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Aromatherapy – an overview

Today’s post is about Aromatherapy.

I recently read an interesting article in a journal from the Natural Therapists Association about this topic. I thought I would share an overview.

What is Aromatherapy?

Essential oils have been used for therapeutic purposes for approximately 6,000 years. Aromatherapy can be defined as the art and the science of utilising these essential oils to balance, harmonise and promote wellbeing and health.
It is a well-documented, natural therapy that has been practiced throughout the world for centuries. The first methods of essential oil distillations were found in historical Egyptian texts.
The term ‘Aromatherapy’ was first used in the early 1930’s by a French chemist – Rene` Maurice Gattefosse to describe the therapeutic action of the oils.

Aromatherapy is the term applied to the external application of essential oils such as inhalations, baths or massage. Aromatic Medicine is related to the practice of ingestible essential oils.
Today there is a revival of scientific research into the art of aromatherapy and its medical applications.

So what are ‘essential oils’?

Essential oils are one of the purest forms of plant chemistry. These oils are very different to the ones used for cooking or skin care. They are concentrated essences, much lighter than water and highly flammable. They evaporate quickly, so are usually mixed with other ingredients to trap their effectiveness.
Essential oils contain many known and unknown phytochemical elements. It is estimated that an individual essential oil can contain 300 to 400 active constituents. Because they are so concentrated, essential oils are measured in drops.

How does it work?

Considering that the oils are highly concentrated, they need to be treated with care. They should never be applied undiluted, directly to the skin.

However here are many other ways to benefit from the active constituents of the oils. Most methods do not require specialised equipment.
Essential oils are composed of tiny molecules that are easily dissolved in alcohol and emulsifiers such as beeswax or mixed with other oils. This allows them to penetrate the skin easily.
As the essences evaporate, they are also inhaled. In this way they are absorbed via the cells that line the nasal passages.

Common uses for essential oils are
– Steam inhalation or inhalation using humidifiers or diffusers
– Massage
– Room sprays
– Oil burners/evaporators
– Compress
– Body oils and perfumes

A few of the more common oils and their uses or benefits are
Eucalyptus – an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory
Lavender – calming and also antiseptic
Peppermint – a decongestant and good for digestion
Frankincense – aids concentration

Each individual oil has a distinct chemical composition. This determines its fragrance, colour, volatility and beneficial properties.There are so many essential oils used with aromatherapy that this post would be extremely long. I will instead, occasionally focus on a particular oil to write about in future posts.

Hopefully you also have found this information interesting and you are inspired to consider how aromatherapy can assist you.

Till the next post,
Live clean n Prosper

(Sources – Australian Natural Therapists Assoc., The Encyclopaedia of Aromatherapy)

Baths, Epsom Salt and Lavender for muscles

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Today I’m going to write about my relaxing bath.

Recently Scott and I have been doing a bit of renovating around the home. This usually means sore backs and aching muscles.

So, I decided that a nice hot bath with Epsom Salt would be just the ticket. I also added some fresh Lavender and some dried Calendula flowers. After a soak, my back and aching muscle felt so much better.

This prompted the question – Why do these flowers and the salt help to soothe our muscles?

After some Internet searching, this is what I found out.

Epsom Salt

It’s called a salt because of its chemical structure. The “Epsom” part is a place in England where it’s found in natural springs.

This salt is made from naturally occurring minerals Magnesium and Sulphate. These ingredients can help improve health in numerous ways. Magnesium helps muscles to release. If you aren’t getting enough magnesium, your muscles may cramp and spasm more easily. Also, by-products of metabolism such as lactic acid become harder to flush out without enough magnesium, which may lead to sore muscles.

Sulphate is also essential for many biological processes. It helps to flush out toxins and helps form proteins in joints and brain tissue.

So together, these minerals assist with the elimination of lactic acid, which contributes to sore muscles.

How Does It Work?

In water, it breaks down into magnesium and sulphate. The theory is that when you soak in an Epsom salt bath, these get into your body through your skin.

In a study conducted in 2006, levels of magnesium and sulphate in the blood and urine were measured, both before and after people bathed in Epsom salts. The study found the levels were higher after the baths! So, bathing in Epsom salt enables the body to absorb the Magnesium and Sulphate.

Then add Lavender….

Lavender essential oil is known as an excellent remedy for various types of pains including those caused by sore and tense muscles, muscular aches, rheumatism, sprains, backache, and lumbago. A regular massage with lavender oil can provide relief from pain in the joints. A study done on postoperative pain relief showed that combining lavender essential oil vapor into the oxygen significantly reduced the amount of pain experienced, versus those patients only revived with oxygen after a major surgery.

And Calendula….

You may not recognize the name Calendula. Perhaps you have heard of Marigolds, which is the name most commonly used describe this family of plant. Calendula officianalis is the most common species, but all possess certain compounds and substances that make them a valuable part of herbal health in certain parts of the world.

You may not have known that the petals are edible and have traditionally been used in soups and stews and salads, while a powerful chemical extract can be removed from the stems and leaves of calendula plants.

Calendula oil has anti-inflammatory compounds and unique antioxidant compounds.

Regardless of where the inflammation is occurring, calendula can significantly reduce the discomfort.

So together these 3 things can make a difference to our wellbeing, and a bath is always relaxing.

Till the next post,

Live Clean n Prosper

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Getting a good nights’ Sleep

Today I’m going to write about sleep. Scott has had issues with getting to sleep. So we have been doing some research into sleep.

One common factor that kept coming up was the development of Sleep hygiene or Sleep habits. Good sleep habits are often referred to as good sleep hygiene.

There are many things that can be done to improve sleep. While most of these are common sense, life is very busy and we often don’t think about them. According to research, there are many things that can be done to have a better night’s sleep.

Sleep habits to consider –

Getting sunlight during the day will help you to sleep better at night
Try to keep a consistent bedtime. The body has an internal clock and hormones that control sleepiness and wakefulness.
Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a day. This stays the same even in old age.
Limit Naps. Remember that the average adult sleeps for between seven and nine hours a day. Naps will take up some of this time. But if you are taking short afternoon naps without any problems, then you might want to keep doing this. On the other hand, naps in the evening, or dozing in front of the TV, can make it harder to get to sleep at night.
Meals should be timed to avoid going to bed on a full stomach, but not hungry either. The evening meal should be at least 2 hours before bedtime. Alcohol might help you get to sleep, but it will make it harder to stay asleep. It makes sleep problems like snoring and sleep apnoea worse as well.
Don’t have things in the bedroom that distract you from sleep, like televisions and computers. The blue light of the computer can reduce evening levels of the sleep-promoting hormone, melatonin. (www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au)

After talking to some lecturers at college, Scott bought some Lavender & Chamomile tea, which he now has before going to bed. It has been quite effective. I have found some information to explain why it works.

Lavender & Chamomile

Lavender is often used to help people sleep. Brewing a few lavender flowers in hot water to make a tea, has been used to induce sleep and relaxation for thousands of years. This is closely linked to the flower’s impact on the nervous system, and can also help to clear your mind of negative thoughts or clutter. The antioxidant components of lavender can also impact the endocrine system of the body to lower the levels of stress hormones in the body.

Chamomile is another herb well known for its calming effect. It has many health benefits and uses, including the ability to lower stress levels and aid sleep.

This beverage can help increase the levels of serotonin and melatonin in your body, which can successfully eliminate stress and worry, while also slowing down your mind and eliminating the classic symptoms of anxiety. Therefore it can also be an overall sleep aid, particularly for people who struggle with restless, non-restful or rejuvenating sleep.

Even those struggling with sleep apnoea and other disorders may benefit from the effects of chamomile tea. (www.organicfacts.net)

Till the next post, Sleep well,

Live Clean n Prosper