The term " Aromatherapy is said to be attributed to a French professor of Chemistry named " Gatto Fosse ", who revived the use of essential oils for healing purposes during the first world war. Indeed, in France, aromatherapists must also be doctors as it regarded as a respectible form of healing. Aromatherapy is a healing art which utalises essential oils to promote health in body & in the mind. Aromatherapy works on two levels. Firstly, the aroma is inhaled bythe patient, & this has a benificial effet on the mind & secondly, through the art of Massage, the essential oils are absorbed through the skin & enter the bloodstream, helping to correct any health problems quickly & effectively. The small selection of oils listed below are safe to use for normal, diluted massage applications. Please remember that all oils are for EXTERNAL use only & should never be swallowed. Please DO NOT use oils on children unless specifically advised that it is safe to do so. Also, there are a few oils that should not be used in pregnancy & these are clearly defined.
BASIL
Toxic if swallowed. This oil is uplifting & commonly used as an anti-depressant. Also used for tired muscles.
BERGAMOT
Can cause irritation to sensitive skin. Bergamot is the most important of the anti-depressants. This oil has a fresh,up-lifting scent. Never apply this oil before going out in daylight as it increases the skins sensitivity to sunlight, & can cause the skin to painful burns. Bergamot is used to treat depression & anxiety.
CARAWAY This oil helps expel internal gas & ease the abdominal pain that is associated with it.
CARDAMON
This particular oil is thought to be an aphrodisiac in India! Mostly used for an invigorating & refreshing bath - justadd about 10 drops to a bath full of water!
CEDARWOOD
Used as a sedative, an anti-septic & also as an insect repellant. This oil is also used to treat depression. NEVER use this oil when pregnant or breast-feeding.
CHAMOMILE
Benificial to all skin types, especially sensitive & dry skins. Often used for depression & insomnia. Eases menstrual problems & is good for assisting with digestive problems. This oil is totally safe to use on children
CLARY SAGE
A warming & soothing nerve tonic. It is used to treat stress, insomnia, asthma & depression. This oil is a very powerful muscle relaxant, but be warned - use of this oil can induce intoxification & feelings of euphoria. Do not drive a veichle after use of this oil & avoid any alcohol for several hours. Never use this when pregnant or breast feeding.
CYPRESS
Cypress is relaxing, refreshing & also an astringent. It improves circulation & is used to treat influenza & muscle cramps. Also can be added to a bath for haemorrhoids & varicose vains.
EUCALYPTUS
This oil is stimulating, anti-septic & an anti-viral. Is often used on cuts, wounds & small burns, as it aids the formation of skin tissue. Eucalyptus is an excellent de-congestant & is used to ease the symptoms of the common cold as well as for respiritory problems.
FRANKINCENSE
Warming & relaxing, & some say re-juvenating, It is very good for respiritory problems. It is considered one of the pulmony antiseptics. Also used for inflamation & small wounds.
GERANIUM
This oil is an anti-septic & an anti-depressant. It is relaxing, refreshing & also an astringent. Often this oil is used to relieve pre-menstual tension & fluid retention.
JASMINE
Very relaxing, Jasmine is used to treat depression & respiratory problems Also considered by meant to be seductive.
JUNIPER
A very good detoxifying oil, useful for all conditions where toxins should be eliminated from the body. A good astringant bath oil, useful for treating haemorrhoids & aching muscles. This oil is often use in the treatment of skin conditions such as acne, eczema & sores. Also used for emptional, menta & psychic cleansing.
LAVENDER
Lavender is a sedative, it's soothing, anti-depressant, an antibiotic & an antiseptic. An effective decongestant also.It is very good at relieving sharp pain. Mostly used in the treatment of headavhes, infections & colds, poor circulation, indigestion, muscular pain & insomnia. A very useful oil indeed!
LEMONGRASS
This oil is a powerful stimulant, revitalizing & antiseptic. Lemongrass also has the properties of a deodorant. Good at improving circulation, muscle tone & for firming loose skin.
MAJORAM
A calming oil. Use it in steam inhalation as a way to help Bronchitis & the effects of colds. Majoram is also considered to be a strong sedative & excellent when used for stress-related conditions such as tension, headaches, insomnia, muscular cramps & also high blood pressure.
MYRRH
Myrrj is an antiseptic & an anti-inflamitory. Useful in the treatment of bronchitis, cattarh & to aid digestion.
NEROLI
This is an antiseptic, an anti-depressant, an anti-spasmodic & a sedative. This helps to relieve insomnia, anxiety & is very effective for emotional problems. Neroli oil helps to stimulate the growth of new cells & cell re-juevenation. Also an aphrodisiac.
PATCHOULI
When used in small doses, this oil is an anti-depressant. When used in larger doses, it is a very good sedative! One of the anti-septic oils. Patchouli also has cell regenerating properties as well as being a fungicide, which makes it very useful for the treatment of athletes foot, eczema, acne & also dandruff!
PETTIGRAIN
This is from the same tree as Neroli & shares several uses with it, though it is much less of a sedative but also much less expensive than Neroli! Very refreshing when used in a bath, it also has deodorant properties.
ROSE
Rose is commonly used to treat a wide range of sexual & menstrual problems, including regulating the menstrual cycle. Very helpful for emotional problems, with stress & with post-natal depression. Regular applications of this oil will help reduce thread veins. Sometimes used to improve digestion, circulation & has been known as a treatment for headaches. Safe to use rose oil for children.
ROSEMARY
This oil stimulates circulation & is most commonly used for rhumatic & muscular pains. This oil is also used to lift fatigue, for headaches & in respiritory ailments. This oil also has a reputation for strengthening the memory, as it is thoght to stimulate the brain. PLEASE BE WARNED - using Rosemary in very large quantities has been known to induce epileptic - like fits in some people.
SANDLEWOOD
As this oil is antiseptic as well as astringant, it may be benificial to those who suffer from acne. Also effective for treating fatigue & nausea.
TEA TREE
Tea tree is the stongest antiseptic out of all the known oils. It kills bacteria, viruses, fungi & it stimulates the body & immune system to fight infections. Also used for colds, influenza, sinisitus & catarrah. The tea tree plant has been used by the Australian Aboriginies for thousands of years & many regard tea tree as a cure-all.
VERTIVER Very fragrant, masculine scent - often chosen by men for a relaxing massage.
YLANG-YLANG
This oil is a sedative, an anti-depressant & an antiseptic. Often used to treat insomnia. As this oil slows down rapid breathing, it is wonderful for anxiety, shock & fear. Overuse of this oil can cause nausea &/or headaches.
CARRIER OILS
Essential oils are always blended with a carrier oil before being used in massage. The most popular oils to use for this purpose is " Almond oil " or " Grapeseed oil ". Almond oil is good as it is almost scentless, rich in protein & lasts a long time. Almond oil can also relieve the itching associated with eczema. Grapeseed oil is my favourite to use. It is a very cheap oil to buy, odourless, non- greasy & has no allergic effects on the skin. There are several other oils you may like to try, including, extra-virgin olive oil, soya oil, corn oil & sesame oil - but in my opinion, Grapeseed is the best, followed by Almond oil! Massages are the best way to use aromatherapy as firstly, you are forced to relax, & secondly, the oils are absorbed faster through the skin into the blood stream & can get to work faster. The fragrance also stimulates the brain into feeling whatever is that particular oils reknowned properties.
HOW TO MAKE A BLEND
Firstly, you will need a plastic bottle. Once made, a blend will store for approx 3 months. Almost fill the bottle with your chosen " carrier oil ", & then add the essential oil at the rate of 15 - 25 drops per 50 ml ( 2 Fl oz ). Shake the bottle gently to blend. This will be approximately enough for four maggage applications. Always remember to label the made up blends with their names & the date made.
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