A lot of people like to use different smells in their homes to cover unpleasant odors. In fact, there is a whole retail industry based on the public’s desire to eliminate nasty smells from their homes. But plug-in air fresheners, potpourri sprays, and scented candles are not necessarily aromatherapy products. The scents are not meant to sooth; rather they are meant to disguise.

Aromatherapy is actually the practice of using plant oils and extracts to bring about a sense of wellbeing in people. Aromatherapy is often used in conjunction with other alternative medicine treatments like massage therapy. There are approximately 90 essential oils commonly used in aromatherapy treatments, and each one has a unique profile and individual purpose. But some essential oils are used together to create an effect that is different than that of the oils when used individually.

Aromatherapy: Stinky and Soothing Smells is a post from: Alternative Medicine Guide

There has been a huge influx of people interested in aromatherapy over the course of the last five years. The reason for this could be the burgeoning interest in all alternative therapies. But no matter the reason, major retailers have jumped onto the aromatherapy bandwagon and now provide easy access to a number of common essential oils.

Some of the most popular essential oils seen in stores today are those used for emotional wellbeing. These oils are often packaged according to their desired effect and not by what they treat. For example, aromatherapy oils like lavender, which help ease anxiety, are often used in products labeled “relaxation”. Rose and ylang ylang are often packaged as “romance” products, though their actual use is to treat stress. Thus it is important for aromatherapy practitioners to be aware of the actual uses of the oils and not just the corporate labels.

Aromatherapy: Common Essential Oils is a post from: Alternative Medicine Guide

Aromatherapy oils are therapeutic essential oils derived from plants proven to bring holistic physical and mental health well-being. Essential oils have a different chemical composition from other herbal products, because of the distillation process. Essential oils are comprised in a richness of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, aromatic compounds, esters, organic sulfides non-terpene hydrocarbons, along with several other VOC substances. In herbal oils from plants, the distillation process will only bring lighter types of phytomolecules.

The (mostly westernized) term of aromatherapy is in reference of the many traditional ways in making use of essential oils. Essential oil use comes from the ancient times of over 6000 years ago, and proven to be utilized back in the cultures of the Greeks, Egyptians and Romans. There were known essential oil usages in massages, bathing in the essential oils were used for running off communicable illnesses too. In the days of Egyptian physicians like Imhotep and Hippocrates, the ways of aromatherapy were strongly believed in as a part of doctor’s regime of healthy healing.

The basic modes of aroma-therapeutic applications are aerial diffusion, for environmental dispensing of desired fragrance or dispensing through the air for aerial disinfection. There is also direct inhalation for respiratory disinfection, decongestant, expectoration as neurological wellness effects. Aromatherapy oils have been used as topical applications for many centuries for general massage, baths compresses, and therapeutic skin care. The last set of aromatherapy oil usage is oral, rectal, and vaginal interfaces for infection, congestion, parasites, and of course, perfumes for our body along with fragrances for anointments.

Aromatherapy is known to ease several types of ailments. Many aches, pains and injury discomforts can be physically relieved throughout the body when using the right aroma-therapeutic essential oils in the correct manner. Aromatherapy has also been proven to act on the central nervous system in giving relief from depression and anxiety by reducing stress, contributing to a more relaxed mode, uplifting spirits through sedation or stimulation. Aromatherapy restores both physical and emotional well-being without the modern medical remedy side effects.

When wanting to use aromatherapy throughout your home, there are several ways to use. As an air freshener, there are the benefits of a better smelling home, but also the mental effectiveness physically depending on the therapeutic essential oils chosen. After choosing your oil or mixture of oils, add up to 10 drops of oil or mixture of oils to every two cups of boiling water. You can also go throughout your home putting a few drops in garbage cans, laundry wash, water drains, vacuum filter bags, and on tissue for setting in the drawers of your dressers.

How To Use Aromatherapy Oils To Your Advantage? is a post from: Alternative Medicine Guide

The word “Aromatherapy” comes from two words: “Aroma” meaning fragrance and “Therapy” meaning treatment. Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile liquid plant materials known as essential oils or organic oils and other scented compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person’s mood or health. It is a healing art based in nature and it affects the whole person-mind, body and spirit. Complete or holistic healing is ever-increasingly utilized today in every modern society. Aromatherapy is a fast growing therapy in holistic medicine. As far back as 18,000 B.C., flowers, plants, and their essences were used for healing, relaxation and energizing. Aromatherapy was used by the most ancient civilizations: Egypt, China and India, and is reputed to be at least 6000 years old.

Aromatherapy is an art as well as science of using aromatic substances usually essential oils to cure common ailments. It is also popular as a stress reliever.

Pure essential oils have an immediate impact on our sense of smell. When essential oils are inhaled, olfactory receptor cells are stimulated and the impulse is transmitted to the emotional center of the brain, i.e. limbic system. These oils are also called fragrance oils or perfume oils. The limbic system is connected to areas of the brain linked to memory, breathing and blood circulation as well as the endocrine glands which regulate hormone levels in the body. The properties of the oil, the fragrance and its effects determine stimulation of these systems. When used in massage, essential oils are not only inhaled, but absorbed through the skin as well. They penetrate the tissues and find their way into the bloodstream where they are transported to the organs and systems of the body.

Essential oils have differing rates of absorption, generally between 20 minutes and 2 hours, so it is probably best not to bathe or shower directly following a massage to ensure maximum effectiveness.

People with certain chronic illnesses or conditions should not use aromatherapy without first consulting a doctor. These illnesses and conditions include:

-Lung conditions such as asthma, respiratory allergies or chronic lung disease. Aromatic Oils may cause airway spasms.

-Skin allergies. Some oils may cause skin irritation, especially in the membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth.

-Pregnancy. Pregnant women should not use aromatherapy. Some Natural Herbal oils (such as juniper, rosemary and sage) may cause uterine contractions.

An essential oil is a liquid that is generally distilled (most frequently by steam or water) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots or other elements of a plant. Essential oils, contrary to the use of the word “oil” are not really oily-feeling at all. Most essential oils are clear but some oils such as patchouli, orange and lemongrass are amber or yellow in color. These extracted oils contain the true essence of the plant it was derived from. Essential oils are highly concentrated in nature.

Like essential oils, absolute oils or Plant Extract Oils are highly aromatic liquids extracted from plants. Absolutes, however, are extracted in a complex manner that requires the use of chemical solvents that are later removed during the final stages of production. Sometimes, the hot steam or water used to distill an essential oil does not extract much natural oil from the plant or harms the precious natural oil. The solvent extraction methods are often used in these cases.

As a rule, absolute oils are more concentrated than their essential oil cousins. A very trace amount of solvent can remain in the final absolute. This indeed is a disadvantage to using absolutes as aromatherapy focuses on the use of pure and herbal plant extract matter. Although the amount of remaining solvent is minimal, absolutes are used in true aromatherapy with care, respect and knowledge. Essential oils should never be taken internally by anyone who is not trained, educated and experienced at doing so. Absolutes should never be taken internally by anyone because of that small amount of trace solvent that may remain.

Carrier oils also referred to as base oils or vegetable oils are used to dilute essential oils, CO2s and absolutes before applying to the skin. They carry the essential oil onto the skin. Different carrier oils offer different properties and the choice of carrier oil can depend on the therapeutic benefit being sought. These are generally cold-pressed vegetable oils derived from the fatty portions of the plant. Unlike essential oils that evaporate and have a concentrated aroma, carrier oils do not evaporate or impart their aroma as strongly as essential oils. Examples of carrier oils are sweet almond, apricot kernel, grape seed, avocado, peanut, olive, pecan, macadamia nut, sesame, evening primrose, walnut and wheat germ.

Essential oils do not go rancid. Carrier oils, however, can go rancid. Carrier oils that you purchase should be natural and unadulterated. Exceptions include buying carrier oils that have natural vitamin E added. Vitamin E acts as a natural preservative.

The world over, aromatherapy is becoming big business in beauty and health spas, fragrance and cosmetic industries. Some use pure essential oils; others sneak in the cheaper, synthetic copies but only pure essential oils can produce genuine results.

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils at a Glance is a post from: Alternative Medicine Guide

Aromatherapy is basically “treatment using scents”. It is a holistic treatment of working with pleasant smelling botanical oils called essential oils. The essential oils are used in a variety of ways; they are added to the bath or massaged into the skin, inhaled directly or diffused to scent an entire room.

The essential oils are aromatic essences extracted from plants, flowers, trees, fruits, bark, grasses and seeds There are about 150 essential oils.

Basic Essential Oils

Lavender-overall first aid oil; antiviral and antibacterial, boosts immunity, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic.

Chamomile-anti-inflammatory, antiallergenic, digestive, relaxant, antidepressant.

Marjoram-antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic.

Rosemary-stimulating to circulation, relieves pain, decongestant, improves circulation.

Tea tree-antifungal, anti-yeast, antibacterial.

Cypress-astringent, stimulating to circulation, antiseptic, astringent.

Peppermint-digestive, clears sinuses, antiseptic, decongestant, stimulant.

Eucalyptus-decongestant, antiviral, antibacterial, stimulant.

Bergamot-antidepressant, ant parasitic, anti-inflammatory.

Geranium-balancing to mind and body, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory.

Allspice -Calming, mood uplifting, improves digestion.

Anise -Breathing, digestion, calming.

Basil- muscular pain, colds, depression, fatigue.

Bergamot- disinfectant, depression, calming, mental clarity.

Atlas Cedar -anti-stress, anxiety, clear sinus, mental clarity, meditative aid.

Cinnamon- improves digestion, disinfectant, mood uplifting, anti-stress.

Clary Sage -pms discomfort, muscular pain, anti-stress, mood uplifting, aphrodisiac.

Cypress- female hormonal, mood uplifting, skin care.

Frankincense- skin care, pms, anti-stress.

Jasmine- mood uplifting, aphrodisiac, muscular pain, anti-stress.

Juniper- skin care, pms, anti-stress, calming, muscular pain.

Myrrh- skin care, calming, mood uplifting.

Patchouly- skin care, anti-stress, mood uplifting, aphrodisiac.

Sandalwood -skin care, anti-stress, pms, depression, meditative aid.

Ylang Ylang- sleep aid, mood uplifting, anti-stress, pms, aphrodisiac.

Treatments & Cures

Dementia

Aromatherapy can be used to promote relaxation, lower anxiety for people suffering from dementia. It has been used successfully to help reduce the effects of aggression (Snyder 1995), and disturbed behavior in individuals with severe dementia (Brooker et al. 1997).

Antifungal action

Tea tree has been proven to be effective in the treatment of acne, athletes foot, and nail infections

Aches & Pain

To overcome the discomforts of muscle aches and pains caused by cramps or cramping you have quiet a variety of aromatic essential oils you can use. Eucalyptus is one of the best natural remedies available Lavender is a wonderful natural healer is able to do so many things. It is especially useful not only for pain relief but for relief of headaches as well. Ginger is another essential oil that works wonder for aches and pains.

Bowel Problems

The bowels can become irritated or infected by various foods. Ginger, peppermint, fennel, coriander and dill help counter gas. Peppermint is specific for irritable-bowel syndrome. For constipation, use rosemary or black pepper. For diarrhea use cypress, cinnamon and myrrh. Garlic is one of the best ways to eliminate worms for the whole family. Rosemary, thyme, tea tree and chamomile kill many types of worms; chamomile also decreases the resulting intestinal inflammation.

Immunity Boosting

Increase the body’s resistance to disease by improving its ability to fight infection. Many plants have immune-modulating properties. Lavender, lemon, bergamot, thyme, chamomile, pine, sandalwood, myrrh and vetiver stimulate production of infection-fighting white corpuscles.

Stress

Oils can stimulate or relax the nervous system. For stress in general, try bergamot, chamomile, lavender, melissa, clary sage, neroli, rose or jasmine. Headaches due to nervous tension are also helped by these oils.

Insomnia

For insomnia due to mental agitation or overwork, clary sage, marjoram, ylang-ylang and neroli can help you unwind.

PMS and Menstrual Cramps

PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and menstrual cramps can be responsible for headaches, bowel changes, nausea, breast tenderness, joint pain and water retention, and contribute to moodiness, irritability and alcohol cravings-all common PMS symptoms. Ginger, cinnamon, cloves, thyme and garlic lower these symptoms and can be eaten in foods. Relieve menstrual cramps with essential oils of chamomile, lavender, marjoram and melissa. For depression associated with PMS, nothing is better than clary sage, but you may also try neroli, jasmine and ylang-ylang. If you experience water retention, use grapefruit, carrot seed and juniper.

ENT & Respiratory

Afflictions of the respiratory system include irritation and infection of the ears, nose and throat. Respiratory problems also may involve congestion, which can be decreased by inhaling rosemary (especially the verbenone type), hyssop (use var. decumbens only), tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender or peppermint. Cypress helps dry up a persistent runny nose, and peppermint, tea tree and eucalyptus reduce sinus infection. Anise and cypress help reduce coughing.

Asthma

Between attacks try a chest rub of German chamomile, frankincense or lavender. During an asthma attack, give a bath or treat the feet with these oils.

Aromatherapy for Health is a post from: Alternative Medicine Guide

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being. By inhaling natural scents, like lavender or rose scent, affect a person’s mood and health. Aromatherapy is said to restore or enhance mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

The main branches of aromatherapy include home aromatherapy (self treatment, perfume and cosmetic use), clinical aromatherapy, and aromachology (the psychology of odors and their effects on the mind). Though aromatherapy has become increasingly popular in recent years, it is actually part of a tradition that began over two thousand years ago.

Aromatherapy – The Beginning

Aromatherapy has roots in antiquity where volatile plant oils, including essential oils were used. the practice of using essential oils taken from plants, flowers, roots, seeds, finally became “Aromatherapy”, a term coined by French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse in the 1920′s.

Aromatherapy refers to the use of essential oils extracted from herbs, trees and plants for therapeutic purposes. While many consider aromatherapy among the simple home remedies, it is in fact both a specific science and a deeply complex art. In addition, many unscrupulous companies are currently producing “aromatherapy” products using synthetic fragrances with no thought (and sometimes little knowledge) of current safety practices. Whilst it is wise to consult safety guidelines before using anyaromatherapy product, there is also a clear need for wider education in this area.

When seeking aromatherapy training, it is important for students to know the background and experience of the teacher. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the development of high standards of aromatherapy teaching and practice and is a good resource for ethical teachers and students. NAHA currently has in place Suggested Guidelines for Aromatherapy Education and Certification in an effort to provide guidance for students and teachers.

Not All Essential Oils Are Created Equal

Essential oils are the pure “essence” of a plant. They have been found to provide both psychological and physical benefits when used correctly and safely. Therapeutic-grade essential oils are unadulterated, highly effective essential oils. But only 2% of essential oils produced are therapeutic-grade. They are a plant’s life essence, and hence most valuable and expensive to distil. To select essential oils for health and wellbeing, only therapeutic-gradeessential oils should be considered.

Organic and wild harvested essential oils also tend to be more expensive. However, a word of caution is necessary. Many of the chemicals that occur naturally in essential oils are manufactured by the perfume industry and are used to adulterate essential oils. The reason for synthetic oils: They are cheap, and nobody can know the difference between the natural and the synthetic product unless extensive lab tests are conducted. Therefore, you must find a company you trust to buy your therapeutic-grade essential oils from. Perfume oils and fragrances contain unnatural chemicals and do not provide the therapeutic benefits of essential oils. It is important to note that perfume oils also known as fragrance oils or “fragrances” are not the same as essential oils.

Wellbeing Through The Life Essence Of A Plant

The term “aromatherapy” has been applied to such a wide range of products today that many are labelled “aromatherapy” products simply because they contain essential oils, although they may provide no therapeutic benefit. The benefit of inhaling a therapeutic-grade essential oils into the lungs is believed to offer both psychological and physical benefits. Not only does the aroma of the natural essential oil stimulate the brain to trigger a reaction, but the natural constituents (naturally occurring chemicals) of the essential oil are drawn into the lungs and can also supply physical benefit.

Combat Stress With Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a widely acknowledged, effective way to relieve stress, including work-related stress. A healthy working environment is essential, both for health and for job satisfaction. There are plenty of ways to relieve stress outside the office, but ways of managing stress in the work place are limited. Juggling work and home life can mean finding a balance between the two. Starting to manage stress at work, some employers offer in-house massage and Aromatherapy for a natural holistic approach to stress relief in the workplace.

In addition, certain scents at the workplace have shown to raise mental clarity and relieve stress. In a Japanese study, lemon essential oil in vapor form has been found to reduce stress in mice. The inhalation of certain aromatherapy oils such as lavender oil has been shown by research to have immediate natural stress-relieving effects. From combating stress, easing pain to alleviating tension headaches, aromatherapy is a relatively inexpensive, easy and enjoyable way to boost health. .

Aromatherapy is a caring, hands-on therapy which seeks to induce relaxation, to increase energy, to reduce the effects of stress and to restore lost balance to body, emotions and mind. Aromatherapy is often used to relieve stress, headaches, insomnia, tension and pain, and to aid relaxation and general wellbeing. Inhaling the appropriate fragrance can reduce stress, lift a depression, hasten a good night’s sleep, soothe your spirit, or give you more energy.

Conclusion

Aromatherapy is an ancient art that uses the concept of healing with aromatic substances. The practice has encompassed human pathology and the treatment of different conditions (emotional and physical) with essential oils. Nurses, doctors, massage therapists, osteopaths and trained aromatherapists are some of the people who practice aromatherapy.

But for the aromatherapy connoisseur like you and me, aromatherapy first of all offers pure enjoyment. Taking a whiff of a spice in the kitchen cabinet, or smelling a bouquet of flowers is fundamental aromatherapy. Washing the hands with the uplifting scent of germ-fighting essential oils, massaging precious oils into the skin, diffusing therapeutic-grade oils in the home, or simply wearing an essential oil as perfume are ways to benefit from the ancient but ever so new and popular art of aromatherapy.

Living With Essential Oils is a post from: Alternative Medicine Guide

Colors of flower reflects in the color of essential oils. As plants derive energy from the sun’s component rays which contain all the colors of a rainbow, they offer a special method of absorbing color vibrations into our system. Unlike synthetic substances, which have no vital force contained in them, essential oils are filled with living, pulsating vibrations. This is why aromatherapy, like color therapy, forms a part of “vibrational medicine” – a form of medicine that uses the powerful vibrations of the electromagnetic spectrum. As I have been researching Aromatherapy and Color Therapy for years I have learned how they both work harmoniously together and blend to create a desired effect.

To create a perfect blend of Aromatherapy with the color vibration you can blend a complementary color pair such as yellow and violet, or pink and green. You can also use color as a guide to using essential oils, by mixing those with similar or complementary colors.

Orange skin tonic:

Put 16 drops of orange essential oil and 4 drops of neroli into ½ cup/4 fl. Oz/100 ml orange flower water. Use as a cleanser, as required. Do not use if pregnant. Do not go out into the sun for at least 72 hours.

Yellow/Violet Healing Balm For Acne and Spots

Mix two drops of lemon essential oil and one drop of lavender essential oil with 6 drops of evening primrose oil. Spread onto the affected area morning and evening. Do not go out into the sun for at least 72 hours. Do not use if pregnant.

Violet Tonic For Blemished Skin

Put 12 drops of lavender into ½ cup/4 fl. Oz/100 ml of lavender water, and use to cleanse the affected area. Do not use if pregnant.

Yellow//Red Cellulite Bath Mix

Mix into 2 Tablespoons/30 ml. Of Almond Oil 2 drops of lemon and one drop of sandalwood essential oil . Add to the bath as required.

White – Cajeput

Red – Sandalwood

Orange – Orange, Mandarin, Cinnamon, Carrot Seed Oil, Neroli,

Gold – Patchouli

Yellow – Citronella, Lemongrass, Evening Primrose Oil, Lemon, Camphor.

Olive Green – Essential oils made from herbs, Himalaya Pine.

Emerald Green – Rosemary, Scotch Pine, Basil, Peppermint.

Pink – Geranium

Saphire Blue – Myrrh, Tea Tree, Roman Chamomile

Royal Blue – German Chamomile

Violet – Violet, Rose, Rose Geranium, Lavender, Juniper

Deep Magenta – Frankincense, Clary Sage,

VIBRATIONAL ENERGY

Subtle energy is produced by our body’s energy anatomy, also referred to as our subtle anatomy. The body is surrounded by a vibrational field that is commonly referred to as the aura. The aura is an electromagnetic force field that surrounds all living things in both the animal and plant kingdom and interpenetrates the physical body.

The force field shields and protects the body. Perhaps you can sometimes see a light around a person’s head or you may sense somebody’s mood. If so, you may be becoming aware of the human energy field that people call the Aura. The colors of the aura are a good indicator of the personality, health and spirituality. The aura is multi-colored and flows and moves with you, changing color with your moods, feelings and spiritual condition.

Disease and illness are physical disorders which have their roots in being blocked or stuck in energy flow of the body–or in some cases, too free a flow, most often in or near vital organs. The flow is blocked, or stuck, or unbalanced, as a result of thought, which eventually works through the physical body as a pain or as an organic disturbance of some kind. This is the true nature of disease and illnesses and disorders to which humankind is prone. The release of the healing powers within oneself depends upon this particular cleansing process which can be cleansed using aromatherapy and color therapy.

AROMATHERAPY

Essential oils are derived from grasses, buds, peels, branches, needles, bark, leaves, seeds, berries, flowers, roots, fruits, woods, herbs, spices. Carriers, which carry the essential oils throughout the body and bloodstream are oils are derived from nuts, plants, fruit kernels, beeswax, flowers, flower seeds, fruit seeds, plant seeds, vegetables, herbs. These have thicker consistency so that they can carry the essential oils throughout the body. Aromatherapy promotes health of body, peacefulness of mind, helps the negative emotions to rest and by working in conjunction with the olfactory system, helps a person get in touch with their true selves.

Essential oils are gaining acceptance as a leading choice in home care. Many chiropractors value essential oils with amazing results in chiropractic treatments. Scents that activate the brain’s emotional centre and redefining psychology. Practitioners of traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine have valued essential oils for thousands of years. More and more medical doctors are valuing the clinical benefits of essential oils. Aromatherapy is now being used as an adjunct to core professions such as nursing, geriatrics, rehabilitation work, counseling, and physiotherapy. Used with naturopaths, hospice, hospitals, Special Needs, working in the travel-leisure industry at spas, resorts, retreats and cruise ships, health centers. Aromatherapy is used in methods such as massage, sitz baths, compresses, baths, perfumes, infusions, facial care, hair care. They can be used by human and animal alike. Do not use essential oils on cats or small animals.

The known physical and psychological effects of essential oils are often indicators of their subtle properties. For example, rosemary promotes mental clarity and relieves mental fatigue. On a subtle level, rosemary has an affinity with the sixth energy center (Third Eye), and is used to promote clear thoughts and insight. On a physical level juniper is cleansing and antiseptic. On a subtle level, it is used to cleanse a room of negativity, and to detoxify the subtle bodies.

THE PATCH TEST

If you are unsure of how your skin will react to an essential oil, apply one drop of the oil to some carrier oil to the inside of your wrist or forearm. Check the spot for any itching, redness, burning or irritation after a few hours. Or if needed to be applied before a massage a couple of minutes. If you have very delicate skin and wish to be extremely careful, you can cover the spot with a Band-Aid and leave it for 24 hours. You could also use these same procedures for carriers.

COLOR THERAPY

Color therapy is being used for Special Needs children in Special Needs centers. Color therapy is being used for children who have learning disabilities. A special colored filter chosen by the individual child and placed over their reading material helps a child learn more. Yellow is the most popular color. Dr. Phil had mentioned that using a blue light at bedtime helps to calm children to sleep and relax and has been used to calm children with Attention Deficit Disorder.

Color is the tiny visible portion of the vast spectrum of electromagnetic energy which is one of the fundamental forces of the universe. Light functions at the subatomic (quantum) level of matter as well as filling the whole space (as microwave background radiation – -an echo of the Big Bang of cosmic creation). All life on earth depends on the nutritious energy of light from the sun, which is conveniently stripped of dangerous levels of ultraviolet radiation by the earth’s atmosphere. Light, as bio-photons, is also working within the body’s cells as communication, and outside the body to infuse the auric field. An individual’s life and psychology is symbolically related to colors and the colors occur in the aura. You may be ‘seeing red’ or ‘feeling blue.’ You may be ‘in the dark’(depressed) or fired with enthusiasm, bright spark. Growing spiritual awareness is linked with pale hues and the golden-white light that unifies all colors and represents the unity or Source of all.

You can apply color by putting a colored light bulb in a lamp and shining it on yourself, or, you can breathe color in, or you can visualize it. You can also put a color filter around a glass of water and let the sun shine on it for a couple of hours to create solarized water. You can purchase colored filters from stage lighting companies. Then the water will have the vibration of whatever color filter you put around the glass. Your whole system would then partake and benefit from the color effects. You might apply color therapy using a swing arm lamp. You then can cut out two cardboard squares with a giant square in the middle of each square. You need two pieces of this. You then tape these two pieces together. Leave an opening to slide in your colored filters between the two cardboard pieces. Then you Velcro the square to the base of your swing arm lamp. You then can either use colored light bulbs. These you can purchase from a lamp company or hardware store. Or you can u!

se colored filters. Once you do this, you shine the light on a body part or you shine it systemically. This means, you shine the light all over the front or back of your body for an hour at a time. Some systems of Chroma Therapy (Color Therapy) teach that you should not shine violet light on the face. You should leave an hour or two in between different color treatments. You should also do a muscle test or dowse to see if the color is correct to use for that length of time. A person who is not comfortable under a certain color should not use that color for a lamp treatment. If you like a color, it is good for you. If you have a neutral reaction to a color, you likely don’t need that color. You can use this type of therapy at night for your tonations (This means color treatment) if you get a light timer so that the light can be timed to go off at intervals. Each of the colors has a different effect on the body, yet they are all interrelated. They all work together to relie!

ve, cleanse, build and heal. There are no dangerous side effec!

ts at an

y time. It would be better for a person to be unclothed. But if that person feels uncomfortable being unclothed.

Then wearing white cotton underwear would be a great idea as the light can penetrate through white material especially if it is natural as the skin can breathe.

Treatments may be taken at any time before eating, but wait for two hours or more after a meal. If indigestion occurs, however, yellow may be used at that time. Normal light in the room will not interfere with the effect of the color, but do not use in the direct sunlight or other strong lights. It will dissipate the strength of the color.

Have the room warm enough to prevent a chill. Since it is the effect of the color and not the heat, the lamp may be four to eight feet away from the body. It is best to be in a reclining position or sitting. The swivel on the lamp allows proper exposure on different areas.

Clothing makes a difference to a light treatment. You wear a color of clothing that is agreeable. The light will penetrate your clothes giving you a tonation. This is like shining a light on yourself through the color of your clothing. However, certain fibres with heavily saturated colors resist and diffuse the light. White cotton is the best of the fibres because it is natural and it doesn’t obstruct the light. This is called a tonation.

You can visualize or imagine the color you need or breathe in the colors that you need. Contemplating on a color either in your mind or by keeping your attention focused on something of the color you want to work with can be valuable . A more intellectual form of color meditation is to assemble your thoughts about a given color either just letting the associations flow or even writing them down.

Vegetable food coloring can be used in bath water to give your self a luxurious color bath. You can colored salt or baking soda to make a parable easily dispersed color bath salt. Perhaps you’d enjoy a color bath combined with some favourite water proof stones and perhaps some herbs or scented oils. Add Rose colored and aqua colored baths if you have a bathtub (its on the list of home improvements.)

Purple and dark blue should only be used for a short time ten to twenty minutes at most, as they can be depressing if overused. Orange is very invigorating and deep clear greens are very restful. You can add flower petals to the bath. Be careful that the bath water is not too hot as this can destroy the properties of the flowers like roses.

Art can be used in color healing, painting or drawing with the colors you feel are needed is a valuable and expressive way to integrate color healing into your life. Color can be gazed at, you can get a swatch of a color or gemstones or candles to look at it or use objects of that color. Just walking in nature and looking at flowers is one way to bring in color . Study the artwork of the artist you enjoy and explore the effects that the artists color choices have on your emotions and sense of well being.

You can use colored food. This is called the rainbow diet. If you have been too depressed and you need to be uplifted, you can use the warm colors to heal. If you have been too stimulated and you need to calm down, you can use the cool colors to cool yourself down. These are some ways to use color in your daily life.

The bottom line of this article is whether you use essential oils in massage or in an aromatic bath, you are using the color frequencies that relate to their qualities and therapeutic actions and vibrations.

Color Therapy and Aromatherapy is a post from: Alternative Medicine Guide

Long before the term alternative medicine was being used, aromatherapy was being practiced by the Egyptians for over 5,000 years. When being used by the Egyptians oil was being extracted from the many aromatic plants around them through infusion and then used for their not only cosmetic and medicinal purposes but also for embalming as well. They then passed the knowledge they had gained on to the Greeks and it served as the beginning of their research into how to use the oils and fragrance of some flowers for their relaxing and stimulating effects. In fact when looking back further in history we find that ancient man depended very much on his environment for their basic needs and to survive which led them to discover the more natural ways of preserving food and how certain conditions could be treated using herbs and aromatics.

First of all we will look at Eastern Roots. The use of aromatics are shown in a Chinese Herbal Book by Shen Nung dated 2,700 BC and which provides specific details on over 300 plants and how they can be used. Also the ancient Chinese would burn incense and wood as part of their religious beliefs and practices and even in today’s modern society many Chinese still observe these practices today. You will also discover that the Chinese used aromatics in relation to the acupressure, massage and other therapies that they used.

Whilst now in modern society many people place a very high premium on their health and well being but due to the high cost of traditional and conventional medicines available (surgery and Medicare) more and more people are turning to aromatherapy and essential oil therapy as well as other forms of alternative medicine.

The basics of using essential oils in an aromatherapy bath are as follows:-

1. It facilitates equilibrium of both the physical, mental and spiritual health of a person through natural means.

2. In some cases it has been found that alternative treatments are considered as strong and effective as complementary treatments to regular medical practices.

3. The main component of aromatherapy is the essential oils and are highly concentrated essences which are known for their healing effects.

Essentials oils are aroma producing oils which come from flowers such as the rose, from leaves such as basil, twig, bark, fruit rind and many other parts of plants. Although experts say that extracting the oils can be quite time consuming and complex and requires a large amount of patience on behalf of the person carrying out the work the benefits at the end are great. Certainly you need to recognize and accept that if you want to get about 5 tsp of oil from rose petals it will take about 220lbs of petals to do it and this is why pure essential oils are so expensive. Although the effectiveness of the oils is not comprised as it only takes a few drops to generate the effect required. However there is a cheaper alternative namely synthetic oil, however they do not offer the person the same healing properties as their natural counterparts.

Essential oils work by stimulating a person’s olfactory system and later on the brain or limbic system. The fragrance along with other properties and effects relating to the oils will determine how a person’s body system and its parts are stimulated. Whilst having a massage using these oils they are not only absorbed by the body but are inhaled at the same time and eventually when being absorbed through the skin they will reach the organs and body system of the person being treated. The time it takes for the oils to absorb through the skin can be from as little as 20 minutes and take as long as 2 hours or more and there it is wise to avoid taking a shower or bath straight after any massage so that the maximum effect is received from the massage therapy.

The time that the effect lasts on a person can vary from 3-24 hours to 2-3 days or even as long as week. Oils that have a short live time span in regard to their scent are Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Thyme and Bergamot whilst Hyssop, Lavender, Balm and various other oils can last between 2 to 3 days. The oils that take as long as a week to completely evaporate are Jasmine, Sandalwood, Ginger and Cedar Wood.

Many people when using aromatherapy are looking to achieve a sense of calm in their lives and these people will look to using a combination of three types of oils to help with this and they will base them on how long they last. They can be used by mixing them into a warm bath and will help the person to become relaxed and calm, they will help to eliminate the stress and depression that they are feeling as well as both energizing and soothing the body of any aches that they are feeling. Certainly by using essential oils during a massage will help increase the healing and calming effect that the person is feeling. However any massage carried out using essential oils must also include a carrier oil to help prevent irritation and skin reactions on the person being treated. Such carrier oils that are used to help dilute the essential oils are avocado oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, wheat germ oil, almond oil, soya oil and hazelnut oil.

Aromatherapy Bathing is a post from: Alternative Medicine Guide

A unique way many Americans are creating sweet fragrances in their homes is by using aromatherapy with reed diffusers. It’s nothing new; reed diffusers have been around for centuries. Europeans have been using reed diffusers for aromatherapy purposes for hundreds of years. The early practices of aromatherapy involved filling bottles with scented oils and using reed sticks to wick the fragrance. Sound familiar?

Reed diffusers have become more popular in the U.S. since the new millennium began. Many people are discovering the numerous untold benefits of reed diffusers and aromatherapy in general. Described below are just a few of its many benefits.

Sweet Fragrance for Every Room of Your Home

Aromatherapy with reed diffusers is a safe way to create wonderful fragrances in every room of your home. Reed diffusers can burn safely for hours without the risk of harmful flames. They add beauty and a touch of luxury to your home decor and make great centerpieces. Reed diffusers also add a relaxing “feel” to every room. They are easy to maintain and can last as long as several months. Unlike candles, reed diffusers offer aromatherapy without fire risks in apartments, office buildings and dorms.

Home Decor Aromatherapy for the Holidays

Invigorate your guests during the holiday season with aromatherapy. There are many scents to choose from no matter what time of the year. During the holidays, you can spice up every room with scented reed diffusers created specially for the occasion. Your guests will be relaxed and will enjoy their stay!

Aromatherapy Gives Inspiration

The sense of smell is powerful in that it affects the way we think and feel. How do you feel when you smell a sweet floral fragrance or a food-type fragrance? How do you feel when you smell licorice or smoke? The affects of aromatherapy are amazing!

Studies show that patients who lose their sense of smell often become depressed or develop anxiety. Why? They are unable to relate to the environment around them. It also affects the taste of foods. Imagine visiting your favorite restaurant with no sense of smell. You would probably not feel like eating at all because you would not be able to relate to the foods that are being cooked.

When you want inspiration, use reed diffusers to create an inspirational aroma in your home or office. Use fragrances that are appealing to you and those that make you feel relaxed or inspired.

Health and Beauty with Aromatherapy

Various types of aromatherapy are available on the market, including bath and skin oils, lamps, massage oils, inhalation products, etc. Aromatherapy is believed to help improve a number of health or skin conditions such as depression, grief, fear, panic attacks, dermatitis, varicose veins, eczema, burns, bruises, motion sickness, colds, flu, sore throat, and more. Check with your doctor before using aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy is not designed to replace professional medical care, but it can help supplement certain treatments. It’s a way to take control of your own well-being and create balance in your life.

As you can see, there are many fabulous benefits of using aromatherapy with reed diffusers. They are a great alternative for scented candles while still providing the wonderful aromas you desire!

Aromatherapy with Reed Diffusers is a post from: Alternative Medicine Guide

As you may already know, Aromatherapy products come from natural sources such as plants, shrubs, tree barks and so forth. The internet is filled with different types of Aromatherapy oils and scents you can ever imagine. These oils help one to relax. Each product has some group of ailments it can heal and hence we want to be sure that when we decide to buy a product either online or offline that we get a real Aromatherapy product in our hands.

The truth of the matter is that there are a lot of substitutes in the market that vendors potray as Aromatherapy product. These substitutes come in the form of scents, essential oils, fragrances and so on. However you should know that Aromatherapy products come from Natural plants as i explained above. Specifically, Aromatherapy oils and scents are distilled from steam and do not come from synthetic sources but natural sources.

How do you know if a product is not an Aromatherapy product?

This question is important because you will be convinced by vendors that certain oils are Aromatherapy based when in reality they are not. Therefore, it is your job to make sure you get the real product. And for that purpose, we will look into Aromatherapy roots, production, types and so on to help you.

Aromatherapy products produces natural scents, these smell helps in soothing the mind and can cure one or two health problems, namely emotional or psychological disorder. The oils that these scents come from are extracted from plants that are still alive. These oils are used by the masseuse for massaging the body and it can be inhaled also. Based on the above facts about Aromatherapy line of products it is necessary that you sort any product by this knowledge. Lets check out some of them.

African Bluegrass come under the botanical name Cymbopogon Validus. It is produced from steam distillation and extracted from meadow tufts. It has its roots in South Africa. It has a lemon scent and it is aromatic in nature. Due to its harsh scents, this product is used by Africans to treat the feet when it is injured. There are other oils that can blend with this product, they are; citrus scents, dills, sage, or thymes. When it is blended, it produces a sweet scent. It is believed by the Africans that this product have holy oils which make it so unique. The holy oils are groove oils, olive, citronella, and myrrh. The only disadvantage of this product is that it produces an irritation on the skin and hence people are not very willing to use it.

Another oil that might be confused is the Carrier oils. Carrier is an Aromatherapy oil. Merchants can dress up a substitute and disguise it as the real Carrier oil and would have you believe them. To help you combat this problem you will need to know the following facts;

1. Aromatherapy products are natural and produces natural scents.

2. The oils are extracted from living plants.

3. Carrier oil has its botanical name to be Triacyglyyceride.

4. There are oils which must be diluted with this product to give maximum healing results.

Another oil is Cognac. Cognac is sorted out from natural fruits. Cognac is used in the making of some alcoholic drinks such as brandy. The oils can also be used as perfumes and after shave.

All being said you have to make sure that you are fully informed before you make any decision to use alternative medicines like Aromatherapy products.

Identify Non Aromatherapy Products! is a post from: Alternative Medicine Guide