Showing posts with label aromatherapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aromatherapy. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Aromatherapy for Health: Bay Essential Oil for Healthy Scalp and Much More

The scalp and hair benefit from aromatherapy massage and treatments. Hot oils, such as, olive oil or coconut oil or almond, to which bay essential oil is added can nourish the scalp, promote health growth of the hair, condition the hair and fight scaling and dandruff. Further Bay Essential Oil has several other health advantages and can help in management of a wide range of nervous and hormonal disorders.

Bay Tree Leaves are used
to prepare aroma oils
Bay Essential Oil: Aromatherapy
The Bay tree native to West Indies, Puerto Rico and Venezuela can grow to a height of about 10 meters and has large leathery leaves, small white-yellow flowers and aromatic fruits. The essential oil is steam or water distilled from the leaves.
The oil has fresh, spicy, camphoraceous top notes, with sweet, balsamic and warm undertones. The color of is deep yellow with a rather watery viscosity.
The essential oil blends well with most spices, citruses and also with lavender, geranium, ylang-ylang and rosemary.
Bay Essential Oil for Hair: Aromatherapy for Healthy Scalp

Bay oil exerts a beneficial effect on the skin and the scalp. It helps improve the health of the scalp as well as the texture of the hair. Bay essential oil improves hair growth and decreases hair fall and hair breakage. It is touted as an excellent hair tonic. it eliminates and also prevents dandruff and restores body and tone to oily, damaged and lifeless hair. it gives the hair bounce and radiance.

It also battles scalp infections successfully. The Essential oil helps boost circulation within the scalp and promises amazing hair growth and helps in management of hair loss.

Blend the essential oil with coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil or wheat germ oil and massage the scalp and hair, twice a week for best results.

Aromatherapy has
several health benefits
Bay Essential Oil Properties: Health Benefits of Essential Oil
The therapeutic properties of bay essential oil are: anti septic, anti biotic, insecticide, anti spasmodic, analgesic, anti neuralgic, expectorant, emmenagogue, astringent and sedative.
  • Similar to other essential oils, Bay oil is considered beneficial in the management of insomnia and anxiety, due to its calming and soothing effect.
  • In addition to having wonderful effects on the hair and scalp, the oil is also recommended for body aches and pains. Local application of Bay Oil is beneficial in management of frozen shoulder and other problems related to shoulder pain. Further it can be beneficial in management of knee pain often associated with osteoarthritis.
  • It is used in steam inhalations, since it is an excellent expectorant and tonic for the respiratory system. It effectively fights cough and infections. It is useful in management of sinusitis and other upper respiratory tract symptoms of flu.
  • It also perks up the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, allays abdominal pains and treats flatulence. Local application of bay essential oil can help in management of gassy stomach.
  • Bay essential oil acts as an emmenagogue, especially when massaged over the abdomen. Using aroma oil dispenser may also help in management of menstrual irregularities.

Overall, the essential oil is revving, refreshing and clearing. However, experts advocate that the oil should not be used for prolonged periods of time; and ought not to be applied directly, always dilute in carrier oil.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Anxiety Not Always Harmful: Yoga, Aromatherapy and Home Remedies for Treating Anxiety Disorders

As per a latest report by the Global Industry Analysts, the worldwide sales of pharmaceutical drugs related to anxiety are forecasted to grow to $5.9 billion by 2017. Current estimates suggest that U.S. has the highest number of recorded anxiety related cases annually. Anxiety is not all bad and optimum level of anxiety is essential for survival. Home remedies, diet and homeopathy have been found effective in treating anxiety disorders or conditions associated with uncontrollable and abnormal anxiety levels.

Anxiety not always harmful

Psychologists in early twentieth century had described the role of anxiety (arousal) against performance. It was observed that optimum level of anxiety is crucial for performance.

In a recent study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, researchers from Stanford University try to reconfirm these claims. They observed that individuals with an active anterior insula (a part of the brain) were less likely to suffer from financial losses in future compared to individuals with less active anterior insula. This study reiterated the role of anxiety in rational decision making and improving performance. However, overactive insula was associated with chronic anxiety and phobias.

Anxiety hence should not be treated as all bad condition; but it is important to positively channelize anxiety and prevent an anxiety disorder.

Treating Anxiety Disorder: Yoga and Aromatherapy

Bhujangasana to
treat anxiety
There are various ways to treating anxiety disorder naturally. Yoga, an ancient Indian system of deep breathing and exercising, which has spiritual roots, is considered very beneficial. 
  1. Deep breathing exercises like pranayama and meditation tend to have a soothing effect on the mind. It helps declutter negative emotions and thoughts and is effective in reducing stress and anxiety.
  2. Some Yoga postures are considered very beneficial in treating anxiety. These include, 
  • Bhujangasana (also referred to as the Cobra pose) has profound benefits as it enhances concentration and tones up the body. The posture involves raising the upper portion of the body, with the support of the arms, in a typical presentation that represents the “cobra” (the most dangerous and dreaded Indian snake).
  • Sarvangasana: A posture where the entire body rests on the neck and the upper part of the back and is perpendicular to the ground. This posture inculcates a sense of control and discipline in the body which in turn helps deal with anxiety effectively.

Combining meditation techniques with the use of essential oils have miraculous benefits. Lavender, Sandalwood, Rose, jasmine and cypress essential oil extracts have profound benefit on reducing stress, instilling calmness, aiding emotional stabilization and manage anxiety effectively.

Home Remedies to Treat Anxiety disorder

Home remedies have also been found to contribute equally to the treatment of anxiety disorders. Here are some simple remedies, 
    Milk can treat
    anxiety disorders
  • Milk is very effective in treating anxiety disorders. Milk is the only source of Vitamin B12 in a vegetarian diet. In addition milk contains a host of other vitamins and minerals that are effective in soothing the nerves and managing anxiety
  • Roots of asparagus have been found to be associated with reduced levels of anxiety and stress. The active ingredient of asparagus is ‘Asparosides’ which performs immuno modulatory functions. For several centuries, Asparagus has been used for management of nervous and psychological disorders in Ayurveda.
  • Licorice tea has a substance known as glycyrrhizin which is about fifty times sweeter than sugar cane juice. It is considered highly protective against anxiety disorders and panic attacks. 

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Home Remedies for Gassy Stomach: Aromatherapy and Yoga to treat Gas Bloating and Stomach Pain


Gaseous distention is a common problem which can be treated effectively using natural techniques like yog, aromatherapy and home remedies. Most humans pass wind a total of 14 times per day, for a total of 1 pint. About half the wind is swallowed air and another 40 % is carbon dioxide produced by the intestinal bacteria. The remaining 10 % is a mixture of hydrogen, methane, sulphur compounds and by products of bacteria, like ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and indoles. This last fraction is responsible for the offensive odor.
What Causes Gas: Foods and Other Causes
Gassy stomach pain
An inconsistent lifestyle, irregular sleep and poor dietary habits, result in a host of gastric derangement; the commonest being, dyspepsia or indigestion and flatulence.
The most common food that causes flatulence and abdominal gas is legumes. Legumes cause increased intestinal flatulence, stomach pain and intestinal discomfort. Oligosaccharides in the legumes are the flatulence causing compounds. Fiber rich foods such as oats, barley, soy, whole wheat, and fresh vegetables also produce gas. The soluble fibers are easily fermented by the bacteria and they release a great deal of gas.

Home Remedies for Gassy Stomach and treating Stomach Pain
There are a host of home remedies and natural techniques that help relieve wind and allay stomach discomfort. Certain specific food prescriptions, using essential oils and performing specific Yoga postures daily will help manage excessive flatulence effectively and keep your digestive tract functioning optimally.

  • Cinnamon: this spice stimulates the gastrointestinal system, improves digestion and reduces excessive gas bloating and abdominal distension. Consume a pinch of powdered cinnamon after meals to prevent gaseous distension.

  • Mint: Mint is the most beneficial wind reliever. It is a carminative and digestive, and decreases stomach bloating appreciably. The herb helps reduce spasms of the gastro-intestinal tract and combats flatulence. Boil about 10 leaves of mint in a bowl of water; consume this decoction, once daily.

  • Fennel seeds: fennel seeds have warming and aromatic properties; invigorating the GI tract. The seeds enhance digestion and relieve wind and flatulence. Munch on a spoonful of fennel seeds after your meals.  

Gas Bloating and Its Management: Aromatherapy and Yoga

Aromatherapy: Essential oils exert a potent effect on the GI tract. An aromatherapy massage alleviates discomfort associated with flatulence and indigestion, almost instantaneously.

Take a drop of Ginger Essential Oil or Peppermint Essential Oil and rub it around the navel or belly button. Use gentle, circular movements during the massage. This massage technique eliminates wind within half an hor.

Yoga for gas bloating problems
Yoga: yoga asanas have a wonderful impact on the physical, mental and subtle levels. Cetain postures stimulate abdominal functioning, help eliminate wind and pep up digestion. The Pawanmuktasana is an excellent yoga posture for a bloated belly.
  1. Lie down on your back.
  2. Raise your left leg up, and fold it on to your abdomen. Clasp your fingers around the knee of the bent leg, and press the leg down on to your abdomen.
  3. Hold the pose for 10 seconds. Then release. Repeat for the other leg.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Aromatherapy for Clearing the Mind and Fighting Stress

Meditating with essential oils helps clear your mind, calm down and let go of racing thoughts. Meditation and Yoga is a wonderful method of creating peace and tranquility, and vaporizing aroma oils can greatly enhance the experience.


How Stress Affects Health?

Meditation helps fight stress

When life becomes stressful, it is all too easy to feel weighed down by the various events happening around you. Confusion, indecision, dissatisfaction and irritation arise, and the mind seems full to bursting. Stress wreaks havoc on the physical body as well; causing a host of lifestyle related disorders such as hypertension, elevated cholesterol levels, cardiac diseases, angina, ulcers, GI upsets, insomnia, and even cancer.

How Stress Can Be Managed? Stress Management Techniques
Meditation helps you create an inner space; it helps you get rid of racing, unconstructive, confused thoughts and helps you find peace. What’s more, meditating with essential oils proffers better and more effective results.


Aromatherapy for Stress: Aromatherapy Benefits
Aromatherapy essential oils promise to give you tremendous health benefits. Choosing essential oils that are calming and clarifying assist you to sort out your thoughts, prioritize them and banish extraneous ones.

Mediation Techniques
Here’s a meditation technique that will help you combat stress and its injurious effects, develop patience, fight irritation and strengthen your resolve.
You will need:

  • Frankincense essential oil, Geranium essential oil and Lavender essential oil. 
  • An aroma oil burner
  • A cushion
    Aromatherapy for Stress
    
  1.  Float your aroma oils on the water of the burner, and light the candle. Sit comfortably, close your eyes and watch your breath. Become aware of the vaporizing essential oils.
  2. Become aware of the thoughts that are entering your mind. Try not to get caught up in any of them. Simply observe them and let them go
  3. 
  4. Gradually, try to still your mind. Start assessing each thought. Question whether the thought is cluttering your mind or will yield a beneficial outcome. Let go of any thought that is unconstructive / negative / futile.
  5. Breathe deeply and become aware of the stimulating and strengthening effect of the essential oils.
  6. 
  7. Once you feel calm and composed, you may end the meditation.

Regular and sustained practice of this meditation technique makes you resolute, cultivates peace, strength and determination and helps you connect with your inner self.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Tea Tree Oil for Dandruff: Dry Scalp Remedies and Hair Tips

Estimates suggest that dandruff, a milder form of seborrheic dermatitis affects approximately 15-20% of the population. Epidemiological patterns suggest that dandruff is relatively more common among males compared to females and is estimated to be one of the common causes of hair loss. The onset of dandruff is observed during puberty, but can also peak after the age of forty years, when it is considered relatively less severe. Using Aroma oils for the management of dandruff has proven highly effective. This article is provides certain hair care tips and suggestions to manage dandruff using aromatherapy.
What is Dandruff: Dry Scalp Remedies
Dandruff, also referred to as scurf affects the scalp and is responsible for flaking of the skin. This condition is relatively common. Under normal conditions, the skin cells rejuvenate themselves on regular basis. As new cells on the scalp are generated, the older cells are pushed to the surface. Dandruff occurs when the renewal of the skin cells is faster compared to normal, which implies that there is more dead skin cells that are shed on regular basis, which makes dandruff visible.
Further, with a greater percentage of dead skin, the scalp becomes more prone to infections as sweat and dirt gets accumulated in the scalp. This in turn result in hair loss and hair damage.

The judicious use of aroma oils helps rejuvenate and revive the scalp, fight toxins, and check infections and prevents premature greying of hair. Essential oils have been used for hair treatment since ages. Research and scientific studies have backed the fact, that essential oils help in the balancing of sebum production and promote a healthy scalp and luxuriant hair.

Tea tree oil for dandruff management: Aroma Therapy for Dry Scalp

Aroma Oils and Tea Tree to manage Dandruff
The Tea - tree essential oil is very beneficial for scalp and hair disorders. It is the most medicinal of all the essential oils, and helps combat the most obstinate cases of infection-related dandruff. A scalp massage with Tea tree oil, several times in a week will help put a stop to dandruff. Aroma oils also have the potential to calm and soothe frayed nerves, and de-stress you, thus helping you cope with emotional upheavals (which contribute to dandruff significantly).

Hair care tips: Natural Dandruff Treatment and Remedies
  • Keep your scalp clean. Dirt and grime clog the pores, and increase the susceptibility to infections. Use a mild shampoo to wash your hair. Washing your hair every alternate day is a must, especially when you hair is exposed to so much of dirt and pollution. 
  • Once-a-week scalp massage will do wonders to your scalp. Use coconut oil or olive oil to massage and lubricate the scalp regularly.
  • After a visit to the salon, ensure that you clean your hair and scalp thoroughly. You are likely to pick up a host of infectious agents there. 
  • Diet plays a crucial role in promoting hair growth

Herbal Scalp Treatment and Aromatherapy for Dandruff: Tea Tree oil for Dandruff Management

Estimates have suggested that the sale for hair care products has crossed approximately $42.5 billion in 2010. This industry is estimated to grow at the rate of 10% per annum. Though there are several hair care products that help in effective management of dandruff, some simple hair care tips, aromatherapy and herbal treatment will ensure that you keep dandruff at bay.

Scalp Treatment using Aroma Therapy: Tea Tree Oil for Dandruff

Tea Tree Oil for
Dandruff Management
The judicious use of aroma oils helps rejuvenate and revive the scalp, fights toxins, and checks infections and prevents premature greying of hair. Essential oils have been used for hair treatment since ages. Research and scientific studies have backed the fact, that essential oils help in the balancing of sebum production and promote a healthy scalp and luxuriant hair.

The Tea - tree essential oil is very beneficial for scalp and hair disorders. It is the most medicinal of all the essential oils, and helps combat the most obstinate cases of infection-related dandruff. A scalp massage with Tea – tree oil, several times in a week will help put a stop to dandruff. Aroma oils also have the potential to calm and soothe frayed nerves, and de-stress you, thus helping you cope with emotional upheavals (which contribute to dandruff significantly).

Hair care tips for Dandruff Management
  • Keep your scalp clean. Dirt and grime clog the pores, and increase the susceptibility to infections. Use a mild shampoo to wash your hair. Washing your hair every alternate day is a must, especially when you hair is exposed to so much of dirt and pollution.
  • Once-a-week scalp massage will do wonders to your scalp.
  • After a visit to the salon, ensure that you clean your hair and scalp thoroughly. You are likely to pick up a host of infectious agents there.
  • Diet plays a crucial role in promoting hair growth. Vitamin and Nutrient deficiencies are often associated with unhealthy skin and flaking scalp.  
  • Consuming foods that are rich in Vitamin A are considered highly beneficial in management of dandruff and other forms of skin problems.

 Herbal treatment for dandruff 
    Fenugreek seeds are
    useful for dandruff
  • The most potent hair and scalp application is a paste of fenugreek seeds. Soak a handful of fenugreek seeds overnight. Grind the seeds the next day. Gently massage this paste in to the scalp, and leave it on for ½ an hour. Rinse off with cold water.
  • This application is advised every alternate day for a period of 1 month, to manage dandruff successfully.
  • Fenugreek fights infection efficiently. It is a powerful anti-microbial agent and prevents bacteria from residing and multiplying in the scalp. It also nourishes the scalp and stimulates good hair growth.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Combat Emotional Stress: Meditation and Aroma Therapy For Stress Management

When life becomes excessively stressful, and you are easily overwhelmed by what is happening around you, your mind seems to be bursting with thoughts, worries, anxieties and tensions. Confusion, insecurity, anger, frustration, and indecision arise, cluttering you mind, and making it very difficult to function normally. All negative emotions are unhealthy and should be calmed as soon as possible, before they spiral.

Calm the Mind to combat Emotional Stress: Natural Stress Management

Meditation curbs
 Emotional Stress
Combining meditation with aromatherapy is a wonderful approach to soothe frayed nerves. Meditation alone, offers significant benefits, but, meditating with mind-clearing aroma oils will yield bigger profits and enhance the experience. You can choose from a host of essential oils - lavender, frankincense, geranium, or juniper. These essential oils are calming and relaxing.
  • Float your essential oils using an aroma oil dispenser.
  • Sit comfortably, keeping your back erect.
  • Inhale the vaporizing aroma oils and focus on your breath. Try to keep your mind blank.
  • When thoughts intervene, label them as ‘anger’ / ‘frustration’ / ‘fear’, and let go of them. Do not hang on to them. Simply observe them.
  • Once you will you have calmed down reasonably, assess the thought that is uppermost in your mind and troubling you. Try to understand the cause, whether it is fruitful to think about it, if it is going to benefit you in any way. think about it objectively.
  • Breathe deeply, and imagine the thought melting away.
  • Aromatherapy can
    improve mediation practice
  • Once you feel calmer, quieter, and at peace, you can end the meditation.
 Benefits of Meditation: Using Aromaoils to Combat Stress

  • The practice of this technique will help you let go of racing, confused thoughts. It will assist you in sorting out the thoughts, prioritizing them, and letting go of extraneous and unwanted ones.
  • It helps your mind to slow down and de-clutter, and not get caught up with the mundane and fruitless things in life.
  • It will help you find inner peace and tranquility.

 You could also, keep an aroma oil blend with you always, so that you could sniff at it, when you’re feeling stressed and pressurized.

Make sure that the essential oil blends that you use are authentic. For, a spurious or synthetic blend will not bring about the desired effect and could even be counter-productive.

Effects of Irritability: Using Aromatherapy to Rescue you from Irritability

Irritability is a negative emotion / a negative mental state. It stems from frustrated desire, not getting your own way, or not getting what you want fast enough.

Irritability affects
all of us
Effects of Irritability
Multi-tasking, family pressures, peer pressures, threat of the pink slip, and the awful rat-race, have made this emotion highly prevalent in an urban set-up. Furthermore, irritability and impatience are closely linked, and it is best to deal with the two emotions before they flare up and wreak havoc and may result in depression.

Apart from having an unconstructive and dreadful impact on the psychological well-being, the social interactions, and the professional life, irritability can ruin physical health as well, resulting in innumerable disorders, ranging from headaches, gastric disturbances, shooting blood pressure levels to even heart attacks.

Aromatherapy to Rescue Irritability
Essential oils have a powerful mental, emotional, and psychological effect. They help you to slow down and infuse you with a sense of calmness and peace.

Lavender Aroma Oil is a traditional classic used to curb irritability. The essential oil encourages you to slow down, take some time to reflect on the absurdity of wanting every single thing to happen your way, and helps banish excessive and unfruitful thought processes.

How to Use Aromatherapy to fight Irritability?
    Aromatherapy can
    reduce irritability
  • Regular aromatherapy baths are highly favorable in relieving impatience and irritability. An aroma oil bath assists in soothing mental turmoil. Add the aroma oil to your bath tub, to enjoy a warm, soothing, and relaxing bath.
  • Aromatherapy oils make for great massages. A massage has the potential to allay the tension in the muscles, lessen stress, and encourage a feeling of calm and well being.
  • Burning the oil in an aromatherapy burner is another effective option. Let the aroma pervade the room and fill you with a sense of peace and tranquility.
  • Add a few drops of the oil to a tissue or a handkerchief and keep it with you always. Whenever you feel keyed up or irritable, sniff the lavender oil. It prevents a milder negative emotion like irritability, from spiraling in to a stronger negative emotion like anger, (which can have a devastating effect on you and on others).
  • Use it as a mood perfume. Apply the oil at your pulse points – temples, wrists, and nape of the neck, to experience a calming and soothing effect all day long.
Caution!!!
Ensure that the essential oils that you use are authentic and absolutely genuine. Using a spurious product could have side effects and be counter productive. We make available to you, original and authentic aromatherapy essential oils. We also provide a stress busting hamper comprising of an essential oil blend, crystals that heal you, and an oil dispenser.