According to Tim Blakley, aromatherapy author and educator, pure lavender essential oils offer benefits for the body, mind and spirit. “Lavender provides a calming and soothing effect that can help relax the user. It’s also emotionally uplifting and stimulating if one is feeling overwhelmed, irritable or distracted,” he explains.

To benefit from lavender, make sure you’re using pure essential oil and not a synthetic fragrance. Check the product label and look for the words “Lavendula angustifolia.” There are other types of lavender essential oil, but they come from inferior hybrids that don’t produce the optimum benefits of pure Lavendula angustifolia.

Blakley says it’s important to know the difference between synthetic fragrances and pure essential oils. “Synthetic, petroleum-based lavender fragrances do not provide the same effect as essential oils. They simply imitate the scent,” he says. “Fragrances are extracted from petrochemicals, while essential oils are distilled from plants, which are sustainable and renewable. Because the imitation scents are more apt to trigger adverse reactions such as irritation, headaches and toxicity, they aren’t appropriate for use in aromatherapy. Unlike the synthetics, pure essential oils are both therapeutic and smell great. I recommend Aura Cacia essential oils because they are 100 percent pure.”

It’s easy to purchase pure lavender essential oil and use it for yourself and around the house. Most natural products and health food stores carry essential oils, such as Aura Cacia, which also offers a full line of lavender aromatherapy products, including massage, bath, body care and more. Here are a few simple ways to take advantage of the aromatherapy benefits of lavender.

For yourself:

* Touch a drop of lavender oil behind your ears to alleviate motion sickness.
* Rub a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow case to help you sleep.
* A drop of lavender oil on a bug bite helps take away the swelling and itch.
* Apply diluted lavender oil to chapped or damaged skin to protect and soothe it. Massage the oil around scar tissue to reduce the appearance of scars.
* Diluted lavender oil applied under the arms acts as an effective natural deodorant.
* To relax and soak away tension, add six to eight drops of lavender oil to bath water.
* If you’ve spent too many hours in the sun, help cool sunburn by mixing several drops of lavender oil into cool water then spritzing onto skin.
* To help relax, light a candle and allow to burn for a few minutes, then add several drops of lavender oil to the melted wax.
* When you’re feeling irritable or mentally distracted, place a couple of drops of lavender oil on a tissue and inhale the scent to regain mental balance.

For your home:

* Add a few drops of lavender oil to your laundry rinse cycle for great-smelling clothes or linens.
* To freshen bed linens between washings, add a few drops to a spray bottle filled with water and lightly mist pillows and sheets before climbing in.
* Add 10 drops of lavender oil to a box of baking soda, mix well and let sit for one to two days. Sprinkle on rugs and carpets, wait one hour and then vacuum. The carpets will be clean and the whole house will smell fantastic.
* Eliminate smelly shoes by adding a few drops of lavender oil to the inner soles.
* Moths and flies don’t like lavender oil. Sprinkle it on the outside of your window frames to create a virtual insect barrier.
* Lavender has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties that make it a great household cleaner. To clean tubs, sinks and toilets, sprinkle baking soda and four to six drops of lavender oil onto a sponge and scrub, rinsing the area well.

An excellent educational video with practical uses is available at www.auracacia.com. You can also purchase 100 percent pure lavender essential oil while you’re visiting the Web site.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Taken from the flowers, bark, leaves, and other parts of plants, essential oils are as natural as fresh air and sunshine. Many have their own properties as disinfectants, grease cutters and deterrents to pests — and they impart fresh and pleasing aromas that linger long after your chores are finished.

Natural cleaning products are increasingly available in stores, but you can also easily and economically make your own mixtures with just a few basic ingredients. Chances are some of these ingredients, such as baking soda, white vinegar and borax, are already in your cupboards. One hundred percent pure essential oils can be found at natural products stores or online at www.auracacia.com.

Homemade natural cleaning products are versatile; many can be used for a variety of tasks. Because essential oils are in a highly concentrated form, often only a few drops are needed for a solution that can take you through several cleaning cycles. Not only do you save money — your homemade cleansers will work just as well as commercially produced cleaners without harming the environment.

“Choices abound,” says Tom Havran, aromatherapy product developer. “From pine or lemon oil, whose essences suggest more traditional cleaning aromas, to tea tree and grapefruit, which people might not think of as cleaning ingredients.”

Not sure which oil to start with? Here are some of Havran’s suggestions:

* Pine is inexpensive and clean smelling. It is effective as both a disinfectant and deodorizer.

* Lavender has a pleasing scent, is anti-bacterial and deters insects such as moths.

* Tea tree oil has a sharp, spicy scent and is a good disinfectant and deodorizer.

* Lemon is fresh and clean smelling. It’s also acidic, providing antibacterial and antiseptic cleaning properties.

* Grapefruit has a clean and uplifting aroma that eliminates odors — even strong pet odors.

Making your own cleaning products with essential oils can be as simple as mixing 15 to 20 drops of any essential oil into a cup of baking soda, letting the mixture stand overnight so the oil can be absorbed, and then sprinkling the powder on carpet before you vacuum.

You can also make a quick and easy disinfecting toilet bowl cleanser by combining one cup of water, one-quarter cup of liquid castile soap and 20 drops of white thyme, lavender or lemon essential oil in a 22-oz. spray bottle.

Spring is a time of renewal that offers a perfect opportunity to replace chemical cleansers with pure and natural essential oils. Your whole family, including your pets, will benefit.

For more spring-cleaning formulas you can make yourself with essential oils visit www.auracacia.com/springcleaning. While you’re there, be sure to get more information about Aura Cacia’s live web chats with host Tim Blakley, and download previous chats to learn more about using essential oils that benefit you and your family, naturally.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Almond oil application is the best therapy for conditioning the skin and reviving its natural glow, and as well it helps by improving the complexion and taking years off of your appearance.

General Information

Almond essential oil is an excellent emollient because it helps to soften and smooth the skin, and as well it helps to relieve irritation, inflammation and itching. It is also a great lubricant and helps the skin to balance water loss and absorption of moisture, meaning that it will not make the skin too dry or too oily.

Almond essential oil is fantastic for protecting the surface of the skin, even in summer from the harmful UV rays of the sun. It is also suitable for all skin types, even sensitive and allergen prone skin, and can even be used on children.

Uses

There are a few different ways that you can use almond essential oil, with the most popular choice being to apply it directly onto the skin. This is not something that can be done with all essential and carrier essential oils, as most are too strong and potent and would have an undesirable effect on the skin if applied on its own.

Benefits

The benefits of almond oil are truly incredulous, and this includes the fact that it is all natural, that it helps to soften and soothe the skin without clogging the pores, helps to boost the vitality of the skin, and how it nourishes the skin and works great as a massage medium.

There are various other essential oils that you can use as well and it is important that you determine what type of effects you are looking for and which scents you prefer, as this will help you to decide on the particular oil that is going to be most suitable. You may also want to speak to an aromatherapy professional who is specially trained and knowledgeable in the practice of aromatherapy and can help you choose the right products.

Violet essential oil is not commonly used but it is a very useful essential oil and can be used to treat a number of illnesses. It is very useful for people who suffer from arthritis and other ailments that cause swelling and inflammation. Violet essential oil can be used in different ways depending on what it is being used to treat.

Versatile Properties

Violet essential oil is a mild analgesic, and is suitable for minor sprains and bruises. If you have a sprain then mixing some violet essential oil with carrier oil and massaging it onto the area is a good way to ease the pain. Because of the anti-inflammatory nature of violet essential oil it is also suitable for someone who suffers from arthritis as a pain reliever. In this case the essential oil can be massaged onto the affected joints or a few drops of essential oil can be put into a bath to give relief.

The analgesic properties of violet essential oil are also suitable for easing migraines and headaches. Inhaling steam that has been infused with violet essential oil will help to relieve headaches or simply placing a few drops of the oil in an essential oil burner and let the vapors soother you. Although not guaranteed to ease all headaches this is an effective remedy for headaches brought about by sinus problems.

Violet essential oil is also an effective decongestant. If you have a bad cold and blocked nose then inhaling steam with violet oil is a good way to ease the stuffiness. It is a good alternative to eucalyptus oil that is recommended for colds. This is also a great substitute if you don’t like the strong smell of eucalyptus, as the scent of violet oil is much milder and lot more pleasant than the more medicinal eucalyptus.

You can also use this essential oil when you have a cough; particularly a chesty cough where you need to bring up the phlegm. This essential oil is known to be a good expectorant and can help you produce phlegm when you cough to get over your illness faster. The most effective way to use it in this case is through inhalation. 

Cinnamon Is Quite Popular

Cinnamon as an essential oil is derived from the leaves and bark of the cinnamon plant which is usually only found in Indonesian countries and Sri Lanka. From an aromatherapy standpoint, cinnamon gives you a feeling of comfort and well-being as well as has the ability to perk up a depressive mood.

As an essential oil for cholesterol, cinnamon has shown great promise in reducing overall levels, particularly the bad LDL cholesterol.  No one knows exactly why cinnamon works for patients with cholesterol problems but the fact is that many people who consume just ½ a teaspoon can reduce their cholesterol levels without harming their health. Even triglyceride levels lower and diabetics notice an improvement in their blood sugar levels.

Basil – Not Just for Italian Food

Basil as an essential oil for cholesterol is not as widely known but there have been some studies that have shown promise with this particular herb. Related to the peppermint family, most people know basil is a top ingredient in most Italian food dishes. However, basil as an essential oil for cholesterol comes into play because it holds back the oxidation process of free radicals which allow cholesterol to build up in the blood.

Lemon for Good Health

Lemon is another great essential oil for cholesterol busting and of course lemon’s relatives in the aromatherapy department – lemon balm and lemon grass also help.  Lemon is great for the circulatory system and the reason is it lowers the stickiness in the blood that occurs when cholesterol is high. In addition, lemon also aids in breaking up deposits of plaque in your arteries which in turn also reduces cholesterol.

The versatile uses of orange essential oil make it the perfect essential oil to add to your collection of essential oils. Besides its medicinal or healing properties orange essential oil has a very uplifting effect and is the perfect to bring a burst of sunshine into a room especially in winter when things are feeling a little gray and tired.

Perfumes and Cosmetics

If you love the smell of citrus then you will love the bright top note of orange essential oil and be pleased to know that one of the uses of orange essential oil is a summery perfume. You can make your own perfumes by blending essential oil with carrier oil or alcohol in a 50/50 ratio; if you want cologne adjust the carrier oil or alcohol to 75%.

You can blend it with other essential oils such as Geranium, Lavender, and Neroli for a softer, more floral scent. If you want something spicier and more masculine combine with spices such as ginger or sandalwood, frankincense and other ‘woody’ essential oils.

Everyday Uses

One of the uses of orange essential oil is in scenting your household appliances. When you next clean out your refrigerator, freezer or oven you can add a little orange essential oil to the rinse water. This gives your household appliances a wonderful smell and also helps to fight against any unpleasant odors that might be lurking in your fridge or oven.

Another one of the everyday uses of orange essential oil is as a room deodorizer. Place a few drops of orange essential oil in an essential oil burner and leave it in a room and it will have it smelling great again. This essential oil is great for getting rid of food odors in the kitchen after cooking.

Uplifting Scent

One of the uses of orange essential oil is as an antidepressant or mood lifter. The sweet clear notes of orange essential oil will help to uplift any mood. During winter one of the uses of orange essential oil is to bring a little sunshine back into the room. You can blend it with some spice oils or coniferous oils and you will have a refreshing scent and a lighter atmosphere.

Lavender is another popular choice, and can be used for treating a variety of ailments, including acne, allergies, athlete’s foot, bruises, burns, migraines, oily skin, scars, sores, sprains, strains, stretch marks, vertigo, whooping cough and more. The oil is widely used in aromatherapy to ease tension, stress, tiredness, and feelings of depression.

The Details

It is very important to understand not only the benefits that you can receive from using a tranquility essential oil, but as well the safety precautions that should be taken. There is no doubt that essential oils are very powerful compounds and so of course there are certain safety measures that anyone using these oils should take.

The therapeutic properties of a tranquility essential oil are extensive and will range and differ greatly from the herbal and homeopathic applications of the same plant from which they are derived. Careful inhalation of these oils can provide therapeutic benefit as the oil molecules enter the lungs and are absorbed into the bloodstream.

Use Common Sense

There are a few guidelines that you should follow whenever you are using a tranquility essential oil of any sort. Of course first and foremost you should always keep these oils out of the reach of children. Pregnant and nursing women should avoid using these oils unless under the supervision of a professional. You should try to keep essential oils out of your eyes and out of your mucous membranes, and so a wise rule is to always wash your hands thoroughly after handling any oils.

You should also make sure to check for any interaction between medication and essential oils, because if you are on medication it may have a negative interaction with the oils you are using and this can result in having a dangerous effect. Also keep in mind that if you have sensitive or allergy prone skin you should test the oil on your hand before using it anywhere else on your body or via inhalation.

By taking the proper precautions and using common sense you will be able to receive the benefits from these oils that you are looking for.

The Healing Powers of Sandalwood Essential Oil

The oil is obtained from sandalwood tree which is mainly grown in India. In order to be able to extract the oil, the sandalwood tree needs to be at least thirty years old. The extraction of oil is made by steaming its roots or heartwood or by water distillation. This oil is used extensively by the cosmetic and food industries where it goes into making of perfumes, deodorants, soaps, health supplements, shower gels, shampoos, etc

Besides the cosmetic applications, this oil is also used in wide variety of herbal remedies as per ayurvedic, Unani and Chinese formulations. The most common use is against acne and pus filled pimples. It is also extremely effective as a remedy for dry and cracked skin.  When used as an aftershave, the sandalwood essential oil prevents rashes and freshens up the skin.

This oil has also been used successfully against cold and flu, sore throat, bronchitis, and laryngitis as it acts as a very effective expectorant. For this purpose you have to take a little sandalwood oil, rub it on your palms and rub it over the chest area. Side by side you would need to inhale it with the help of steaming hot water.

The sandalwood essential oil is extremely efficient as a calming agent hence, it is extensively recommended for people who suffer from insomnia, anxiety attacks and chronic depression. For this purpose you would need to use an air diffuser which could disseminate the magnetic smell in the air so you could inhale it.

The effect of this fragrance on people is amazing; people tend to calm down and be happy at he same time, indicating that sandalwood essence also has an uplifting effect on people. Many people use this fragrance just before sleeping as it relaxes both mind and body promoting a deep and restful sleep. People who constantly feel stressed out and anxious mostly due to leading a fast and acutely stressful life are known to be highly benefited by aromatherapy with sandalwood essence.

This is also recommended for those who suffer from diarrhea, stomach upsets (vomiting with cramps and fever), gonorrhea and cystitis. And of course, a little known property of sandalwood essential oil is that of an excellent aphrodisiac.

What Are Essential Oils?

Before you can fully understand about rosemary essential oil you need to be more educated on essential oils in general. These oils are natural substances which are extracted from grasses, flowers, herbs, shrubs, and spices, usually through a process known as steam distillation. These essential oils have a long tradition of providing a variety of therapeutic benefits, benefits which have been confirmed through modern scientific research.

About Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary essential oil is one of the most commonly used essential oils because of the variety of benefits that it offers. It is most often used to combat nervous exhaustion and fatigue, and this effect can be so powerful that rosemary is actually not recommended for use by people with epilepsy or high blood pressure.

Rosemary oil also acts as a sort of astringent in that it helps to regular or decrease oily secretions of the follicle. It is for this reason that rosemary essential oil is so often included in hair care concoctions.

Grow Your Own

Of course you can buy all of the herbs that you need but there is also always the option of growing your own. Inhaling the fragrance of fresh, living rosemary is obviously the easiest and most natural way to enjoy its therapeutic effects and it is easy to grow year round so you can grow it on your own, regardless of where you live. Just make sure that you keep this aromatic herb in a sunny south-facing window sill and that you pinch out the growing tips for use as the plant grows.

Remember that rosemary essential oil is just one of many essential oils available these days, and so it really all depends on what problem you are seeking a solution for and what sort of therapeutic effects you are looking for. A good idea is to speak to an aromatherapy professional who will be specially trained in this area and who will work together with you to help you find the most suitable essential oil.

Aromatherapy is a safe and natural alternative to more conventional treatment methods of today, and it combines the physical and emotional effects of gentle massage with the medical and psychotherapeutic properties of essential oils.

This is why many people use (knowingly) another type of Rose for the extract i.e. the Rose geranium, a plant which is also nick-named as the Rose French.  This oil is available at a fraction of the cost of the original rose oil – but there is no compromise in the effectiveness in healing the varied health problems.

The Applications of the Rose Essential Oil in Day-To-Day Life

The rose essential oil has the following exceptional properties – it is a great anti-depressant, it is excellent at calming the nerves, and relaxes both mind and body. This oil extract is well known to also help in improving confidence, reducing stress levels and fatigue.

The most popular application is as a perfume.  Many people find the scent of a rose totally magnetic. This is one of the best applications and the most well known. Whenever you feel upset, angry, irritated with things that are beyond your control, just put a few drops of this oil on your wrist or garments you would be able to experience almost instant mind relaxation.

In a similar manner, just one drop of the original rose essential oil would be able to steer you away from depression in no time. In fact, if you find that you are prone to symptoms such as these, all you need is to get just one tiny drop and keep it around your nose on which you could sniff at throughout the day with excellent results.

For repairing damaged or rough skin – say on the elbows, ankle sides and knees – take a few drops of rose oil and mix with the same amount of almond oil and then apply wherever you feel it is necessary. In a matter of days you would have regained the beauty of your skin.

You could apply rose essential oil plus a few drops of lemon juice to the face as a lotion, to keep the skin toned and young. You could combine it with Fuller’s earth to make an excellent anti-tan mask for anyone who needs to remove the impact of the sun from their skin.