an insect repellent for mosquitoes and helps heal insect bites. As with many other essential oils, pregnant and breast feeding women, people with diabetic concerns or people with unusually sensitive skin should avoid using lavender essential oil.

The health benefits of aromatherapy has been underestimated. Aromatherapy has often been considered to be only a way to make "everything smell nice". The health benefits of aromatherapy are much more powerful and effective than is commonly perceived or known by most people. Aromatherapy is a deeply beneficial natural healing modality for enhancing emotional balance and physical health.

Jennifer has more than twenty years experience with all natural health care. She provides all natural aromatherapy products through http://www.sweetmedicineessentials.com/aromatherapy-c-7.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_L_Kays

Improve your Health With Lavender Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils and other natural aromatic compounds from plants to affect one's mental or physical health. Essential oils, are known as hydrophobic i.e. non-water mixing or volatile i.e. air mixing. Essential oils are sometimes referred to as an "oil of" a plant e.g. oil of lavender. Essential oils are referred to as "essential" because they are the perceived "essence" of a plant..

Essential oils and other elements used in aromatherapy are used for relieving a variety of discomfort from indigestion to headaches. Aromatherapy is used to alter mood, inspire confidence, ease depression, and increase energy. In many cultures essential oils are used for their antiseptic value to treat infection. In France, essential oils viewed and considered in a similar way prescription drugs are in the United States. Essential oil treatments can be delivered in many different ways- direct inhalation of vapors, inhalation of steam from a vaporizer, through massage, or through therapeutic baths. It is important to note, however, that essential oils are diluted in carrier oils (neutral, odorless oils) before being used on skin. Essential oils can be used singly or in combinations with other essential oils.

Other products used in Aromatherapy besides essential oils include absolutes, phytoncides, and infusions. Absolutes are essentially purer forms of essential oils that have had their lighter, less dense components extracted with ethanol. Phytoncides are natural antimicrobial liquids used by many plants to protect themselves from rotting or being eaten by insects and animals. Infusions are oils or other liquids that have been infused with herbs, flowers, or berries.

One of the more popular and widely used aromas is lavender. Lavender grows well in rocky environments that have good sunlight. Lavender has woody branches and green leaf-like shoots resembling rods. The grayish green leaves are oblong and in curled spiral patterns. Lavender oil is taken from the flowers of the plant with steam distillation. Lavender oil blends well with many other essential oils including cedarwood, pine, clary sage, geranium, and nutmeg. The flowers of lavender are fragrant in nature and have been used for making potpourris. . Lavender's Latin name Lavare, means "to wash". Lavender essential oil has a calming scent and helps in treating migraines, headaches, anxiety, depression, nervous tension and emotional stress. Lavender aroma eases nervous exhaustion and restlessness and increases mental activity. Lavender essential oil induces sleep and is recommended for insomnia. Lavender essential oil helps ease pains caused by sore muscles, tense muscles, muscular aches, rheumatism, sprains, backache and lumbago. Massage with lavender oil helps relieve pain in the joints. Lavender oil helps in restoring hormonal balance and reduces inflammation of the urinary bladder. Lavender oil is often helpful for respiratory problems including throat infections, flu, cough, cold, asthma, sinus congestion, bronchitis, whooping cough, laryngitis, and tonsillitis. The oil is either used in the form of vapor or applied on the skin of neck, chest and back. It is also added in many vaporizers and inhalers used for cold and coughs.

Lavender oil helps skin because of its antiseptic and antifungal properties. Lavender oil is used for various skin disorders e.g. acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, wounds, cuts, burns, and sunburn.. Lavender oil is added to chamomile to treat eczema. Lavender essential oil is useful on lice and lice eggs or nits in hair. Lavender essential oil is also good for improving blood circulation by lowering blood pressure and hypertension. Lavender oil for digestion increases the mobility of the intestines increases production of gastric juices and bile and so eases indigestion, stomach pain, colic, flatulence, vomiting and diarrhea. Lavender oil also helps improve the immune system. Lavender can be used as an insect repellent for mosquitoes and helps heal insect bites. As with many other essential oils, pregnant and breast feeding women, people with diabetic concerns or people with unusually sensitive skin should avoid using lavender essential oil.

The health benefits of aromatherapy has been underestimated. Aromatherapy has often been considered to be only a way to make "everything smell nice". The health benefits of aromatherapy are much more powerful and effective than is commonly perceived or known by most people. Aromatherapy is a deeply beneficial natural healing modality for enhancing emotional balance and physical health. .

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/improve-your-health-with-lavender-aromatherapy-210514.html

Why Essential Oils are Essential to Good Skin Care

Essential oils, also known as volatile or ethereal oils, have been used to improve skin quality for thousands of years. Indian Ayurvedic medicine has advocated aromatherapy skincare for more than three millennia, and essential oils have been discovered in King Tut’s Egyptian tomb. Essential oils continue to be highly prized today because of their ability to heal on physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual levels.Unlike the synthetic drugs and chemicals of modern pharmacology, essential oils are non-toxic and can not harm human tissue. This is due to their natural derivation as a concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing aromatic compounds from plants. The term essential indicates that the oil carries the distinctive scent (essence) of the plant.Many common essential oils, such as lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus, are produced from distillation. In this process, raw plant material, including flowers, leaves, bark, roots, seeds, or peel is put into a distillation chamber over water. As the water is heated, the steam passes through the plant material, vaporizing the volatile compounds. These vapors flow through a coil where they condense back into liquid, which is then collected in a receiving vessel. Other techniques may also be used to collect essential oils. Most citrus oils are expressed mechanically through a cold press technique. Because flowers contain very little volatile oil for mechanical expression and their chemical components are delicate and easily denatured by the high heat used in steam distillation, their essential oils are often extracted with the help of a solvent such as hexane.When used to improve the delicate skin of the face, essential oils penetrate deeply into the dermis to stimulate cellular activity. This helps to regulate both overactive and under-active oil glands, stimulates skin cells to grow more quickly and be more vital, and supports the production of collagen and elastin. To avoid irritation or allergic reactions when they are applied directly to the skin, essential oils are first blended with a base oil such as olive, almond, hazelnut or grapeseed oil. Essential oils may also be included along with other active ingredients in skin care products to help boost overall efficacy. A typical ratio of essential oil to base oil or product is 1% – 5%, depending upon the essential oil’s purpose. However, essential oils can differ widely in quality, depending upon the plants from which they are derived. Oil obtained from healthy, organic plants is typically vital and potent, while oils produced from unhealthy plants, including those that have been over-treated with chemical pesticides and other products, is often less potent.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cosmetics-articles/why-essential-oils-are-essential-to-good-skin-care-196925.html

Practical Aromatherapy: Using Essential Oils With Children

Busy parents are always on the lookout for natural, effective alternatives to support their children's health and happiness. Invoking gentle calm in an otherwise hectic family life is especially appreciated. Essential oils can offer this support in a fun, safe and natural way. A few essential oils are particularly suitable for use with young ones, both for bringing soothing emotional calm and contentment healing the small wounds of childhood - here's a quick primer to help you safely and effectively use five valuable essential oils with children.

There are several easy methods to utilize natural essential oils with children. These include topical application via caring touch massage; direct application to wounds; inhalation from cloth (like clothing or a pillowcase); room sprays and diffusers; and the all-purpose aromatherapy bath. The key difference in using essential oils with children, compared to adults, is that children will need smaller amounts of oil for the same effect. There are a few oils that shouldn't be used with children; peppermint, most eucalyptus varieties, and red thyme, for example, are considered too strong. If in doubt about any oil consult a knowledgeable practitioner or reputable text.

Also, the younger the child, the more dilute the concentration of essential oils should be in a formula, bath, or inhalation application. Massage formulas, for example, can contain approximately 1 drop essential oil per ounce of carrier oil for each year of age - this is flexible depending on the oil and the situation, within a range of 3 drops for each year (i.e. For children one and under, up to 4 drops can be used with gentle oils such as Vanilla, Lavender and Chamomile - use only 1 or two drops with newborns). The child's weight can also be considered; if a child is larger for their age, a little more essential oil can be used. If using a diffuser, only enough oil so that the scent can be detected is necessary - nebulizing diffusers may output too high a concentration of oils for children; warming or humidifying diffusers are more appropriate. The oils we'll look at here are all quite safe and can be used as often as feels appropriate; Tea Tree, though, should be reserved just for its potent antiseptic applications.

And now for the oils! We'll start with soothing the very little ones; comforting an infant can seem a full-time job for many parents, where support is always welcome. For this, there's one indispensable tool: pure Vanilla essential oil. Mmmm! Who doesn't like vanilla? Infants really respond to its calming, sweet scent. And it's so easy to use. A belly, back or foot rub with a blend containing 1/2 percent vanilla in any quality carrier oil (jojoba, hazelnut or other seed or nut oil of your choice) works magic for many parents. To make a 1/2 percent Vanilla blend, purchase a small amount of pure Vanilla essential oil and add 4 drops into each ounce of carrier. Use as frequently as you like, as vanilla is completely non-toxic. You can even add a few drops to your favorite cookie recipe for an exquisite flavor, far surpassing that of the commonly found vanilla extracts.

Next up is Chamomile. There are several varieties of Chamomile, with an array of uses. German Chamomile is an exceptional oil for skin inflammation and rashes, applied in a 1/2 to 1 percent dilution in Hazelnut oil. Roman Chamomile is premier oil calming little ones over two years of age. The oil may be used in a number of ways; aromatherapy massage, in a diffuser or room spray (with this and other oils, dilute 10 drops per cup of water in a clean spray bottle - shake well and lightly mist the air), a drop or two sprinkled on bedding, or in a bath. According to Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt in Advanced Aromatherapy, "Even in very small concentrations, whether alone or in combinations with other oils (Roman Chamomile) has a soothing effect...it is appropriate to massage a few undiluted drops into the solar plexus." It is noted as particularly suited to calming tantrums or bringing calm after nightmares.

Lavender essential oil is also highly regarded for its soothing qualities, along with a host of other healing actions. Lavender oil has been called 'a medicine chest in a bottle', as it is anti-inflammatory (good for small burns - apply directly as needed), relieves pain and supports wound healing. Clinical studies have proven Lavender oil's effectiveness for improving sleep. For children, blend 2 to 1 with Roman Chamomile. Apply one drop of this blend to the pillow at nap or night time. Lavender works well in a bath, too. Additionally, Lavender can be mixed in equal parts with Tea Tree oil to add a soothing quality to Tea Tree's antiseptic action. Really, every parent should have a bottle of Lavender on hand.

When sour moods are in need of a lift, citrus oils supply the aromas of choice. Tangerine and Sweet Orange are especially liked, and Mandarin has a certain calming effect not found in any other oil. Citrus oils are often cold-pressed from the peels of the fruit; these can be mildly irritating to the skin. Stick to using these in room sprays or diffusers. Steam distilled citrus oils, often made from the leaves or flowers of the citrus trees (like Neroli, Petitgrain, or Mandarin Petitgrain - an especially nice oil for young ones) can safely be used in topical applications like massages and baths. All these oils are known as antidepressants, and might just lift your mood as well as your child's (not to terrible of a side effect!)

And for all those little abrasions of childhood, Tea Tree is highly regarded as a natural antiseptic for cuts and scrapes. Once a wound is washed, it may be covered with a Band-Aid which has a drop of Tea Tree placed on the gauze. Tea Tree may be a bit strong to apply directly to the injury, though when mixed with equal parts of Lavender, Tea Tree will prevent infection while the Lavender will relieve pain and actually speed wound healing. A few drops of the Tea Tree/Lavender mixture can be added to a warm cup of water to use as a cleansing wash. An effective, home made antiseptic spray can also be made: use 2 ounces water, 1/2 half ounce rubbing alcohol, 8 drops Lavender, 12 drops Tea Tree and 8 drops Roman Chamomile. Shake vigorously and store, shaking again before each use. Tea Tree is considered a 'universal antiseptic', with a great many uses in first aid and around the home. At 20 drops per cup of water, it can be used as a non-toxic (if not pungent!) general cleaner which you'll be happy to use instead of many chemical laden household cleaners where your children will be crawling about - and you can mix with lemon oil for a more pleasing aroma.

This is just a quick overview on caring for children with essential oils. Once you get started, you're likely to find these and other oils are a safe, effective means to naturally support your child's health and happiness. As your knowledge and experience grows, you'll find there are aromatherapy remedies for many common childhood ailments. In much of the rest of the world, essential oils are considered potent medicines, deserving a place in everyone's medicine chest. There are many great books on aromatherapy, with loads of information and recipes to get you started. Just remember, when using essential oils with children start slowly, and with small amounts; their response to certain oils and concentrations will likely tell you about the oil's effectiveness. When used with care and respect, essential oils can become a much appreciated part of your natural health and wellness lifestyle.

About The Author:
More on the practical uses of essential oils is available at www.anandaapothecary.com and www.anandaapothecary.com/essential-oils.html.

Woman's Beauty Naturally - The Grace Of Essential Oils In Skin Care

Using natural botanical skin care is a wonderful experience. With uplifting aromatic essential oils and other natural carrier ingredients, it is easy to nourish the skin in a very special way. While dramatic effects can sometimes be had using synthetically created products, natural botanical blends can bring about a lasting healthy glow free from the possibility of side-effects.

Simple-to-make essential oil mixtures will use some formula of aromatic oils from plants and flowers, based in a carrier oil, usually cold pressed from seeds or nuts. Balanced aromatherapy blends offer the therapeutic healing effects of essential oils and the nutritive essential fatty acids of the carriers. Creating your own mixtures is a fun, rewarding and money-saving endeavor; you need only a bottle or two for the mixing, and an eye-dropper to dispense the essential oils.

Several essential oils and carriers are held in high-esteem for their regenerative and nutritive properties. With only a small collection of oils, you can make highly-effective recipes applicable to particular skin conditions such as premature aging, UV and other damage, acne-prone skin and more.

Some of the more important aromatherapy oils used in beauty and skin formulas for both men and women include: Helichrysum italicum - a potent skin metabolism stimulator and strong anti-inflammate (inflammation at a cellular level is associated with nearly all skin damage and premature aging). Rosemary essential oil of the Verbenone chemotype - this serves a similar function to the oil of the Helichrysum flowers, increasing skin metabolism and enhancing the removal of cellular waste material. True Lavender, or Lavendula angustifolia, is also a strong anti-inflammate and skin regenerator with a lovely relaxing aroma - it lowers tension in addition to directly treating the skin cells, furthering natural beauty. The oil distilled from the Wild Carrot seed (also known as Queen Anne's Lace) is very regenerating, bringing life to tired, lifeless skin resulting from high-stress and toxic environments. Palmarosa is considered a 'wonder oil' because of it's brilliant aroma and strong yet gentle antiseptic properties; Niaouli is another essential oil commonly recommended for the same reasons, in addition to it's ability to tighten and firm the skin.

This is only a few of the many essential oils included in skin formulas, though these are considered among the most important for their broad range of effects. Almost any essential oil can be added to a blend in balanced quantities. In many cases, oils are added as much for their lovely aroma as their direct therapeutic benefits to skin tissue. Many aromatherapists, and natural health professionals for that matter, consider the overall mental and emotional condition to be of primary importance in creating an appearance of fitness and beauty. Many citrus and floral oils are used for this reason - Neroli, distilled from the flowers of the bitter orange tree, is an often used example. Others are Jasmine, Sandalwood (very popular in Men's skin care), Geranium and Ylang Ylang.

Essential oils, be they for direct effects on skin metabolism, or for the overall state of wellness of the user, will be diluted in a carrier oil, sometimes known as a base oil. It is important to note that diluting the oils will often actually enhance their effects; essential oils are often too strong to be used directly, and many studies have shown increased efficacy in dilutions down to 1% or less of the total formula. The carrier oils serve several other functions as well; they "carry" the essential oils into the skin, increasing their total absorption. They also nourish the middle and lower layers of the skin with essential fatty acids or EFA's - compounds now considered critical to the health of all living tissues. Further, some carrier oils have vitamin analogs which assist in skin regeneration and repair.

Some of the carrier oils often found in skin formulations include Hazelnut, Rosehip seed, and Evening Primrose. Hazelnut is a very gentle oil with little aroma of it's own, and being suitable for virtually all skin types, it use used in a vast number of blends as the primary carrier. To this, Rosehip seed oil is added for it's concentration of triple-unsaturated fatty acids, and it's natural trans-retinoic acid; a vitamin-A compound similar in effects to Retin-A without drying side effects. Evening Primrose is often also included in lower concentrations for it's high levels of GLA or gamma-linolenic acid, and is considered important in cases of eczema and skin showing signs of premature aging.

Making your own blends with these ingredients is truly a fun and rewarding experience - you only need a bottle to mix them in, and some means of counting out drops of essential oil. An eye dropper works wonderfully, and graduated plastic pipettes are readily available. A basic blend to begin with, which is designed for overall health of the skin, is made thusly: to one ounce of Hazelnut Oil, add fifteen drops Thyme Linalool, fifteen drops Rosemary Verbenone, fifteen drops Neroli (or a high-quality Petitgrain if you prefer - it is much less expensive with many of the same properties), and fifteen drops Spike Lavender (a Lavender with strong antiseptic qualities - a little more 'medicinal' than the sweeter True lavender). This blend was originally formulated to clear up oily skin, but is now used to support normal skin in daily application.

If your skin has been chemically damaged, is overly-sensitive, or otherwise 'weakened' with broken capillaries, try this mixture, applying frequently: For each ounce of base oil, use three parts Hazelnut, one part Rosehip Seed, and one part Evening Primrose. Add the following essential oils: fifteen drops Moroccan Chamomile, fifteen drops Helichrysum, fifteen drops true Lavender, and fifteen drops Roman Chamomile. The Helichrysum, Lavender and Rosehip seed will enhance the skin's own natural metabolism, and the addition of the Chamomiles will greatly reduce inflammation that is found with almost all damage and/or aging.

If your skin is prone to acne, or has over-active sebaceous glands, the following blend can be of great assistance. It contains regenerative, antiseptic, and cleansing oils. Simply use Hazelnut as the base, and to each ounce include fifteen drops of Green Myrtle or Inula graveolens, fifteen drops Eucalyptus dives (because of the ketones in this oil, it should not be used if pregnant - or under 10 years of age - but is otherwise considered safe), fifteen drops Spike Lavender, and fifteen drops Rosemary verbenone.

If your skin doesn't have particular damage to it, but appears lifeless due to exhaustion and/or exposure to significant amounts of pollution or environmental toxins, this is the blend for you. Use one part Rosehip Seed and 4 parts Hazelnut as the base. To each ounce, include fifteen drops Carrot Seed (also known as Wild Carrot or Queen Anne's Lace - a well known skin restorative), fifteen drops Lemon verbena (which enhances the removal of toxins from skin tissues), fifteen drops Niaouli (an all-around brilliant antiseptic oil with firming effects), and fifteen drops Rosemary verbenone (again, for it's regenerative and stimulating effects). If you are wishing to strengthen, tighten, and firm your skin, try this dilute mixture (the concentration of essential oils is relatively low here for use near the eyes) five ounces of Hazelnut oil and one ounce of Rosehip seed oil, fifteen drops of Green Myrtle, fifteen drops of Rock Rose (a plant grown in very sun-drenched areas, excellent for gently tightening the skin). If you like, add fifteen drops of Rosemary verbenone for it's regenerative properties, but omit if this causes sensitivity used near the eyes.

These are only a few aromatherapy skin care recipes for a woman's natural beauty medicine chest. There are many texts available to help you create more complex blends, or one's with your favorite aromatics. Blending your own facial and skin formulas is easy, rewarding, and in the long run, cost-effective. Using natural botanicals in a consistent, mindful manner can lead to long-lasting, noticeable natural health of your skin. Just remember with aromatherapy, essential oil concentrations should be kept low for best results - pay attention to how your own body reacts and you're sure to find the ingredients and measures most effective for you!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/womans-beauty-naturally-the-grace-of-essential-oils-in-skin-care-42571.html

Making Beautiful Music For Your Nose With Essential Oil Recipes

There are a lot of benefits to aromatherapy. Perhaps you want to help heal minor problems. Perhaps you want a sensual massage. Perhaps you need to calm down or wake up. Or perhaps you want to smell something pleasing. Whatever your reason, you will soon discover that your nose has its own likes and dislikes. What essential oil recipes work for one person might not work for you, much in the same way jazz music is both loved and hated. You have to spend some time learning what scents you like and what you dont. This way you can make your own essential oil recipes that best benefit you.

Notes Of Scent

Creating your own essential oil recipes can be a lot of fun for many people, like playing or listening to music. With your first essential oil recipes, stick with just three oils until you get the hang of it. Otherwise, they will clash. Also, considering the price of some essential oils, it will be a lot cheaper.

There are three kinds of oils that you need in your mix to make it the most effective. These types of essential oils are called notes. You need a top note, and a middle note, and a base note. You can also make some good essential oil recipes with one top note and two middles. Experiment and see what works best for you. Note what scents bring about what kind of feelings brought up in you. Its safer to blend essential oils with a carrier oil like olive or jojoba than just to use the pure essential oils if you mean to put the oil on your body. Its also a lot less expensive! When burning oils for their scent alone, it is best to use the pure essential oils.

Top Notes

Top notes are like the lead vocals of an essential oil recipe. They are usually the first thing you notice. They also dont last too long, letting the other notes take over. Many fruity and floral scents fall into this category. Common top note essential oils are lemon, bergamot, eucalyptus and orange.

Middle Notes

Middle notes are like the guitars in a band. They are more subtle than top notes and tend to last a lot longer. Spicy, floral and herbal kind of essential oils tend to fall into this category. Some are listed as middle notes OR base notes, depending on what aromatherapy book you read. Smell them and determine for yourself how long the scent lasts in your essential oil recipes. Common middle note oils are lavender, geranium, patchouli, rose and rosemary.
Base Notes

Base note scents are the percussion and rhythm of the scent band. They provide the beat that the rest of the band has to follow. The base note oils linger the longest in you essential oil recipes. Many spicy and woody scents fall into this category. Common base note oils are sandalwood, cypress, frankincense and myrrh. Some also list patchouli and even rose in this category.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/making-beautiful-music-for-your-nose-with-essential-oil-recipes-367358.html

Lavender Aromatherapy Oil - The Essentially Essential Oil

Lavender is the safest, oldest and most well known healing plant; it has been used as medicine, cosmetic, herb, and aromatherapy oil throughout history. Being that it is safe it is the most commonly applied oil in the field of aromatherapy. Studies conducted in the UK revealed that lavender oils affected the diminishment of mental faculties, such as memory, and in fact improved both memory and attention span. In these studies the Lavender’s effect on the olfactory senses—the sense of smell—has greatly increased and improved cognitive performance and mood; the lavender aromatherapy essential oil is potent in calming uncontrolled feelings and emotions. Drops of Lavender oils in the vaporizer can ease coughs and other respiratory ailments.

Lavender essential oils remove indecisiveness as well as the pain of emotional conflict and bring about a sense of rationality to the disturbed mind. The lavender aromatherapy essential oils also function not only to calm the uncontrolled emotions, but have a positive impact on the nervous system. Numerous studies have shown that the lavender aromatherapy essential oils especially pacify a number of nervous disorders: excitability, panic, nervous tension, agitation, and promotes peaceful sleep. Some of the studies concluded that the lavender aromatherapy essential oil is initially absorbed into the skin through the hair follicles; it is then diffused into the bloodstream and disperses its healing properties into the lymphatic system and a sense of lightness and calm pervades the mind. The sensation of ethereality can simply be explained by the serotonin that is released in the brain.

Brief History

Lavenders are a genus, or class of flowering plants in the mint family. They have been cultivated thousands of years throughout the globe; they are known as French, Bulgarian, Province, Kashmir, even a Tasmanian Kashmir Lavender; and by many other names relating to their geographic origin. Lavender appeals to the senses and it yields oils that are used in perfumes, balms, cosmetics, and in topical application for its anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties. Interesting adage: Lavender was believed to cure the Plague though it was only its scent that repelled insects carrying the Plague.

The Lavender, be it English, French, or Asian, is heavily scented and blends well with other essential or carrier oils such as, floral, clove, citrus, labdanum, sage, patchouli, pine, Cedar-wood, etc. and an array of other oils. The plants produce pale yellow, or tinted green oils that have strong scents, and it blends well with the majority of aromatherapy oils.

Application

The flower-petals yield nectar that is used for flavoring honey, sugar, herbs; when blended with black tea it is sold as lavender tea. English Lavender essential oils have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory curative powers and soothe head-aches. Also, the oils wards off insects and calms itchy incest bites. The extract has been known to facilitate sleep, relaxation, and calm general restlessness. Lavender oils balance, regulate, and soothe the body and mind; added to bathwater or sprinkled on pillows Lavender oils promote peaceful and relaxed sleep. Lavender is an analgesic, anti-microbial, antidepressant, antiseptic, antitoxic, etc. The oils are used to treat hypertension, water-retention, convulsions, and other spasmodic ailments.

Surrounding oneself with products of Lavender Essential Oils may bring unexpected harmony into your life; aromatherapy incense throughout the home, aromatherapy candles for evening pleasure, lavender sachets in the closets and drawers, and drops of it on the pillows. Lavender aromatherapy essential oil can be applied in light rings, aroma lamps, diffusers, and potpourri throughout your home, bathroom, or office.

Tamra Cantar is a freelance writer on topics of interest and has a website dedicated to providing the visitor with useful information and resources for Aromatherapy. Visit AromaOilEssentials for more information on Lavender oil as well as other essential oils.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tamra_Cantar

Tips For Storing Your Essential Oils

Essential oils, CO2S and absolutes are usually sold for use in small bottles. Commonly they are sold in 5ml, 10ml and 15ml bottle sizes. More expensive oils are sold in 2ml and 1 dram bottle sizes. These oils should be stored very carefully because they can easily get damaged by ultraviolet light and get deteriorated very fast at the blue end of the spectrum, as compared to red. They can lose their therapeutic benefits and deteriorate over time. For instance, citrus oil oxidizes and begins to lose aroma and its therapeutic properties; but not every essential oil loses its value, like sandalwood and patchouli oils.

You should always store essential oils in an amber colored bottle and if you are keeping the oil in a blue color bottle then keep it in a dark place, this is not so important for brown colored bottles. Dark glass bottles like amber or cobalt blue bottles can keep the sunrays out. Try and avoid purchasing any essential oil that comes in a clear bottle with a rubber dropper incorporated into the screw top cap because the highly concentrated oil has the capacity to turn the rubber bulb into gum. Never buy oils that are being sold in plastic bottles. There are some vendors who sell essential oils in aluminum bottles, but these bottles are acceptable if the interiors are lined. Always store the bottles in a dark and cool place because these oils cannot take high temperatures and they evaporate quickly. Most of the oils come in a bottle that contains an "orifice reducer" which is a small, clear insert inside the bottle opening and acts as a dropper. You can easily tip the bottle and dispense the essential oil drop by drop. Remember to replace the cap quickly after use and make sure that the cap is closed tightly, when not in use.

Whichever essential oil you buy will last approximately for three years from the date of bottling. But if you provide excellent storage conditions then the oil can be stored for at least five years. There is dramatic reduction in the shelf life once the oils are diluted with carrier oils. A blend will be effective for approximately three to six months if you store it in an amber colored bottle in a cool place. With wheatgerm oil being added, the shelf life is about six to nine months. Remember to discard the oil if there is an alteration in the smell or when vegetable oil becomes rancid.

There are few points that you need to keep in kind when you buy an essential oil:

• Buy oils in amber colored bottles

• Check for the date when it was bottled and how old it is

• The oils should not be kept in direct sunlight

• Check if all the essential oils are of the same price. This is an indication that you are being cheated. For instance, rosemary or lavender oil will be less expensive than rose oil.

• Check if the essential oil that you are buying is blended with any other carrier oil and if yes, then find out when it was diluted.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/tips-for-storing-your-essential-oils-707739.html

Immune Stimulant - Why Choose Lavender Oil & Methods of Application

Strengthen your immune system with Lavender essential oil; one of the best oils to choose for health and longevity. Here's why, along with the methods of application I recommend and other essential oils to choose for making a powerful immune stimulant blend.

LAVENDER ( Lavendula augustifolia ) - Highly scented Lavender has a distinctly sweet floral-spice aroma that's a little wild and woody. Distilling at high altitude allows lower temperatures and lower pressure for distillation making it possible for the volatile phytochemicals to come through intact in the final product.

Lavender oil stimulates the formation of white blood cells and strengthens the body's immune system and is a popular preventative for bronchitis, cold and flu.

Lavender contains proven natural anti-bacterial ingredients. Its antiseptic properties are known to prevent and halt infection.

Researchers are continuing studies to learn if essential oils are effective against the super bug MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) among other strains of bacteria.

An ongoing research project is underway using a body/hand wash, containing essential oils of lavender and tea tree that if left on the skin for a period of time and then washed off, could be effective against MRSA.

Different strengths and combinations of essential oils mixtures that are 100% effective in the laboratory have been tested. A particular combination of these essential oils has killed the MRSA bacteria in a laboratory culture.

The results have been repeated and replicated for particular combinations that kill MRSA bacteria in a laboratory culture. Thus far no single essential oil has been found that completely kills the bacteria.

Tests with a "leave on" version of various essential oils mixtures has also been tested which also kill the MRSA bacteria under laboratory conditions. Human trials are now being organized for further testing.

1) LAUNDRY - Dispense a 10-12 drops of Lavender on a cotton wash cloth and add to your dryer in the cool down cycle to give a fresh, clean scent to you bedding.

2) AROMATIC MIST - Use as a room spray and deodorizer. DIRECTIONS - To 4 ounces of distilled water add 80-120 drops of your essential oil, shake well and spray.

IMMUNE STIMULANT BLEND: Eucalyptus, Thyme, Tea Tree, Lemon, Rosemary, Cinnamon Leaf and Bark, Ravensara, Clove

PLEASE NOTE: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use certified organic essential oils, or oils that have been tested and are pesticide free.

Holistic MindBody Therapy, including pure essential oils, are gentle, noninvasive complementary forms of health care for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind and spirit and a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being. Holistic health care may produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult with your physician regarding serious health concerns and do not attempt to self diagnose.

KG has developed massage training and holistic health programs for the spa industry, health clubs and clinics, schools, resorts, as well as for individual clients. She is a MindBody Therapist and Health Educator with advanced certification and training in Bowen Therapy, BodyTalk and Aromatherapy. She is the owner of Springhill Wellness Center and the Founder & Director of PurePlant Essentials aromatherapy products.

Click to learn about & order PurePlant Essentials IMMUNE SUPPORT

Click to learn more about & order LAVENDER PURE ESSENTIAL OIL

Click to see the complete PurePlant Essentials Menu of Aromatic Oils and Remedies PUREPLANT ESSENTIALS

More Info? Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, 2520 Springhill Drive Ashland, OR USA (541) 941-7315 Mahalo!

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The Best Aromatherapy Essential Oils - The Answers to Your Prayers

Aromatherapy essential oils have long been used to treat a variety of conditions from stress and insomnia to burns and infections. Here is a brief guide to aromatherapy essential oils.

Ways to Use Aromatherapy Essential Oils:

There are a variety of ways to use aromatherapy essential oils depending on the type of oil and the reason that you are using it. Some suggestions include adding a few drops to your bath water, applying a couple of drops to the temples to relieve headaches; which works very well with lavender, using in an oil diffuser, or using as a topical application.

Top Five Aromatherapy Essential Oils:

Chamomile- Chamomile is one of the more common of the aromatherapy essential oils, particular when used in cosmetics such as moisturizers and lip balms. It has a very soothing and calming effect and can even be used in tea to help you fall asleep. However, you should note that chamomile is not safe for use by women who are pregnant. Chamomile can also be used as an an analgesic or antiseptic to treat acne, blisters, boils, gout, or other skin conditions. It can also help with depression, indigestion, headaches, and restlessness.

Lavender- This is another of the aromatherapy essential oils that has a very calming and therapeutic effect. Lavender can be used as an analgesic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, insecticide, diuretic, or sedative and can treat wounds and sores, burns, throat infections, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, flu, circulatory problems, insect bites, dandruff, anxiety, as well as many other ailments.

Eucalyptus- Eucalyptus is an aromatherapy essential oil that has a stimulating effect and gives you a sense of restoring balance. It is great for a variety of breathing ailments such as congestion due to colds, flue, and allergies, asthma. It can also help urinary infections, treat wounds, and bring relief from muscle pain and headaches.

Ginger- This is the aromatherapy essential oil of choice for pregnant women. Ginger is great for stomach and digestive problems such as the nausea caused by morning sickness as well as constipation, diarrhea, and colic. It can also be helpful in treat arthritis and sinusitis.

Peppermint- Peppermint is another aromatherapy essential oil that is a must have. It also treats nausea and indigestion as well as aching muscles and join pain, and works extremely well on tired, overworked feet. This aromatherapy essential oil also makes a great insect repellent and can treat severe headaches including migraines. The smell is uplifting and refreshing.

These are only a handful of the great aromatherapy essential oils that are available and you can also find them in alternate forms such as lavender linen sprays that you can spray your sheets with to use the soothing effects of lavender to help you sleep at night. Whatever your need is there is probably an aromatherapy essential oil out there that will work great for you.

Sherry Harris is the author of the successful e-book "101 Amazingly Simple Ways to Beat Insomnia". Get the FREE e-book at http://www.ScentToSleep.com Hope you enjoyed the article topic aromatherapy essential oils. Knock-out insomnia with aromatherapy sleep mist, so you can wake up refreshed and energized visit us now.

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Aromatherapy Beauty Tips

Aromatherapy and Skin: Natural oils used in aromatherapy can help the skin reach its' optimum beauty. Essential oils can be used to treat wrinkles, pimples, cellulite and even dry skin. Aromatherapy can also help to purify the skin. Aromatherapy works so well because it is free of unnatural and toxic ingredients that can be found in many over-the-counter acne medications. Not so when using aromatherapy. The essential oils have strong regenerative properties that helps heal and nourish the skin. Good essential oils and to use on the skin include sandlewood, tea tree and lavender.

Sandlewood: Sandlewood is really good for acne and infections of the skin mostly because it has strong anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Tea Tree: Tea tree works well for spot treating pimples. It clears up acne fast and helps to limit their reoccurrence. It has strong anti-microbial and helps to reduce swelling.

Lavender: Lavender is one of the most known all of the essential oils. Lavender helps to keep oily skin under control. It is also good for evening out the skin tone and healing blemishes.

Aromatherapy and Body: Aromatherapy is great to use for the body. It helps keep the body soft and smooth. It is important to note however, that you should be very careful about applying essential oils directly on the skin because they can be very potent. Instead, adding a few drops to a bath or to a carrier oil works best. There are several ways to use aromatherapy on the body, massage and bathing are the most common and very effective.

Aromatherapy and Hair: Aromatherapy and essential oils are great to use to remedy hair loss as well as dry and thinning hair. Adding essential oils to shampoos and conditioners that one already has, can work wonders. Massaging the scalp with diluted essential oils might also be beneficial. For individuals who suffer from alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes temporary hair loss, studies have shown that individuals who rub rosemary, cedarwood, lavender, and thyme essential oils into their scalp, successfully grew back their hair. This is just one example of the power of aromatherapy when it is added to beauty regiments.

Aromatherapy has many benefits, one of which is beautification. Individuals can achieve prettier skin and hair by simply using essential oil blends that they either create themselves or purchase. Aromatherapy is especially is especially effective because of it's natural properties which can be used to pamper, ease, stimulate and beautify. I hope that you will consider using these aromatherapy beauty tips. Many people who understand the power of aromatherapy have done so with great results.

George Key lives in an island of Greece and he is very interested in natural health and alternative medicine. He owns a site dedicated to Aromatherapy and Essential Oils.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Key

Lavender -- Nature's Aid To Stress Relief

The essential oil of lavender (in particular, of Lavandula augustifolia) has been recognised for its healing properties since ancient times, and it has been used traditionally to treat many disorders, including:

• insomnia
• skin complaints, such as dermatitis, acne, allergies, insect bites, mild burns, athlete's foot and general wounds
• gastrointestinal disorders, such as flatulence
• pain, such as headaches, rheumatism, muscular aches, labour pains and period pains.(1)

Lavender was used extensively during World War I whenever medical supplies became scarce, to both prevent infection and relieve pain. The aroma of lavender has been reported to be calming,(2) and is thought to be particularly useful in stressful situations.(1)

Until recently, evidence supporting the efficacy of lavender essential oil in these conditions has tended to be largely anecdotal, but medical research is now beginning to show that this oil may indeed have medicinal properties. A recent review of the biological activities of lavender essential oil concluded that there is “both scientific and clinical data that support the traditional uses of lavender”.(3)

Lavender essential oil prevents infection

Lavender essential oil has been shown to have antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal activity,(4–7) and also to have efficacy in the laboratory against bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics (e.g. methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA]).(6)

Lavender essential oil aids insomnia and quality of sleep

Lavender aromatherapy was found to improve sleep in older hospitalised patients, and reduced the need for night sedation.(8) Massage with lavender essential oil improved quality of sleep in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.(9)

Lavender essential oil reduces anxiety

Lavender aromatherapy message has been shown to reduce levels of anxiety in intensive care patients,(10) and the aroma of lavender decreased anxiety in patients undergoing haemodialysis.(11)

Lavender essential oil relieves pain

Massage with lavender oil reduced the perception of pain in patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis,(9) and in women who had given birth, lavender baths reduced perineal pain and discomfort 3–5 days post-natally.(12)

Lavender essential oil controls alopecia (hair loss)

A combination of lavender, rosemary, cedarwood and thyme essential oils has been reported to improve hair growth in patients with alopecia.(13)

Lavender essential oil aids indigestion

Lavender is currently recommended for the treatment of indigestion and nervous intestinal discomfort by the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices Commission E, a committee made up of scientists, toxicologists, doctors and pharmacists formed by the German government in 1978.(14)

Conclusion

These findings still require further investigation, and research into the medical properties of lavender and other essential oils continues. The use of aromatherapy can not be recommended as a substitute for medical care and, if taken for medical reasons, this should be under the guidance of a qualified aromatherapist.

Nevertheless, it is slowly becoming evident that many of the traditional medicinal properties attributed to lavender could be based in scientific fact.

References:

1. Lawless J. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils. Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995:56–67.
2. Buchbauer G et al. Aromatherapy: evidence for sedative effects of the essential oil of lavender after inhalation. Z Naturforsch [C] 1991;46:1067–72.
3. Cavanagh HMA, Wilkinson JM. Biological activities of lavender essential oil. Phytother Res 1002;16:301–8.
4. Lis-Balchin M et al. Relationship between bioactivity and chemical composition of commercial essential oils. Flavour Fragr J 1008;13:98–1004.
5. Hammer K et al. Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and other plant extracts. J Appl Microbiol 1999;86:985–90.
6. Nelson RR. In-vitro activities of five plant essential oils against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. J Antimicrob Chemother 1997;40:305–6.
7. Horne D. Antimicrobial effects of essential oils on Streptococcus pneumoniae. JEOR 2001;13:387–92.
8. Graham C. Complementary therapies: in the scent of a good night’s sleep. Nurs Stand 1995;9:21.
9. Brownfield A. Aromatherapy in arthritis: a study. Nurs Stand 1998;13:34–5.
10. Dunn C et al. Sensing an improvement: an experimental study to evaluate the use of aromatherapy, massage and periods of rest in an intensive care unit. J Adv Nurs 1995;21:34–40.
11. Itai T et al. Psychological effects of aromatherapy on chronic hemodialysis patients. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2000;54:393–7.
12. Dale A, Cornwell S. The role of lavender oil in relieving perineal discomfort following childbirth: a blind randomized clinical trial. J Adv Nurs 1994;19:89–96.
13. Hay IC et al. Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol 1998;134:1349–52.
14. Blumenthal M et al. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications, 2000:226–9.

Dr Gillian Hale also writes about using aromatherapy essential oils to help relieve stress. For more information regarding Lavender oil,stress at work, stress busting with essential oils, please visit: Alternative Aromatherapy Stress Busting for natural aromatherapy stress relief.

Dr Gillian Hale is also the co-founder of aromatherapy-stress-relief.com a home based UK business providing hand made Aromatherapy Stress Relief Gifts.

copyright © 2006 Gillian Hale (CUS Busting Ltd)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Gillian_Hale

How You Too Can Use The Proven Anti-Anxiety Actions of Aromatherapy

The most pervasive concept of aromatherapy in North America is that of nice smells making you feel good - a strong whiff out of a little bottle and you're carried away to your personal 'happy place'. Not a bad idea, but this concept carries the burden of 'New Age' stereotypes with it. Aromatherapy is but a simple folk remedy that works only because the yoga-posing, mantra-chanting, tantric-sex practicing user thinks it does. Well, we've got news for the 'Establishment': Science has validated aromatherapy! Perhaps most profoundly, science has shown that smelling essential oils has true anti-anxiety effects; there's actual data showing essential oils will actually help you relax. Now all you natural health and wellness practitioners can tell your doubting, possibly smirking friends - this stuff is for real.

The number of studies investigating the therapeutic actions of essential oils has exploded over the last ten years, as popular interest grows in the areas of natural health and wellness. The efficacy of may 'folk' remedies is being validated, with many of them having benefits at least as potent as their pharmaceutical counterparts, and most having very limited, if any, side effects. This is especially true with the use of essential oils for reducing stress and lessening anxiety. And what's wonderful about the oils is that their readily available and easy to use. A mother with active children can just plug in a diffuser and let it do its thing. A stressed-out commuter can do the same. Feeling a little wound up, but want to keep the aroma a little more personal? Apply a few drops of diluted oil to yourself or loved one wherever you like. What oils have these anti-anxiety effects? Let's have a look...

Lavender has been the most frequently studied of all the essential oils. Its anti-anxiety (or simply 'relaxing') action has been documented both in the laboratory (using stressed-out mice and rats) and in clinical environments with actual human beings. Many, many studies have reported the same thing: inhalation of lavender oil brings calm under a great variety of conditions. At least one study compared Lavender oil aroma to that of Juniper, Cypress, Geranium, Jasmine and Frankincense. It was only the Frankincense that had a somewhat similar effect, but not nearly as effective as Lavender. Several studies compared Lavender's effect to diazepam (Valium) with Lavender's aroma having similar (but likely more healthy) calming results. In other studies, Lavender has been shown to improve sleep, decrease conflict between animals, and reduce the amount of pain medication needed by recovering hospital patients.

Sandalwood oil is another well-known stress reducer. For those that may not enjoy the floral aroma of Lavender, Sandalwood could be the oil of choice. Its warm, earthy scent is grounding and centering, being used by some spiritual traditions to enhance relaxed, focused meditative states. The science shows similar results - Sandalwood oil topically applied relaxed the body while stimulating psyche. Studies on sleep/wake cycles using Sandalwood oil topically improved the quality of sleep and lessened waking episodes. A small study using Sandalwood suggested the oil may be helpful in reducing anxiety for palliative care patients. Beyond the scope of Western scientific inquiry, Sandalwood oils and pastes have been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of psychological disorders, utilizing its sublime mental-health promoting actions.

While Sandalwood and Lavender have the most data to back them up, many other essential oils have had positive test results. Rose is a standout; it has also been tested alongside Valium (apparently the anti-anxiety gold standard) with better and longer-lasting results. The rose aroma's effect seem to increase over time, where as benzodiazepines' effect will tend to decrease - and the test subjects appeared less confused or sedated. Rose, like Lavender, reduced conflict between test subjects as well. For a little variety, you can mix Rose and Sandalwood together (try a 1:4 ratio)...this is a classic Indian aromatic blend combining two of the world's best known anti-anxiety scents.

Other oils found in research databases include Angelica, Chamomile, Lemon, Lemongrass, Tagetes and Ylang Ylang. Some oils tested didn't show repeatable results in the laboratory environment, but if you find and oil aroma that you find relaxing, it's more than likely not purely 'in your head'; the olfactory (smell) sense is the one of the five senses most directly wired to the brain's emotional centers. These are, in turn, directly wired to the autonomic nervous system controlling functions such as heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure - all of which are closely tied to one's level of stress.

So what to do with these stress relieving wonders? They're really easy to use - one of the great features of aromatherapy. Both topical application and inhalation show repeatable results in laboratory tests. A common method of topical application is to dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil like Jojoba down to 10% or less. Essential oils tend to pass easily into the bloodstream when applied to the skin, so nearly any technique will do. A few drops of your mixture can be placed on the wrists and rubbed together (this is nice, as you'll smell the aroma as well). For inhalation, there's a great many aromatherapy diffusers available, from little, inexpensive plug in units, to professional models which make a cloud of pure, intense aroma. For anxiety relief, any model where you can smell the aroma will do the job - the higher end diffusers tend to bathe a larger area in your aroma of choice.

How to chose an oil for you, your family or friends? Aromatherapy choices tends to be some personal. Some folks go mad for Rose Geranium, and other folks can only think of 'grandma' (in a nice way!) with the bright scents of florals. These same individuals will often love the grounding aromas of the woods: Sandalwood, Frankincense, Spruce, etc. The beauty of the scientific data is that it's not one type of essential oil that's effective to support health and wellness naturally - it's the santalol in Sandalwood, the linalool in Lavender, and the citronellol in Rose that imparts much of the therapeutic effect. Other oils have different chemical constituents that also bring about relaxation. Even the most scientifically aligned practitioners will tell you: if it feels good, use it. Try a variety of aromas if you're new, and use your favorite with confidence - relaxed confidence, of course - knowing you're using some of the best medicine nature has to offer, with the science to back it up.

About The Author:
Aromatherapy essential oils and therapeutic essential oil blends have been in use for decades, with a broad acceptance of their true healing powers found in Europe. Essential oils have a great diversity of therapeutic healing actions - to learn more, find a professional therapist trained in aromatherapy, or begin with one of the many aromatherapy texts available for practitioners.

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What Is Aromatherapy and What Are its Uses?

Aromatherapy is a booming business in the spa industry. Not only do Hollywood stars use such products, but as natural products are gaining popularity, people are learning more about the ancient art of relaxation. Aromatherapy is also another form of alternative medicine, as it makes use of plants and transforms them into essential oils. Many may think that aromatherapy is only focused on one's mental well being, but it has in fact scientific proof of curing physical ailments. This is due to the fact that essential oils which are used in aromatherapy have unique qualities, and can be used in various ways.

There are many kinds of essential oils used for aromatherapy treatments, such as bergamot which helps control turbulent emotions and helps ease up the anxiety of a person. It is also good for curing viral or bacterial diseases found on the mouth. For uneasy nervous systems, bergamot is also the cure.

Sage also helps balance out one's emotions, as it helps make one feel relaxed and cures insomnia, which affects almost everyone today. Sage is also a good de-stressor as it easily sooths one who feels disturbed, and can help free one from depression. Sage is useful in removing bad odor and can also act as an antiseptic. It also helps enhance libido, as it acts as an aphrodisiac.

Eucalyptus helps one stay alert without chemicals or medicines. Concentration is heightened by this essential oil, and it also helps ease back pain and diarrhea.

One of the most popular and widely used essential oil is lavender, as it can be used in numerous ways. Not only does the lavender essential oil smell good, but it also has medicinal properties that are very useful. Lavender can help cure insomnia, as it has very strong calming properties. Hypertension is also easily relieved by lavender, along with anxiety and depression. Digestion is improved as stomach aches and cramps are avoided, and a lot of issues that are specifically female-oriented are cured by lavender. Inexpensive, wonderful to smell, easy to apply and the most versatile of all the essential oils used in aromatherapy, lavender oil is quite a blessing to mankind.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils for the purpose of relaxation and rejuvenation, in many forms including baths and massages. Aromatherapy oils are pure extracts or essences of the plants of which they are derived from, so the medicinal purposes of the plants are retained in the oil.

It is quite important for one to remember that there is a fine line between perfume oil used for fragrances and essential oils used for aromatherapy. Fragrances and perfumes do not have the same qualities of therapeutic essential oils, as the composition of perfume oils are based on chemicals, not plants. These chemicals are not natural thus they do not have the same medicinal qualities that aromatherapy oils offer.

Aside from the medicinal qualities of therapeutic oils, they are also great ingredients for skin care products, as these wonderful oils can help balance skin tone and promote skin health.

The San Francisco Bath Salt Company's slogan is "Relaxing The World One Bath at a Time". We specialize in luxury bath salts for skincare and relaxation with the overall goal of improving health through bathing. Our website is a powerful resource of information about bathing and contains many more articles and our daily bathing blog. for more information visit http://www.sfbsc.com or to visit our complete resource section on bathing goto http://www.sfbsc.com/resource-center

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