The Many Benefits of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a type of therapy that relies on the use of fragrances, smells or aromas, a fact made quite clear by its name. However, in the traditional sense it refers to the distilled essence of a plant, and not a synthetic version. Aromatherapy has many applications including the treatment of many emotional and physical issues as well as for simple relaxation. Below, you will find a few interesting and useful facts on aromatherapy and essential oils.
Many people suffering from colds, sinus infections and even asthma have found relief in aromatherapy techniques.
Use your favorite essential oil in the bath for a relaxing effect.
This is not only relaxing but also can help improve your mood and sooth achy muscles. For a unique experience try experimenting with different blends at bath time. You will also get that same fragrance throughout your body. Your aromatherapy session doesn’t require a lot only a few drops will do fine.
You can use essential oils to improve your mood, relax or help your mental acuity.
Aromatherapy can be complex as well as simple, depending on how it is viewed. Its simplicity lies in the fact that it is simply based on our desire to smell pleasant fragrances. The large number of plants that can be used in aromatherapy is what makes it complex. If you consider the fact that all these different smells can be combined to create new ones, then you come to realize that the possibilities are practically unlimited. However, to gain all the advantages of aromatherapy, you simply need a few fragrances that you enjoy.
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Which Aromatherapy Diffuser is Best For You?

Which Essential Oil Diffuser?

This is a question we get asked frequently. And the answer, of course, is "it depends." The best aromatherapy diffuser for you depends on your planned usage.

Nebulizing Diffusers - Zapping Germs

If you want to saturate the air of a room with your chosen essential oil or aromatherapy blend the nebulizer is for you. When someone in my family feels like they are "coming down with something", that virusey, achy feeling, I fill the glass nebulizer with our favorite anti-viral or anti-bacterial oils and let it run all night, filling my bedroom with really powerful oils. Odds are when I wake up in the morning, I'll be over whatever big bad bug was trying to attack.

For strictly therapeutic/medicinal/germkilling effects, I use one of our Amrita nebulizers. There are many brands on the market. All have a convoluted glass attachment, powered by an air pump. The glass breaks the oils into microscopic droplets, capable of remaining suspended in the air for up to two hours. The advantage of the Nebulizer is obviously that it does the most effective job of filling the air with microscopic particles of your chosen oil.

The disadvantages are twofold. First, most nebulizers are fairly noisy. They are, after all, powered by aquarium pumps. Some people don't mind the noise, reacting to it as a "white noise" background hum. Others find it bothersome. If noise is apt to be an issue, and your area is small, by all means choose the a "Tranquility" model.

Second: The nebulizing diffusers tend to require higher maintenance than any of our other options. First, putting the essential oil into the glass nebulizer can be a bit tricky. I finally gave in to reality and started using a pipette, after spilling oil while trying to pour from the bottle into the glass orifice. Also, the glass nebulizer (together with the attached Silicone tube) needs cleaning occasionally. I suspect I'm not the only one who has let the nebulizer stand with oils in it, allowing them to react with the oxygen in the air and get all thick and "gunky" The best way to clean them is to add high proof rubbing alcohol (90% works best!) to dissolve the accumulated oils, drain, and air dry.

Also, the nebulizer can not be used with the very thick, viscous oils... benzoin, vetiver, etc. They will totally clog it and won't diffuse unless blended with other, thinner, essential oils. Never use a carrier oil in the nebulizer, or an essential oil diluted in a carrier. It will ruin the glass nebulizer and void the warranty.

COOL MIST - For Kids

If you have young children who are prone to colds, ear infections, etc. the odds are you've been told to run a humidifier in their bedroom. The Cool Mist (sometimes called an "ultrasonic diffuser" or "ultrasonic nebuliser") functions both as an aromatherapy diffuser AND a humidifier. It holds a small amount of water that stays at room temperature just in case an active child manages to spill it - no danger of scalding. The essential oils and water are diffused by ultrasound waves, adding humidity to the air while filling the room with aromatics.

The advantages of this one are obvious. No breakable glass parts, the added humidity in the air. The machine shuts itself off when the water level drops too far, and can be set to cycle on and off. I'm told that children are often fascinated by the light. (Memories of my mother's LavaLamp...it has that sort of fascination!)

Disadvantages? If you live in a damp/humid climate you might not want to add extra moisture to the air in your home. And there are some who find the light an irritant. It may not be shut off while the machine is operating.

The AROMA STONE - Silent and Safe

One of these sits on my bedtable. I love it because I can add my current favorite 'go to sleep' oil or blend, plug it in and forget it.

I think it is one of the two lowest maintenance electric diffusers I've ever used, and the least obtrusive. Totally silent, and safe. Although it does warm the oils without any water added (although it is an option to add a spoonful of water with the oils) the unit heats only to "baby-bottle" temperature. The oils are not over-heated.

The amount of heat is so low I seldom think to unplug it before I go to bed, and in all honesty have left it turned on for two or three days. (I don't recommend that!) The unit warms so gently that there is no danger of its overheating.

Mine is very low maintenance. If I remember to wipe it out with a damp paper towel every morning, it stays sparkling clean. If I forget and leave it plugged in for too long so that the oil or blend becomes 'glued' to the base, a towel dampened with rubbing alcohol leaves it as good as new. While not totally unbreakable (it is ceramic, after all) mine has survived being dropped more than once with no problems.

The aromastone's small size makes it easily "packable" for traveling. I loathe the smell of the air in hotel rooms and always travel with my aromatics to make a strange room smell like home!

These are the advantages.

The disadvantages? It is not a powerful diffuser. It will not fill a large area nor give you a strongly scented area, but is perfect for the intimacy of a bedroom or bath. I would not choose the aromastone for diffusing germ killing blends...then I want a nebulizer. But for subtle and inobtrusive "set it and forget it" use, it is unexcelled.

AROMA LAMPS - for Mood and Ambience A ceramic aromalamp was my first (well, actually, my second) essential oil diffuser, and remains one of my favorites.

Please note: An aromalamp is sometimes called an "essential oil burner"... this is a misnomer, since the oils should never be "burned." The bowl MUST be filled with water, as described below.

Fill the bowl with warm water, light a tea candle under it, add a few drops of your favorite oil, and the room is quickly filled with the aroma of your choice.

I was taught years ago that diffusing the oils in warm water is an amazingly effective way to fill a room with the aromatic vapours. The molecules of essential oil "piggy back" on the molecules of water vapor, which disperse amazingly fast. This makes the aroma lamp almost as effective for therapeutic benefits as a nebulizing diffuser.

In my experience an aromalamp can cover a fairly large area. The water vapour will move where it wants. The "front" of my house is a large open area...kitchen, dining room, living room. An aroma lamp in one area suffices for all the rooms.

I don't recommend the use of scented candles. Most are fragranced with synthetics, and the ones created with true essential oils use far more oil that I can justify. When I want candle light, I light beeswax candles, lots of them, set in a circle, with an aroma lamp and its candle in the center. Beautiful warm ambience, the emotional blend of my choice, a feeling of true luxury! I think an aromalamp is unsurpassed when your focus is the emotional uses of the oils.

When I don't want to light a table full of candles, the dancing flame of the tea candle still adds to the ambience.

The aromalamp is silent, and attractive, with designs to suit every taste.

These are the advantages of an aroma lamp. The disadvantages?

1. You must be aware of the water level. An aroma lamp with a fairly small bowl can evaporate all the water before the candle burns itself out. Adding cold or cool water to the hot bowl almost invariably leads to broken glass!

2. If you allow it to burn dry, even if you don't break the bowl, cleaning it can be a challenge.

3. Of course there is always a risk when you have candles burning. Don't leave the room, don't use an aroma lamp around children, or mischievous pets.

4. And speaking of pets. You've put out the candle because you are leaving the room...but you didn't empty and put away the aromalamp. A thirsty dog, cat, or bird can do themselves terrible damage by drinking the water with the dissolved essential oil. Please be careful of your furkids or feathered kids!

Cool fans - Multi-use

The Spa Scenter is one example of a cool, fandriven diffuser.It is an excellent choice for all of the above uses. The drawer at the bottom slides out. You insert a cellulose pad, dampened with your oil or blend, and turn on the unit. A cold air fan blows the oil molecules out of the openings at the top, and the room is filled with the oil of your choice. The fan is, in my experience, quieter and less obtrusive than the larger nebulizers, although not as silent as the Tranquility or the AromaStone.

The Spa Scenter uses no heat, so is safe to use around children.

I find that it will diffuse over a larger area than my AromaStone, and it is safe to leave unattended.

The disadvantages? I don't think it fills any single need as well as some of the above named types of essential oil diffusers.

The nebulizing diffusers are more powerful when you have therapeutic needs. The aromalamp is more attractive when your need is for ambience or emotional uses only. The aromastone is quieter.

But for a "compromise" to address many needs, the Spa Scenter may be the best all-round choice. There are also smaller battery powered fan/diffusers, meant for a desk or office cubicle.

ON THE GO: DIFFUSERS FOR THE CAR

Two choices, one "passive" - a hanging clay pot (or other terra cotta ornament) that can hang from the rear view mirror, or an electric diffuser that plugs into the cell phone charger or cigarette lighter. The "plug in" is, I think, a bit more effective.

Each, of course, has its advantages. With a hanging terra cotta diffuser you are limited to one oil or blend, it's not easy to change from one to another. With the "plug in" car diffuser, you simply change the little cellulose pad that you apply the essential oils to. If you know you are always going to want the same air freshening blend in your car, the hanging clay diffuser might be simplest. If you sometimes want an air freshener, and other times want a "stay awake" blend (or an anti-nausea blend) then the plug in car diffuser would be your best choice.

PERSONAL DIFFUSERS - Inhalers (for privacy!) There are two types of personal aromatherapy inhalers that I am aware of. One is the very basic plastic one often sees over the counter inhalants packaged in; the other is a rather elegant purse accessory. Either will work well for immediate use, for relaxation, combatting a headache, or other physical or emotional effects.

There is one specific type of diffuser that I honestly don't recommend. It is a small "ball" that plugs directly into the wall outlet. It contains a cellulose pad that you moisten with the selected oil. I have had these overheat and scorch the pad. I wonder if they might constitute a fire hazard. Since the oils are heated to a high temperature, the oils degrade, and there is nothing to encourage the movement of the aromatic vapors throughout the room. The idea of low cost and light weight was appealing, but they truly are not a good value.

You may see these, and other diffusing options on Nature's Gift Aromatherapy Accessories page, at http://www.naturesgift.com/aromatherapyaccessories.htm

Marge Clark, author of Essential Oils and Aromatics, founder of http://www.naturesgift.com

Since 1995 your online source for clinical grade essential oils, aromatherapy accessories, and their effective and safe healing uses.

Aromatherapy Diffuser

How to pick the right one
The aromatherapy uses essential oils for enhancing your mental and physical health and well being. These essential oils can be brought into use by inhalation, topical or taking orally.

The most rapidly effecting method is inhalation. For this purpose, a number of aromatherapy diffusers are now available in the market. They differ in shapes and sizes and methods of functioning.

Each one of them has some advantages over the others. When you have to choose from this vast range of diffusers, the most appropriate and suitable diffuser for yourself, the question arises ?How to pick the right one?.

The aromatherapy diffusers help in diffusion of molecules of essential oils into the air allowing you to get their therapeutic benefits simply while breathing in the vicinity. The range of diffusers includes aromatherapy nebulizer, electric oil diffuser, aromatherapy oil diffuser, aromatherapy night lamp, aromatherapy jewelry etc.

Picking up the right one from these becomes really difficult. However, if you look at certain aspects while choosing, you can easily make the right choice.
An important thing to consider before buying a diffuser is the area in which you plan to use it. Some diffusers like aromatherapy nebulizer cover an area of 500 to 1000 square meters while aroma stone essential oil diffuser is best suited for small areas.

The other thing you need to consider is the cost effectiveness, easy usage and maintenance of diffusers, like aromatherapy oil burners are very economical. Reed diffuser bottle collar and scentball diffusers are easy to use and maintain. Electric oil diffusers and reed diffuser bottle collar use very small amount of essential oils and last for longer time.

For an area where there are children, elderly, ailing people or pets, you should also consider the safety, cleanliness and quietness involved in the usage of diffuser.

Diffusers like aromatherapy diffuser fans, spa center and aroma stone essential oil diffusers and reed diffuser bottle collar are safe to use as they are either battery operated or naturally working. They don?t involve burners or candles and are free from risk of fire, burning and smoke. Also, these make very little or no sound.

You can also consider the aesthetic utility of diffusers. Aromatherapy candles add to the romantic ambiance of room. Reed diffuser bottle collar gives a modern, sophisticated look to the room. Such diffusers can be used in living rooms and bedrooms and will enhance the beauty of your room as well as benefit you with the aroma of essential oils.

Scentball diffusers and diffuser fans are so compact and easy to use that they can be taken along on travels. A more interesting group of aromatherapy diffusers is that of aromatherapy jewelries (pendants, lockets, rings, earrings, bracelets etc.).

Apart from personal use, they can also be an apt gift. These can also be useful to someone whose skin is sensitive to perfumes.
Thus, by considering the utility of different diffusers with respect to your needs, you can easily pick the right one for yourself.

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Aromatherapy in Your Beauty Routine

~ Use 2-5 drops of essential oils in a mixture of equal parts Epsom or sea salts and vegetable or carrier oil, and massage all over the body before stepping into the shower or tub. The salts will exfoliate and detoxify, while the oils will soften and moisturize the skin.

~ Add 2-5 drops of essential oils to a handful of Epsom or sea salts, and dissolve in the tub. Jars of bath salts with essential oils added can be made and kept for future use or given as gifts.

~ Use up to 5 drops of essential oils in 1 oz. of bath gel. Pour under running water for bubble bath, or use a sponge or cleansing puff in the shower.

~ Essential oils can help with many skin conditions, including dry skin, wrinkles, cellulite, and acne. Use up to 12 drops essential oils per ounce of facial cleansers, cr?mes, and lotions.

~ Purify skin by using essential oils in a facial steam. Boil 2 to 4 quarts of water, pour into a heat safe bowl. Add 2 to 4 drops of essential oils to the steaming water, and position face over the rising steam with a towel tented over the head to hold in the steam. Be sure to keep eyes closed, as essential oil vapors will irritate the eyes.

~ Both men’s and women’s haircare routines can be enhanced with essential oils. Those with dandruff, dry hair, and thinning hair may find relief by incorporating essential oils into shampoos and conditioners, or by massaging the scalp with a diluted essential oil preparation. Adding a drop of essential oil to a dollop of shampoo or conditioner just before application is a quick and simple way to use aromatherapy in hair care.

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Aromatherapy

While the trend of going back towards the natural and towards the basics, aromatherapy is becoming a popular solution in the world of total wellness and health. In fact,more and morepeople are utilizing it to obtain better sleep which they think is the very best method to regain one's strength so he or she can do all the things that needs to be done.

Aromatherapy is believed to have therapeutic properties that may heal a person's illness or relax him or her. These days, aromatherapy is not only utilized for healing processes but is also used to assist a individual get much better sleep since it's practiced inside a very soothing way.

To accomplish the wellness benefits of aromatherapy not just on how to get better sleep, you should get all the knowledge and experience that you can get about how to utilise the essential oil. It is greatest to read references of aromatherapy from numerous books, magazines, and even on the internet that offer free aromatherapy information.

To gain experience, one can also enroll in an aromatherapy crash course class that is near your place. Here, they can teach you the basics of conducting an aromatherapy procedure as well as almost all of the information that one needs to know about aromatherapy. For individuals with hectic schedules and don't have time to go to a class physically, they can enroll in numerous online website that provide aromatherapy classes.

Using aromatherapy

Before anything else, make sure that you have supplies for aromatherapy this kind of as items that will be used for measuring products such as cups and spoons, means of transferring liquids such as funnels with various sizes, containers for mixing elements and for correct storage this kind of as bottles or vials, labeling items like stickers, lots of paper towels and alcohol to clean the area afterwards. After preparing the necessary supplies, you may begin with your homemade aromatherapy. The following are just some from the aromatherapy products that you simply can do inside the confines of the abode.

1. Aromatherapy massage or body oil. All you need would be to combine 50 drops or 1/2 teaspoon of the essential oil of your option together with 4 ounces of vegetable oil.

2. Aromatherapy compress. This is considered as one from the easiest aromatherapy products available. All you require is to add at least 5 drops of important oil to a cold or hot cup of water and dip a soft cloth on the mixture.

3. Aromatherapy foot or hand bath. What you need is to add 10 drops of chosen essential oil to a part of cold or hot water in a medium-sized basin. Utilizing your hand or a stirring rod, stir the essential oil evenly to blend well with the water.

Getting much better sleep utilizing aromatherapy

To get better sleep, one must also know which are the essential oils that can deliver about positive changes inside a person's body. Some plant derivations of essential oils and their potential benefits this kind of as geranium for relieving stress-related problems like tensions, nervous breakdown, and skin illnesses like eczema or hard-to-heal wounds;
jasmine for arousing sensuality, relaxation, and in treating a number of skin problems; eucalyptus for relieving muscle pains and aches as well as in to alleviate respiratory program conditions particularly poor breathing;
frankincense to aid lung conditions, urinary issues, irregular menstruation, and relieving pains in skin disorders like acne and excessive burns;
lavender for helping improve the function of the respiratory program and alleviate stress-related conditions such as insomnia, depression, and mental fatigue;
and peppermint to aid respiratory problems specifically asthma as nicely as mental fatigues that lead to fainting and extreme headaches.