Thursday, July 3, 2008

A World of Aromatherapy - Your Guide to Essential Oils

When people think of aromatherapy, one of the first aspects to come to mind are the essential oils. Extracted from various parts of plants, aromatherapy essential oils have a myriad of uses. Many possess various medicinal qualities from helping to treat acne to the ability to boost your immune system. They can also be used in aromatherapy diffusers and aromatherapy oil burners to fill a room with the essence of the original plant. The plant's essence molecules are approximately 75-100 times more concentrated as an essential oil than in the dried plant. In aromatherapy it is held that simply inhaling an essential oil elicits an immediate olfactory response and provides for ready absorption in the bloodstream.
Aromatherapy Essential Oils
Essential oils are the most common form of aromatherapy because they are so versatile. You can use them in an aroma lamp or add a few drops to your bath water or shampoo. However, they are great for bath products. You can create bath salts, natural perfumes, massage oils and many other all natural aromatherapy products.
What is aromatherapy used for?
Aromatherapy may promote relaxation and help relieve stress. It has also been used to treat a wide range of physical and mental conditions, including burns, infections, depression, insomnia, and high blood pressure. However, so far there is little scientific evidence to support claims that aromatherapy effectively prevents or cures illness.
Aromatherapy provides health and body care on a completely natural basis, and the subtle qualities of the oils lend themselves best to a gradual experience. Always mix essential oils in glass, porcelain or aluminum bottles as the oil will react with plastic. Essential oils are very concentrated substances and should be diluted before applying them to the skin. Add about 12-15 drops of essential oil to one ounce of carrier oil, such as jojoba oil and shake to blend. Add and mix 3-5 drops of essential oil to a bowl of warm or cool water. Soak a wash cloth, wring and apply.
Dream Time Stress Relief Products: Help your body and mind rejuvenate, encouraging both physical and emotional wellbeing. These products are designed to remind and encourage you to relax, nurture and take care of yourself. Choose from aromatherapy neck rolls, spa blankets, hand and foot cozys, spa slippers, soothing eye pillows and body wraps. These Aromatherapy Products offer heat therapy, cold therapy and buckwheat therapy. Relax, take some time for yourself, with these amazing stress relief products!

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Aromatherapy Essential Oil - How to Use Essential Oils

Essential oils are distilled from plant leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, barks and resins, or are expressed from the rinds of citrus fruits. It generally takes at least 50 pounds of plant material to make one pound of essential oil (for example, a pound of rosemary oil requires sixty-six pounds of herb), but the ratio is sometimes astonishing - it takes 2,300 pounds of rose flowers to make a single pound of oil. Essential oils should never be used undiluted on the skin. There are instances when experienced aromatherapy users and practitioners make exceptions to this precaution. Lavender and tea tree are listed by a large number of aromatherapy sources as being oils that can be used undiluted. Essential oils are usually lipophilic (literally: "oil-loving") compounds that usually are not miscible with water. Instead, they can be diluted in solvents like pure 100% ethanol ,polyethylene glycol, or oils.
Possibly the most important thing to remember is that anyone, no matter who they are, trying to sell you essential oils, is trying to make a profit. That's okay, as long as you get what you pay for. The problem is that some unscrupulous vendors will try to sell you substances that are not truly pure essential oils. The labeling may tell you what you're actually dealing with. If it says "natural identical oil," then it clearly is not the actual essential oil you are looking for. When the label tells you it is "fragrance oil," or "perfume oil," you can be sure that it is not one single essential oil. It is at best a mixture and at worst a chemical concoction.
Essential Oils Tips
1. Put a few drops of essential oil on a used fabric softener sheet or rag and throw it in the clothes dryer to make sheets, towels, and clothing smell wonderful.
2. Don't use undiluted oils on your skin.
3. Skin test oils before using. Dilute a small amount and apply to the skin on your inner arm.
4. Keep oils away from eyes and mucous membranes.
5. Add 7-10 drops of essential oil to bath water directly or blend with 1 teaspoon of vegetable.
6. Massage helps the skin to absorb essential oils.
7. Add 7 - 10 drops of essential oil to bath water directly or blend with 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil, bath crystals, milk, honey, etc..
8. Wax candles can be bought ready-impregnated with essential oils and are a delightful way of scenting a room. Or
9. Essential oils are extracts from different parts of the plants such as herbs, flowers, leaves, resin, bark, fruit rinds and roots.
10. Do not use essential oils in pregnancy and stop using them in case they cause redness, burning, itching or skin irritation.
11. Add 3 drops of appropriate essential oil to 1 t. of water, mix and gargle.
12. Lavender and Tea tree oils can be applied directly to cuts, scrapes, or scratches for pain relief and healing properties.
13. Use a sitz bath with just enough water to cover lower body and add 5 drops of essential oil.
14. Avoid applying Essential Oils immediately after perspiring or using a sauna.
15. Put a dab of essential oils on cotton balls and scatter around the house in inconspicuous locations like airing cupboards, drawers, etc..
Essential oils can be purchased at many health food stores and through on-line distributors. Due to the growing interest in aromatherapy, products that are prepackaged and infused with essential oils can be found at most national chain stores.

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Introduction to Herbalism

Aromatherapy is considered as one of the most effective holistic medicines for skin diseases healing. Nowadays, aromatherapy baths and compress are very popular ways of aromatherapy skin care. Keep in mind that although all essential oils have therapeutic attributes, only certain of them are appropriate for acne treatment. What is more, you should always observe the safety precautions when using the essential oils. Never use essential oils undiluted to your skin. Always use a carrier oil for dilution and remember that generally only 2-3% dilution of essential oils in blends that will be applied to skin, is not only safe but also effectual.
Acne is a typical skin disease that afflicts almost every teenager. Nevertheless, statistical researches show that at least 80% of the population experience acne at some time in their lives, not necessarily the teen age. Acne pimples may appear at any age, from early baby to elderly age.
Acne's symptoms are pimples, black heads, cysts and even scar and lumps on skin. After an acne attack the annoying symptoms become severer and worse leading to bad feelings, stress and sometimes pessimism and signs of depression to young person. It is important patient to learn how to manage stress and fight melancholy because acne has psychosomatic aspects and can intensify acne's outbreaks.
The essential oils which are believed to be the most effective and appropriate for acne treatment are: Tea tree oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia), Lavender oil (Lavandula Officinalis), Helichrysum (Helichrysum Angustifolia) and Ylang Ylang (Cananga Odorata). Most aromatherapy practitioners suggest mixing the above oils with Jojoba vegetable oil before applying to skin. Usually, a cotton pad is used to deliver the blend directly to the acne spot.
These essential oils have been proved to stop the growth of a broad range of bacteria and microbes which cause acne. The have remarkable antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, they clear and unclog pores, heal scars and generally help to remove acne spots contributing to a fresh and supple skin. As mentioned before, jojoba is the one of the best carrier oil for dilution because it is not greasy, so it does not block the pores, but it moisturizes and exfoliates the skin.
Keep in mind that aromatherapy treatment for acne, although its indisputable success in cure acne, it can not have immediate results and take some time to initiate healing. Therefore, you have to be patient and it is advisable to follow some every day tips in order to enhance the healing.
Avoid harsh facial lotion with alcohol.
Do not scrub your pimples, spots or scars.
Adopt a healthy life style. Eat healthily, learn stress management techniques and stay away from pollution.
Wash your face regularly with much water. This will help you to get rid of skin waste toxins.
Do not use facials more than twice a day, because this can have the opposite results than those desired.
At last, if you search on internet you will find several aromatherapy recipes for acne but it is not wise to try any of them before consulting your aromatherapy practitioner. Otherwise you take the risk to have unwanted side effects like skin irritation or flaking.

George Kakaris is the owner of a new but very comprehensive site dedicated to Aromatherapy and Essential Oils. Valuable and reliable aromatherapy advice and recipes.

Aromatherapy For Your Skin

Do you want to save money and time visiting parlors waiting for your turn to come? Then aromatherapy will be best for you to take care of your skin at home in your convenient hours. The effects after going through aromatherapy or visiting parlor for skin treatment are always the same provided that you follow the process perfectly. Additional advantage that you get by doing aromatherapy over going to parlors are that you will save enough of money that you could use in any other activities and also you could save a lot of time.
In order top look impressive in the long run you need to be very cautious with your skin that would otherwise get damaged very soon if not cared. Before you decide to start for aromatherapy, you need to understand the different causes that are responsible for the damage of your skin. Among the various reasonable causes stress, insufficient sleep, cosmetics, long exposure to the intense rays of the sun and allergic to any kinds of foods, soaps, etc can be counted.
Everyone desires to have flawless skin free from blemishes although we know that it is not possible for anyone to hold the youthful look after we reach a certain age but still people do anything to keep themselves young and impressive. For such people and also to those who have not started the process of skin treatment, aromatherapy is a good choice for a skin care treatment. First and foremost thing that you need to do to bring the effects of aromatherapy to the maximum is to shoo off stress.
Aromatherapy to reduce stress involves the application of herbs or essential oils all over the skin are really helpful. Aromatherapy for your skin care treatment starts with steaming your face that creates a good ground for your effective facial treatment. Use aromatherapy skin care product to cleanse your face making it free from bacteria followed by scrubber and face mask that will help you to rejuvenate, and renew your natural beauty. One of the most effective face mask that is easy to prepare is a fruit mask made from papaya. Papaya facial is one of he most effective and instant result oriented mask. Preparation involves mashing up a fresh papaya and sieving into a bowl and applying the paste on the clean skin, leaving it for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with warm water, followed by cold water to close pores. Further to reduce puffiness, fine lines and other aging problems employ cold compress. Everything is so easy and simple!