Beauty Tips

A wide variety of natural healing methods have been around since the dawn of man. Aromatherapy is one of these methods, and has been used as a natural healing process by people all around the world. It has a very rich history covering more than a thousand years, and has been recorded being used in ancient Greece, Rome and China. Aromatherapy is the practical use of scents and aromas derived from pure essential oils harvested from a variety of different plant species. These extracted oils use the power of soothing scents to help individuals relax their bodies and minds. Heightened states of relaxation can help create positive mental and physical changes that are believed to have healing abilities.
The modern-day aromatherapy experience usually involves dispensing a few drops of preferred scented oil into either a pot of steaming water, an oil warmer or a diffuser. Practitioners then proceed to breathe in the steam or atomized oil over a desired period of time. Combining both the power of steam and the scented oils can effectively help to clear sinuses, sinus infections and stuffy noses. Atomized or nebulized essential oil is oftentimes preferred over steaming or warming due to the fact that the oil is in a near gas-like state that is more easily absorbed by the body. Essential oils do Aromatherapy With Essential Oils

Uh oh. Chemistry – the word itself can make one’s eyes glaze over. But wait, this is “essential oil chemistry’. MUCH more fun! While even beginning aromatherapy students are put off by the mere mention of the subject, they eventually realize the importance of understanding at least the fundamentals. The basics of essential oil chemistry will help you appreciate what gives a fine oil its unique aroma, help you more carefully discern a good oil from a second-rate one, and can improve your practice of using essential oils therapeutically. The greatest benefits of essential oils lies in their potential for true medicinal applications, where their antiviral, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties are effectively utilized. And it is the understanding of their chemistry that enables the practitioner to select the right oils and use them most appropriately. Convinced? Well here’s a primer to get you started… So, why are essential oils called “oils” anyway? They don’t feel greasy, and they tend to evaporate completely, unlike common “fixed” oils (such as olive, grapeseed, hazelnut and the like). Essential oils and fixed oils share a similar chemical foundation: their structures are based on the linking of carbon and hydrogen atoms in various configurations. But this is really where the similarity ends. Fixed oils are made up of molecules comprised of three long chains Essential Oil Chemistry: A Beginning Aromatherapy Primer