Use of Essential Oils: Aromatherapy Store

Essential Oils can be applied in the following ways:                                            

Massage 

Essential oils are easily absorbed through the skin and work great when massaged into the skin. Add five drops of your favourite essential oil to your carrier oil and shake well. Rub the mixture between your hands and massage the area of your choice. TIP: if you rub the oil into the soles of your feet, it will penetrate every cell in your body in 20 minutes.

Inhaling 

There are two main ways that you can inhale essential oils. Place a few drops on a tissue or handkerchief and sniff. Alternatively, add a few drops to a bowl of very hot water, place a towel over your head and breathe in deeply for three to five minutes. Remember to keep you eyes closed. TIP: do not inhale straight from the bottle; some oils are so concentrated that they can burn the smell receptors inside your nose.

Compressors

Compressors are applied directly to a cut, injury, sprain, pain or used to rid headaches. Add five to 10 drops of essential oil to 100mls of warm water. Soak a cloth or cotton ball in the water, squeeze off the excess water and apply to the affected part.

Oil Burners         

Fill an oil burner of your choice (usually a small bowl above a tea light candle) with three quarters of water and add three to five drops of essential oils.  This is a wonderful way to fragrant a room and you still receive the benefits of aromatherapy through inhaling the perfumed air.

Baths 

Aromatic baths can be detoxifying, relaxing or reviving – it all depends on the essential oils that you use. Add two to four drops of oil to a warm bath and stir until the oil is evenly dispersed.  10 minutes in the scented water should do the trick. TIP: You don’t have to bath your whole body, why not try a foot or hand bath.

General uses of oils include:

• Cosmetic and perfumes
• Mediation
• Enhances the aesthetics of your environment
• Hydrotherapy
• Massage
• Spiritual healing
• Psychotherapy
• Holistic healing

Use of Essential Oils with Water

You can easily dispel your fatigue, revive your doomed spirits, and get red of foul body odour by dropping a few drops of essential oils in lukewarm bathing water. Your tired nerves and muscles can be soothed, pain dispelled, gives freshing and amiable look to your skin if you use such oil mixed with winter. You can use a few drops in sauna bath, to boost up your spirits.

Steam inhalation is another excellent source. Put in a few drops of essential oil (s) in a boiling pan or kettle and cover your head and face with a tea-towel and inhale the medicated vapours which will relieve you of chest congestions, trapped phlegm, nasal congestions and colds. It will also serve as a facial provided your skin is not highly sensitive to any of the ingredients. If you feel discomfort able by steam vapours, you can sprinkle 4-5 drops of the requisite essential oil on your hanky or shaving towel and inhale the smell to get rid of the said disorders, though your nose and mouth will be in direct touch with the oil, yet your eyes will remain safe. Such essential oils can also boost up your doomed spirits, give you a ‘lift’ and relieve your anxiety.

Use of Essential Oils with Vaporisers

In order to yield optimum benefits, pour water in a utensil which should be heated on burner/stove/candle. Main aim and purpose is to generate requisite heat so that molecules ofessential oils reach out to the room’s atmosphere. Pour a few drops in the hot water and let the vapours reach out to every nook and corner of the room. Purpose, behind such exercises, is to drive out bad/foul smell from the room so as to make it is better living, germ-free, foul odour free room. It will have soothing, refreshing, deodorizing, fragrant effect. Use of light-bulb ring is merely a luxury-it may have aromatic effect, but no therapeutic effect, so to say. Such methods create moods, fresh the air, make room environment more attractive to lovers, visitors, and friends and drive away undesirable germs. Geranium, Sandalwood, Patcholi. Oils may be used direct onto the skin as perfumes.

Use of oils in Massage

Depending on type of ailment, oils may be added to light vegetable oil/talcum powder, after seeking an herbalist’s expert opinion as to what kind of oil could be added to carrier oil, in order to get resignation from specific illnesses/disorder. A condensed list of therapeutic uses of oils is given below, care must betaken to see your skin in not allergic to smell and or local application of oil otherwise adverse reactions are likely to ensure.

Clary Sage

Mental fatigue, Nervous tension, depression, anxiety Premenstrual syndrome, menstrual pain, flatulence, indigestion.

Lavender

Flatulence, indigestion, colic, diarrhoea, high blood pressure, palpitation, breathlessness, headaches (especially nervous or/and tension headaches, flatulence, indigestion.

Rosemary

Muscular Aches and pains, Nervous tension, Premenstrual syndrome, headache, colitis, indigestion, flatulence, catarrh, congestion due to sinus.

Tea Tree

Catarrh, colds, Cough, Thrush, Cystitis, insect stings/bites, cold sores, Acne, Athlete’s foot.

Sandalwood

Bronchitis, Laryngitis, Sore throats, Acne, Eczema, cystitis, Insomnia, Depression.

Peppermint

Catarrh, headache and Migraines caused by digestive upsets and problems, Indigestion, flatulence.

Note : In certain individual carrier oil may suit one’s body but essential oils may not or Vice Versa. Unless suitability of carrier and essential oils has been clearly established, neither type of the oils should ever by used.

Cautions:

• German chamomile should not be used in pregnancy. It may cause dermatitis in some cases.
• Do not give peppermint to children below 12, and must not be used while Homeopathic treatment continues. Use in low duration.
• If you are suffering from Epilepsy, high blood pressure and during pregnancy.

Above-mentioned cautions apply equally to oral/local use, in massage, inhalation, infusion.

I read somewhere about massage with mustard oil.

When full body is massaged, stress should be laid on all the parts equally, of course keeping in mind tenderness of some specific parts. If there is pain and swelling anywhere in the body, the affected part should be massaged very gently. If there is no allegic reaction, do not forget to mix 4-5 drops of essential oil with the carrier oil so as to enhance its efficacy. No bleeding, open, punctured area of the body should ever be massaged. A little care will bestow immense yield but even slight carelessness can dispel doom-hence always use your discretion.

Benefits of Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

Each essential oil has its own unique healing and therapeutic properties. Overall, aromatherapy can: • Reduce stress, depression or anxiety • Relieve migraine and headaches • Help with poor circulation • Assist with pain and swelling • Reduce the severity of common colds and flu • Aid burns and skin conditions, such as acne and eczema • Relieve hypertension • Assist with respiratory conditions • Alleviate flatulence and digestive problems, such as indigestion • Control bladder infections • Reduce pre-menstrual and menopausal symptoms • Calm nausea and motion sickness • Relax muscles • Act as a natural aphrodisiac • Enhance memory • Helps you relax and sleep Therapeutic Benefits of Aromatherapy Essential Oil Virtue Key Health Condition Skin Type BASIL Ocimum basilicum Focusing Headache relief Congested skin BERGAMOT Citrus aurantium Uplifting Stress Relief Acne CEDARWOOD Cedrus Atlas Stabilising Flu Relief Dandruff CLARY SAGE Salvia sclarea Uplifting PMS Relief Mature Skin EUCALYPTUS AUST. Eucalyptus radiata Energising Cold relief Cold sores FRANKINCENSE Boswellia carteri Grouding Stress relief Mature skin GERANIUM Pelargonium graveolens Balancing PMS Relief Combination skin GRAPEFRUIT Citrus paradisi Refreshing Detoxifying Congested skin LAVENDER AUST. Lavandula angustifolia Relaxing Stress relief Inflammed skin LEMON AUSTRALIA Citrus limonum Refreshing Cold relief Oily skin, warts LEMONGRASS Cymbopogan flexuosus Invigorating Detoxifying Acne ( low dilution) LIME Citrus aurantifolia Uplifting Disgestive Oily skin MANDARIN Citrus madurensis Soothing Nerve tonic Acne MARJORAMSWEET Origanum Marjorana Sedating Insomina Bruises MYRRH Commiphora myrrha Fortifying Mouth ulcer relief Mature skin ORANGE SWEET Citrus sinensis Joyful Nerve tonic Oily skin PATCHOULI Pogostemon cablin Sensual Antiseptic Scars PEPPERMINT PREMIUM Mentha piperita Reviving Digestive Hot, itchy skin ROSE – 3% in Jojoba Rosa centifolia Nurturing PMS relief Mature skin ROSEMARY Rosmarinus officinalis Awakening Muscular relief Dull hair SANDALWOOD – AUSTRALIAN Santalum spicatum Stabilising Stress relief Cracked, dry skin TEA TREE Melaleuca alternifolia Cleansing Antiseptic Infections & fungus TANGERINE Citrus reticulate Refreshing Nerve tonic Acne YLANG YLANG Cananga odorata Sensual Aphrodisiac Combination skin

Aromatherapy: History of Aromatherapy, Aromatherapy Benefits

Aromatherapy Information

Aromatherapy has an interesting history behind its origin. The word 'Aromatherapy' was coined in the 1920s by a French chemist named Rene Maurice Gattefosse, who devoted his life to researching the healing properties of essential oils.In an accident in his perfume laboratory, he lit his arm on fire and thrust it into the nearest cold liquid, which happened to be a vat of lavender oil. Much to his amazement, the burn quickly healed without a scar. And the science of aromatherapy was thus born. Aromatherapy, commonly associated with complementary and alternative medicine, is the use of volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils, and other aromatic compounds from plants, to affect someone's mood or health. In recent years, it has gained in popularity due to continuing research and increasing acceptability.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are liquids that are generally distilled (usually by steam or water) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils, in spite of being called so, seldom resemble oils and are not 'oily'. Most essential oils are clear. However, some oils such as patchouli, orange and lemongrass have an amber or yellow color. Essential oilscontain the true essence of the plant it was derived from.These oils are highly concentrated and pure in nature, and just a few drops suffice in most cases. It is necessary to remember that essential oils are not the same as perfume or fragrance oils. Rather these oils are natural extracts that are derived from plants, whereas perfume oils are artificially created fragrances and do not offer the therapeutic benefits that essential oils do.

Some Essential Oils Explained

The most well-known essential oil is probably Rose oil, also known as Rosa Damascena. The steam-distilled variant of this oil, known as rose 'otto' or 'attar of roses', is usually dark olive-green in color and forms white crystals at normal room temperature which disappear when the oil is gently warmed. Some of the other popular essential oils include.


The Sweet Almond oil, which is considered an all-purpose oil
The Apricot Kernel oil which is helpful in massage blends
Avocado, Olive, Sesame and Macadamia Nut oil
The Evening Primrose oil, an excellent choice for treating many skin conditions
Cocoa Butter, which is suitable for use in lotions and creams
Hazelnut oil, packed with goodness for oily skin
Jojoba oil or wax, with its very long shelf-life
Peanut oil, which is good for massage blends and arthritis

Benefits of Aromatherapy Types of Products

The chemical composition and aroma of essential oils can provide valuable psychological and physical therapeutic benefits. These aromatherapy benefits are usually achieved through methods including inhalation and application of the diluted oil to the skin. The oils are diluted with a carrier oil (sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, grape-seed oil) and then this blend is applied to the skin for absorption. Careful inhalation of the oils can also provide therapeutic benefit as the oil molecules enter the lungs and are absorbed into the bloodstream. Some essential oils can even get rid of warts.

A guide to Buying Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Products

Essential oils can vary greatly in quality and price. Various factors that can affect the quality and price of the oil include the rarity of the plant, the country and conditions that the plant was grown in, quality standards of the distiller, and how much oil is produced by the plant. Essential oilscan often be purchased as blends of several essential oils. The advantage if it is a blend of pure essential oils is that, you can save from having to buy every essential oil individually. The disadvantage is that, you have no control over the blend because you are not mixing yourself, nor can you reliably mix the blend with other oils. The choice is yours.

Aromatherapy Products: Aromatherapy Essential Oils Store

Aromatherapy is the uses of pure essential oils, which are highly fragrant, have volatile substance in them to heal and rejuvenate the body and mind. These oils are taken out of the most potent and concentrated extracts of various parts of flowers, fruits, stems, leaves, roots and the spices. In aromatherapy, the most common method of solvent extraction is steam distillation. These essential oils consist of chemical compounds, which contain hydrogen, carbon and oxygen in their building blocks. These oils, which are taken out from the various parts of the plants and flowers, are not only used for healing but also used in cosmetics, perfumes and to add flavor to the food. Many people believe that aromatherapy is a branch of herbal medicine. In medical form aromatherapy is used in three ways as physical, mental and spiritual. Most of the spa uses all essential oils only to use for their various treatments depending on their healing extracts. The fragrance of the aroma oils has been used to influence and help the emotional moods as some good aroma oils are known to relieve the stress and they are available in form of candles also.

Some primary essential oils used in aromatherapy for different purposes are:

Monoterpenes-these oils are used to heal some ailments and skin problems. They are highly irritating to the skin if directly applied on the skin. They are combined with some other extracts when they have to be used on the skin. Examples of Monoterpenes essential oils are lemon, pine, frankincense, orange etc.

Aldehydes-they have antiseptic substance in them and are highly used for antiseptic purposes. They are used in herbal antiseptic medicines, soaps and lotions too. Examples are Melissa, lemongrass and citronellas.

Esters-they have high aroma in them and are very sedating and pleasing. They are used to heal moods and stress levels. While doing meditation and spa people use these aroma oils. These rich fragrance oils are used in aroma candles, soaps and perfumes too. Examples are sandal, lavender, rose, clary sage and bergamot.

Oxides-these oils are used to tackle bacterial diseases. They are added in packs and lotions to be used on acne, pimples and other fungal disease. They are highly bactericidal. Examples are rosemary, tea tree, mint etc.

Phenols-these essential oils are also bactericidal and strongly stimulation. They are highly irritating if directly applied on the skin. Some of these oils are clove, thyme, camphor and oregano.

Alcohol-these oils are very antiseptic, anti virus and have highly uplifting qualities. They are used in medication, in healing cough and cold. Examples of these oils are rose, geranium, garlic and rose.

These essential oils are different from the other oils-essential oils are non-fatty oils whereas vegetable oils are fatty ones. These two oils are totally different from each other. Vegetables oils are eatables while none of the essential oils are eatable. Essential oils have to be kept in perfect preservation as they change equally when exposed to the air. All essential oils, which are used in aromatherapy, are soluble in vegetable oils, which are fatty and are not light. None of the essential oil can be sued directly on the skin for any usage or treatment. They have to be mixed in other fatty oils so that they can be used safely on the skin with no side effects and could give the sufficient desired benefit to the skin. These other oils known as carrier oils, fatty oils or vegetable oils are used in synergy with essential oils. When they are combined together they nourish the skin and get absorbed easily by it.

Essential oils used in aromatherapy are highly recommended for some beauty treatments, ailments such as cough, cold, allergies and certain pains. They are extremely good for healing purposes, body massages. Most of the people these days prefer to use things contain essential oils. As they trust the effect of these oils.

Essential oils have to kept carefully. They are expensive and require more care than other oils. In a proper airtight bottle, essential oils kept in a shelf for at much as 5 to 7 years. Exposure to sun and air damages the essential oils and spoils the quality. Make sure that you preserve the essential oils at a secure place where there is no sunlight or air to spoil their quality. When there are temperature changes, keep a check on them, as they are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. They should be kept at a dry cool place where you can maintain a healthy temperature. If kept well, essential oils can be used years after years for your benefit.

One should take certain precautions while using the aroma oils. As they are sensitive and highly irritable if directly applied on the skin, one should be careful about the way one is using them. They should never be applied internally and without sufficient knowledge about them. One should know well, which essential oil is meant for what purpose. Do not use such oils on kids or infants. Certain essential oils increase sensitivity to the skin so they should always be applied after reading the instructions on their label. Some of the oils have not to be applied in the sunlight so keep it in mind when using such oils. Do not use these oils on cuts or burn and keep away from the eyes. If you are already facing some health hazards then do not experiment with any of the essential oils without the knowledge of the health care provider.

When proper knowledge and safety have been taken while using the aromatherapy, it can give you extremely beneficial results in treating your beauty and ailments.