Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Aromatherapy to Relieve Stress

What Is Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the use of perfumed oils extracted from plants in the treatment or prevention of disease and help in the reduction of stress, regularly called concentrated oils. The term necessary reveals that the oil carries particular scent ( essence ) of the plant, not that it is an especially critical or basic source.

Since fancy oils are so powerful, plenty can irritate the skin unless diluted with carrier oil such as sweet almond oil or olive oil. Important oils are extracted by distillation but can also be removed by expression or solvent extraction.

How To Use

Essential oils can be used thru the skin ( massage, shower, adding to bath water ), and inhalation ( ceramic burner, vaporizer, hankie, pillow ) .

Inhalation. Add a few drops into a ceramic burner with a lit candle beneath. When the oil heats up the smell will be dispersed into the air.

Vaporizer. Add a few drops to boiling water and breathe the vapours.

Skin Application. Add several drops to almond or olive oil, tip into your bath water, climb in and relax. You can also buy ready to use oils for baths from some drugstores. If you shower, mix up half the quantity and use on your shower sponge, flannel or body scrub.

Infusion. Some herbs and important oils may be employed as an infusion in a tea but always check before use.

Which to use

Firstly, you need to identify which essential oils are best for treating stress and meeting your wishes. Lavender, clary sage, chamomile and lemon are a couple of the common ones.

Lavender is a relaxant:-

add a few drops to heat bath water, climb in and relax.

add a few drops to water and put into a spray bottle. Spray around your home when you are feeling stressful.

Clary Sage* gives a feeling of being uplifted:-

add to a vaporizer to help you relax;

add a few drops to a carrier oil and get somebody to massage you to help you relax.

Caution:- pregnant mums, those with active tumours or cancer must contact their medical specialist before using this essential oil.

Chamomile is a relaxant:-

place a few drops on your pillow or on a handkerchief under your pillow to help you to chill and have a good nights sleep.

Lemon gives a feeling of being uplifted, helps you to chill and feel calmer:-

add a few drops to a vaporizer to help you relax and feel calmer.

Mandarin* helps you're feeling more joyous and calmer:-

add a few drops to a vaporizer, relax and relax

Peppermint* helps to clear your mind:-

add a few drops to a carrier oil and get somebody to massage the strain away;

can also be infused and drunk as a tea.

*Clary Sage, Mandarin and Peppermint oils should not be used by pregnant women as they could cause blood thinning and premature labor.

*Warnings*

*Aromatherapy products are never to be used in place of medical treatment.

*Essential oils are powerful, so they usually have to be employed in safe quantities.

*Using more than the counseled dose can be as threatening as overdosing on medicines.

*If you have become pregnant, epileptic, afflicted with high blood pressure or already taking medication talk to your medical consultant or a certified aromatherapist
.