by Ancient Oils

Aromatherapy Candles

Burning aromatherapy candles scented with pure essential oils is a wonderful way to add fragrance to a room. Not only does an aromatherapy candle smell nice, it can have therapeutic effects on the body and mind.

Essential oils are extracted from certain aromatic plants and are used by aroma-therapists to promote emotional and physical well being. When a few drops of a particular plant essence are added to a candle, its powerful aroma molecules are diffused into the surrounding air as the wax melts. When inhaled, the fragrance can help soothe and revitalize.

For maximum aromatherapy benefits, candles should be made from natural based ingredients that don’t release toxins as they burn. Aromatherapy soy candles made from soybean wax are a popular option, as these are considered better for the environment than petroleum based candles

Aromatherapy massage oils

After a hectic day at work, your husband complains of every part of his body aching with pain.

Will a good night’s sleep refresh him for the next hectic day? Not necessarily. With a similar schedule each day, he is adding to his pain, which within time will transform into a fatal disease. You being a caring wife, will you want this chain of events to continue? If no, then aromatherapy massage oils are for you.

Aromatherapy massage oils will go a long way in giving the much-needed relief to a person after a long day at work. Massage is both physically and emotionally stimulating for the body and when the massage is supplemented with essential oils the person gains from the synergistic influences of a calm mind and a radiant skin.

For the purpose of massage, people often mix more than one essential oil to give the desired effect.

The most common of these is the lavender, clary sage and lemon blend. It is known as the stress blend. The essential oils in concentrated form can be dangerous for use. Therefore, aromatherapy massage oils are mixed with carrier oils before applying it on the body. Similarly, one can prepare an aphrodisiac blend with essential oils of sandalwood and jasmine. Just have an idea of what purpose the aromatherapy massage oils will be used for and go on with the blending.

Aromatherapy massage oils work wonders with your skin and provide mental calmness. It is also used as a cure from several diseases.

Sandalwood essential oil

Sandalwood is one of the world’s most widely used essential oils, prized for its scent in perfumery, for its therapeutic effects in Chinese, Ayurvedic and Tibetan medicine systems, and for its ability to centre the mind in meditative yogic traditions.

Modern aromatherapy considers the oil an effective skin care agent for dry skin, general irritation and acne; it can help in cases of bronchitis, catarrh, dry persistent coughs, laryngitis and sore throat; it may relieve diarrhoea and nausea, and can be supportive in cases of cystitis.

Beyond the physical body, Sandalwood essential oil is a great tonic for the hyper-active mind. In practical terms, the oil is considered an anti-depressant through its ability to relieve hot, agitated emotional states, and to assist in release from over-thinking and worry.

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A cure to burns was discovered in the 1920s by a man called Rene Maurice Gattefosse. Its name is Lavender. This chemist once had his hand exposed to an explosion on his hand, which went through an incredible healing process when he had it dipped in pure lavender oil. The swelling subsided and within a pretty short time, he was feeling relieved of the pain. Besides seeing his hand heal swiftly, he was left with no scars. This prompted him to investigate more about Lavender Oil. He resolved to explore deeper into the study of essential oils which gave birth to what is popularly known as aromatherapy today.

Aromatherapy is a contemporary name given to an ancient form of treatment which used the therapeutic properties of natural plant oil to improve a persons physical and emotional well being. A couple of decades later, information about the health benefits from this form of treatment disseminated widely. More and more people got to know how much aromatherapy could do to boost their health. One effect of aging is that you will become vulnerable to many diseases and aches. Thats why you need to take good care of your body when still young to strengthen its immune system in preparation for the tough future awaiting you. Plant oils have been suggested to make people resist some of the effects of aging.

Since time memorial, flowers, herbs, and plants such as sandalwood, ginger, and cinnamon have served as effective cures for many illnesses. Traditional medicine practitioners are still benefiting significantly from the healing properties of botanicals. The principles underlying traditional medical practices are based on nature and the holistic union of the mind, body, and soul. These are the same constructs true aromatherapy bases on. Many recent studies have found strong effects of aromatherapy on brain wave activity. For example, calming oils have been proved to make people feel more relaxed; a condition typical to the body healing abilities. Mother Nature has blessed us in abundance with all we need for therapeutic purposes. In fact, our Loving creator designed her in such a way that she has the ability to nurture and care for our body, mind, and spirit.

Oil extraction is often done by use of steaming and water distillation. The oil in our body can be diffused in the air and inhaled, or absorbed all over the body through the skin by means of a massage or bath soak. After that process, you will notice a remarkable improvement of your emotional condition. The various systems and healing mechanisms in your body will be energised as well. Each of the plants, including the ones mentioned earlier has at least one healing attribute that can work if blended together in synergy. To reap optimum benefits however, you need to make the right combination of these plants.

Medicinal value from pure natural oils is unmatched with any other form of treatment. Make sure that what you buy is labelled Pure Essential Oil before you make any transaction. The results from diluted products are insufficient. Just to ensure that what you are buying isnt a fake, blot it on paper. If its pure, there wont be any oily marks left on the paper. This miraculous oil has the ability to slow down the aging process. If its supplemented with proper diet and regular exercise, you will surely be able to do more than you had ever imagined accomplishing in your life. The best way to live and enjoy your life to the fullest is to love your body and pay attention to your wellbeing.

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Aromatherapy with the help of natural aromatherapy candles is a popular form of alternative treatment these days. These candles when lit emit fragrances that have the power to uplift one’s mood. They also provide a healing effect whenever you feel troubled or distressed. The present-day life style places a very heavy stress and tensions on you. Natural aromatherapy candles are a perfect way relax and calm down after a particularly stressful and torturous day. You just need to light up such a candle to benefit from the soothing fragrances.

These essences originate from the natural essential oils that are extracted by the process of distillation from certain plants and herbs known for their curative and therapeutic properties. When you light up an aromatherapy candle, it releases the vapors of the essential oils it contains into the surrounding atmosphere. These vapors contain healing properties when inhaled as part of the natural breathing process. Though mainstream medicine has yet to prove the efficacy of natural aromatherapy completely, many people who have used this form of therapy certainly believe in its healing properties. Thus, this form of therapy is actually harmless and the natural vapors released can positively affect the person’s psychological state and improve his or her wellbeing.

Varieties of oils are utilized in the process of making natural aromatherapy candles. Some of these oils are obtained from sources like eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree oil, ginger, oil, chamomile, jasmine oil, rose, sandalwood, and other natural plants. While going in for natural aromatherapy candles, you should bear in mind that the more exquisite the oil used, the more exquisite and expensive the candle will be. While using these candles, you should understand that healing takes time and it is not possible to work out an instant miracle. Therefore, you should possess the necessary patience while using these candles, as they will take some time to heal you completely.

You can also purchase natural aromatherapy candles that contain several oil blends. These candles will be naturally expensive compared to the other candles that you will find in the store. Therefore, you might be able to treat yourself in a better way while utilizing these multiple aroma candles. These candles are usually available at leading stores as well as from reputed online dealers. You can even present these candles to your friends on occasions like birthdays and weddings. You can eve make some candles at home if you know the art of making candles. Just use the fragrance you prefer and enjoy the aroma. Therefore natural aromatherapy candles are one of the most popular ways to get relief from day to day problems like stress, worry, and tensions. Use these candles to feel invigorating and revitalized again!

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Article Submitted On: January 24, 2011

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Essential oils are not just wonderful fragrances. They are also man’s first medicine, natural healing tools for people and pets as well as liquids carefully steam distilled from plant materials. Discover that there is much more to these precious plant oils than just beautiful fragrances.

Essential Oils are the Lifeblood of the Plant

Have you ever torn the leaf of a plant and watched a tiny bit of liquid ooze out of the tear? That liquid ooze is the essential oil of the plant. This liquid helps to carry out the plant’s life function, just like blood. The oil also helps the plant to repair and heal when it has been damaged. It also functions in much the same way for people too.

Essential Oils are Liquids Carefully Distilled from Plant Materials

Any part of the plant can contain oil. The leaves, stem, flowers, bark, root and seeds can all contain oil. The plant material must be carefully steam distilled to extract the oil. The best pure therapeutic grade oils are slowly steam distilled using low temperature and low pressure. The oil from one part of the plant may have different healing properties than from another part of the plant. Each plant oil has its own unique fragrance, constituents and healing potential.

Essential Oils are Wonderful Fragrances

They are often used for perfumes, potpourri and scented candles because they smell so wonderful. The fragrant oils from plants have tiny molecules that are very active. They are energized and bounce around quickly leaping right into the air. That is why we can smell them so easily. The fragrance of the oil travels through the air because the molecules are so tiny and active.

Essential Oils were Man’s First Medicine

Oils from plants were actually the first medicines used by man. Plant oils have been used by the priests and physicians of many ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians and Chinese. Even back in biblical times, plant oils were used for anointing to bring healing. Some examples of plant oils used in the Bible are frankincense, myrrh, hyssop and spikenard. These oils were used for supporting emotional health, spiritual wellness and physical needs as well. Bible references indicate that oils were used for cleaning (Exodus 30:22-29), skin care (Ester 2:12), stopping plagues (Numbers 16:46-50) and anointing for healing (James 5:14).

Essential Oils are Natural Healing Tools for People and Pets

Today people are using these same oils to support the health of their entire household. All family members, including pets, benefit from the emotionally and physically healing properties of oils. For example, lavender is antiseptic, calming and relaxing, peppermint is soothing to the digestive system and geranium supports skin regeneration. Every system of the body can be strengthened by using carefully selected natural plant oils. When using essential oils for health purposes, be certain that they are pure therapeutic grade oils. Oils that are synthetic or diluted with other substances will still smell nice, but will not have the same healing properties as those from pure plants.

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INTRODUCTION

Homeopathy is an alternative medicinal field like Ayurveda and has been practiced for more than 200 years. The homeopathic treatment is mainly based on three important factors: ‘principle of similitude’, ‘experimentation of substances in healthy individuals’ and ‘dynamized medicines’. Homeopathic treatments are based on the principal that ‘like cures like’, in a tiny dilution, to such an extent that they go beyond Avogadro’s number (1,2). Hence the effect of homeopathic drugs, could be analysed in healthy individuals and could be applied according to the principle of the similarity of symptoms. Ruta Graveolens is such a homeopathic medicinal plant and is available in the trade name Ruta Grav.

INGREDIENT DESCRIPTION

Ruta Graveolens is a strongly scented evergreen shrub which has many homeopathic medicinal uses. It belongs to the family Rutacea and is about 20-60cm tall. It is commonly seen in Mediterranean region, Macaronesia and Australia. The leaves are blue or green in colour and it is bipinnate, or tripinnate with a feathery appearance. The flowers are yellow in colour with 4-6 petals and 1 cm diameter. The fruits are 4-5 lobed capsules with numerous seeds.

CULINARY AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE

Ruta Graveolens is been widely used in Middle Eastern Cuisine in spite of its bitter taste. The leaves and oil are used in many beverages e.g.: Italian grape spirit. It has also been widely used as an insect repellent because of its strong pungent smell. The oil has been used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics such as soaps, creams & lotions.

MEDICINAL USES

Ruta Graveolens contain a number of active compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins and essential oil. Rutin a flavonoid present in it has the ability to decrease blood capillary permeability and fragility which is concerned with its eye action. Alkaloids and Coumarins present in it have antispasmodic action. Ruta Grav is an excellent remedy for pain and soreness in the bones, joints, tendons, and cartilage. International Academy of Classical Homeopathy, Greece explains detail about its clinical power to overcome degenerative problems in the knees. Ruta Grav is used as a 1st Aid treatment for sprains, injuries, strain, bruises bones, pulled ligaments. Sprains or fractures can also be well treated using Ruta Grav. It is also a good remedy for ankle sprains, soreness in the feet, ankles, achilles heel, and lower back pain.

The Book titled ‘Homeopathy for Musculoskeleton’ includes excellent sections on symptoms associated with Ruta Grav and other important remedies

Useful for:

Key Symptoms:

EYESTRAIN

Overuse
Injury
Eyes red, hot, burning
Dim vision
Pressure deep in eyeball or over eyebrow

HEADACHE

Following eyestrain
Pain as if from nail
Heaviness, as if weight in forehead

INJURIES TO BONES

Bruised, lame sensation all over
Periosteum (bone covering) bruised

DENTAL PROBLEMS

Deep aching
“Dry socket”

SPRAINS

Tendons & ligaments sore
Feet & ankles painful
Aching in heel tendon
Painful stiffness in wrists and hands

SCIATICA

Worse at night while lying down
Pain from back down hips and thighs

BACKACHE

Deep pains
Thighs feel broken
Relieved lying on back, by pressure
Weak, bruised feeling in low back

Better from:

Lying on back, Motion, Warmth

Worse from:

Cold, wet weather, Being at rest, Lying down,
Cold, Overexertion, Cold wind, Sitting

It is also a useful remedy after surgeries involving tendons, connective tissue, cartilage, joints, and coverings of the bones. It can easily promote recovery after surgery on knees, wrists, shoulders, elbows, ankles, hips, etc. It eases discomfort if deep stiffness is felt in joints and muscles after surgery. Recent research works showed that Ruta Graveolens has some immobilization effect on human sperm and it paves a new hope for male contraception. Pathak et al investigated that Ruta 6 induces severe telomere erosion in cancer cells but has no effect on normal lymphocytes. Banerji and Banerji reported that Ruta was effective for intracranial cysticercosis. True star Health Encyclopedia, North America (One of the most comprehensive information database available on health) describes Ruta Graveolens as a homeopathic remedy for increasing stamina during athletic performance.

PRODUCTS AVAILABLE

Ruta Graveolens is available in the market as Homeopathic Tablets, Pellets, and Granules. Some common products are

(1)  Ruta Grav 30X 250 tablets

(2)  Ruta Grav 30C 2 oz bottle 1360 pellets

(3)  Ruta Grav 30C 75 pellets

(4)  Ruta Grav 200C 75 pellets

Thymeley solutions (Natural remedy online store owned by USA) explain about the usage of these products. About 3-6 pellets can be dissolved under tongue 3-4 times a day, as directed by a licensed practitioner. Children can use half of adult dose. It is completely natural supplement, with no artificial binders. Vegetarians and vegans are also safe to use this product, which is free of all animal by products.

Related Homeopathic Articles

Ayurveda is the oldest system of natural medicine that we know. And the principles of Ayurveda can bring deep insights to help us understand and prescribe the use of essential oils in modern day aromatherapy.

Ayus means ‘life’ or ‘lifespan’, and Veda means ‘complete knowledge’. So Ayurveda is complete knowledge about life, and about health and how to maintain it.

The central tenet of Ayurveda is that good health is a natural state of life — a state of balance. So health becomes disrupted when imbalances accumulate. Therefore it aims to detect early accumulation of imbalances in the system, and prevent them from developing into symptoms by using a variety of methods. In this way, Ayurveda is primarily preventive in its outlook.

One of these approaches is through massage, which is highly rated in Ayurveda. Massage is recommended in terms of daily self-massage (you can try a self massage using warm natural sesame oil every morning before taking a shower; some people notice massive benefit continue through the day, particularly if they suffer from poor circulation), and also using macerated oils in specific treatment regimes.

This is very similar in outlook and approach to our approach to aromatherapy, which uses essential oils blended into a ‘carrier oil’ (vegetable oil), so let’s see what our modern understanding can learn from the ancient approach.

According to Ayurveda there are three principles (doshas) that operate in the physiology and in Nature: vata, pitta, and kapha.

Vata governs the function of the nervous system, and is quick, light, cold, rough, moving. People who have a strong vata constitution tend to walk quickly, talk quickly, listen quickly (so they may interrupt you before you’ve finished your sentence). They tend to be of thin build, frequently very bright and alert. When they become imbalanced, this may lead to anxiety, worry, restlessness, insomnia, and also cold hands and feet. They would tend towards dry hair, and dry skin.

Pitta is hot and sharp, and governs metabolism and digestion. People with a preponderance of pitta tend to have energy, ambition, and drive. Because pitta is hot, they suffer less from cold; but on the other hand may tend to overheat in the summer, and may suffer from skin disorders.

Kapha has the qualities of heavy, cold, oily and stable. Kapha people tend to have large framed bodies, and may put on weight rather easily. The hair is thick, lustrous, and they are often very attractive physically. They frequently exude feelings of stability, peace, and contentment. But when out of balance, kapha leads to a lack of flexibility, inertia and lack of enthusiasm.

A qualified ayurvedic practitioner will be able to determine the relative balance of vata, pitta and kapha to a great degree of accuracy by using pulse diagnosis.

However the simple description above should be able to help us to quickly recognize which essential oils could be indicated.

For someone with a vata imbalance, we want to provide ease, ease and comfort, reducing agitation and excess mental activity. So we should be on the lookout for oils that are sweet, warming, soft, stabilising. Try Sweet Orange, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver, Sweet Basil, Jasmine, Ginger, Frankincense, Patchouli.

For a pitta type, we will be looking for cooling oils. So think in terms of Mint oils, True Lavender, Rose, Sandalwood, and German Camomile.

Remember that kapha is heavy and oily, so we should be looking for essential oils that are light and will cut through that quality. Think in terms of the confers (pines, firs, spruces), Black Pepper, Tea Tree, Rosemary Verbenone, and Lemon.

It goes without saying that the areas of both ayurveda and essential oils are immensely detailed; and either could take a lifetime of study. Yet the principles are simple and have a commonsense value. And best of all, they are easy to apply.

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The belief that certain scents can have a significant impact on the body is gaining popularity. This is no mere hearsay. There is enough evidence to substantiate this belief as certain plants and oils in them have been proven to cure certain body diseases. Healing properties have been discovered in lavender, aloe vera, ginger, and guava leaves. They have been used for burns, scratches, and body aches. Many people have embraced it, and say it outperforms the traditional form of medicine. Yes, relentless studies through the years are finally yielding fruit. Even to date, research is still under way to explore the benefits of aromatherapy and the ways people can reap from it.

In short, aromatherapy is a term that has been coined to refer to an ancient healing art that uses the therapeutic properties of natural oil to improve the physical, psychological, and emotional wellbeing. Shortly after, it was found that it also helped keep the body healthy. It is very much helpful during moments when you sense there is something wrong about your system. As you get older, you will be bombarded with an assortment of pains and ailments. With the aid of these plant oils, you can start working now towards looking and feeling young even through old age.

From the times of the earliest civilizations, ancient herbs and spices have been used for medicinal purposes. You will find the healing properties of botanicals recognized and embedded in traditional medical practices. The idea behind aromatherapy is that natural is still top. It aims at merging the mind, body, and soul. These are the basic principles of true aromatherapy. It has been proved to enhance and improve brainwave activity. Calming oils have the ability to relax your body- a condition that supports the body’s healing abilities. Nature indeed has all that you need for therapeutic purposes. Mother Nature is there to nurture and care for you and all aspects central to your survival.

Oil is derived from the plants through steam and water distillation. These natural oils emit a scent that can be diffused in the air and inhaled. It can also be absorbed throughout the body through the skin via a massage or bath soak. This eventually enhances your emotional wellbeing while stimulating your body’s systems and healing mechanisms as well. The medicinal properties in each of these plants work optimally when blended together in synergy. With the right mix, you can come up with a scent that is truly healing.

Learn by heart, that only pure, natural essential oils have all their medicinal assets uncompromised. Make sure to read the label when purchasing one. Only those with the substances in their purest form will work effectively for you. Diluted ones are not as effective. Aromatherapy is certainly an option you can count on if you want to live your life to the fullest. To lead a healthy life, you also need the right diet, exercise, and don’t forget to indulge yourself. Look for all the tips you need to live a more satisfying life as you age. Appreciate what you already have, love it, and have the benefit of a special treat every once in a while.

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