Tag Archives: aromatherapy

Aromatherapy for Labor

Aromatherapy can be a great addition for pain relief in a natural labor. Many women want to avoid drugs and look for alternative methods for relieving pain. However, fear and anxiety in labor increase pain and make some women opt for the drugs. Aromatherapy can help relieve the fear and anxiety that are so common in labor. Massage also feels great for many laboring women. In addition, massage can help relieve tension and anxiety. Massage and aromatherapy can easily be combined to give you the best of both methods during labor. Get a small bottle and fill with either organic … Continue reading →

Stress Relief with Aromatherapy

Smell is one of our five basic senses and is strongly associated with mood. Often a brief whiff of a particular fragrance can carry us away to other times and other places. The smell of canvas may remind us of camping holidays in our childhood, the smell of moth balls can bring back memories of Grandma and Grandpa and long-ago visits to their home when we were small. The smell of a young baby can remind us of our own children when they were little. Because smell is governed by the limbic system of the brain, it bypasses the “thinking” … Continue reading →

Relaxing Recipes Using Your Aromatherapy Starter Kit

Your aromatherapy starter kit is full of beneficial and inexpensive essential oils! Here are some recipes that will help you feel more relaxed! And if I’ve suggested a scent you’re not particularly fond of — or don’t have in your collection — you can always substitute a scent from the same family. Keep in mind that essential oils are not meant to be used undiluted. You must mix them into a carrier oil, cream, or lotion for safe use. Stress Reducer Blend #1 Mix equal amounts of a citrus scent with a floral scent. For example, lemon and lavender, or … Continue reading →

What Makes Aromatherapy Work?

Think about your nose for a second. We think of it mainly for smelling things, but it has another extremely important job: regulating the movement of air into and out of the lungs. Between the two, your nose is an important part of what makes aromatherapy work. When you inhale a particular scent, millions of smell receptors carry messages about the scent right into the brain. These scent messages move through the brain and trigger emotional responses. These scent messengers also trigger chemical responses. Scents are often processed in the limbic system — the part of your brain that works … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Exfoliating Scrub

As we get closer to spring, it’s time to put away the heavy sweaters and start showing a little skin. If your skin is anything like my skin, the winter leaves your skin unpleasantly dry and flaky. You don’t need to buy expensive exfoliating scrubs at the drugstore or pay for a session at the spa. It is very easy and totally affordable to make your own exfoliating scrub at home! Here’s what you’ll need: Epsom salts (or other medium grain salt) Olive oil Essential oils for scent, if desired A jar to put them in (glass, if possible) Directions: … Continue reading →

Natural Insect Repellant For Dogs (and People!)

Man or pooch, nobody likes bug bites. For effectiveness, you can’t beat products like Frontline for your pets. But sometimes you both need a little extra protection! Maybe you’re going to take a nature walk or a hike through some extra buggy wilds. You can protect yourself and your pooch with a natural insect repellant spray! What you’ll need: A spray bottle Water Lemongrass Essential Oil Eucalyptus Essential Oil Lavender Essential Oil Peppermint Essential Oil You want to mix your oils in this proportion: 1 drop lemongrass: 1 drop eucalyptus: 2 drops lavender: 1 drop peppermint If you only have … Continue reading →

Aromatherapy and Your Immune System

Essential oils used in aromatherapy often have very beneficial effects on your immune system. You can use aromatherapy directly to combat various physical and mental problems! But you will find the same immune system benefits from just making aromatherapy a part of your daily life. Inhaling the scent of lavender on a diffuser or in a potpourri not only helps balance and calm you; you also get lavender’s other benefits. Lavender is known to be an antibacterial, but it can also help combat fungal infections and raise white blood cell activity — which will help wounds heal faster. Antibiotics/Antibacterials Essential … Continue reading →

Tired? Aromatherapy Can Help!

The afternoon at the office is dragging on. Your eyes are burning from the fluorescent lights and staring at the computer. The dull ache in your skull signals the beginning of a headache. You’re irritable. But before you grab a soda or a cup of coffee laden with sugar to perk you up, try something a little more natural. Aromatherapy is a quick and easy way to fight off tension headaches, stress, mental fatigue, and anxiety. Essential oils like black pepper, peppermint, and rosemary are stimulants that will help chase away tiredness and help restore your natural energy levels. If … Continue reading →

Homemade Aromatherapy Potpourri

Wow, there are a LOT of buzzwords in that title. Homemade — done with your own two hands and a lot of TLC. Aromatherapy — naturally good for you. Potpourri — that catchall category in Jeopardy! Potpourri (in the home décor sense, at least) is a mix of dried flowers and foliage that is scented and displayed in a bowl or basket. Sure, it is very easy to find and buy at the store. But you can have the fun and creativity of making your own, and get the added benefits of real essential oils. A lot of store bought … Continue reading →

Your Aromatherapy Starter Kit

Are you ready to start working with your own essential oils? It is time to start assembling your Aromatherapy Starter Kit! There are seven basic scent families that your essential oils may fall into; a good starter kit would have one from each family. Camphor family: Eucalyptus, Camphor Citrus family: Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit Floral family: Lavender, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Geranium Herbal family: Rosemary, Sage Minty family: Peppermint, Spearmint Spicy family: Cinnamon, Clove Wood family: Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Fir If you are just starting out in your adventures in aromatherapy, you probably don’t want to invest a whole lot of money. Some … Continue reading →