Herbal Aromatherapy |

by Erica Stevens

Ongoing research in laboratories around the world is revealing important medical applications of essential oils. Results are published in peer-reviewed journals, and summaries of these papers are available on the internet though the website of the publication, or through Pub Med, a resource for searching all these journal-published abstracts at once. Type in ‘essential oils’ and you’ll find thousands of results, many just appearing in the last month. At Ananda Aromatherapy, we follow these developments to pass on to our customers and blog readers in hopes they may help you get the most of of your aromatherapy practice!

Many essential oils are used to help folks focus, to think a little more clearly and be more effective in their jobs and as students. The action of these oils tend to correspond to their aromas: bright, high-note oils tend to clarify and uplift the awareness (where soft floral aromas gently sedate, and earthy aromas are grounding and calming). Research has shown significant improvements in mental acuity by the inhalation of these oils, and now the physiological means through which they act in our brains is being revealed.

In the first study, perfomed at the Institute for Environmental Sciences at the University of Shizuoka Japan, Tarragon, Inula, Lavender and Holy Basil were tested for their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. In other words, their ability to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, the primary information-handling neurotransmitter. Supplements with this action are becoming more and more popular with regular folks trying to increase their smarts, and are used to treat dementia (Alzheimer’s) by increasing the amount of acetylcholine in the brain.

Of the essential oils tested, Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) produced in France had the highest inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, though all the oils tested showed significant AChE inhibitory activity. All the oils were analyzed by GC/MS to find the individual natural chemical constituents of the oils which produced this effect. Of real interest is that 1,8-Cineol had the greatest inhibitory activity of all the constituents examined. Why this this interesting? Rosemary essential oil has long been considered a mental stimulant (we find in the office to be particularly brightening) and has been studied for this effect, improving mental focus in humans through a variety of tests. The primary component of Rosemary essential oil is 1,8-Cineol (it is also a major constituent of Eucalyptus oils, used for invigorating massages and steam treatments).

Also of great interest was that the effect of these constituents relative to their amounts in the complete natural essential oil was not very high — meaning the complete essential oil, with nature’s balance of the chemical constituents, was synergistically more effective than the singly-extracted molecules. This is a theme in aromatherapy: that the complete natural essential oil will generally have more benefits than a single ‘active ingredient’ extracted in a laboratory — Therapeutic grade oils are those that retain the natural balance of the plant’s, with proper harvesting and distillation methods.

We also see in aromatherapy that the scents of single aromatic molecules isolated in a lab don’t really smell very interesting. The balance all those molecules found in an oil in very tiny amounts (less than 5% to fractions of 1%) make the difference between an ‘ok’ essential oil and a highly-therapeutic, world class essential oil. These oils are just an absolute pleasure to inhale, and oftentimes one can smell them again and again and keep finding new wonderful notes.

The second study very much ties in with the first, as it demonstrates the ability of Lemon essential oil to directly prevent dementia (Alzheimer’s). The causes of dementia are not well understood, though some pathways are clearly documented. Toxicity from certain chemicals may lead to a breakdown in neurotransmitter systems, resulting in dementia symptoms. In research performed at the Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry in Shizouka, Japan, Lemon essential oil was shown to inhibit memory impairment from scopolamine exposure, preventing dementia. AND, as a final note of the study, the combined primary constituents of Lemon essential oil were shown to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity! Lemon essential oil both prevents dementia and increases acetylcholine stores in the the brain.

What is the novice aromatherapy practitioner to do with this information? How can one safely put it to use? Thankfully, the tools and practices have already been used by aromatherapists for some time. Some effect will occur just though the inhalation or topical application of these oils — anytime you’re smelling an aroma, some of it is being absorbed in your body. If its applied topically, its also being absorbed in your body. The important thing is to take care adjusting your overall intake while listening to your own response to the oil’s aroma. We find diffusing a little of an oil with a high cineol content to be brightening and uplifting. The finer the grade of the oil, the more of it we’ll want (or tolerate) before deciding to turn it off for awhile. The break lets our nose forget about the oil so it can enjoy it again, and our internal systems can reap the benefits while the oil cycles through us. Essential oils are metabolized fairly rapidly, and many diffuser timer systems cycle on again every hour or so — this is about the time it takes for the majority of the oil to leave our system, and interestingly, our nose will tell us when the oil is again a good thing to inhale.

About the Author:
The author is a wellness director for Ananda Aromatherapy, found at www.anandaapothecary.com. Find more resources are available on aromatherapy and essential oil blends through the website.

by MichelleAllen

As the owner of an aromatherapy company, I get asked all the time: “How do I get started using essential oils? Well, one of the simplest and rewarding ways of doing this is getting into the “aroma” part of aromatherapy — the inhalation and enjoyment of the scent of the oils themselves. This in fact is a gateway to utilizing the whole realm of therapy available from pure essential oils. Once you get familiar with the oils and the way they smell by diffusing their aromas, you’ll be more apt to investigate the powerful medicinal aspects of aromatherapy and its many application techniques.

“Diffusing” an essential oil simply means evaporating it into the air. In aromatherapy, this most often implies the use of a tool or machines to more rapidly release the oil into your environment than if you just left a bottle open in the room or sprinkled a little oil the carpet. Now leaving a bottle open or sprinkling a little oil on a carpet is a perfectly good way of enjoying essential oils! But sometimes you’ll want the smell to be stronger, and for may therapeutic (health-supporting) applications, you’ll want a much higher concentration of essential oils in the air than these methods provide. Here’s where the diffusers come in.

All diffusers will improve the rate of evaporation of essential oils into your surrounding space. It is important to recognize that while this may use your oils faster, there are good reasons to do this: diffusing oils so they can be smelled over a much larger space; diffusing oils in a work environment to eliminate the scents of of other activities; and perhaps the most important is sometimes diffusing high concentrations of oils such that we can absorb more oils through our respiratory systems for our health. The least expensive diffusers will use a small heating element to evaporate the oils, or a small fan which moves air more quickly over the oils for the same effect. These are usually excellent choices for a small bedroom or office. A little more high-tech are the humidifying ultrasonic diffusers, which are actually just small ultrasonic humidifiers. They do a wonderful job in small to medium environments, particularly in dry climates or during the winter with forced-air heat systems.

There are other simple, inexpensive ‘low-tech’ methods of diffusing essential oils. These are as simple as candle warmers — where a candle gently evaporates a few drops of essential oil floating on a small bowl of water above a tea-light candle (don’t forget the water! So many people report these devices burn their oils, but they’ve put them just over the heat!). A Reed Diffuser is also common, which evaporates aromatic oils through bamboo reeds and slowly into the air. Though they do most often use a synthetic dispersion agent called DPG or dipropylene glycol, which most aromatherapists will not recommend using, as at some point the diffusion process requires one breathing in its vapors.

The most advanced aromatherapy diffusers produce a fine, concentrated mist of pure essential oil, without water or heat. In medicinal aromatherapy practices, therapists will sometimes have their clients actually breathe the visible vapor of an oil or oil blend to help them get well. In Europe, one can find an apparatus that looks like an oxygen tent, though instead allows the patient to breathe in oils that are considered highly anti-viral or anti-bacterial. This employs what is called a “nebulizing diffuser” (this is not the same as an “ultrasonic nebulizer” in that no water is used). The nebulizing diffusers are wonderful in that they can be used in both small spaces, just for aromatic needs, or for larger areas where a high concentration of essential oils are desired in the air. At the same time, they can take a little more attending to — needing the occasional cleaning — and typically use precision glass pieces to make the fine mist of essential oil evaporate properly. Even so, the best of these available today are small, quiet, nice looking and easy to maintain.

The essential oil one can diffuse vary as much as the diffusers themselves. If you’re just wanting to make your space smell wonderful, choose a few of your favorite aromas and just go for it! Use small amounts at first to conserve your oils, while you get an idea of how much essential oil diffusing for so long suits your tastes. Some people are more sensitive than others, so take your friends and family into consideration as well. Note that children generally need much less oil to notice and have a response to, so lower your starting volume for the younger ones of your family. Blending oils from the same family is easy to do, and generally results in a very fun scent. To simply bring great cheer to a room, woods and needle oils work especially well, as their scents are broadly loved. Balsam Fir, Pine, Spruce, Black Spruce and Juniper Berry go very well together; the Citrus oils also combine well — you can blend virtually any combination of Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange, Tangerine and Mandarin and make a very uplifting combination. If you like floral aromas, you can try blending your favorites of those as well, though they take a little more close attention to the ratios of each oil so that one does not overwhelm another. When you start, it’s not a bad idea to take notes about how many drops of each oil you’ve used and adjust them to make your favorite combination the next time. There are many pre-made diffuser blends of pure essential oils available as well, so consider giving them a try.

Blend recipes can often be found that are made for specific therapeutic needs — though in many cases, a single oil is called for in a “therapy”. Sleep can be helped for many people through just diffusing a high quality French Lavender essential oil; Memory and concentration can be enhanced by cold pressed Lemon oil or a steam distilled wild Rosemary. Immune system support is often provided by many of the oils from herbs, such as Melissa (Lemon Balm), Hyssop (a highly-regarded anti-viral oil), and Eucalyptus Radiata (recently shown to improve the efficacy of our white blood cells in their immune system action). Without too much work, you can find the right oils for your needs, and blending needn’t be too precise for these actions from a diffuser (though you would want to take care to be more precise with other modalities, like topical application, and in extreme cases, oil ingestion with the guidance of a doctor).

So there is a primer on diffusing essential oils. To recap, first pick the diffuser style that will suit your needs, whether you’ll just like to smell the aromas in a smaller space, or diffuse significant quantities for health reasons. Next, you can blend one oil at a time (diffusers usually do not require one to clean them between oils, nor are the therapeutic effects significantly altered by this), by a pre-blended formula, or create your own diffuser mixture. Just be sure not to include any fixed or carrier oils for diffuser use — many massage formulas can be converted to diffuser use simply by removing the carrier oil. Start slowly, remembering that you’ll generally need less oil than you think to produce the effect you need. And welcome yourself to a whole new world of natural medicine.

About the Author:
The author is a consultant for Ananda Aromatherapy. Find more resources are available on aromatherapy supplies & essential oil formulas through the website.

by Tim Masters

One form of alternative medicine that helps in relieving stress, boost the mood and aids in having a healthier life is the aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is composed of herbs, essential oils and other substances that help to heal the body by using the sense of smell.

Different substances that have a special aroma are used in the process as well as candles. These substances when heated and smelled produce a different kind of feeling to a person. Some of the herbs that are used on the session are peppermint and eucalyptus that are known to help boost the energy level. Lavender and chamomile help the person to be calm and relax. Lemon and rosemary also help to revitalize a tired body.

We have a very strong sense of smell that it can distinguish almost 10,000 kinds of scents. This system of ours that do this is called Limbic system. When this system is stimulated it helps endorphins, neurotransmitters and good chemicals released from the body.

Sometimes aromatherapy is done by making the bloodstream absorb the appropriate oils that it needs. This is very safe as applying cream, ointment and lotion on your skin and then massaging it.

Most people love to visit spas and massage therapists for their regular aromatherapy programs but you can also perform this on your home. All you have to do is buy candles, necessary oils and some kind of burner of diffuser to heat the oil. To be able to make this effective, you need to do this in the quietest place of the house, so that you can be comfortable.

This can be an excellent option to replace medications and prescriptions since it has no side effects. If a person is sensitive to any substances, seek help form your doctor first before doing this. Some of the side effects that can emerge are due primarily to a person’s sensitivity to certain ingredients that they might have an allergic response to.

About the Author:
Looking for a complete guide to aromatherapy? Visit yourcompleteguidetoaromatherapy.info for more information and resources on aromatherapy oil recipes. Also, visit our sister sites to learn about where to buy cheap whipped body butters.

by Henry

Recently, a lot of people have switched to organic natural skin care products because all of the products advertised in commercials that aren’t natural and organic have not been able to produce the results that people desire. Though many have decided to try out natural organic products, many do not know what these products are and are still very doubtful that whether they actually work or not..

Aroma of oils is extracted from different herbs and plants which assist to bring the mind and body into a state of equilibrium. The necessary oils are numerous and information on the essential oils and aromatherapy can be obtained from the internet. These essential oils evaporate with no trouble and are used in many air fresheners. Pure essential oils are extremely strong and are volatile. Nearly all of these oils contain vitamins and minerals.

Organic natural skin care products can be used just on the face and other parts of the body. The products used on the face and other parts of the body vary because the structure of the skin varies depending on where you are using these products on your body. These natural organic products, along with rejuvenating the skin, are able to bring about a healing and soothing effect on the whole body. A lot of of the natural organic skin products are made with a soothing essence that is able to calm anyone who uses them. Along with nourishment, these products are capable to make the body feel much more relaxed and fresh.

A lot of of these products include elements taken from plants and flowers, as well as herbs and herbal extracts. Lavender, aloe vera, jojoba, rosemary extract and olive oil are some of the most frequently used components in natural organic skin care products. Many of these ingredients are used chiefly in skin care product that is intended to be used on the body and not just the face. These ingredients are very rich in aroma, which ensures that the product is refreshing as well as long-lasting from the moment you put it on your skin.

Aroma Therapy is a big way to jump start your immune system and improves your body’s natural capability to overcome sickness! Put that additional energy to use in whatever way you want! Whether you want to do extremely well in your career, hobbies and favorite past times or just take pleasure in more time with family and friends!

In case you want to use it for colds and inflammation of the sinus, Steamers that are made especially for aromatherapy can assist. Application of the oil on the affected part is said to be helpful in many remedies like arthritis, muscle aches etc.

About the Author:
Get more helpful tips and information on aromatherapy today.