Aromatherapy Recipes for Skincare

We all spend an increasing amount of money each year on different skincare products, all of which offer us the opportunity to look younger and hold back the ravages of time. Many of the skincare products we purchase can contain harsh chemical ingredients, so from a holistic point of view, we are sabotaging our bodies in the effort to look good.

Aromatherapy is a holistic approach to living a natural life and finding inner peace and a healthy balance in general. Many people will have heard about aromatherapy massages and may have even experienced a massage from a qualified therapist at some point, but there is an almost overlooked side to aromatherapy and that is, that the essential oils used can make some skincare products that are wonderful and kind even to sensitive skin.

Surprisingly, they are not even difficult to make and the cost is minimal too. Investing in some quality pure essential oils is a must however, so before spending a lot of money on buying large quantities of oils from your local health store, it is advisable to read up on the oils and aromatherapy recipes first and just choose a select few.

There are numerous publications and articles all advocating the benefits of making your own skincare products, but many people either do not realize just how easy it is or simply find it hard to fit in another task into their busy days. There are many aromatherapy recipes available and initially it is wise to try out existing recipes rather than creating your own, at least until there is a firm understanding of the oils and their individual qualities.

Aromatherapy Recipe 1.

Enriching Nail Oil

2 teaspoon almond oil
1 teaspoon apricot-seed oil
1 400 IU capsule vitamin E oil

Mix the ingredients together and add to a small bottle. Use each morning and evening to help nails become less brittle and dry.

Aromatherapy Recipe 2

Moisturizing Hand Crème

5 drops of lavender oil
1 teaspoon almond oil

Add to a bowl of water and soak hands for ten minutes.

Aromatherapy Recipe 3

Moisturizing Body Oil

2 fl oz jojoba oil
10 drops grapefruit oil
15 drops lavender oil

Add ingredients together in a small bottle and rub a few drops into skin after bathing or showering. Rub into damp skin for maximum effect.

These sample recipes are only a small sample of those, which are available in various different publications. Learn to replace those harsh skincare products which are manufactured on a large scale, instead, satisfy the natural you, by creating your own skincare products.

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is part of the Ayuvedic tradition of holistic medicine. These ancient remedies created in India provide simple solutions to numerous maladies both physical and psychological.

How does oil pulling work?

There are a few theories on the way that oil pulling works. Some say that the movement massages and stimulates the sublingual muscles to excrete toxins stored up in the body. Others report that the production of saliva is the catalyst for the draw out of bodily toxins.

How do I oil pull?

The procedure is quite straightforward; take 1 tablespoon of oil into the mouth on an empty stomach. Swish the oil in your mouth much as you would mouthwash being careful not to swallow the oil. If you swallow a minuet amount this is fine.

Pull the oil through your teeth as well as chomping and moving your jaws in a biting motion. The oil will change in consistency from thick and yellow to thin and foamy. This is due to the fact that your saliva is mixing with the oil bringing with it toxins being excreted sublingually through the tongue.

Swirl and pull the oil through your teeth for 15-20 minutes. At the end of the session spit the pulled oil into the sink or toilet. If you discard the oil in the sink be sure to clean the sink with an antibacterial wipe or soap.

Rinse your mouth with water 2 to 3 times and then brush your teeth as normal. You will notice that after a few weeks of this your tongue will become pinker and healthier looking. Your teeth will be whiter and your breath will improve.

Some say that tilting your head back while oil pulling will ensure that oil is getting all the way to the back of the molars. This is an advanced technique and not recommended for those just beginning. Remember to slowly swish and pull the oil in your mouth, this is not a race and you will not get any more benefit from rushing things.

It is recommended that you wait an additional 10 minutes before you have breakfast. You may practice oil pulling 3 to 4 times a day if desired making sure to do so on an empty stomach each time.

Are there any precautions to take while oil pulling?

The main precaution involved in oil pulling is to practice it on an empty stomach. You run the risk of vomiting if you oil pull after eating. The best time to oil pull is in the morning, after you brush your teeth, but before breakfast.

Being careful not to swallow the oil after pulling is another precaution. After the oil is pulled through it will contain toxins extracted from the body. If you do happen to swallow the oil it will be passed through the system.

The type of oil is also something to keep in mind. Sunflower and sesame seed are the recommended oils to use. Cold press oils are the highly desirable, refined oils are required.

Make sure to clean the sink with antibacterial soap after each session. The toxins pulled into the oil are concentrated and this precaution will keep from getting anyone sick who happens to use the sink after you.

If symptoms worsen discontinue oil pulling for a week or two and then resume the practice. Some people have very sensitive systems and because of individual physiology may not be able to oil pull. If you notice that symptoms are not subsiding then discontinue permanently.

How can oil pulling help?

Oil pulling has been purported to effectively treat gingivitis and whiten teeth. Skin conditions such as eczema, and acne have been reported to improve after sustained use. Lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and even diminished migraines have been attributed to the practice of oil pulling.

Aromatherapy Essential Oils for Everyday Use

In today’s busy and hectic pace of life, aromatherapy is becoming a popular complimentary therapy which can be used at work, home or by going to a professional therapist and can help to combat the stresses and strains that are encountered by everyone on a daily basis.

Whilst aromatherapy is a comprehensive subject which does take a while to learn about, it is relatively easy to collate an aromatherapy essential oils home care kit. Once the basic do’s and don’ts have been understood, it is useful to have some key essential oils on standby.

Start by choosing the oils which you are naturally drawn to either by trying the scent or by reading up and learning about their properties, this is dependant on whether the oils are for specific conditions or perhaps household accidents such as minor abrasions or burns for example.

Only select the pure essential oils as there are those which could do more harm than good when applied, so be sure to double check first. The shelf life of the pure oils can be 2-3 years providing they are stored in dark glass bottles and kept away from artificial and natural light. Be aware that citrus oils have a lesser shelf life than others. If you are seriously looking at building up a comprehensive home care kit, then invest in a box to store them in.

Learning about aromatherapy essential oils can be a seriously addictive practice, especially as with just a little knowledge, you realize how beneficial they can be. Just remember to avoid putting oils directly onto the skin, always mix with a good carrier oil such as sweet almond oil or grape seed oil and as aromatherapy essential oils are so concentrated, just a few drops are needed when mixed with the carrier oil.
Lavender and tea-tree oil are the only exclusions to this rule.

Lavender oil is an essential oil to have in your homecare kit. It is an anti-depressant, useful for tension, headaches, for insomnia, indigestion and is both soothing and pain-relieving.

Sweet Marjoram is a sedative, aids digestion and useful in times of anxiety, headaches, colds and muscular pain

Tea Tree oil is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, useful in respiratory infections, can be used for insect bites, spots or cuts.

Peppermint oil can be used as an insect repellent, antiseptic, decongestant, breath freshener, to ease asthma symptoms, digestive problems and for headaches

Rosemary oil is an anti-depressant, useful in digestion problems, fatigue, flu, oily skin, burns and for poor circulation

Neroli oil can be used for headaches, depression and flatulence, also for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, panic-attacks and stress.

Aromatherapy essential oils can benefit the whole family and once everyone becomes aware of their vast properties, will be used more and more as time goes by. Just remember that whilst they promote natural good health and well-being, they should be treated with respect.

What is Aromatherapy?

What is aromatherapy?
A beautiful, relaxing, natural and holistic approach to life.

What is aromatherapy essential oil?
Extracted from flowers, leaves, bark and peel, aromatherapy is a therapy which uses concentrated oils in a number of holistic treatments to promote health and well-being in all who deign to use it. It can relieve a number of health conditions such as tension headaches, aching muscles, depression, anxiety or stress and insomnia for example and works on both a psychological and physiological state.

There are many different essential oils available, so it is always wise to think about the properties of individual oils so that you can match them to your required use.

What is aromatherapy massage?
Having any massage is beneficial to the person receiving it but coupling that with the relevant essential oil of your choice, can relax, invigorate, calm, induce and sedate depending on the type of massage that is being practiced.

Lavender oil is always a popular choice for many people and the qualities in lavender include:

• Being able to induce sleep
• Useful in colic in young children when rubbed gently over the tummy
• To alleviate stress

Bergamot oil can be used for many reasons although care must be taken to not expose skin which has had received a bergamot oil massage as it can lead to burns if under direct sunlight.

• Fear
• Stress
• Tension
• Infection

What is aromatherapy inhalation?

Using aromatherapy in a steam inhalant is wonderful if someone is suffering from a cold, sinus problem or feels tired, tense and head muddled. It is simple and effective to use: Fill a bowl with boiling water and add three drops of your chosen oil, lower head until approximately 12 inches from the water. Place a towel over your head so that you are covered and breathe in deeply to receive the benefits.

Cedarwood oil is beneficial for:

Calming and balancing energy
Removing excess phlegm and catarrh
Increasing feelings of spirituality

Orange oil is beneficial for:

• Sedative
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antiseptic
• Anti-depressant

What is aromatherapy baths?

Adding up to ten drops of your favorite essential oils to your bath can be a wonderful way to receive all of the benefits and wind down for the day. Similarly, oils can be used in a bath to invoke energy and to stimulate the senses at the start of the day if preferred.

An energizing bath

• 2 drops of lemon
• 2 drops of frankincense
• 3 drops of rosemary

Add this to your bath and then enjoy the invigorating oils.

To help with feelings of fear or nervousness

• 4 drops of basil
• 6 drops of geranium

Foot bath to soothe tired feet:

• 3 drops of peppermint oil to a bowl of water and leave feet to soak for approximately twenty minutes. Feet will feel greatly refreshed afterwards.