4) The Benefits Of Aromatherapy by Zena Morris (Posted: June 13, 2007) People are of the view that aromatherapy is just aroma and no therapy. They feel that all these essential oils do is smell good, but have no ‘real’ benefits. Aromatherapy is known to positively affect the following conditions, and are no way exhaustive: anxiety, insomnia and stress; asthma; eczema; digestive problems; headaches; menstrual problems, including those of menopause; muscular aches and pains; among many others. Aromatherapy is also known to also provide relaxation, mood enhancement, and a general feeling of well being. In addition, it provides a boost to the various systems in our body, such as the circulatory system, the respiratory system, as well as the immune system. Aromatherapy is also known to bring relief to minor discomforts. Though aromatherapy may not cure major ailments of the body, it definitely does provide some relief. It is great as a complement to other normal health treatments. The Effects Of Essential Oils The essential oils are the extracts of various aromatic plants, and are extracted from the flowers, leaves, and stems, in addition to their barks, fruits, and also their roots. These essential oils from damask rose, geranium, lavender, lemon grass, and mandarin, in addition to neroli (an essential oil obtained by distilling orange flowers), Roman chamomile (or English chamomile), and sandalwood, among others, are known to: • Improve sleep, digestion, and blood circulation • Improve tone of the skin • Provide relief to menstrual cramps and menopausal problems • Provide relief to headaches caused by tensions, and relax the muscles • Generally stimulate the immune system, and energize the body • Reduce sinus and lung congestion, along with inflammation • Heal wounds and eliminate fungal infections, as well as bacterial infections • Regulate hormones The aromas of the essential oils are not just for smelling good, but have the ability to positively affect your emotions and mind. During aromatherapy, the aromas of the essential oils – on sniffing – hit that part of the brain that controls our moods. These aromas – on reaching this part of the brain known as the Limbic system – help release endorphins, neurotransmitters and other chemicals that make you feel-good. In aromatherapy, the essential oils are also used for massaging. This topical application of the essential oils helps absorb them into the skin and hence into the blood stream. Topical applications of these oils ensure that they directly affect the areas that need to be healed. Along with the healing effects of topical applications of the essential oils, aromatherapy also provides soothing effects. Topical applications and massaging heal muscle ache and bruises you have on your body. Along with a great sense of smell, the essential oils are also antiseptic, and take care of a number of bacteria, which can be harmful to us. Care needs to be taken that the essential oils, being very concentrated, are diluted before massaging and topical applications. Dilutions are carried out with the help of carriers, such as alcohol, lotions, vinegar, or water. These carriers are called so, as they carry the essential oils to the parts that require to be healed. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zena_Morris 3) Relieve Stress Naturally With Aromatherapy Tips by George Kakaris (Posted: June 1, 2007) Nowadays, almost everybody experience stress in his life. Stress term describes any mental, emotional or physical reaction that is abnormal. Stress is a natural part of our life. Sometimes it is beneficial because it keep us focused and persistent on our goal (work, study, etc.), but generally stress is one of the major threat of our mental and physical health. Feeling stress, especially on a daily basis and for a long period, may cause several health disorders, such as anxiousness, headaches, blood pressure, hair loss, depression, even heart attach. According to recent surveys, the 3 major causes of stress in developed world are job, family and health issues. Many stress management strategies have been developed recently by psychologists. However, nobody can claim that every patient who may follow his treatment will totally eliminate stress from his life. In this article we will present you some of the most efficient aromatherapy tips that can help you reduce stress level and achieve emotional and physical well-being. Throughout history, some scented plants and their aromatic water have been used for relaxing and smoothing purposes. Holy basil is a native herb of India (where it is known as tulsi), sacred plant of the Hindu civilization and used for thousands of years for healing. Scientific studies on natural properties of Holy Basil have found that it reduces body hormones named corticosterone and cortisol, which are intimately connected with stress, anxiety and mental clarity. Consequently, Holy Basil is one of the best antidepressant therapeutic grades and its essential oils are highly recommended for stress alleviation. Other, more well-known, essential oils which can be used for soothing nervous tension and reducing stress are: Lavender essential oil, Ylang-Ylang essential oil, Chamomile essential oil and Geranium essential Oil. Lavender’s scent has calming and anti-depressant properties. Ylang-Ylang is described as euphoric essential oil that helps in uplifting mood. Chamomile essential oil can relax body and mind and can provide restful and peaceful sleep. Geranium oil, is another sedative and relaxing essential oil, that can balance adrenaline. Before, suggesting some aromatherapy recipes for stress relief, I want to underline that dealing with essential oils might be dangerous especially for inexperienced persons. Keep in mind that essential oils are concentrated potent substances and should never be placed directly on skin. Use carrier (base) oil for dilution and after you can apply it on skin. Moreover, remember that only few essential oils can be taken internally and used during pregnancy. Aromatherapy oils can be used in burners and diffusers. Add 5-10 drops of your favourite essential oil to water in the bowl and heat it. Sit back and relax, while the essential oil vaporises and its perfume creates a soothing atmosphere. Another way to benefit from essential oils is by inhaling them. Put few drops on a tissue or a cotton pad, put your nose near and just inhale. Keep in mind, that this is the easiest and the only one way to benefit from essential oils when you are outside your home and you want to relieve tension (at work for example). Additionally, you can reduce stress with aromatherapy bath and massage. Add 4-6 drops of essential oil to your warm bath water and stay in it for at least 15 minutes, allowing the oil to penetrate your skin and indulge yourself with the advantageous vapours. Finally, you can add 5 drops of essential oil to every 10ml of base oil and massage your body. The ideal parts of your body for relaxing massage are around the neck, shoulders and back. In conclusion, stress is an unavoidable piece of our modern way of living, but there are some easy to follow techniques that can enhance the body ability to cope with emotional and physical stress. The most sweet-scented is Aromatherapy. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Kakaris 2) The Secret of Using Aromatherapy by Diane Winter (Posted: June 1, 2007) Aromatherapy, or the usages of fragrances from the extracts of several natural plant has been applied for centuries in healing, meditation, relaxation, health care and beauty care. The essential oils are the flavorsome essences derived from barks, flowers, roots, berries and leaves. Each oil has its own typical scent and therapeutic attributes. Aromatherapists, who are persons basically educated in how to blend and dispense these essential oils, nowadays, have come up as complementary therapists to the more traditional classes of allopathic practice of medicine. The attract of aromatherapy oversteps civilizations and continents, in the main as it has proven to work. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans practiced aromatherapy in a wide variety of usages, from embalming the dead to caring for their military soldiers wounded in battle. It can be used to care for a wide variety of little aches and pains including first aid, stress related diseases and skin disease. Oils can be added in aromatic bathes, applied in compresses, or blended in lotions, waters, or creams, to assist with the wellness of the skin. They've been greatly thinned so that someone won't get sensitive to a pure essential oil. However, the several practices of aromatherapy in England and the US have been quite up to date. Across the last ten years, aromatherapy has become more and more popular among the worldwide public, practiced in the main in beauty and bath care for personal usages. Cinnamon, Clove, Lavender, Tea tree oil, and other oils have been commercialized for mass attraction for their relaxation and therapeutic properties. But self-treatment with aromatherapy should be practiced with carefulness. Used in the right way, essential oils are safe, but a couple of oils deliver risks that any person take usage of them should be knowing. I have bought a lot of oils off the shelves, only to find out after further reading that these are risky and toxic in significantly small doses. Often you don't find any warning labels on aromatherapy oils, and if a service provider determines to sell them, people are free to purchase and use them as they see fit. Especially pregnant mothers, babies, and older adults need to be extremely careful if they get in contact with essential oils. Each aromatherapist trained in good order will looking on the far side merely the practical application of essential oils, and will endeavor to care for the whole someone to assist accomplish balance. As essential oils work on a subtly level, the multitude of therapeutic attributes they provide differ from synthetic drugs in this respect. They're not made-to-order to treat a particular symptom, but endeavor to rectify any imbalance in the body and advance better health and wellbeing. Aromatherapy has been compared to the Chinese idea of Yin and Yang, a harmonizing balance that survives with opposing vigors. When balance is accomplished, the individual is in a state of wellness. I have used aromatherapy for over one decade, and have noticed the positive issues remarkable. In the main I took usage of oils to care for fatigue, combat stress and advance relaxation. When I travel, I often look for essential oils that have been distilled in the area I'm traveling to, for these are commonly of a less diluted and inexpensive nature than ones that have been imported. In Morocco, I made a good deal with undiluted oils of Neroli, Rose, and Jasmine, a couple of the most high-priced oils available. In Madagascar, I could purchase Cinnamon, Clove, Ylang-ylang, and some other local oils that deliver first-class anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties that are right on travelling. Purchasing, trying out and studying about aromatherapy oils are part of the use, and finding out their large wellness gains through usage is part of the advantage. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Winter 1) Explaining Aromatherapy by Zena Morris (Posted: May 30, 2007) Associated with CAM – complementary and alternative medicine – aromatherapy involves using plant oils in their volatile form. These volatile plant oils are also alternately called essential oils (EOs). Though aroma may mean fragrance, aromatherapy has nothing to do with the perfume industry. There are two schools of thought about the practice of aromatherapy. One school insists that aromatherapy is only about inhaling fragrances, and that the source of that aroma is of no concern – whether natural or synthetic. The second school is of the opinion that the source of the aromatic compounds should not be synthetic. According to them, the very basis of aromatherapy is herbal, as the essential oils are plant based. However, among the herbalists, there is dispute about aromatherapy being herbal or not. Certain herbal schools teach aromatherapy as part of their courses, whereas others do not. Essential Oils Aromatherapy has essential oils at its very core. Parts of the aromatic plants, such as flowers, leaves, and stems, in addition to their barks, fruits, and also their roots are used to extract the essential oils. These oils are highly volatile and concentrated. Being volatile, the essential oils easily evaporate and do not leave any residue giving any oily feel. Some of the essential oils in use today in aromatherapy are: damask rose, geranium, lavender, lemon grass, mandarin (a shrub or a small tree with flattened globe-like fruit with very sweet aromatic pulp), neroli (an essential oil obtained by distilling orange flowers), palmarosa, Roman chamomile (also known as English chamomile), and sandalwood, among many others. The ancient Egyptians were known to use essential oils extracted from cedar wood, cloves, cinnamon, myrrh, and nutmeg, among others. These extracts were used during the embalming processes. Aromatherapy – Methods Of Use Aromatherapy is quite stimulating and leaves a relaxing effect. It can be applied topically, ingested, as well as inhaled. Here again, different aromatherapists have varying views. Some consider only inhaling to be a part of aromatherapy, whereas there are others who are of the opinion that ingestion and topical application of the essential oils, along with inhalation are all part of aromatherapy. These three methods of use of aromatherapy depend on what is required to be achieved. Many aromatherapists feel that: topical applications of the essential oils are useful for muscular problems, skin problems, as well as for burns; oral applications or ingestion of essential oils are useful for intestinal problems; and inhalation of the oils are beneficial for infections of the respiratory tract. Aromatherapists believe that the essential oils in aromatherapy have both physical, as well as psychological benefits. According to the theory of inhalation in aromatherapy, the fragrances of the essential oils make you relaxed by triggering that part of your brain that controls your emotions. Topical application through the skin, directly affects the problem areas. Aromatherapy is known to positively affect conditions like anxiety, insomnia and stress; asthma; eczema; digestive problems; headaches; menstrual problems, including those of menopause; muscular aches and pains; among many others. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zena_Morris.