Tag: therapy

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)

Cold Water Therapy

Today’s topic is Cold Water Therapy.

A friend of mine commented that after reading my post on the Brain – Body connection and Set Point theory, he had started using ‘Cold Water Therapy’ to reset his metabolism.

I had not heard of Cold Water Therapy being used in this way. So it was time for some Internet research.

I was amazed at what I learned.

Hydrotherapy (the use of water for treatment) has been around for thousands of years. It is one of the most basic forms of treatment used in natural medicine. It has many names – such as water therapy, aquatic therapy, pool therapy, and balneotherapy.

According to a research article published on the US National Library of Medicine site, the use of water in various forms and temperatures can produce different effects on different system of the body. Cold water immersion induces significant physiological and biochemical changes in the body such as increase in heart rate, blood pressure and metabolism.

Here are the most researched benefits for cold-water therapy.

Cold water for sore muscles

Researchers did find that cold-water baths were better than resting or doing nothing, reducing muscle soreness by about 20%. This is because the cold water lowers the damaged tissue’s temperature and constricts the blood vessels. This helps reduce the swelling and inflammation, and even numbs the nerve endings to bring immediate relief to any pain.

Improved Immune system

Cold-water immersion causes your lymph vessels to contract, forcing your lymphatic system to pump lymph fluids throughout your body, flushing the waste out of the area.

This then triggers the immune system’s white blood cells to attack and destroy any unwanted substance in the fluid. In a way, it’s sort of a domino effect — the cold water affects the lymphatic system, which in turn affects the immune system, which ultimately keeps you healthy.

Improvement in Circulation

Exercise and diet are two well-know ways to improve cardiovascular circulation. However, cold-water immersion can also stimulate blood flow. When you immerse your body in cold water, the blood rushes to surround your vital organs. Your heart then is forced to pump more efficiently, pushing blood through all your vessels and supplying every part of your body with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. Do this on a routine basis and you can help promote healthy blood circulation, and, ultimately, a healthy body.

A way to feel happy

A 2007 research study found that cold showers can help treat depression symptoms, and if used on a routine basis, may be more beneficial than prescription medications. The reason for this is that cold-water triggers more mood-boosting neurotransmitters in the brain, which make you feel happy.

And finally, Cold-water therapy can boost the body’s metabolism.

Cold showers and other types of cold-water or ice therapy may also help boost your fat-burning abilities.

According to a 2009 study, cold water can promote healthy brown fat. Brown fat is the good fat our bodies generate to keep us warm and is activated when exposed to extreme cold, and helps eliminate the white fat. White fat is the body fat that piles up around our waistlines and thighs when we consume too many calories.

Sources : www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov  & www.tonyrobbins.com

Always use common sense when engaging in cold-water immersion. Listen to your body and work up to the more advanced ice therapy techniques gradually.

Of course, cold-water immersion should not be considered a substitute for diet and exercise, though it would make an excellent addition to our daily routine.

Till the next post,

Live Clean n Prosper