July 5th, 2010 by Helen Bliss
The wonderful therapeutic values of essential oils are many: they have science-proven antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer effects. On a psychological and emotional level, oils have demonstrated anti-anxiety and anti-depressant action in placebo-controlled research. And so, what about one of the greatest therapeutic challenges of our times: the ability to get a good night’s rest? Well, the data is in! A number of studies have shown essential oils to be able to improve both the quality and the duration of sleep. This is crucial for those who have difficulty getting this rest, as it is so important to both our physical and mental health. Would you like to give essential oils a try? Here’s a look at which oils might work best for you, and how you can most effectively apply them.
The most widely prescribed oil by natural health professionals for deeper, more restful sleep is lavender. This is probably the most widely used and recognized essential oil in use today, particularly for its proven anti-anxiety action. The oil’s pleasant sweet-floral scent is primarily a result of particular natural chemical constituents which themselves have been proven to have anti-anxiety effects — lavender is the essential oil with the highest levels of these natural constituents, hence its great therapeutic efficacy.
Several factors make lavender this number one choice: It’s absolutely safe, so much so that it can be used with young children as well as those well into old age. It’s relatively inexpensive, the aroma is generally well-liked, and is readily available from a number of sources. At the same time, the choice of lavender is not for everyone — and this is an important note in all therapeutic uses of aromatic oils — the user must not find the aroma of the oil unpleasant and expect it to work. Women seem to have an affinity for lavender, as do young children. This is of course a generalization, but if you or someone you know would like to try aromatherapy for enhancing sleep and don’t care for lavender, don’t force it! There’s other oils out there.
One of the great features of lavender is that it can safely be used with infants, a feature every mother will be particularly appreciative of. Researchers at the Touch Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found that a bath scented with lavender essential oil resulted in infants that “cried less and spent more time in deep sleep after bath”. Further, lower stress of the mothers bathing their children was also noted: “The cortisol levels of this group of mothers and infants significantly decreased, confirming the behavioral data showing increased relaxation of the mothers and their infants.”
The latest published research involving lavender utilized an ingestable lavender capsule, rather than lavender aroma. The focus of the study was to see whether the capsule reduced anxiety when compared to a placebo or a common sedative drug. The lavender capsule was deemed as effective as the pharmaceutical preparation in reducing anxiety, and it was noted that study participants also slept better when ingesting the equivalent of 2 drops of lavender oil per day. Because lavender works both when inhaled and when ingested, it stands to reason it will work via topical application as well, where the oil can both be smelled and passed through the skin into the bloodstream.
Sandalwood is another very popular oil with sleep enhancing properties. Sandalwood comes from the heartwood of trees growing in India, Australia and islands in the South Pacific. All these oils contain the individual constituents attributed to improved rest and relaxation, called “santalols”. So while the Indian variety is considered the finest for perfumery, all of these should do the trick. Santalols seem to produce a someone different physiological action than the linalool in lavender. It is not considered sedating, and might even be clarifying to the mind. Like lavender, sandalwood also appears to work not only through aroma alone, and should be effective via both aromatic and topical use.
A few other oils are commonly used for sleep therapy. These include the chamomiles, valerian, vetiver, rose and ylang ylang. The chamomile oils, both Roman and German, have a long history of use for bringing about a calm state and enhancing sleep, especially with children. They do have unique aromas, such that they are best used sparingly, or perhaps blended with other essential oils. It may be that only small amounts are necessary to produce the effect you’re looking for — it may not be necessary to smell the aroma intensely to achieve the desired result. The oils distilled from the roots of valerian and vetiver are very pungent, and are probably best suited to adults who enjoy their strong aromas. These too are excellent choices for topical application, particularly on the feet (more on this in a moment). Finally, the floral scents of rose and ylang ylang can be very relaxing and sleep enhancing, and might be a great choice for those who like floral aromas but don’t care for lavender in particular.
We then need to look at the actual applications of these oils, and there are really many ways to use an essential oil for enhancing sleep. The most common method is by diffusing the oil throughout the night. When using a diffuser in this way, it’s important to keep it set at its lowest output, or use a timer, because too much of the aroma can actually keep one awake. Sprinkling a drop or two on the pillow or bedspread acts just like a diffuser, releasing the aroma as the oil evaporates — again, start with the smallest amount and work up if necessary. Topical application is best on the feet — they’re a very receptive part of the body for essential oil therapy. While lavender and chamomile can be used undiluted, for other oils, add a few drops essential oil to a tablespoon of almond (or other “carrier” oil) before application. A few drops of essential oil can also be added to a bath, where the oil is both absorbed by the skin and enjoyed aromatically.
There are clearly many oils and many methods that may enhance sleep. It’s important to experiment to find the oil and technique that works best for you. You (or the loved one you’re working with) should enjoy the oil’s aroma, and the application should be simple enough that it actually gets used. When you or someone you love is having challenges getting a good night’s sleep, aromatherapy has a lot to offer, with its brilliant natural aromas and science-backed therapeutic actions.
The author the owner of Ananda Aromatherapy in Boulder, Colorado, found at www.anandaapothecary.com. Find more resources are available on aromatherapy and essential oils through the website.
The Science-Supported Activity Of Essential Oils For Enhancing SleepunratedSylviaJones2010-07-05 03:52:45The wonderful therapeutic values of essential oils are many: they have science-proven antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer effects. On a psychological and emotional level, oils have demonstrated anti-anxiety and anti-depressant action in placebo-controlled research. And so, what about one of the greatest therapeutic challenges of our times: the ability to get a good night’s rest? Well, the data is in! A number of studies have shown essential oils to be able to improve both the quality and the duration of sleep. This is crucial for those who have difficulty getting this rest, as it is so important to both our physical and mental health. Would you like to give essential oils a try? Here’s a look at which oils might work best for you, and how you can most effectively apply them.
essential oilsThe Science-Supported Activity Of Essential Oils For Enhancing SleepThe wonderful therapeutic values of essential oils are many: they have science-proven antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer effects. On a psychological and emotional level, oils have demonstrated anti-anxiety and anti-depressant action in placebo-controlled research. And so, what about one of the greatest therapeutic challenges of our times: the ability to get a good night’s rest? Well, the data is in! A number of studies have shown essential oils to be able to improve both the quality and the duration of sleep. This is crucial for those who have difficulty getting this rest, as it is so important to both our physical and mental health. Would you like to give essential oils a try? Here’s a look at which oils might work best for you, and how you can most effectively apply them.
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June 21st, 2010 by Mary Maschic
Start today with the all the benefits of massage chairs and live a more stress free life.
Now that you finally have your unit, you can go ahead and use that especially after work to somehow unwind. Just sit down, turn it on and relax.
But wait! If you want to further your massage chair experience, then here are some additional relaxation ideas that you can perhaps try with it.
1. Some say a shower of nice hot water for 10-15 minutes will help get your mind and body in the mode of relaxation before your massage.
2. Avoid tight or bumpy clothes during a massage that can cause unnecessary rubbing.
3. You will want a soft setting, as in lights, take the time to dim the lights, light a candle, or just shut the blinds.
So if you are trying to achieve a warm atmosphere, try to switch to dim yellow lights. If you do not like the idea of using incandescent light bulbs for environmental purposes, you can instead use candles as your lighting feature. Just make sure that you put them away from things that can easily catch fire like walls, curtains, bed sheets and/ or pillows just to be safe.
4. Aromatherapy is a great idea for helping one to relax, some oils can be found in candles themselves while others just come in straight oil form.
5. Play your favorite relaxation music. Again, it does not matter if you want classical music, instrumental or contemporary. As long as the melody has the capability to soothe your nerves, then that would do. Just try to avoid rock music because the anger expressed in those songs tends to be too distracting.
6. When everything is set, take a seat on your massage chair and start with the mildest massage , that you can get, and then work your way up the controls until you find the perfect massage mode for you.
Just remember to limit intense massages to 15 minutes because anything longer may leave you black and blue the next morning.
7. Once you have the perfect intensity for the massage, just relax and let the chair do the rest.
And that is how you maximize the effects of massage chairs. Then again, you do not really have to take our word for it. Just try it and experience it yourself.
Looking to relax! Visit Dr. Weidner at his website, www.massage-chair-relief.com.
Getting The Ultimate Relaxation In A Massage ChairunratedMaryMaschic2010-06-21 04:05:38Start today with the all the benefits of massage chairs and live a more stress free life.
essential oilsGetting The Ultimate Relaxation In A Massage ChairStart today with the all the benefits of massage chairs and live a more stress free life.
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June 17th, 2010 by Nancy Bluestone
These days we can buy supercritical carbon dioxide extract of tropical Hibiscus seeds grown in Ecuador, or certified organic combined fractions of Ylang Ylang essential oil — so Lemon essential oil is just not that interesting anymore! But the practitioner interested in therapeutic activity should never forget how amazing Lemon really is. It has a very diverse set of effects, which comes down to it being a great “pick me up” any way you look at it. Here’s a review of these effects, and how you can very easily make use of them every day.
Many people are introduced to Lemon essential oil by someone suggesting putting a few drops in their water throughout the day. It may be to simply make tap water taste better, make the water “cleaner”, or a suggestion to enhance detoxification and even weight loss. Well, the reality is that Lemon will do all these things! While there’s a pervading miss-perception that essential oils should not be ingested, it’s clear that this is actually an oil directly from a food we might eat every day (ok, so we don’t eat the peels, but no one ever said they would kill you!)
The essential oil in water is known to kill certain dangerous bacteria, including diphtheria and tuberculosis. And if that’s not enough to get you to add a little to your water, how’s it sound that it will also aid in the cleansing of your liver and lymph system? Further, lemon is considered to help release the cellular clogging resulting in cellulite. For all these purposes, just add lemon oil to taste to your water. You can add it to your bottle of water at the beginning of the day and take it with you everywhere you go. Do not, if you can avoid it, do this with a plastic bottle however, as the essential oil may decompose some plastics. Looking for a more precise dosage? Try five drops per cup; this is a great way to start your day, when our organ systems are ready for detoxification.
Lemon’s antiseptic properties make it an excellent choice for skin care for those dealing with oily skin, however, the challenge with the oil is its photo-toxicity. If using for antiseptic skin care effects, it should really only be used on parts of the body not to be exposed to direct sunlight for 48 hours after application. However, a more reasonable skin care application is that for dissolving warts. The oil is mentioned in a number of texts for this purpose; apply a single drop directly on the affected location up to 3 times daily. Frankincense can be used at the same time or interchangeably if desired.
How about a great mood lifter? Lemon oil is a perfect choice — being the oil that is considered the highest note, the brightness has a direct brightening on our moods. It’s really the perfect choice for those mid-afternoon doldrums, where our minds and bodies really seem to get stuck in slow gear. This is the time to break out the diffuser and get a little lemon oil going! Its ability to lighten up has been backed-up by scientists noting its stress reducing and anxiety relieving action by working with our dopamine and serotonin systems.
The oil has been the subject of other research directly related to our “smarts”. In one study, Japanese office workers were exposed to Lemon essential oil from a diffuser, and 54% fewer errors were made in the tasks being performed. This makes sense, as the oil is one that has been scientifically confirmed to reduce the activity of acetylcholinesterase enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down acetylcholine, the primary information-processing neurotransmitter. This results in a higher amount of this chemical being available in our brains. This is the reason people consume choline supplements! The use of essential oils which have this property have also been suggested for use in preventing senile dementia. Bottom line is inhaling Lemon vapor can can clear up the mind, and may help us multitask during busy days.
Just a quick look at Lemon oil reveals an amazing diversity of therapeutic actions that we may not have known it had. It’s a very worthwhile essential oil with so many uses, it can be the perfect start to those just getting into aromatherapy, or for the long-time practitioner interested in incorporating another oil into their already pleasant-smelling lives!
The author utilizes pure therapeutic grade essential oils for aromatherapy. More information is available through The Ananda Apothecary at www.anandaapothecary.com.
Beginning Aromatherapy: Making Use Of The Amazing Lemon Essential OilunratedBrendaHarris2010-06-17 02:14:01These days we can buy supercritical carbon dioxide extract of tropical Hibiscus seeds grown in Ecuador, or certified organic combined fractions of Ylang Ylang essential oil — so Lemon essential oil is just not that interesting anymore! But the practitioner interested in therapeutic activity should never forget how amazing Lemon really is. It has a very diverse set of effects, which comes down to it being a great “pick me up” any way you look at it. Here’s a review of these effects, and how you can very easily make use of them every day.
essential oilsBeginning Aromatherapy: Making Use Of The Amazing Lemon Essential OilThese days we can buy supercritical carbon dioxide extract of tropical Hibiscus seeds grown in Ecuador, or certified organic combined fractions of Ylang Ylang essential oil — so Lemon essential oil is just not that interesting anymore! But the practitioner interested in therapeutic activity should never forget how amazing Lemon really is. It has a very diverse set of effects, which comes down to it being a great “pick me up” any way you look at it. Here’s a review of these effects, and how you can very easily make use of them every day.
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June 8th, 2010 by Sal Chomee
Massage can effectively release tension within the muscles, improve blood and lymph flow, and get rid of unwanted toxins in the body. Today, there are various massage chairs, that enable you to enjoy a massage therapy without having to go to a spa center or find a masseuse. To ensure that you always have a perfect one with your massage chair, here are a couple of things to remember.
Buy the Right Chair!
If you are going to invest in a massage chair, you need to consider several factors so you can end up with one that would be able to meet your needs and expectations. It is best to rely on a trusted and topnotch brand so you can be assured of quality. Moreover, you have to check the features of the chair such as focus area of massage (full back, lower back, neck, shoulders, feet, and so on), integrated music player, heating element, traction system, foot and leg rest, adjustable recliner, and automatic controls. Although it is not necessary to get all of the features that you see in the market, you have to pick those that can enhance your massage experience.
Location, location, location
Place the massage chair in an area of the house that is the least busy and the most peaceful. You cannot have a massage therapy in the middle of a noisy living room and expect that you can have the most blissful experience.
Here are Some Things to do Before and After
1. Drink water before and after a massage to aid in the removal of the toxins.
2. Turn your MP3 player to soothing and calming melodies and tunes such as classical and instrumental. Loud music like rock and heavy metal will prevent your mind from relaxing.
3. Light up scented/aromatherapy candles. These are effective in soothing the mind and calming the senses.
4. How can you enjoy the massage therapy , if you keep on thinking about next week’s presentation or the household bills that you have to pay tomorrow? Even just for a while, clear your head and let soothing music be the only thing that you hear.
5. Combine massage therapy with any other relaxation technique to further enhance the experience.
6. Do not eat at least one hour before the massage. You don’t want to sit there starving so have some light snacks before if you need too.
7. Dim the lights in the room where you intend to get the massage, or turn off the lights and light some candles.
Make sure you have the perfect break by enhancing the experience of massage therapy with the help of the tips mentioned in this article.
Looking to relax! Visit Dr. Weidner at his website, www.massage-chair-relief.com, and start relaxing with your personal massage chair today.
Enhance Your Massage Chair ExperienceunratedDouglasSimchick2010-06-08 05:17:24Massage can effectively release tension within the muscles, improve blood and lymph flow, and get rid of unwanted toxins in the body. Today, there are various massage chairs, that enable you to enjoy a massage therapy without having to go to a spa center or find a masseuse. To ensure that you always have a perfect one with your massage chair, here are a couple of things to remember.
essential oilsEnhance Your Massage Chair ExperienceMassage can effectively release tension within the muscles, improve blood and lymph flow, and get rid of unwanted toxins in the body. Today, there are various massage chairs, that enable you to enjoy a massage therapy without having to go to a spa center or find a masseuse. To ensure that you always have a perfect one with your massage chair, here are a couple of things to remember.
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May 27th, 2010 by Jeffrey Jackson
It can be hard to lose your hair. Whether you hair gradually falls out, or if it is due to a dramatic treatment, hair loss can be hard, even devastating. Perhaps this is one reason why hair loss treatments are so popular, and expensive.
People, in general, place a lot of value on the amount of hair they have. There is a certain pride that comes with having a full set of hair. There are a lot of expensive hair treatments available, though many of these are not effective.
Hair loss, known in the medical world as alopecia, happens for a variety of reason. It can be caused because of hormones, drugs, cancer treatments, illnesses, and even genetics. Hair is lost in a few different ways as well.
Hair loss can be treated in a natural way. Essential oils are used for medical treatments, and are often used for hair loss as well. Depending of the type of hair loss that occurs, organic essential oils may be a good choice for you.
For example, organic essential oils have been known to treat alopecia areata, or male patten baldness. Alopecia areata is suspected to be caused by an inflammatory immune response that happens after a person is stressed. In 1998 a study was actually done of people suffering from alopecia areata.
Organic essential oils have been used for hundreds of years to treat baldness. Researchers wanted to see how indivudals suffering from alopecia were affected by the use of essential oil treatments that were applied to their scalp.
They split the group in to two groups, with one group using the organic essential oil mixture, and the other half using a plain carrier oil mixture.
Almost half of the essential oil treatment patients showed improvements. 44% of those who received active treatment saw a significant different in hair re-growth. The placebo group only improved by 15%. The study suggests that essential oil can promote hair growth.
source: Testing was done by researcher Isabelle C. Hay, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 1998
Rainshadow Labs Specializes in Intuitive Essential Oilsaromatherapy essential oils, essential oils and wholesale soap making supplies. We are passionate about Oraganic Essential Oils and soap and candle making, and we love to help people feel and look young again. Come visit anytime.
Hair Loss And Essential Oil TreatmentsunratedJeffreyJackson2010-05-27 03:49:32It can be hard to lose your hair. Whether you hair gradually falls out, or if it is due to a dramatic treatment, hair loss can be hard, even devastating. Perhaps this is one reason why hair loss treatments are so popular, and expensive.
essential oilsHair Loss And Essential Oil TreatmentsIt can be hard to lose your hair. Whether you hair gradually falls out, or if it is due to a dramatic treatment, hair loss can be hard, even devastating. Perhaps this is one reason why hair loss treatments are so popular, and expensive.
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May 22nd, 2010 by Jeffrey Jackson
Organic essential oils are nature’s way to help and treat a lot of different infections and ailments. They are very handy items to own. Organic essential oils help with a variety of things, both medically and emotionally. They are sometimes even used on a spiritual level.
Scientific research has shown the benefits of using organic essential oil. There are plenty of scientific evidences that prove that organic essential oil can be a natural and safe way to treat medical ailments. It is a great alternative to harsher medical therapies.
Aromatherapy, for example, is a common healing method. It is considered an alternative therapy to mainstream medicine. A lot of people aren’t even aware of aromatherapy and the benefits it can have.
Anyone can use aromatherapy. It can be helpful for adults, teenagers and children. It is an easy practice that is very effective. Even beginners can figure aromatherapy out.
Aromatherapy is a good choice because of its effectiveness. Essential oils can be found in a variety of products. It is in almost all bath products. It is also found in good, quality scented candles. Organic essential oils usually come from plants. More specifically, they come from various parts of the plants. Sometimes oils can be extracted by all parts of the plant or only in certain parts.
Stems, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit rinds, and bark are popular plant parts to get essential oil from. Essential oils can be used alone or mixed with other essential oils.
Essential oils are not all priced the same. The price depends on how pure the essential oil is. The more pure the essential oil is, the more expensive it will be. Pureness levels depend on concentration level, as well as how much of the plant’s material was required to extract the oil.
Rainshadow Labs Specializes in Intuitive Essential Oilsaromatherapy essential oils, essential oils and wholesale soap making supplies. We are passionate about Oraganic Essential Oils and soap and candle making, and we love to help people feel and look young again. Come visit anytime.
Using Essential OilsunratedJeffreyJackson2010-05-22 04:48:58Organic essential oils are nature’s way to help and treat a lot of different infections and ailments. They are very handy items to own. Organic essential oils help with a variety of things, both medically and emotionally. They are sometimes even used on a spiritual level.
essential oilsUsing Essential OilsOrganic essential oils are nature’s way to help and treat a lot of different infections and ailments. They are very handy items to own. Organic essential oils help with a variety of things, both medically and emotionally. They are sometimes even used on a spiritual level.
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May 13th, 2010 by Jeffrey Jackson
A lot can be gained by understanding the medicinal properties of essential oil in plants. Organic essential oil blends are often used to treat medical problems. There are a variety of reasons for this, the biggest one being that they have been an effective treatment program for hundreds of years already.
Essential oils have been used for hundreds of years to treat medical problems. The best results depend on the quality of the organic essential oil being used. For example, the more pure the oil the better the results will be and the more effective the treatment will be.
Organic essential oils are extracted from plants. These natural plants, surprisingly, are often used in prescription medicines. The reason? They are an effective treatment to medical problems.
Organic essential oils have been studied and researched because they have been used for healing and pain relief. Universities and major research firms have found great medicinal value of essential oils. Every plant offers unique healing properties that can help humans and animals alike.
Different parts of the plant can bring different results with the oils. Some essential oils can be extracted from all parts of the plant, while others can only be used from one part. Popular places to extract oil are roots, bark, stems, flowers, and leaves.
There are different ways to use essential oils. You can dilute it on a rag and place it on the ailment, or directly place it somewhere. Another popular choice is through aromatherapy. Aromatherapy allows you to breathe in the fragrance of the organic essential oil.
Aromatherapy has a lot of different benefits. Certain essential oils will obviously work better with aromatherapy than others because of their scent and their specific properties, so be careful of that when testing them out. Aromatherapy has been known to help with minor medical problems, such as getting rid of headaches and loosening stiff joints.
As always, the quality of the oil will make a difference in your experience. Essential oils need to be high quality for the best results. Find a good company that has a reputations for pure or high quality oils.
Rainshadow Labs Specializes in Intuitive Essential Oilsaromatherapy essential oils, essential oils and wholesale soap making supplies. We are passionate about Oraganic Essential Oils and soap and candle making, and we love to help people feel and look young again. Come visit anytime.
Essential Oils Help With Science and MedicineunratedJeffreyJackson2010-05-13 03:53:36A lot can be gained by understanding the medicinal properties of essential oil in plants. Organic essential oil blends are often used to treat medical problems. There are a variety of reasons for this, the biggest one being that they have been an effective treatment program for hundreds of years already.
essential oilsEssential Oils Help With Science and MedicineA lot can be gained by understanding the medicinal properties of essential oil in plants. Organic essential oil blends are often used to treat medical problems. There are a variety of reasons for this, the biggest one being that they have been an effective treatment program for hundreds of years already.
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Tags: alternative health, aromatherapy, children, disease, essential oils, family, health, home, illness, natural health, sleep
