The Magic of Aromatherapy

"You can harness the healing and uplifting qualities of plant fragrances to help you relax, unwind and even help treat minor aliments."

Aromatherapy is the art of healing with "essential" oils distilled essences that have been extracted from plants. Care to find out how beneficial aromatherapy can be? Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your next bath. Immediately you will notice the difference. The lavender oils rising instantly, the relaxing fragrance surrounds you and creates a peacefulness and tranquillity. Lifting your spirits, soothing stress and promoting relaxation. Relaxing in a soothing, fragrant bath will improve your mood as well as your skin.
These can be used in massage and inhalation techniques, added to bathroom products such as skin creams, soaps, shampoos, bath gel, and to create room fragrances.
Aromatherapy also involves the use of incense (in loose, powdered form or as as joss sticks), potpourri, steam inhalations, fresh flowers, and scented candles. Below shows you how to use all of the above to raise your mood, improve your sense of well-being and treat ailments.

How it works through the nose. When we smell a fragrance, we take it's healing molecules into out bodies. Heating essential oils and burning joss sticks vaporizes the oil so that we can breathe in its molecules easily. Through the skin essential oils applied to the skin are absorbed into the bloodstream to take the immediate effect.

"Harmony surrounds me. I listen with love to the pleasant and the good" -L. Hay

Getting started with essential and blended oils. The most commonly used method is essential oil. You can buy small bottles of oil from many stores and shopping malls. Some stores sell ready-blended massage oils. These don't need to be diluted, but aren't suitable for use in vaporizers. Undiluted oils can seem expensive, but you need to use only a few drops in most applications. Undiluted oils can be used in vaporizers, steam inhalations and baths, and can be diluted in a carrier base, such as avocado oil or unscented shampoo, for use in massage, shampoo, toning and moisturizing. Dilute up to 10 drops of oil in 30ml of carrier base before using it on your skin. If massaging, rub your massage oil into tired muscles to feel an instant benefit.

Next is scented candles, these are a great way to get relaxing, stimulating and sensual aromas into your atmosphere. They mostly help with your mood and emotions, not so much your body. Their effects are subtle and work well over a long period of time, such as a quiet evening at home, rather than providing quick results. Fragrances such as citronella and lavender are excellent insect repellents. Use candles scented with these aromas while you're sitting outside on warm summer evenings. A more intense way to fragrance your environment is to use essential oil in a candle vaporizer. To do this, half-fill the vaporizer bowl with water, and add up to five drops of oil. Light the candle beneath the bowl and enjoy.

Another excellent way to fill your room with uplifting scents is to burn incense or "joss" sticks. The fragrances used to make joss sticks and incense are usually very expensive to buy as oils. This is simply a more economical way of enjoying their benefits. Light joss and incense beside a scented candle, vaporizer, or other joss sticks to blend the different aromas. As joss sticks burn, they will leave beyond hot ash. Always be sure to place your joss stick on a surface that will not be damaged, or buy a special holder that will catch the ash as it falls. You can also stand your joss sticks up in a potted plant or dish of sand. Incense especially useful for creating a very spiritual atmosphere for meditation, prayer or yoga.

"Decorative glass beads, a potted plant or window box, or a small glass of sand all make the ideal holder."