Alternative medicines

Archive for the ‘Aromatherapy’ Category

Everyone wants to look as best as they possibly can. With stars and other celebrities doing all they can to be beautiful, everyone wants to do their part to look their absolute best. The facials process of beautification is one that can be long, but also quite rewarding in the end. Although, it is not just to look beautiful, the facial can also be something that is quite relaxing, and can really help in fading the problems away with this amazing system. The results of a facial are ones that can make the person look more radiant, and even a little younger with these decades old techniques.

All About Beauty The facial is something that women (and men) have been enjoying for many years. Obviously, there are very many different methods and styles of facials that are available, but they usually all follow the same basic steps. The first would be the cleansing, as the best canvas to work with is a blank canvas. Secondly, there is a skin analysis where pads are placed over the eyes, and an esthetician observes the subject’s skin thoroughly through a bright magnifying lamp. The next step is the exfoliation process, which is where a steam is directed at the face to provide much needed moisture.

Usually after that, there would be the optional choice of the removal of blackheads. For some people, this is not exactly what they want to do, as they may have sensitive skin that may be damaged during this process. Also, it is not particularly the gentlest procedure, as it can be painful for some clients that choose this step. After this optional step, there is the facial massage to get loosen the muscles and stimulate the skin of the face.

Skin Therapy The last few steps are seen to be the most enjoyable by many people, and are the most widely known for those who are not particularly the facial ‘type.’ This is the step where the mask is applied, which is determined by the skin type. This can be dry, oily, mature, or a combination of all of these types. But, we’re not quite home yet! After the mask session is over, there are protective creams and different toners used on the face to top off this amazing experience.

The facial is something that is very therapeutic to those who have had the opportunity to have them, and they are definitely worth having the treatment to those who have not. The facial is truly an amazing experience, and when done by the proper people, it is something that the person would not soon forget. Even if a person does not consider themselves the facial ‘type’, as they come with the connotation that it is only for the rich or conceited, it is still something that is worth every second. And although some can be quite pricey, one will find that they are really within the reach of nearly everyone.

And besides, everyone deserves to be pampered once in a while!

Aromatherapy is a good way to improve the life of all individuals. The key is to ensure that the aromatherapy is customized according to the needs and wants of the individual. An aromatherapy practitioner will be able to identify the blend of essential oils that will create the desired results. Whether an individual seeks stress and pain relief, beautification and cleansing, or general relaxation aromatherapy can be a great tool to improve your life

When you feel excessive stress, aromatherapy will assist in the in the relaxation of the mind, body, and spirit. It is recommended that aromatherapy be used in conjunction with healthy living, essential time management, and a network of support. Implement into this lifestyle blends that encourage happiness, offer calm and help create serenity; and ease anxiety, anger and panic attacks.

These blends can created in bath salts, bath oils, air fresheners, diffusers, and massage oils. Diffusers spread the aroma of the essential oils around allowing you to inhale them throughout the day. You may also find aromatherapy preparations which can be applied directly to the skin. Aromatherapy brings stress relief and sense of well-being.

Essential oils can also be beneficial in weight loss. The scent of vanilla infused candles has been shown to reduce cravings for sweets. Inhaling patchouli seems to lessen hunger. Both of these methods can lead to weight loss.

If you feel insecurity is to blame for your weight gain, try inhaling bergamot and jasmine. This is said to help boost confidence. The best blend is 16 drops of bergamot to 4 drops of jasmine. This can be mixed aind disseminated in your diffuser. If you want extra benefits, add 4 drops of veviter.

It is common as you age, that new body aches and pains sneak up on us. Fortunately, these aches and pains can be eased with aromatherapy blends in massage oils, skin lotions, and booboo juice. You can purchase a ready-made aromatherapy remedy for aches and pains or create your own. For an ideal massage oil, mix an ounce of your favorite carrier oil with 10 drops of a pleasant essential oil. Use the mixture to rub and soothe away aches and pains wherever they occur on your body.

It should come as no surprise that aromatherapy has been used in skin care for years. It is a natural approach to a fresh, youthful look. You can make your own natural skin products from shampoos and conditioners, to facial toners and moisturizers. Mouthwash, lotion, nail care, perfumes, and cologne can all be made using the soothing aroma and benefits of essential oils.

The face is the focal point of the body. It is, for the most part, where people are looking the most when they are talking to a person. With this evident, it should be taken care of as much as possible. Unfortunately, there are many people that are struggling with the condition of their skin. There are a plethora of reasons why this may be, from diet ranging all the way to genetics. Luckily, there are many methods that a person can take to improve the quality of the skin, such as a facialsl.

Don’t Worry! The facial has been seen as a method to improve skin for years, and the results are amazing. Many people have taken up this relaxing technique for years, and the proof is in the pudding. The goal of the facial is mostly seen as a method to relax the body and mind, but the process also has much to due in the improvement of the skin. The products used in the treatments are usually pretty great, and they are generally leading brands in the field of skin care.

Extractions are widely accepted as the best way for a facial to really help the quality of the skin, and can usually be the difference between a regular facial and just a relaxation facial. Many say that it is probably the best idea to have a facial performed every month and a half to make for the best results, and the results really are amazing!

Education and Better Skin Even after the process of the facial is said and done, there is also the knowledge that one gains after the procedure. Estheticians are ones that are quite knowledgeable about the skin, and they can provide excellent information conducive in possessing the skin that the person considers their personal best. One of the biggest steps in fighting bad skin is education, and when used in conjunction with a relaxing facial, they will find that they look better than they ever have.

The facial is amazing on all three of these levels. Not only is it relaxing, it also has the potential to make for better skin, as well as the people providing information on making the skin live up its fullest potential. With this said, there is simply why people would not want to go out and get one as soon as possible, as we all can use better quality skin!

There are many different ways to achieve optimal skin care, and while they may work, there is simply nothing better for the skin and the mind than a facial. And when choosing to use products, there is no telling what may happen to the skin without adequate help. When consulting the help of professionals, there will be less of a chance of wasting money on a product that will not particularly work for a specific type of skin.

Just like in anything endeavor, it’s always best to have the opinion of someone who knows exactly what they are doing when making a tough decision.

You do know that essential oils are made from herbs, right? For different oils and herbs they use various parts of the plants, sometimes leaves or stems or roots. So at the very foundation of it all you can honestly say herbs are the source of essential oils. Each type of herb has its own unique chemistry. Not many plants have a lot of oil so it takes a lot of herbs to make a little essential oil. You must understand that the foundation for quality lies in the quality of the herbs and their growing conditions. That is why it is so important to find excellent sources for therapeutic grade essential oil.

The quality of the herbs will suffer if the growing conditions are not ideal and that will affect the quality of the essential oil. If the herbs do not have the quality grown into them from the environmental and geographical conditions it will be impossible to obtain therapeutic grade essential oil from the plants at that location. Knowledgeable herbalists buy from reputable dealersyear after year for trusted quality and purity of herbs.

Once distilled from these herbs, fine quality therapeutic grade essential oils are alleged to have powerful healing capabilities. This goes back into ancient times when there were no major medical facilities for people. They learned from the land and used what was good and what worked.

Years ago. French scientists identified a need for uniformity and created standards for comparing therapeutic grade essential oils.The International Standards they developed are still in use today.

The analysis of quality goes beyond the normal sensory evaluation for color and clarity. Science supplies technology to grade essential oils. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry are two lab tests used to assess the quality and purity of essential oils to answer the question: Are these oils pure enough to be certified therapeutic grade essential oils?

Never use synthetic essential oils for therapeutic applications with your clients. You will not be giving them the benefits of your care and can have negative complications for your clients. You can use therapeutic grade essential oils in many ways. This is true if you are using aromatherapy or massage that includes essential oils.

You will be wise to find and stay with a reputable dealer who works with growers who can provide you with fine quality therapeutic grade essential oils. Dont go wasting your time and money on cheap imitations or diluted lower grade oils. Or your results will be disappointing or worse.

If you are buying therapeutic grade essential oils online you must be even more vigilant about getting the real thing. Pay attention to pricing. Work with someone who has prompt delivery and a good reputation. You can do your own mini-quality check if you have the essential oil and a piece of blotting paper handy. Put a drop on it. When it evaporates, the fine quality essential oil leaves no stain. The lesser grade may have been blended with other carrier oils with impurities and will leave a stain.

Most people who have unwanted excess will seek methods or products designed to remove hair. One such method is Laser Hair Removal. With laser hair removal, lasers discharge a gentle beam of light that passes through the skin to the hair follicle where it is absorbed. The energy from the laser is converted into heat that vaporizes the hair follicle while leaving surrounding skin undamaged.

Laser hair removal is one of the best methods of removing hair. This hair removal technique eliminates 60 times the hair per treatment than electrolysis. This form of hair removal has been approved by the FDA as a permanent hair reduction technique because with multiple treatments it can eliminate hair on the right candidates for long periods of time, or even permanently in some cases.

Hair has three growth phases which include the active growth phase, regressive phase and resting phase. Laser treatment is so effective because it halts hair growth that is in the active growth phase. This allows the hair removal to last longer than any other method. According to The Mayo Clinic, -both men and women will find that 80% to 90% of hairs are greatly reduced and hair that does grow back is usually much finer and lighter in color after 4 to 6 laser hair removal treatments. The number of laser hair removal sessions needed to achieve these results can vary from person to person. It can depend on a number of factors that such as age, skin type, amount of hair, hair color, hair texture,etc.

When considering laser hair removal it is important to consider the following:

1.) 70% – 90% of the candidates will require a minimum of 4 to 6 laser hair removal treatments which are normally scheduled every 6 – 10 weeks. They will usually experience an 80% to 90% hair reduction. The treatments are needed in order to target all phases of hair growth. Depending on the skin type and hair color, a client may need further treatments. . Multiple sessions makes certain that all of the hairs receive treatment.

2.) Once all of the hair removal treatments are complete, clients may possibly need to return once or twice a year for a maintenance procedure. Hairs that may have been dormant during a previous laser hair removal session may have moved to the growth phase. This is where the need for multiple treatment sessions arises

Many patients report that maintenance treatments given once or twice a year are great for keeping hair growth reduced.

Other benefits of laser hair removal treatment include:

- In some cases, laser hair removal has resulted in permanent removal of unwanted hair. Statistics show that for many people targeted hair can be permanently removed after 6 months of treatments. – The hair can be removed from such areas as the back, arms, legs, chin, etc. Laser hair removal is an effective treatment for ingrown hairs. – The process is much shorter than methods such as electrolysis. – The laser procedure is almost painless. Some patients have experienced minor soreness, but as it compares to other hair removal methods and products, laser hair removal is less painful pain.

Because of its many benefits, Laser hair removal quickly becoming a popular choice for people who want to remove unwanted hair. If you are considering laser hair removal, you should consult with a laser treatment practitioner to learn the advantages of the technique and what you need to know before undergoing the treatment.

As the owner of an aromatherapy company, I get asked all the time: “How do I get started using essential oils? Well, one of the simplest and rewarding ways of doing this is getting into the “aroma” part of aromatherapy — the inhalation and enjoyment of the scent of the oils themselves. This in fact is a gateway to utilizing the whole realm of therapy available from pure essential oils. Once you get familiar with the oils and the way they smell by diffusing their aromas, you’ll be more apt to investigate the powerful medicinal aspects of aromatherapy and its many application techniques.

Diffusion of an essential oil means to distribute the oil in the air around you. Essential oils easily evaporate — more easily than water — so this is a pretty straightforward thing to do. At the same time, there are ways to get even more essential oil in the air, at a higher concentration than, say, if you just let a bottle sit open on a table. This is where an aromatherapy diffuser comes it. The diffuser evaporates the essential oil faster, using one of many possible methods (more on that in a moment). And why would you want to evaporate the oil faster? If you just left a bottle sitting open, you and your family would occasionally smell the aroma coming from the bottle; if you’d like your whole room or house to be filled with that aroma, you’d use a diffuser.

All diffusers will improve the rate of evaporation of essential oils into your surrounding space. It is important to recognize that while this may use your oils faster, there are good reasons to do this: diffusing oils so they can be smelled over a much larger space; diffusing oils in a work environment to eliminate the scents of of other activities; and perhaps the most important is sometimes diffusing high concentrations of oils such that we can absorb more oils through our respiratory systems for our health. The least expensive diffusers will use a small heating element to evaporate the oils, or a small fan which moves air more quickly over the oils for the same effect. These are usually excellent choices for a small bedroom or office. A little more high-tech are the humidifying ultrasonic diffusers, which are actually just small ultrasonic humidifiers. They do a wonderful job in small to medium environments, particularly in dry climates or during the winter with forced-air heat systems.

There are other simple, inexpensive ‘low-tech’ methods of diffusing essential oils. These are as simple as candle warmers — where a candle gently evaporates a few drops of essential oil floating on a small bowl of water above a tea-light candle (don’t forget the water! So many people report these devices burn their oils, but they’ve put them just over the heat!). A Reed Diffuser is also common, which evaporates aromatic oils through bamboo reeds and slowly into the air. Though they do most often use a synthetic dispersion agent called DPG or dipropylene glycol, which most aromatherapists will not recommend using, as at some point the diffusion process requires one breathing in its vapors.

The high end of aromatherapy diffusers are called cold-air nebulizing diffusers. The use nothing but a pressurized stream of air to make a fine mist of essential oil, which then evaporates directly into the air. The best of these units have a variable output control so they can be properly adjusted to the size of the room and/or the desired concentration of aroma in the air. The nebulizing diffuser has the capability of both simply diffusing oils for their aromatic effects, and to go so far as to deliver true therapy in aroma medicine. The classic aroma medicine texts show images of people placed in oxygen-style tents inhaling significant quantities of essential oil vapor to cure them of very serious infectious diseases. This effect can be created in small rooms, though it is important to have the guidance of a natural health professional before including this modality in a treatment program for yourself or a loved one. At the same time, these techniques are very worthwhile investigating, and the curing of infectious illness is considered one of the most promising medical application of essential oil therapy.

The choice of oils you can use in a diffuser is even more diverse than the kinds of diffusers available. It is really best to start with your desired reason for diffusing oils, then select your oils following this guideline. For general use, Citrus oils are very lovely, and combine very well to make your own unique scents. Try Lemon, Lime, Bergamot, Orange and Grapefruit together for example. Or the “evegreen” oils all blend together well: Fir, Spruce, Pine and Juniper create a very welcoming and warm atmosphere. Floral oils can be easily blended too, as can the woods and the herbs. Once you venture outside of blending oils from the same family, you’ll want to pay a little closer attention to the ratios of each oil you use, as it’s easy to make odd smelling recipes if you just start putting in “a little of this and a little of that”! On can always use a single oil at any time, particularly if you really enjoy one, but in the long run, blends can often be more interesting to the advanced aromatherapy user.

Finally, if you’re wanting to diffuse with specific therapeutic purposes in mind, you might want find some recipes from Aromatherapists created with your needs in mind. Lavender diffused during the course of the night (in very small amounts) can significantly improve sleep — this would be considered a therapeutic application. To improve mental clarity, Rosemary has shown positive results in many studies, and is a lovely stimulating aroma. To support the immune system, some therapists recommend a blend of Rosemary, Thyme Linalool, Hyssop and Melissa. You can pick and choose among the immune supportive oils that sound best for your needs — and the essential oils from herbs also seem to easily blend well together to create a fun and healing combination.

So there is a primer on diffusing essential oils. To recap, first pick the diffuser style that will suit your needs, whether you’ll just like to smell the aromas in a smaller space, or diffuse significant quantities for health reasons. Next, you can blend one oil at a time (diffusers usually do not require one to clean them between oils, nor are the therapeutic effects significantly altered by this), by a pre-blended formula, or create your own diffuser mixture. Just be sure not to include any fixed or carrier oils for diffuser use (many massage formulas can be converted to diffuser use simply by removing the carrier oil). Start slowly, remembering that you’ll generally need less oil than you think to produce the effect you need. And welcome yourself to a whole new world of natural medicine!

The great tide of Western medicine is turning: we’ve become so jaded with the obvious inadequacies and waste of our medical institutions, with a deep feeling that “something just ain’t right”, that Natural Medicine is quickly becoming mainstream. It’s about time! When did “Conventional” medicine become “Alternative”? Now plant medicine is quickly coming back in favor — folks are trusting the beauty and grace of planet Earth, and that she has all the medicine we’ll ever need. And with that, enter Aroma Medicine. No longer do we need to feel a little odd talking about Aroma “Therapy”; while this has always really been defined as the branch of medicine utilizing the organic volatile molecules produced by plants, the term has been stigmatized in North America to some “New Age” foolishness. But researchers around the globe are telling a different story…

The body of evidence published in peer-reviewed scientific journals proclaiming the valid medical effects of essential oils is growing by leaps and bounds. Simple searches through online databases produce incredible numbers of results: Searching the site of the National Center for Biotechnology Information for the term “essential oil” yields over eight thousand results of studies involving essential oils used in aromatherapy, and “new” essential oils from plants yet to be included in modern aromatherapy’s repertoire. Consider the implications of the first result: the essential oil from Lemons prevents dementia. This is common, wonderful smelling essential oil that one can use to clean the house prevent brain damage at the same time. And this is just the tip of the iceberg; the biochemical and physiological actions of essential oils are very, very diverse.

Further down the same page is an abstract confirming the beauty of natural medicines: All the natural molecular constituents of Thyme essential oil have an additive antimicrobia effect — science and industry has a habit of extracting a single component, patenting it, and bringing it to market while forgetting to tell us that natural Thyme oil itself is even more effective. Other jaw-dropping notes about essential oils: Clove oil has the highest Oxidative Radical Absorbance Capacity of any natural substance ever tested — over 100,000, on a scale where blueberries score about 5,000 and Wolfberries are about 30,000. A large number of studies have confirmed the stress reducing effects of Lavender, going to far to show reduced Cortisol levels AND an increase in the body’s natural scavenging of oxidtive radicals — JUST FROM SMELLING the oil!

Perhaps the most important effects of all are those seen in the treatment of serious illnesses. Many modern medical aromatherapists believe the greatest promise of essential oils still lay in the development of protocols for treatment of infectious disease. The MRSA “superbug”, referring to one of several strains of Staphylococcus bacteria that are resistant to the powerful antibiotic drug Methicillin, has become an overwhelming problem in the world’s hospitals. Folks go in for care of one condition, and while their immune defenses are low, they come down with an infection that’s very hard to cure (because man-made antibiotics don’t work). Enter essential oils: Pub Med is filled with studies showing the efficacy of essential oils like Tea Tree and Geranium against MRSA (particularly when combined with another potent natural antibacterial, Grapefruit Seed Extract).

And for the really big one: essential oils are showing great promise in the treatment of many cancers. Frankincense and Lemongrass are just two of the oils that have been shown anti-tumorial, and Sandalwood has been show to specifically prevent skin cancers from UVB radiation exposure. Searching for “Frankincense tumor” gives a first result of: “Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity”. The conclusion states: “Frankincense oil appears to distinguish cancerous from normal bladder cells and suppress cancer cell viability…” There are many more results like this, with a variety of oils and a variety of cancer cell lines. This is a very exiting time for natural medicine, as a combination of new extraction techniques, and faster turn around times in research facilities made lead to new, life saving protocols in the very near future (and it’s important that we as members of the world community keep voicing our opinions, and making these changes in our available medical treatments — it’s not only good for us, it’s good for the world as well, as the production of natural medicines takes SO much less energy than their pharmaceutical “equivalents”).

Essential oils offer so much more than these treatments, too! So much concentrated wellness is available to the average family taking part in the aromatherapy lifestyle. Tea Tree and Lavender (mix them 50/50 and keep a small bottle available) is perhaps the most potent antibacterial, nicest smelling and gently soothing formula for all the cuts and scrapes of childhood. Helichrysum italicum essential oil has profound healing and pain relieving effects on bumps, bruises, twists, sprains and all muscular sore spots — and it works fast. Lavender and Helichrysum are excellent for burns; use a couple drops “neat” next time you may (God forbid!) touch a hot stove and you’ll be extolling the virtues of essential oils in no time. Kids getting unruly? A belly or back rub with Roman Chamomile or Mandarin (2% in Hazelnut oil) does the trick. Try 1% Vanilla for the toddlers. You can create blends specifically for the needs of your skin to dramatically improve eczema symptoms, reduce wrinkles, make scars slowly fade, eliminate acne and athlete’s foot, and just bring a fantastic glow to your face. So many great smelling medicines from so many plants!

Sure, this can sound a little overwhelming…where, really, to start when you’re new to it all? Well, that’s the trick: just get started. Anyone in your family not sleeping well? Rub a drop of lavender on each foot at bedtime for a few nights and see what happens. Someone with athlete’s foot or other similar rashes? Mix 30 drops of Tea Tree and 30 drops of Palmarosa into a fluid ounce of Jojoba oil and massage into the area a couple times a day. Just get a simple diffuser, some Black Spruce essential oil and make your house smell like the middle of the forest. Dab a drop of Rose, Amber, Jasmine or Sandalwood oil to your wrist, rub them together and smell like heaven. It’s that easy. And these simple ideas get you ready for when you might need to tap into the serious medicine available here. Essential oils won’t be foreign anymore, and you’ll start to trust their real medicinal value. Also, there are tons of great books, and very qualified teachers. Open your eyes and heart to the world of Aroma Medicine, and you’ll be sure to find your way.

by Helen Stevens

The anti-bacterial action of essential oils may be their most studied effect, in-part because these are simple experiments to perform. Place a piece of filter paper saturated with an essential oil in the center of a petri dish and watch the growth, or lack of, bacteria around the paper. The larger the area where bacteria do not grow, the stronger the action of that particular essential oil inhibiting that particular strain of microbe. This test, known as an Aromatogram, was popularized by French scientist Paul Belaiche. Through extensive research, large tables of data now allow aromatherapists to quickly find the most efficacious oils once the infecting species of bacteria is known. But you don’t have to be a scientist to make use of this information – there are many simple, effective means for using essential remedies for yourself and your family and children as part of a holistic natural health program for your household.

Each single, pure essential oil consists of several, sometimes hundreds of distinct natural chemicals. Essential oils derive their antimicrobial effect from their unique chemical makeup. It turns out that nature has been doing a remarkable job of therapeutic blending. Many of these have antimicrobial activity, and show synergistic effects; blends of the chemicals – as found naturally in the oils – can be more potent than any individual chemical alone. Studies have often shown that combinations of essential oil components are more effective against bacteria than any single isolated constituent. Think of this the next time you might reach for Bactine or some iodine tincture – the formulations nature has made herself will likely work better, and will most assuredly smell nicer.

It is important to consider your application for the safest and most effective result. Applying an Oregano formulation may be the best solution for a case of nail fungus, yet a recipe containing this oil is much too intense for use on soft tissue of any kind, particularly for children and those with sensitive skin. You can even easily mix an antiseptic with a soothing/pain relieving oil to improve the overall effectiveness. Here are a few well-regarded oils for home use, and some methods of application: Tea Tree, Lavender, Oregano, Geranium, and Lemon.

Tea Tree essential oil is known throughout the world for its protective properties against infections. The leaves have been used for centuries to heal wounds and skin infections by indigenous Australians. Tea Tree is a must for every natural first aid kit, both for the home and for the traveling family. One of the safest and most effective ways of controlling minor infections is the immediate intervention action of Tea Tree. The oil is well tolerated, and cases of irritation by this oil are almost unheard of. A drop on the gauze before applying a bandage can keep the reddening indication of infection from children’s cuts and scrapes. Also for the young ones, Tea Tree can be diluted to 5% in any carrier like Jojoba oil or Aloe Vera for a gentle topical antiseptic.

Lavender is the most versatile essential oils in use today, and in fact began the modern medical aromatherapy revolution through its quick healing of burns by a French cosmetics chemist. The cooling aroma disperses heat and inflammation and brings relief from pain, spasms, and general unrest. With its calming and balancing properties, the oil is exceptionally supportive of relaxation and rest. Lavender imparts this action in healing wounds as well; for healing unbroken skin such as burns, apply Lavender ‘neat’ to the wound several times a day; insect bites also get a ‘neat’ treatment. For cuts and scrapes, keep a equal mix of Lavender and Tea Tree on hand for the best all-purpose antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and pain relieving solution. Moms will really appreciate the synergy of the antibacterial nature of Tea Tree and the soothing effects of Lavender.

When more serious antibacterial action is necessary, natural medicine professionals turn to Oregano essential oil. Oregano’s use in day-to-day applications are relatively limited due to its extreme potency – it should not be used topically except under the advice of a qualified practitioner, and then only in low dilutions for a limited period of time. Oregano is being studied extensively, however, for its potential use as a natural, effective antibiotic – particularly as many dangerous bacteria become resistant to pharmaceutical preparations. Oregano capsules are available at many health-food stores, and may be of use for systemic infections such as of the candida fungus or other bacteria; if you feel you or a family member could benefit from such immune system support, consult a qualified medical professional for advice.

Also a highly-regarded antimicrobial, but with gentler action and scent, Geranium essential oil is a very worthwhile addition to the home medicine chest. Geranium has exceptional healing properties for the skin, creating balance between oily and dry states, and is useful for both over-oily and over-dry conditions.. A non-drying, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, and general tonic, Geranium is described in the aromatherapy literature as a cure for acne, general dermatitis and eczema. Geranium essential oil is one of the few that has been used successfully against the MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) bacteria in laboratory studies (see Pub Med for research abstracts on this suject). Geranium may also be used as a local antiseptic for small wounds; there are many Geranium varieties available, though the oil produced in Egypt may be the most potent antimicrobial, with a brilliant sweet and herbaceous aroma accompanying its healing effects.

Lemon essential oil is a powerful antiseptic and bactericide that performs many tasks around the house, as well as for your health. Lemon has a tonic action on the lymphatic system and a stimulating action on the digestive system, additionally providing relief from insect bites and tension headaches. Use this pleasant antimicrobial blend with confidence to clean counter tops, windows, and door handles: two drops each of Lemon, Pine, and Eucalyptus Radiata essential oils in four ounces of distilled or spring water. Keep a spray bottle of this solution handy for your day-to-day cleaning; it’s not only an effective antiseptic, but its aroma will bring a smile to your face.

This is but a sampling of the antiseptic and antimicrobial essential oils available. They are easy to use, and offer a excellent means of bringing natural medicines and cleaners into your life. Many oils have specific action against certain microbes; if you or child or other loved one needs more directed treatment, seek the advice of a licensed or degreed natural health professional, and consult a doctor to ensure the safety of any complimentary essential oil application. There are many excellent books available by reputable authors – ‘Advanced Aromatherapy’ and ‘Medical Aromatherapy’ by Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, and any of the books by Valerie Worwood are worth investigating to further your knowledge in the practical application of essential oils. These books cover the safe use of essential oils in general, and specific conditions you’ll want to be aware of when delving deeper into aromatherapy. In selecting essential oils over synthetic preparations, you’ll find great satisfaction making the natural choice for yourself and your family.

About the Author:

The author has made available much information about aromatherapy, such as using lavender and other pure essential oils.

Our skin is subject to the harsh elements in the environment. Every day our faces are exposed to fluctuating air temperatures, dust, harsh chemicals in the water, free radicals, make up, and many other irritants. The surface of our skin contains small pockets called pores. These pores permit perspiration, oxygen, and foreign matter to enter the skin. These irritants cause cells to accumulate and block debris from exiting the skin. This results in acne, dry skin, puffiness under the eyes, black heads, and blemishes. Damage to the skin can cause premature aging and wrinkles. Facials are treatments that involve a deep cleansing of the skin. The purpose of a facial treatment is to clean, rehydrate, nourish, and rejuvenate the skin. A facial also helps increase circulation and stimulate the skin.

Facials are a gentle and effective method of improving the skin, Regular facials every 8 to 10 weeks will rejuvenate and improve the skins texture thereby reducing skin irritations. If this is not possible, it is suggested that you have one facial at the beginning of Spring, and one before Winter. The price of a facial can vary, but they usually start at about $75.00. The price will be much higher if you are attending a resort or spa retreat,

A professional aesthetician will give a facial treatments that cleanses the pores, cleans out dirt and debris, restores elasticity, rehydrates dry skin, moisturizes, and repairs oily skin. Facials are beneficial for all skin types, but those with sensitive skin should use more gentle moisturizers and facemasks to avoid irritating the skin.

The basic steps of a quality facial include: Skin Assessment: A certified aesthetician with special training in skin care will assess your skin. Depending on your skin type, the aesthetician will determine what products to use. Some people have very sensitive skin so they will require products with gentle ingredients. The aesthetician will know what product to use. Skin type is determined by pore size, tone, texture, and oil production.

Skin Cleansing: If the skin is dry, the aesthetician will open your pores by delivering warm steam that is directed at your face, or apply a warm towel. The aesthetician will then use a product to deliver a deep cleansing formula to the skin. The cleansing process involves gently massaging the skin with the cleansing solution

Extraction: The extraction process involves removing blackheads manually. This process can be a bit uncomfortable but it is well worth it.

Exfoliation: This process involves manually or chemically removing dead skin and debris. The skin is then rinsed thoroughly. Exfoliation helps unclog the pores.

Moisturizing: An aesthetician can use any number of skin moisturizers such as lotions, creams, and masks. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, these products rehydrate, nourish, and rejuvenate the skin. Moisturizers can be delivered by massage or through a moisturizing product such as a mask.

Most people are not aware of the proper products they should be using on their skin. Using incorrect facial products will often result in further damage to the skin. A facial by a professional can help you learn about the proper skin care products you should be using on your skin. A professional aesthetician will help you design an easy home care program for your individual skin type.

A facial is a healthy and relaxing way to treat your skin. Facials are great for both men and women. They will help clear bad complexion and slow down the aging process. Upon completion of a facial, skin is healthier, cleaner, relaxed, and shinier. When you have healthy and shiny skin, you are more confident and happy.

New methods of essential oil extraction are entering the mainstream of aromatherapy, offering new choices in oils never before available. With the new labels of ‘CO2′ and ‘SCO2′, along with the traditional ’steam’ and ‘hydro’ distillations, ‘absolutes’, and ‘cold pressing’, a little education for the aromatherapy enthusiast can go a long way in essential oil selection. Is one process better than another? Does one produce a nicer smelling oil, or one with greater aromatherapeutic value? It turns out that essential oil production, like winemaking, is an art form as well as a science. The value of the newer processing methods depends greatly on the experience of the distiller, as well as the intended application of the final product. Each method is important, and has it’s place in the making of aromatherapy-grade essential oils.

Steam and Hydro-Distillation

Steam distillation, the most common method of essential oil production, involves the flow of steam into a chamber holding the raw plant material. The steam causes small sacs containing essential oil to burst. The oil is then carried by the steam out of the chamber and into a chilled condenser, where the steam once again becomes water. (Hydro-distillation is a similar process where the plant material is boiled, with the resultant steam being captured and condensed). The oil and water are then separated; the water, referred to as a hydrosol, can be retained as it will have some of the plant essence. Rose hydrosol, for example, is commonly used for it’s mild antiseptic and soothing properties, as well as it’s pleasing floral aroma.

A number of factors determine the final quality of a steam distilled essential oil. Aside from the plant material itself, most important are time, temperature and pressure, and the quality of the distillation equipment. Essential oils are very complex products; each is made up of many, sometimes hundreds, of distinct molecules which come together to form the oil’s aroma and therapeutic properties. Some of these molecules are fairly delicate structures which can be altered or destroyed by adverse environmental conditions. So, much like a fine meal is more flavorful when made with patience, most oils benefit from a long, slow ‘cooking’ process.

The temperature of the extraction chamber should be maintained within a reasonable range, lest some components of the oil be altered or destroyed. This also applies to the chamber pressure. The essential oil of Lavender flowers, for example, should not be processed at over 245 degrees and three pounds per square inch. Tougher conditions will result in a harsh scent – more chemical than floral.

High temperatures and pressures are often used to produces large quantities of oil in a short period of time. The oils are often destined for use in cosmetic and food products, but can sold as essential oils for use in aromatherapy. These oils will be less expensive, though they are of limited therapeutic value.

What are Absolutes?

Some plants, and particularly flowers, do not lend themselves to steam distilling. They are too delicate, or their fragrance and therapeutic essences cannot be completely released by water alone. These oils will be produced as ‘absolutes’ – and while not technically considered essential oils they can still be of therapeutic value. Jasmine oil and Rose oil in particular are delicate flowers who’s oils are often found in ‘absolute’ form. Jasmine oil, in fact, is only found as an absolute, whereas rose is available in both an ‘otto’ (an expensive steam distilled form) and an absolute.

The processing of an absolute first involves the hydrocarbon solvent extraction of a ‘concrete’ from the plant material, a semi-solid mixture of typically 50% wax and 50% volatile oil. The concrete is again processed using ethyl alcohol (the same alcohol found in beer, wine, etc.) in which the wax is only slightly soluble. The volatile plant oil separates into the alcohol and this mixture is removed. The alcohol is then evaporated and the result is an almost pure plant extract – depending on the care taken in the evaporation process, sometimes 2% or less of the ethyl alcohol may remain. The use of solvents in the extraction process notwithstanding, absolutes can have incredibly deep and complex aromas.

CO2’s and SCO2’s – Using Carbon Dioxide as a Solvent

The most modern technologies are Carbon Dioxide and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide distillation. Both methods involve the use of carbon dioxide as the solvent which carries the essential oil away from the raw plant material – though the gas essentially acts as the steam in steam distillation. The only difference between the two are the temperatures and pressures used – though neither uses a temperature greater than 87 degrees. With release of the pressure in either process, the carbon dioxide escapes in its gaseous form, leaving the essential oil behind.

Carbon dioxide methods have significant advantages. There are no solvent residues left behind, and the resultant product is perfectly pure. There is no heat applied to the plant material or essential oil to alter it in any way. The oil produced is very accurate with respect to the original state of the plant. The CO2 methods also are the most efficient, producing the most oil per amount of plant (one of the reasons for the high cost of essential oils is the low yield of oil from most plants – one ton of Rose petals produces less than 1 pound of oil, for example). The efficiency of CO2 extraction is particularly important when rare species are involved, such as Indian Sandalwood – less of the plant is needed to produce an equivalent amount of oil.

Cold Pressing

Finally, there is the ‘cold pressing’ of citrus oils from the peels of fruit, as is done with Bergamot oil, Orange oil, Lemon oil, and the like. This method involves the simple pressing of the rind at about 120 degrees F to extract the oil. Little, if any, alteration from the oil’s original state occurs – these citrus oils retain their bright, fresh, uplifting aromas like that of smelling a wonderfully ripe fruit.

Is there a Best Method?

CO2’s, with some obvious advantages, are not always the best choice for a particular need. They still are the most expensive, despite their higher yields. The resultant product differs slightly compared to one produced another way – the oils produced by steam distillation of some plants may sometimes be found to have a more agreeable aroma. Patchouli oil, for example, seems to benefit from the steam distillation process by becoming a little warmer and richer. Many other essential oils are quite effectively produced via steam distillation, with little alteration from the original plant state. Oils from other plant species do seem more ‘complete’ with CO2 processing, with Frankincense oil and most of the ’spice’ oils being good examples where a little something special is present in the aroma. This likely translates to greater therapeautic properties.

Producing essential oils of aromatherapeutic grade is skill requiring years of experience. It takes the work of a dedicated artesian at every step, from growing and harvesting to fine-tuning the distillation process, to produce a truly fine oil. The making of a fine essential oil relies far more on knowledge and experience than it does on the particular extraction method. There are, however, legitimate reasons to select one distillation method over another – some plants simply require a particular process to produce a fine oil, and the oil needed for a particular application may only be made by one process. In the end, as is often the case in aromatherapy, your own sense of smell can tell you which oil will work best for you.