Showing posts with label Essential Oils. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Essential Oils. Show all posts

Aromatherapy Massage is different to other types of massage, as it uses essential plant oils that have reputed health benefits.  The health benefits vary depending on the essential oil you select as the following examples will show. Aromatherapy essences are mixed with a base oil and soothingly rubbed into your skin during an Aromatherapy Massage. Your skin absorbs the nutrients of the essential oil into your blood stream. This works internal benefits as well as the scent itself, which can relax you or rejuvenate your mind depending on the oil’s qualities.


 


 


Those suffering a specific ailment may choose to have an Aromatherapy Massage. It is different from a straight-forward massage, such as a Swedish massage, due to the addition of healing qualities in the essential oils; qualities sourced from the plants they are extracted from.


 


 


Here are some common essential oils along with associated ailments:


 


 


Chamomile – for stress and soothing skin problems – used for stress relief, skin irritations such as sun burn, and credited with reducing inflammation and urinary tract problems.


 


 


Eucalyptus – congestion and respiratory problems – many people use this oil for steam baths to clear the nasal passages. Using this oil in a massage has the same effect but you also get the benefit of your skin absorbing the oil. It helps clear the lungs from congestion; very useful for a chesty cough.


 


 


Lavender – stress and anxiety – Lavender has been used for hundreds of years as a natural therapy to help you sleep at night, relieve stress and reduce anxiety. The scent is very calming and your skin feels soothed when your masseur applies this Aromatherapy oil.


 


 


Ylang-Ylang – headaches and low sex drive – The scent and feeling of Ylang Ylang is very stimulating and after a massage you may feel more sensual and stimulated. The stimulation of this oil can release painful headaches; essential for improving your wellbeing.


 


 


This above is only a few of the most popular aromatherapy oils you can choose as a complementary treatment with a massage. Be aware though, some aromatherapy oils are not recommended for some medical conditions or for those who are pregnant.  It is always wise to tell your therapist if you are pregnant or have a medical condition, in order to ensure you get the full wellness benefits from an aromatherapy massage and prevent any contra-indications.


 


 

Essential oils are a great way to help improve your wellness and wellbeing, and unlike many conventional forms of therapy, there is no environmental impact.


If you don’t know anything about essential oils, however, it can be difficult to work out where to start with it all. The best thing to do is to purchase some kind of reference guide. There are numerous useful guides on the market, and these take you through the history of the essential oils and detail the benefits and multiple uses of each one. There are often recipes for using essential oils in homemade body and bath products.


Oils are generally listed alphabetically and by their common name, and then the pages go into further details about extraction methods, properties (such as anti-inflammatory or sedative, for example), chemical constituents and any folklore connected with that oil. Sometimes there are even examples of historical uses or bible references.


A good book will also indicate which systems in the body are affected by the particular oil listed and whether it is generally thought to be safe for internal consumption. Any other safety information is usually included too, such as whether the oil can be used during pregnancy, or whether people with diabetes or epilepsy can use the oil.


There is usually information about oil blends, too. Some oils do a great job on their own, whilst others react really usefully with other oils, to create blends that can have a beneficial effect on the human body.


Many books will also have a reference guide, where conditions are listed and users can then look up their personal health problem and find out which oils can help. Suggested oils are listed for many different types of mental and physical conditions.


 

Aromatherapy may not seem like it packs a real punch for your wellbeing, but this complementary wellness therapy comes up smelling of roses. In fact, there are four major ailments that aromatherapy can really help.


 


1. Dry Skin – Although it seems like something you just have to put up with, leaving dry skin to go untreated can have a more serious impact on your wellbeing. You could even develop skin diseases such as psoriasis or eczema, so it’s worth getting it checked out and trying out one of the many skin-wellness essential oils. Get your hands on a pure, unscented lotion, and add a few drops of lavender, geranium, neroli, rosemary and rose, frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, peppermint, chamomile, carrot seed or helichrysum. This allows your skin to absorb the healing oils.


 


2. Depression – If you’ve ever walked into a kitchen when someone is in the middle of baking, or sniffed the top of a baby’s head, you know how a good smell can lift your mood, and essential oils are really effective when used in conjunction with traditional medicine. For depression, try using oils such as bergamot, ylang-ylang, cinnamon, lavender, jasmine, sandalwood and rose in a bath or as part of a massage. You might also like to carry some oils around with you for a quick pick-me-up.


 


3. Pregnancy-Related Issues – As unnecessary use of traditional medication is inadvisable for pregnant women, essential oils can be a real life-saver. Try to massage your aching back with a few drops of lavender and sandalwood mixed in with some base oil, or use rose and orange oil mixed with sweet almond oil to give relief to sore breasts. For swollen ankles, massage your feet with a few drops of benzoin, rose and orange mixed with base oil.


 


4. Weak Immune System – Bathing in essential oils such as rosemary, tea tree, grapefruit and thyme are great supporters of the immune system, but these oils really start stimulating your immune system when used as part of a lymphatic massage. Starting at your arms, rub the oil up to the lymph nodes in your armpits, then up your neck from the centre of your chest. Then cover your lower body, starting at the feet and working up to your groin.

Health articles and experts are constantly praising fish oils and the benefits that they can provide to your body. However, why is there such a hype surrounding these oils and are they really as good for you as people claim? Omega-3 fatty acids are the oils found in oily fish, such as salmon or mackerel, as well as flax seeds, walnuts and canola oil. The highest concentration of the oils can be found in fish, but the other sources can provide healthy doses of these nutrients as well if you don’t eat fish. Nutritionists claim that omega-3 fatty acids are vital for your health, helping to keep your joints lubricated, your brain healthy and your heart working efficiently.  There have been many studies into the effects of these oils on our health. More and more experts are recommending these oils to their patients in order to boost their health, but how healthy are they really? And what do we really know about the effects of essential oils on our health?


 


The American Heart Association advises that everyone should consume omega-3 fatty acids from fish or plant sources in order to protect their heart. Research shows that essential oils can help to decrease your risk of sudden death from heart disease, decrease the development of plaque formation on the heart, lower the risk of a blood clot, improve the health of your arteries and lower triglyceride levels in the blood, which is a type of cholesterol.  Fish oils have also been proven to be helpful in preventing strokes, prostate cancer, colon cancer, high blood pressure and rheumatoid arthritis. In an interesting study recently carried out in England, pregnant women who consumed two to three servings of fish each week throughout their pregnancies gave birth to children with higher IQs than those who didn’t. There are numerous benefits to omega-3 oils, but there are also various different forms of this beneficial nutrient. The active forms found exclusively in fish are known as eicosapentaenoic or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA). You can eat fresh or canned fish to get your dose of oils, as well as plant sources. Flax-seeds and flax-seed oil contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which is converted in the liver into active EPA and DHA. Supplements are also an option if you’re struggling to get enough omega-3 oils from your diet alone.


There are risks to eating fish. Mercury levels in fish could be toxic to the nervous system, and may be especially harmful to children and babies. There are certain types of fish which may be best avoided in large quantities due to the levels of mercury they contain, such as king mackerel, tile-fish and shark. People who suffer from bleeding problems or blood thinning should also avoid fish oil, as it thins the blood further. Studies suggest that fish oil could elevate your cholesterol levels so you should check with your GP beforehand to ensure that it is safe for you to take. Fish oils can be hugely beneficial to your health, but in certain cases they may carry risks. The best advice from experts is to speak to your GP before you take supplements or increase your intake of fish oils to ensure that they’re safe for consumption. Once you’ve determined that they are safe for your diet, you can begin to add fish, nuts and seeds to your diet and begin enjoying the rewards to your health – namely better heart health, improved joints and overall wellbeing.

Stress can manifest itself in many different ways. While resting is generally the best option when symptoms of stress arise, there are also steps that can be taken to reduce some of the unwanted physical appearance that come along with excess stress.


 


Exercising


Fatigue and muscle tension are common companions to poor stress management. By exercising daily, especially during stressful periods, you can boost energy, help muscles relax, and cause the body to release endorphins, which increase the overall sense of well-being. Exercising can also help stressed out individuals sleep better at night, which may be difficult when tension is high. By sleeping better, you will look and feel less tired.


 


Massage


Receiving a massage can offer more direct relief for tense muscles. Like exercise, massage therapy also releases endorphins into the bloodstream and promotes a general feeling of wellness. People who do not have access to a licensed massage therapist can also learn self-massage techniques that are also effective. Massage can be enhanced with aromatherapy, which incorporates fragrant essential oils into the massage. The oils benefit the skin and are lifting when feeling dreary or in an otherwise stressful mood. Listening to relaxing musing during a massage can also help the mind relax, which will assist in releasing muscle tension. Getting a massage will help you look more relaxed, and less uptight, which can cause you to slouch or clench your jaw.


 


Hot Shower or Warm Bath


Heat relaxes tense muscles and can also ease the mind. When stress mounts, retreating to long, relaxing, warm back or shower can be the perfect way to unwind after a long day. The remedy can be enhanced by using pleasant scents like lavender, which has a calming effect on the mind. Using essential oils in a bath will help your skin look brighter and younger. Stress often causes acne, but taking a warm bath or hot shower and using essential oils or other calming and anti-inflammatory bath products will keep your skin looking great, despite your stress levels.


 


Dietary Supplements


Stress can be taxing on the immune system and cause other conditions like dry, tired eyes. Taking a vitamin supplement can help to ensure the body is receiving the nutrients it needs to function properly during stressful times. Experts from Visivite recommend taking a supplement that contains vitamins to strengthen the immune system and support eye health in a variety of ways. Supplements that are packed with a antioxidants to protect the cells and destroy free radicals are a great option.


 


The onset of symptoms of stress can be sudden. However, by approaching the condition from multiple points, stress can be effectively managed while minimizing the impact of overall health and well-being. Try doing these four things to help ease the physical symptoms of stress and take care of your body.


 





Aromatherapy bath salts rely on the therapeutic effect of essential oils combined with salt and water to enhance a person’s bathing experience. The salt added to the water helps in the healing of dry skin by easing up the opening of the pores where the sweat, dirt and toxins are supposed to pass through to get outside the body.


 


Bath salts can also be used to reduce itching and skin irritation that occurs as a result of insect bites and minor rashes. Those suffering from skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema can benefit from it too. Aromatherapy bath salts‘ pleasant scents are derived from the essential oils used in their preparation. One can choose to use only one aromatherapy oil or combine more than one in a blend. This helps to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and recover from fatigue and other conditions. Here is an article to help you make your own aromatherapy bath salt at home.


 


Things you will need


Of course there are certain kitchen tools you will need to prepare the bath salt. Here they are:


 


  • A bowl

  • The salt to be used

  • Cups (preferably of 920 ml)

  • Essential oils and a career oil

  • A jar with a lid that can be closed tightly

  • 1 tablespoon

 


Steps to follow


There are many different salts you can use for the recipe, it can be Sea Salt, Epsom salt, Icelandic brin salt or black see pink salt. You can pick the one you prefer based on the results you expect. Once you make your choice of salt, you can place it in the bowl. You can blend two different types of salt in the bowl if you want.


 


You should now add carrier oil (example coconut oil) to the salt that you poured in the bowl. A tablespoon should be enough. You then need to mix the whole thing for a while.


The next step would be to add the essential oil. It could be just a single oil or a blend of 2 or 3. In the case of essential oils do not exceed 24 drops. Even 15 drops is enough. You should then mix it thoroughly again.


 


Basically you are done. After mixing with the essential oil, the bath salt is almost ready. You just have to pour the mixture into a jar with a lid that can tightly close it. The following day you should mix the whole mixture again.


 


How to use


The aromatherapy bath salt is used by adding half or one cup of the salt mixture to running bath water. Fill the bath tub and allow the salt to dissolve in it. Helping the salt spread around the water with your hand is a good idea. Keep in mind that the coarser the grains of the salt the more time it needs to dissolve completely.




 


About storage


To store your bath salt you can buy fancy glass bottle or cellophane and ziploc bags. Because of the presence of essential oils in the mixture, you should avoid plastic bottles. They can be melted by the oils. Jelly jars are very much recommended for storage purposes.


 


But remember to always label the different mixtures you come up with and keep your bottle away from children’s reach.


 


Other bath salt recipes


 


Different aromatherapy bath salts can be used for different purposes. Here are some suggestions to try at home


 


- Soothing Oatmeal Bath Salt Recipe


This one is to help you relax after a difficult day of hard work


 


Ingredients


’2 cups of epsom salt


1 cup of sea salt


1.5 cups of finely pulverized oatmeal


1/2 ounce of lavender essential oil


 


You can follow the same procedure describe above to do this one except you will need to grind the oatmeal this time before adding it.


 


- Stuffy Nose Bath Salts Recipe


The bath salt is made with blends of essentials oils that are known to help fight cold.


 


Ingredients


2 cups of sea salt


2 cups of baking soda


1/4 ounce of eucalyptus essential oil


1/8 ounce of lavender essential oil


1/16 ounce of tea tree essential oil


1/16 ounce of pine or cedar essential oil


10 drops of peppermint essential oil


 


You don’t have to get all the essential oils mentioned in the ingredient list. The eucalyptus is the most important of them all


 


- Invigorating Foot Soak


For those suffering from athlete’s foot, this is a wonderful treat for. Just keep your feet immersed in a tub filled with water where this bath salt was dissolved. The blend of essential oils used in this mixture are known to have medicinal power and anti-fungal qualities.


 


Ingredients:


2 cups of epsom salt


2 cups of sea salt


1 cup of baking soda


1/4 ounce of lavender essential oil


1/4 ounce of tea tree essential oil


40 drops of peppermint essential oil.


 



As you can see it is not that complicated to make your own aromatherapy bath salt at home. The ingredients might change depending on what you are looking for but the procedure is the same in most cases. Enjoy yourself as you experiment with those different blends.


 



Neil Maycock works in the health and wellness sector and recommends Aromatherapy Gold for essential oil and natural skincare products.





essential oils7Essential oils are a staple of complementary wellness, as these naturally concentrated biological substances are packed with powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. These natural extracts have been used throughout history to treat various diseases and illnesses, and today, aromatherapy is getting more attention than ever as more and more people are noticing the hugely effective benefits essential oils can have on wellness.


Though essential oils are widely used for the manufacturing of various cosmetics, perfumes, beauty products and soaps, they can also have a therapeutic impact on your wellbeing. Many people are unaware of the significance of these oils, but they can prove to be extremely advantageous for healing different diseases, both mentally and physically. These days, Ayurvedic clinics even use these oils for their treatment processes, so what’s so great about them?


There are many valuable elements to essential oils, including rich, natural sources of vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, calcium, minerals and many others. These elements are vital in maintaining fitness and overall health, from your hair to your skin, and some oils even have superb detoxification properties. The natural extraction of these oils means that they actually have more impact on your body, but as there are over 200 different kinds of essential oils available, how do you know which ones to choose?


A reliable essential oils exporter can provide you with a high quality product right at your door step. A professional exporter is the only one that understands the value of quality essential oils, and delivers this quality on a global scale. If you are considering buying essential oils, make sure your exporter is reliable with a good track record and international standards of excellence, especially with regard to quality and customer satisfaction.


However, just because essential oils need to be of a high quality to be effective, that doesn’t mean that they have to be expensive. A good essential oils exporter should also be cost-effective, and price is certainly no indication that what’s inside is any good. Suppliers can still extract essential oils from inappropriate sources and whack a huge price tag on them, but exporters with their own manufacturing process make it possible to get quality essential oils at the right price. Look online and make sure to fully research any oils exporter if you want to purchase the best quality of essential oils for you and your family.



How Could Essential Oils Give Your Wellness A Boost?