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Using Essential Oils
Essential oils are extracted from plants either by
using steam of by dissolving the oils out using
solvents, then evaporating the solvents. What’s
left behind is the soul of the plant –the essence
without the physical form. Romantic, isn’t it!
--Editors Tip ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Stress-Free Mornings By Waking Up to Relaxing
Aromatherapy
 How
do you feel when you wake to smell bacon frying?
Bread baking? Do you like the sounds of birdsong
or ocean waves? How about the scent of lavender,
to calm or energize your morning and provide the
day's first pick-me-up? Natural, soothing sounds
can wake you gently instead of an alarm blasting
you out of bed. Aromatherapy scents with flowers
and herbs, set up the expectation that maybe the
world can be a beautiful place—even before your
morning coffee.
The way you start your morning tends to color your
experiences of the day. There's no law that says
your moment of waking should be stressful: don't
you get enough stress in the daytime? Try a
gradual awakening; soft sounds and a glowing light
that grows gradually and a sweet, natural scent.
Imagine that: starting your day with an experience
that wakes you up-- without freaking you out.
See how you can wake-up stress free and gradually
to soothing light, soft sounds and relaxing
aromatherapy.
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If you’ve shopped for aromatherapy products
before, you’ve probably noticed that most of them
are lavender. It’s true that this herb is supposed
to have calming and restorative properties, but
lavender isn’t the only aromatherapy choice out
there, and it’s not for everyone. You can get
essential oils for nearly everything, and can
experiment with spice, herbs, flowers and woodsy
scents to find the things you like best.
Rules of Aromatherapy Blends
The first rule of aromatherapy is to know
yourself. The part of the brain responsible for
olfaction (sense of smell) is partly surrounded by
the part of the brain that handles long-term
memory, and is also part of the limbic system,
which handles emotion. The central position of
your olfactory sense is why when you smell
something you smelled as a child, it will often
bring a flood of memories and emotions with it.
That’s why scent is a highly individual thing: we
all have different associations to the smell of
roses, to Old Spice aftershave and to baking
bread. All this is to say that the smell of sweet
orange oil may make one person feel cheery and
another unbearably sad. It all depends.
Aroma researchers have found that in general, men
like the smell of vanilla and the smell of
lavender. That’s no reason to choose either scents
as a perfume, though: men are also crazy about the
smell of pizza! Most people love the smell of
something sweet baking, and one do-it-yourself
aromatherapy is to bake a loaf of bread. Other
activities that have an aromatherapeutic element
include taking a bubble bath, drinking a fragrant
wine, walking through a eucalyptus grove, or
hanging out in a cedar sauna.
Some years ago, psychology researchers found that
piping the smell of the ocean in to the air
significantly helped people feel less depressed.
(They weren’t sure if it was going to the beach or
just the smell of the beach that worked on
depression, so they tried it with just the smell,
and it worked).
Aromatherapy Product Information
When you choose aromatherapy products, try to get
samples before committing to buy. Go with
essential oils over synthetics, but if Aqua Velva
reminds you of being a kid, happy and excited to
be riding on your Dad’s shoulders, then buy a
bottle of aftershave and sprinkle it around the
room. Aromatherapy means using what works for you.
If you have allergies or asthma, chemical-based
aromatherapy may be fraught with danger. Synthetic
scents are derived from chemical compounds, many
of which can cause strong allergic reactions such
as wheezing, coughing, hives and itching or even
nausea and vomiting. Don't fall into the trap of
believing that, just because a product claims to
be aromatherapy-based, it's automatically good for
you. (I remember once reading that the flavoring
that makes banana popsicles (the bright yellow
ones that don't contain any actual banana
products) was the same chemical used to tan
leather. )
Many people have allergic reactions to perfectly
natural products. I have a friend who is highly
allergic to rosemary. His face balloons up, his
eyes water and his nose runs if he gets anywhere
near the fresh herb. Rosemary is an ancient herb
that's been used in shampoos, skin care lotions,
perfumes and nearly anything scented, but he can't
stand the stuff. If you have allergies, make sure
you read the back of any product you're
considering before shelling out money for
something that may make you sick.
Ideally, aromatherapy will help you feel happier,
rejuvenated, stronger and more calm. Some of the
scents I love are almond, cedar wood, clover and
cucumber. I use peppermint oil in everything, from
shampoo to foot cream because I love its clean,
sharp fragrance.
Avoid scents that bring back unhappy memories or
that make you feel heavy and sleepy (unless you’re
using aroma for insomnia). Chamomile is commonly
used for a sleep aid, but I prefer eucalyptus,
myself because it reminds me of evenings on the
cool, northern California coast...
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Working out can sometimes feel like a daily chore that must be done to keep those extra pounds off and keep us healthy. Sometimes I need a little extra motivation to enjoy my gym workouts. I used to just throw on some grungy sweats and an old t-shirt, but now I find it much more exciting to go to the gym if I feel cute and stylish in my workout wear.
