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Ideas To Keep Aromatherapy In Your Life

July 3rd, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Aromatherapy has picked up legions of followers over the years. It is now possible to buy scented candles and sachets just about anywhere. You can treat yourself to your favorite fragrance in a variety of ways. There is an entire universe of aromatherapy oils and ideas for you to explore. Try some of the following ideas to enhance your life with aromatherapy.

One way to expand the use of aromatherapy is to spray a few pages of your planner with your favorite essential oils. Be sure to dilute the oils so they will not ruin the paper in your planner. Every time you open your planner to note another challenging assignment, you will trigger the release of a surge of refreshing, vitalizing fragrance. It will give you inspiration and strengthen your resolve. You can also add essential oils to notepads and even memos.

Another way of empowering yourself with aromatherapy is by applying your signature fragrance frequently. Place a few drops on your wrists and behind your ears. Pulse points are ideal places to drop your fragrance because when your pulse quickens, your skin heats up releasing a fresh wave of the fragrance. You will also be emboldened by spritzing your hair with your signature fragrance, allowing it to envelop your presence.

Work aromatherapy into your laundry by adding lemon and chamomile to the final rinse of your washer. You can also make your very own dryer sheets by adding a few drops of oil to strips of old diapers or old socks. Lavender and chamomile will make linens and towels smell fresh.

It is also a good idea to invest in a diffuser for your bathroom. Diffusers come in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors. You can also find fountain style diffusers. Large diffusers can be used as a focal point for a room and smaller diffusers can be used in the bedroom or on your desk.

Another great way to incorporate aromatherapy into your daily life is to scrap the wet wipes and nappy gym towel. Make your own towellettes that will fit a variety of uses. Save the hydrosols when you extract or distill your own natural oils. Soak small terrycloth towels in hydrosols. They can be frozen for later use.

The ideas for implementing aromatherapy into your daily life are endless. The possibilities extend as far as your imagination and willingness to experiment with aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy - Using Essential Oils For Good Health

July 3rd, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Aromatherapy oils or essential oils have been around for thousands of years based on accounts that place the first uses of aromatherapy in 3,000 BC by the Egyptian people. The primary uses of aromatherapy oils and essential oils then was for embalming, cosmetics and medicinal purposes.

From the Egyptians the aromatherapy knowledge was then passed to the Greeks who took it to the next level with several discoveries regarding the physical effects of fragrances, herbs and flowers.

This knowledge was passed on to the Greeks and served as the basis for more discoveries, including the relaxing and stimulating effects of the fragrance of some flowers. Going back further, ancient man’s dependence on the environment for all his basic needs and survival led him to discover natural ways of food preservation and the treatment of various conditions using herbs and aromatics.

These days aromatherapy is almost synonymous with the alternative medicines definition of good health. Party because of the increase in costs of conventional medicine such as surgery and medicare and partly due to a better understanding of how aromatherapy works, these processes have been gaining a significant amount of attention and popularity.

The primary benefits of aromatherapy have to do with providing the basis for physical, mental and spiritual well being. All this achieved through entirely natural means. The primary components of aromatherapy are oils, aromatherapy oils or most commonly referred to as essential oils.

The oils are made from different plants and herbs, fruit, flowers bark and other types of organic materials. According to experts it is not easy to get the essential oils from the plants. It is a tough and time consuming process that requires expertise and patience. It is also expensive. For instance, to make a single 10ml of oil requires the processing of 220 pounds of rose pedals.

Blending Your Own Aromatherapy Sprays And Mists

July 3rd, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

When people first encounter aromatherapy, they often find themselves wondering how to use the oils they adore so much. It’s one thing to smell rose absolute from the container, but we don’t buy essential oils to let them sit in their beautiful cobalt bottles. We want to use them! And as anyone who has fallen in love with an essential oil knows, we want them around us all of the time. One way to achieve this is to venture into making your own aromatherapy sprays. It’s easy, inexpensive and can be a way for the whole family to enjoy the therapeutic effects of essential oils.

Many of the commercial room deodorizers found on the market end up making us feel overpowered because they contain synthetic fragrances. While room sprays can be a delightful way to change the feel of a space, the wrong scent can make a room feel oppressive rather than cheerful. Medicinal-quality aromatherapy oils have the opposite effect. Rather than just covering up annoying odors, essential oils actually alter the energy of a room, giving us the healing benefits we’ve all come to love.

Essential oil sprays contain a mixture of oils, water and, sometimes, witch hazel. To create your own, all you need are your own oils, purified water and spray bottles. Since aromatic oils don’t do well with too much light exposure, try to find amber or cobalt blue bottles to keep your blends fresh. When filling with water, find the purest water possible to avoid the risk of compromising your blend with chemicals, such as chlorine. Also, if you want to store your blends for more than two months, it’s a good idea to mix in a splash of witch hazel. This extract from the plant Hamamelis virginiana provides natural preservation of your aromatic oils. Next, the best part - your oils!

With so many aromatic oils to choose from, you can create an endless variety of sprays for your home, office or car. When considering which oils to buy, always seek the highest quality you can afford. You will need to use less oil, and the healing benefits of the oil will increase ten-fold if you choose a superior oil. Therapeutic-grade oils satisfy our senses in ways inferior oils simply cannot. Excellent oils make the mind feel bright and provide instantaneous changes in the body. This is because the body/mind connection is immediately felt with essential oils. That’s why we want to make the most of the oils we have and choose the best we can find.

Any essential oil can be turned into a spray, but some are even better than others. The citrus oils, like mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, lime and tangerine, make great misters. Citrus oils give your environment an instant facelift, turning a tired room into a bright sanctuary. These pleasing oils can be mixed with sharp-smelling oils like eucalyptus, rosemary verbenone, myrtle or peppermint for a balanced blend. Just remember, citrus oils can cause skin reactions if they are exposed to sun, so keep these blends indoors.

The family of aromatic oils that includes cedar, sandalwood, juniper, spruce, balsam fir and black spruce are also well-loved oils as room sprays. These pines and woods are grounding, while at the same time, they make our spirits feel buoyant and calm. They can be particularly nourishing in wintertime, when we are not as capable of being outside. These oils, different from floral or fruity aromas, lend a space a gentle scent reminiscent of incense or oil resins.

Now on to the production. When mixing ingredients, start with water. If you want to use witch hazel, mix the water and witch hazel in a 4 to 1 ratio. Next, place anywhere from 4 to 16 drops of essential oil in one ounce of liquid and shake. The blend will separate and needs to be shaken each time you use it. Any essential oil can be turned into a spray, but some oils are thicker than others (such as myrrh) and need to be thoroughly mixed before spraying.

When blending your own scents, start with a few drops and increase in number to make sure you enjoy the mix. Just remember that strong oils, like peppermint, black pepper or cinnamon, are intense once atomized. Only use a few drops of oil, and you should run no risk of irritating your nose, eyes or throat. Also, it’s usually a good idea to avoid essential oils that have been mixed with carrier oils. These mixtures may clog your spray bottle, as carrier oils do not evaporate the way essential oils do.

Blending aromatherapy room sprays is an easy, enjoyable way to introduce children to the benefits of plant medicine as well. There are, however, a few guidelines to remember when creating sprays for children. For example, always opt for less oil in a spray intended for children than you would for an adult. Soft oils like sandalwood, lavender, rose and Roman chamomile are great for children, as are rosalina, lemon tea tree and vanilla. In fact, vanilla is one of the most calming oils in the aromatherapy repertoire. If a peaceful night’s sleep is what your child needs (or what you need, for that matter!) 2 drops of Roman chamomile and 2 drops of lavender in one ounce of carrier water will help. Just spray this in the child’s room. Only remember, essential oils should NEVER be misted in a child’s face.

Don’t forget that these sprays can also be adapted for use as natural perfume or deodorant. Simply choose oils that are non-irritating to the skin and mix in the same way you would a room spray. A few delectable oils to consider: jasmine, rose, sandalwood, vetiver or neroli all make wonderful personal sprays. Just avoid spraying near the eyes or face. Also, any oil you’re using for therapeutic purposes can be diluted in a water/witch hazel mixture and applied as needed throughout the day. If you want your scents on the go, pocket- and purse-size misters are a great way to freshen up, calm down or revive in the middle of a long day.

Essential oils are extremely versatile. Once you find a group of oils you love, don’t be afraid to try your hand at making your own blends or creating your own unique applications. After all, nature is a banquet of scents! Room and body sprays are an easy way to make your oils last a long time, and they can be created with any combination of oils you can imagine. The investment is low, they take virtually minutes to concoct, and you can use a different spray in every room of the house. For those of us who cannot imagine life without aromatherapy, sprays ensure we always have a mist of our beloved healing scents close by. Spray and enjoy!

Sunscreen: a must have item this summer

July 3rd, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

As the temperature rises, swimming suits and shorts come out of the closet, flip flops get dusted off, and all thoughts of winter are left behind. Summertime means yards work outside, days at the beach, and outside fun with the family. However, the intense summer sun can cause skin damage and cancer, so using sunscreen is a daily necessity, especially during all those outside activities.

The purpose of a sunscreen is to block the harmful UVA and UVB radiation from the sun. This radiation damages all skin types, from those who are fair to those who have a dark complexion or tan easily. In fact, a reliable sunscreen is necessary even on a cloudy day because the cloud layer does not block this radiation. All sunscreens carry a Sun Protection Factor or SPF. The SPF rating shows how the product performs in protecting against UVB radiation. Wearing a sunscreen of SPF 15 daily will help prevent the sun’s damaging effects. It is recommended to apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. During the summer most people flock to the beaches, so some sunscreens are designed to be water-proof or sweat-proof.

Most of the sunscreens available on the market block damaging radiation through a concoction of different chemical ingredients. These products are normally in the forms of creams or sprays. Once sunscreen is applied onto the skin, the chemicals work to both reflect and scatter the radiation, or absorb it. In recent years, there have been many questions raised about the safety and effectiveness of these chemicals. Some scientists claim these chemicals produce free radicals, which actually increase skin damage and the risk of skin cancer, rather than lowering it. Another concern is that these synthetic chemicals may accumulate in the human body, and can actually reach the blood stream by being absorbed through the skin. Since the goal of using a sunscreen is to protect the body, and not harm it, many consumers have turned to using organic sunscreen to protect their families.

Organic sunscreens, like Weleda, use a combination of naturally occurring herbs, plant proteins, and minerals to provide sun protection. Some organic sunscreens are infused with vitamins to benefit your skin. Different types of organic sunscreens are available including creams, sprays, and powders which all carry appropriate SPF ratings. Organic powder sunscreens are mineral based, and are perfect for everyday protection. Minerals commonly found in organic sunscreen are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. One advantage of choosing the organic sunscreens over the chemical ones is they reduce the risk of skin irritation. Those with sensitive skin will especially benefit from the skin soothing properties of organic ingredients.

Before you hit the beach this summer it is imperative you remember to apply a quality sunscreen. The varieties of organic and chemical based sunscreens are endless. Choose a sunscreen that is good for your skin, has an appropriate SPF rating, and is designed for your activity. Using this must have item now, will benefit your skin for years to come.

Can Facials Help Clear Up my Skin?

July 3rd, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

The face is the focal point of the body. It is, for the most part, where people are looking the most when they are talking to a person. With this evident, it should be taken care of as much as possible. Unfortunately, there are many people that are struggling with the condition of their skin. There are a plethora of reasons why this may be, from diet ranging all the way to genetics. Luckily, there are many methods that a person can take to improve the quality of the skin, such as a facialsl.

Don’t Worry! The facial has been seen as a method to improve skin for years, and the results are amazing. Many people have taken up this relaxing technique for years, and the proof is in the pudding. The goal of the facial is mostly seen as a method to relax the body and mind, but the process also has much to due in the improvement of the skin. The products used in the treatments are usually pretty great, and they are generally leading brands in the field of skin care.

Extractions are widely accepted as the best way for a facial to really help the quality of the skin, and can usually be the difference between a regular facial and just a relaxation facial. Many say that it is probably the best idea to have a facial performed every month and a half to make for the best results, and the results really are amazing!

Education and Better Skin Even after the process of the facial is said and done, there is also the knowledge that one gains after the procedure. Estheticians are ones that are quite knowledgeable about the skin, and they can provide excellent information conducive in possessing the skin that the person considers their personal best. One of the biggest steps in fighting bad skin is education, and when used in conjunction with a relaxing facial, they will find that they look better than they ever have.

The facial is amazing on all three of these levels. Not only is it relaxing, it also has the potential to make for better skin, as well as the people providing information on making the skin live up its fullest potential. With this said, there is simply why people would not want to go out and get one as soon as possible, as we all can use better quality skin!

There are many different ways to achieve optimal skin care, and while they may work, there is simply nothing better for the skin and the mind than a facial. And when choosing to use products, there is no telling what may happen to the skin without adequate help. When consulting the help of professionals, there will be less of a chance of wasting money on a product that will not particularly work for a specific type of skin.

Just like in anything endeavor, it’s always best to have the opinion of someone who knows exactly what they are doing when making a tough decision.

An Essential Guide To Healing Yourself Naturally

July 2nd, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Many of us will have been taught to hide or cure our physical symptoms on our own, or even to have surgery or medication to get rid of them. When we actually do this, we are telling our subconciousness that, as an individual, we aren’t important, and we insist that we haven’t the time to heal ourselves naturally. But, if we look at the first symptoms that we have had, then we can treat these as the first indication that something is untoward. We can treat ourselves with natural remedies and cure most of our health related issues. You will find that your body will tell you the truth and you will learn from your own emotions and challenges.

When I looked at myself in the mirror I could see that my own emotional pain was a “physical art form,” and it could transform before my very eyes to cure a devastating disease. By the time I was 35, I was comfortable in my new clothes, home and car. There were a number of different large firms who hired me to help complex business problems they were going through, and it was common for me to work 12 hour days.

However, one day came and it was all over. I was with a medical specialist who diagnosed me with rosacea - an incurable, deforming, disfiguring facial skin disease. By treating myself as a machine that would continue non-stop had caught up with me. I would see no mercy from the disease as it continued to worsen over the next 5 years. All of my financial resources were spent going to medical specialists and naturopathic practitioners - I wanted to understand how my own immune system could heal and repair my own body.

I concluded that the body is a natural system, so I chose to avoid medications. Fifty doctors later, I was still searching for those same answers. I was determined to prove that the inherent intelligence within me knew how to heal me, after six years I began to doubt my core belief.

By the time I had reached 40, my skin was red and looked inflamed, and I would need to rid myself of boils on a daily basis. Also, the sight was going in my eyes and I could not read or drive any longer. This made a huge impact on the dreams I had about travelling and seeing the world, and I came to realise why people actually take their own lives because of the pain they are going through.

A few years later I went to visit a Chinese doctor who diagnosed me with something different from the other physicians. He believed the disease was not simply just my face, but included the natural biological rhythms of my body being out of harmony. He said this resulted in my face being directly affected due to emotional fear and stress. Also, he saw other signs that my body was exhausted when he examined me. He said that my body looked frail, and that I should find peace at whatever price. I was so glad that he had given me a different opinion.

After this encounter I decided to begin emotional therapy. I first addressed the fears which had consumed me since my diagnoses, and then went back further through my past. I looked to face my work addiction and decided that I needed to treat my mental disease of being a workaholic - as I had denied a lot of personal things in life. I had felt a personal feeling of worthiness and thus needed to push the addiction forward. I wanted to stay busy and this resulted in exhaustion which caused me to feel angry and resentful because I had done this. I had served others for many years and this had impacted negatively on me and I didn’t stop doing it until my friends stopped me.

I shared my story for a number of years with other people, and I had cried and tried to release some of the pent-up emotion inside, and I also became heavily involved with the local community. I came across a miracle that I healed my body naturally and without taking any medication, which meant my scars disappeared and my eye sight returned to normal. I followed a healthy diet and exercise regularly which helped my body in the transformation - something that we should all trust in ourselves.

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