AromatherapyEssential Oils for the Body and Soul

Many people are familiar with the therapeutic properties of aromatherapy massage. It relaxes your body, helps increase circulation, and gives your skin a vibrant glow. However, what many people do not know is that aromatherapy massage is an effective treatment for many other things such as cellulite, stress, emotional problems, as well as for animals.

Aroma therapy massage for cellulite

Unfortunately, there are many people who treat their bodies well yet cannot escape the terror of cellulite. Particularly for people who used to be overweight, cellulite is extremely difficult to get rid off no matter what you do. Even if you have never been overweight you may have some cellulite; this is because hormones play a big part in the development of cellulite.

Besides exercise and a good diet to detoxify your body, aroma therapy massage is a great way to get rid of those unruly cellulite lines. It helps to breakdown and melt fatty deposits. An effective massage oil is a blend of juniper, sweet fennel, cypress, and a carrier oil such as sweet almond or jojoba oil. Make sure to have long and deep massages for cellulite treatment.

Aroma therapy massage for stress

Everybody has experienced stress at one point or another. There is nothing more relaxing than a deep, aroma therapy massage at the end of the day. High levels of stress are not something to be taken lightly – it can lower your immune system making you more susceptible to diseases. For those who experience prolonged sessions of high stress, it may be a good idea to look into aroma therapy massage.

Aroma therapy massage for emotional problems

Many therapists use aroma therapy oils for emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, physical exhaustion, insomnia, and irritability. Many people have found that aroma therapy is a good way to calm nerves and boost mood. In fact, therapists have found that different blends of oils can trigger different moods. For instance, there are oils that increase energy levels, and some that alleviate pain in the body. Other scents that are popular for being able to lift the spirit are citrus scents such as grapefruit, lemon, lime, and orange.

Aroma therapy massage for dogs

If you think that smells can be soothing and therapeutic, imagine what it would do for animals with a more sensitive sense of smell. Aroma therapy massage is now being used to pamper pets, particularly dogs. Over the years, it has been gaining popularity as a way to treat dogs emotionally and physically. Typically used to treat tick problems and anxiety, the natural smells in the oils have a visible effect on a dog’s health.

Oils used in dog aroma therapy are usually 100% all natural made from natural oils, plants, and herbs. Usually, lemon oil is also added and serves as an effective repellent. Rosemary is also a popular choice, which is used to treat arthritis. These oils can be massaged into a dog’s fur, or simply diluted in water and sprayed on.

With all these benefits, it is easy to see why so many people are addicted to aromatherapy massage. If you have any emotional problems, physical pains, or just want to give your pet a wonderful treat, get up now and find your way to an aroma therapy spa near you.

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Yes, aromatherapy is an all-natural treatment using essential oils extracted from plants. But just because it’s all-natural doesn’t mean it is free of producing potentially hazardous side effects. Although they’re proven to have beneficial effects to both the mind and body, essential oils, just like any medications, should be used with care to avoid the dangers.

Essential oils are readily available in many natural health and beauty products stores. Of course you can always do a little research or consult the vendor which essential oils are the right ones for your needs. But what if you read the wrong article or asked an amateur therapist or practitioner who doesn’t have sufficient experience with handling essential oils?

It’s always recommended to consult your doctor or any professional first before beginning to treat any kind of disorder through this method. This is especially true if you are currently undergoing a course of treatment using medications; the essential oils may interfere with the natural actions of the drugs, thus causing more harm than help. When shopping for oils, always keep in consideration their characteristics and the kind of disorders they can help remedy.

Essential oils are basically employed through external application on the skin or through inhalation. Some therapist or practitioner will also recommend ingesting teas made from the flowers or other parts of herbs known to be beneficial to the mind and body. However, always make sure that you avoid oral consumption of essential oils because they can be hazardous to your internal organs. Not all the oils available out there are the same; some of the oils you can purchase may be alcohol-based. The alcohol used may be toxic or not intended for ingestion. It is best if you purchase the pure form of essential oils, the ones that contain nothing else but the distilled plant extracts.

Some people might experience adverse reactions when rubbing essential oils on their skin. Skin irritations or allergies may arise, especially when the oils are applied around the mouth, eyes, nose, or near any mucous membranes. These areas should be spared form the application of aromatic oils. If possible, use the diluted form of oils instead of their concentrated form; you can purchase carrier oils, in which you add concentrated essential oils drop by drop to reduce their concentration. People suffering from asthma and other respiratory problems should avoid using aromatic oils as they could cause serious problems to the airway.

Essential oils are generally sold in small bottles. When storing them, always make sure to store them in cool and dark places, as sunlight may affect their potency. They should be also kept where children may not be able to reach them. Remember that some of these essential oils smell sweet; your children might be tricked into thinking they are sweet beverages and might drink them. Some oils like camphor and bitter almond are just too dangerous to be stored at home. The bitter almond oil contains formaldehyde, which is very dangerous for the skin and internal organs.

There are oils that are generally safe to be used on children. They include lavender, chamomile, rose, orange, tea tree and some others. However, they should be diluted with carrier oils by using 2 tsp. of carrier oil for every 1 drop of essential oils. There are recommended dosages for each age group of children.

It’s best that you consult with an aromatherapy professional first before using them on your kids.

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It seems that there is an appropriate aromatherapy scent for your every need. No matter if what you need is to alter your mood, achieve a sense of well-being or relieve minor health conditions, there is a corresponding scent to do the job well. The following are 5 of the most popular scents.

Chamomile

The flowers of the chamomile plant look like tiny daisies but smell like apples instead. Grown for many years now because of its various healing properties, chamomile is best known for its calming effects, thus helping one to achieve a very restful sleep. It is also effective for relieving the symptoms of PMS, menopause and hyperactivity among kids. The oil from chamomile flowers can help ease muscle aches and tensions, headaches and joint pains. Drinking tea made from the petals helps stimulate appetite and calm upset stomach. Unlike other essential oils, chamomile is mild enough to help ease your baby’s colic, thus helping him or her achieve sleep.

Eucalyptus

With about 300 varieties, eucalyptus has long been a vital ingredient in cough medications because its scent, which helps open up and clear nasal passages. Eucalyptus oil is also used to scent mouthwashes, aftershaves, colognes and other household cleansers. The effects of eucalyptus on the mind and body include: relief from mental fatigue, improves mental alertness, lessen muscle tension and help boost the immune system. It is also a widely-used disinfectant and insect repellant. However, if used in large amounts, eucalyptus essential oil can be toxic. Also, while it is great for relieving the symptoms of sinusitis and lung congestion, it is not intended for use during an asthma attack.

Lavender

Lavender has long been associated with cleanliness ever since the Romans first used it as an additive to their bathwater. Today, it is still a favorite for scenting perfumes, soaps, air fresheners, fabric softeners, disinfectants and many others. Lavender is one of the safest and most widely-used essential oils, known to have an uplifting and relaxing effect. If used in large amounts, lavender can be stimulating. It also helps improve digestion, reduce swelling, ease muscle tension and is proven effective for treating minor skin injuries such as burns, cuts, scrapes, and rashes.

Peppermint

Peppermint is popular because of its powerful, mint and distinctive fragrance. It is a common ingredient in all sort of products like ice cream, liqueurs, mouthwashes, toothpastes, desserts, cosmetics, household cleansers and many more. Peppermint essential oil is used in liniments to increase blood flow to a body part, thus relieving muscle spasms and arthritis. It is also known to uplift the mood, relieve mental fatigue, improve alertness and enhance memory. Known to be able to kill many bacteria and viruses, peppermint is used for treating ringworm, scabies, herpes simplex and poison oak.

Rosemary

With its herbaceous, woody and camphorous odor, it is not surprising that rosemary has a wide variety of uses, from the ancient times until today. It became a staple during weddings and funerals in the ancient times. It was used as an ingredient in cosmetics as early as the 14th century. Today it is a popular ingredient in liniments, massage oils and bath products. Rosemary is excellent in improving blood circulation, relieving sore throat and lung congestion, and helpful in improving digestion.

It also helps relieve mental fatigue, uplift the mood and enhance mental alertness and memory when used as an aromatherapy scent.

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