Aromatherapy and its Essential

July 16, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

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Aromatherapy’s provenance dates back to at least 4000 BC. It was when a French Chemist, Rene Maurice Gattefosse accidentally discovered a laboratory who uses lavender oil to relieve pain and give assistance to the healing of slight burns. The etymology of Aromatherapy is from the Greek word fragrance (aroma) and the word treatment (therapy), this term was first used in the 1920’s by the said French chemist.

In current times, Aromatherapy has probably become the most popular holistic treatment to date. Ever so long, aromatherapy has been used to promote physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing. A lot of people have been experiencing the benefits drawn about by aromatherapy without actually realizing it. Modern medical science surprisingly agrees with our ancestors and has even proven the therapeutic effects from essential oils used for aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy is practically easy to administer, with the right knowledge and the right procedures. But essentially, the oils used for aromatherapy are absorbed by our bodies in two main ways absorption by the skin and inhalation. Essential oils when inhaled, helps activate nerve cells in the nasal cavity, in turn it sends signals and stimulates the brain, to produce positive feelings and emotion. All at the same time, it also provides physical therapeutic benefits, since the substances from the essential oils are drawn in the lungs and then absorbed by the bloodstream.

Moreover, aromatherapy has been proven to be helpful in battling various health conditions and is greatly responsible for promoting emotional well being. Some of the most notable psycho-emotional benefits brought about by aromatherapy include mental clarity, spirit stimulation, robust immune system, regulation of human hormones and it serves as an aid to skin regeneration – to name a few.

Lastly, we should always take note, aromatherapy is intended to be an alternative and a complementary medical treatment, and should not be considered as the sole major treatment. It is a good addition to the healing process of standard medical care. After all they say, when a person’s well being is in its most positive state, chances are the response to treatment whether medically or alternatively are always good.

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Visualization

July 8, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

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If you want to divert your attention from your problems brought by everyday stress, visualization may be a good option for you to get the clutter out of your mind.

Visualization or guided imagery has been proven to give significant stress reduction benefits, including relaxing the body physically and efficiently and by helping you get in touch with deeper levels of wisdom. This can help you manage their lives in ways that can help reduce stress. In fact many hospitals are using visualization as an option to help with treatment – especially as a way for their patients to divert their attention from pain. This therapy is practiced with the aid of a professional or an imagery tape and your imagination.

It is similar to self-hypnosis due to the fact that you go to a deep relaxed state and that you deal with your subconscious mind. The difference is that in self-hypnosis, you are planting ideas in your head while visualization aims to extract ideas from your head.

When doing visualization, you are usually guided to a relaxing scene with great detail that it reaches your senses and your mind assumes that you are in that scene. You can imagine how something feels, smells tastes and sounds. The imagination makes it so real that it tricks your body into thinking it’s a reality. This puts you into a relaxed state. Some can imagine a “guide” situation wherein they imagine that their subconscious answers the questions that have been bothering them all day.

This stress relieving therapy is also said to provide insight and wisdom. It is an excellent stress management option and is easier than practicing yoga or exercise which is a plus for those who have physical limitations. There are no side effects.

With enough practice, you can do visualization anywhere. You can be surprised to know how much control you can take with a little practice.

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Hot stones to cool you down

July 8, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

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When in stress, turn to the rocks – and we don’t mean throwing stones on something until you feel better. Go to a spa and ask for a hot stone massage.

Hot stone massage is a massage specialty that uses basalt stones. Basalt stones are volcanic rocks that absorb and retain heat well. This can be very relaxing since the heat helps your tight muscles to release more quickly compared to traditional massage plus the warmth of the stones is proven to calm the nervous system.

The massage therapist sanitizes smooth stones of various shapes and sizes and heats them in 120 to 150 degrees. Oil will be applied to your body so that the stones can glide smoothly along your muscles. The therapist then will warm you up using traditional Swedish massage while holding a heated stone. As the stone cools down the therapist replaces it with another. The therapist can also leave the heated stones along your spine, in the palms of your hand or on your belly to improve the flow of energy in your body. If there is inflammation, cool marble stones will be used.

The hot stone massage is recommended for people with back pain and aches, poor circulation, and arthritis to help relieve them from their conditions. The massage is also effective for those who are experiencing depression, insomnia, anxiety, tension and stress.

Although it may cost more than a basic massage since hot stone massage requires more preparation and time, you can be assured that the relief and relaxation you get is also worth it.

Take note that massage is not recommended for people with rashes and open wounds, people who just had surgery, and people who are prone to blood clots. If you are pregnant, it is best to ask your doctor first if this will affect your pregnancy.

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Deep Breathing for Weight Loss

June 29, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

Time for relaxBreathing might be second nature to us but a lot of people do not know how to practice deep breathing. This is because when we breathe, we do it unconsciously and it results to shallow breathing. Deep breathing makes us more aware of our bodies then this allows us to focus in the steps we need to take to make our bodies the shape and size we want them to be.

Deep breathing for weight loss is possible. Just like food, oxygen is considered as fuel for the body. Plus oxygen has no calories. So breathing well can provide you a sense of satisfaction without the calories that come along with the food. Regular deep breathing helps increase the metabolism which will help you burn more calories and effectively utilize the food to provide you more energy. That increased energy can increase your ability to exercise and reduce weight.

Deep breathing can also assist your body when it comes to fat burning. This is because deep breathing changes the way that oxygen is delivered throughout the body which creates a change in the way that the body works – including improved fat burning. When deep breathing is done to minimize stress, the fat burning abilities of the body increases because the stress factor goes down.

One example of a breathing exercise is done while lying down totally flat on your bed, couch or floor. Allow yourself to relax for a second or two before taking a deep breath. Take a deep breath through your nose while pushing your belly up. Stick your chin on your chest to watch your belly rise. Once you’ve got as much air as you can hold, stop and hold your breath for twenty seconds – You will be able to feel your lungs stretching out. Practice doing this for 5 minutes regularly and you will be able to feel relaxed and refreshed with that extra oxygen that you gifted your body with.

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Floating Therapy

June 29, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

clouds_floating_massageStress is a normal part of our life that we have to deal with whether we want to or not. But even as a passive thing it is still hard to find a way to wind down and relax. Floatation therapy is one way to get some time out and give you relaxation.

Floatation therapy works by you floating on a floatation tank that’s filled with a very dense salt water mixture. The water in the tank is 25 cm deep. With a very high concentration of Epsom salts, the mixture makes it impossible for you to sink so you can float effortlessly.

The floatation tank is usually placed in a room with its own bathroom facilities. You are required to shower before entering the tank and then shower again after you float to remove the salt mixture. Most people do not wear anything when they float which makes it a very private experience. But you are also allowed to wear a swimsuit if you prefer to do so.

The tank has a hatch that allows you to chose if you want to float in darkness by closing the hatch or to leave it open. Some spas also give you the option of floating in silence, with soft and gentle music or with a self-hypnosis audio playing in the background.

When you float, your body instantly relaxes since the external stimuli to your senses are reduced. And since the water in the floatation tank is at skin temperature, the boundary between your body and air and water will be hard to distinguish.

Research has shown that this type of therapy has a number of physical effects on the body. The heart rate and breathing slows. The reduction in gravity causes the muscles to relax and decreases electrical activity in the muscles which allows them to release tension. The blood flow to the muscles also improves. All these factors can lead to faster healing. They also help reduce cardiovascular problems, pain, stress, depression, sleeping problems and fatigue.

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WHY YOU SHOULD MANAGE STRESS

June 23, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

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Chronic stress can do irreversible damage to your health. It is often considered as a silent killer since you won’t even notice it’s there until the symptoms worsen. Here is a list that can show how stress can affect you and your overall health seriously:

Anxiety and Depression

If you are stressed out you could be experiencing uncontrollable levels of anxiety and this can cause many changes in the physiological functioning of the body. These feelings also encourage sadness and laziness which prohibits you from performing well.

Sleep Deprivation

Stress can lead to a restless mind which stops you from getting sleep. Lack of enough rest leads to an inability to maintain focus and can make you irritable.

Diabetes

Diabetes is known as a huge epidemic in the world and both mental and physical stress can cause fluctuations in your blood sugar levels. Aside from that, this disease is also linked t heart disease, blindness, liver problems, kidney disease and many more.

Heart disease

Stress is closely linked to heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases. This is because when stress is not managed, the body breaks down easily and the heart is impacted.

Obesity

Most people cope with stress through eating. This is more known as “emotional eating”. Stress also prohibits chemicals needed to control the breaking down of fat which slows down your metabolism.

Fatigue

The lack of energy that you feel during stress can affect your work and how you interact with people. This can greatly affect your life professionally and socially.

Sexual dysfunction

It’s been found that stress is one of the main reasons why men become impotent and women lose their libido.

Stress is something that everybody encounters on a regular basis. But little things add up and once it starts to build up, it can cause a negative impact not only in your mind but in your body as well.

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CAN’T SIT STILL?

June 21, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

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There are some people who cannot stand the thought of not moving even for a minute. This immediately zeroes out meditation as a form of relaxation for them. How can you meditate when you can’t keep your body or mind still?

A common misconception of meditation is that you must be seated with your legs crossed and eyes closed, chanting some kind of mantra to go off to a peaceful state of mind while keeping still all at one time.

What most people are unaware of is that the scenario above is just one way of meditating. There is another side of meditating called Active Meditation. An example of which is Walking Meditation.

Walking meditation is done by focusing on the walking itself instead of a mantra or your breathing. In walking meditation, you should be able to notice the pressure on each foot as it touches the ground and feel the relief of that pressure as your foot rises again. Then you should be able to feel the muscle in your legs work like when they tense and when they relax. You may also be able to identify a change in your toes as they meet the ground or how your ankles react as you walk along.

Aside from the stress relief that meditation usually brings, walking meditation can also bring about a feeling of energy and rejuvenation. Aside from that, it also promotes your body’s physical health since walking is a good cardiovascular exercise.

If the thought of sitting still to meditate put you off, then taking up walking meditation instead may be more suitable for you. It does not only relax you and calm you down but it keeps you fit as well. Give it a try and experience the calmness and healthy feeling afterwards.

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DON’T PANIC – BREATHE!

June 19, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

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The way you breathe can be a symptom for stress and other anxieties. Learning how to breathe better can help calm and relieve you from panic disorders. The art of breathing usually requires practice, patience and diligence.

Rapid, shallow breathing is a common indication that something is wrong. They mostly happen to people who are under a lot of stress and also for those who have panic attacks. In rapid breathing, the breath you take is quick and short with very little time in between breaths and many breaths are taken in a second.

People who experience panic attacks usually make the mistake of holding their breath which causes the carbon dioxide levels to drop which eventually leads to hyperventilation.

It helps to practice breathing exercises to help calm you down compared to just using them when your panic attack arises. This is because in times of panic, it is very hard to think straight. It does not take much time and space either. You may find that breathing exercises are very easy to do. Five to ten minutes of your time each day is enough for this exercise.

Here is one example. What you need to do is to increase your habit of taking deeper and slower breaths. You have to breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose and then breathe out through the mouth slowly. When you do this for the first time expect to feel a little bit light headed. This is because your body is not used to receiving so much oxygen.

Practicing breathing exercises like this regularly makes proper breathing a second nature to you and allows you to use it properly when the time comes instead of ending up hyperventilating.

Remember, in times of panic – focus and concentrate on your breath. This can help you get better, be more confident and give you more control.

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COLOR HEALS

June 16, 2009 By marie 2 Comments

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Did you know that colors do not only affect your mood but it also can give you a better perspective in life and peace of mind? This is possible through Chromo therapy – or color therapy.

Color therapy is considered as part of ancient science. Egyptians used to build light towers with colored panes of glass that would flood a patient with color once sunlight pass through the glass. And evidently, patients feel well after that.

Today, a therapist trained in color therapy uses light and color to balance energy in the areas of your body that is lacking in physical, emotional, spiritual or mental vibrance with the use of tools like gemstones, candles, crystals, fabrics, or bath treatments.

Here is an example of how color can affect your emotional state:

• Green – considered as the best color for healing since it is nurturing and earthy. It also represents new growth.
• White – it has been proven that white reduces any negative thoughts and produces a clean, fresh and new outlook.
• Blue – wearing blue helps create calmness and serenity. Blue can also be very relaxing.
• Yellow – considered to be the perfect color to wear when the spirit is down due to its cheerful and happy appeal and helps make you be perkier
• Gray or Black – these colors are considered to be depressive and are associated with invisibility and keeping a low profile
• Orange – represents very high energy and urges you to be more fun and playful.
• Pink – most people think pink is just a feminine color but it also expresses compassion
• Purple – wearing purple shows that you want to be noticed and brings out a feeling of uniqueness and specialty.
• Red – considered as the most powerful color, it shows confidence and can be the best color for those who needs a boost in self esteem

Color is an active power that can exert a big influence on your consciousness and spirit since color works through you and shines in your auras. Combined with light, color can help bring your physical and emotional systems in a balanced state. Color is an essence of energy.

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