Discover the charms of Essential Oils in Aromatherapy.

Benefits of aromatherapy and essential oils.
Discover the age old art of aromatherapy which has been clearly refined over the centuries and discover how to harness the therapeutic powers of essential oils in many ways.

The beneficial properties of essential oils can be used to treat a variety of common ailments, promote good health and emotional well being and generally enhance every aspect of your life.

The pure essences of many aromatic plants have been prized for thousands of years for their health giving properties and scents, and these potent essences are nature’s gift to mind and body.

What are essential oils?

Although referred to as oils, essential oils are in fact aromatic (fragrant) volatile essences consisting mainly of chemicals known as terpenes. These essences are obtained from a vast variety of medicinal and culinary plants such as flowers, leaves, seeds, nut kernels, roots, grasses, peels, resin and barks of plants by a process of steam distillation. The ‘living’ element of the plant is captured and capsuled. Only the purest of these essences are used in aromatherapy to allow for the therapeutic properties to be maximized.

How are essential oils used?

Besides their sensuous vapour which provides the fragrance in many perfumes, these essences can be used with a few drops in the bath, smoothed over the body in a massage, used as an inhalation or in a myriad of ways. As the structure comprises small molecules, they are able to penetrate the skin more effectively than vegetable oils, which only lie on the surface.

There are several hundred varieties of essential oils, each one is thought to have different healing properties.

Essential oils have become an established alternative natural therapy as they have been used medicinally over the centuries. They are known to assist is treating all kinds of aches and pains, asthma, eczema, digestive problems, menstrual and menopausal problems, headaches, insomnia as well as soothing stress. When inhaled, these volatile essences evaporate therefore enter the body via the millions of sensitive cells lining the nasal passages. They travel through the olfactory system in the nose which is connected to the limbic centre in the brain, the seat of our memory and emotion and which also controls the major functions of the body. The smells are processed and trigger powerful feelings, uplifting moods and emotions thereby relieving many symptoms of stress.

Is care necessary?

Essential oils are extremely concentrated and can be quite toxic so caution is required when using them. These oils are usually diluted in a base or carrier oil such as almond oil or grapeseed oil, and should never be used on the skin undiluted or taken internally.

Several of these oils should not be used during pregnancy (such as basil, clary sage, comfrey, fennel, hyssop, juniper, jarjoram, myrrh, rosemary, thyme and sage) due to their strong diuretic properties or tendency to induce menstruation. Citrus based oils (such as orange, lemon and bergamot) will more than likely cause your skin to burn as they react with ultraviolet light. Oils (such as fennel, rosemary, verbena and lemongrass) may aggravate sensitive skin conditions and (sage, aniseed and hyssop) oils may be toxic. Wormwood and fennel should not be used by people with epilepsy and rosemary and thyme may affect people with high blood pressure.

As evidenced, care is necessary when using essential oils, however there are many methods of dispersing their fragrance and using their therapeutic properties.

You can feed your skin by smoothing them over your body in a sensual massage, soak in them or simply inhale the wonderful aromas.

Essential oils are widely used in skin care products to soothe our senses and bring peace and harmony to our life.

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