Natural Health » Aromatherapy

Spa gifts are a gift of health

Jennifer — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:01:03 +0000

(NC)-Stress levels in Canadians have nearly doubled in the last 10 years. An emphasis on workplace productivity and technology such as cell phones and PDA’s has led to greater stress and health related problems. As a result, lifestyle demands and stress have led to a greater reliance on convenience foods and delivery services. This negative cycle prevents exercise and other healthy activities leading to personal neglect.

With the holiday season fast approaching it is important to learn to take care of yourself in order to enjoy the festivities. A regular spa visit would be ideal – but are you actually going to schedule and make the appointment? Twenty minutes a day is all it takes to improve your wellbeing. The holiday season is the perfect time of year to give others the gift of health.

Lush, purveyors of fresh, handmade cosmetics has perfected the at home spa experience by offering luxurious products packed with fresh ingredients and essential oils to pamper and rejuvenate the mind. Lush Spokesperson, Erika Edwards says “There is no greater gift to receive during the holidays than one that will allow someone to take a few minutes for themselves to unwind and restore balance. Here are some ways to give the gift of rest and relaxation at home:

. Bath bombs and bubble bars filled with essential oils soothe and restore the mind and body in as little as 15 minutes.

. Choose feet and hand treatments that take only a moment to apply at bedtime and wake up with a new outlook (and fabulous nails).

. Many face and body treatments can be used in the bath and shower.

. Using massage bars help ease the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

More information is available online at www.lushcanada.com, or by calling 1.888.733.5874.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

Something Smells! Aroma therapy in the Workplace

Jennifer — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 01:26:09 +0000

Since the beginning of the new millennium, aroma therapy has become an issue taken into serious consideration by many businesses and employers. In many case studies, the use of aroma therapy in the workplace has been proven to reduce work related stress and improve activity, as well as reduce the cause of most illness. Aroma therapy is not only proven to add protection against infectious diseases, itâ€™s been proven to affect the mood and morale of employees. Working in an aroma therapy treated environment enables employees to think more positively and clearly, along with feeling better altogether. Being able to function in a stress-free environment can allow employees to act with more intuition and heart.

Aromatizing our working environment can also be a purifying experience by the use of fungicidal, anti-bacterial, and antiviral therapy to reduce the chances of contracting a respiratory disease, allergies, or other negative effects generated by air conditioning units. These purifying agents also reduce the chance of contracting a contagious disease by those who work in crowded offices or schools. Some purifying agents also seem to have an ionizing effect by appearing to reduce static electricity caused by a large number of electrical equipment, like computers, copiers, fax machines, etc. When all this equipment overcharges the atmosphere, they can induce psychosomatic symptoms such as stress, mood swings, aggression and over all tension.

A pleasant working environment is now more of a necessity than desire for employees when considering employment. Positive attitudes in the workplace are closely connected to an aroma therapy treated environment. Employee burnout and stress has become a continuing problem in the workplace that has many employers searching for solutions to these serious problems. Some factors that contribute to employees becoming stressed are computers, lack of sunlight, pressuring work demands, and deadlines, harsh chemicals used for cleaning and improper lighting. The use of aroma therapy in the workplace is taking a natural approach to adding comfort in the environment to reduce stress and therefore increase productivity.

Do your employees need a break? They might, if youâ€™ve noticed symptoms like: irritability, depression, constant headaches, sluggishness, excessive absences or sick days, lost sense of humor, angry or defensive behavior, making more mistakes and trouble in concentrating.

Employees benefit: An aroma therapy treated environment offers a more comfortable and pleasant working environment. With this comes the ability to think more clearly and function more easily and also make fewer mistakes that take time to be corrected.

Employers benefit: Less absenteeism, increased productivity, and increased morale. Aroma therapy can also help stop the spread of infectious diseases, such as coughs, colds, flu, sore throats and other illness that can keep employees away from their work or prevent them from doing the work correctly and in a timely manner.

Aroma therapy can be used in the form of candles (depending on the working environment and company policy), a water bowl, spray bottle or other method that is acceptable to the working environment. You can find aroma therapy items in most stores, mainly in small selections. Some malls may have an entire store dedicated to aroma therapy or you can shop online and find a particular scent or method to dispense the therapy. There is an abundance of fragrances available through aroma therapy. So which ones should you pick? All fragrances tend to have different functions; most will state what the expected function or relief affect it will have on the package. If you are searching for something specific, you can search through the well stocked online stores and narrow your search down dramatically, all within the comforts of your own home, or office.

Some of the most widely used fragrances are:

Frankincense as a centering and stabilizing fragrance that revitalizes the mind and body and reduces anxiety.

Chamomile as a calming fragrance that tends to send relaxation against depression, stress, insomnia and anxiety.

Geranium as a fragrance to ease anxiety, mental and physical tension and regenerate emotional balance.

Lavender as a fragrance establishes emotional balance by relaxing the mind and promoting mental and physical well-being by dispelling fear, reducing anger and clears thinking.

Marjoram as a fragrance to aid in relief from emotional exhaustion and upsets, nervous tension, stress and as an aid to relive insomnia by relaxing the body and the mind.

In Love with Lavender – A Natural Calm

Jennifer — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 23:42:28 +0000

Lavender has become the most popular aromatic herb and has been labeled as the â€œqueen of herbs.â€ In fact, the year of 1999 was named as the â€œyear of lavender.â€ Lavender is one of the most used aromatic herbs that has been cultivated and used throughout the centuries. In ancient times, the Egyptians used lavender as incenses, perfumes, as well as in mummification process, while the Romans, Arabians and Greeks used lavender as an offering to the gods. True lavender which is found in the French and Mediterranean Alp is considered to be the most effective of these aromatic herbs, as they tend to render a better quality essential oil. This lovely aromatic herb can be found growing in altitudes of 6000 feet. In todayâ€™s society, lavender is used as an essential oil, both topically and internally, for a host of ailments and can also be used as a cooking ingredient for consumable foods.

Lavender contains actions and properties that are used to treat many conditions such as: aromatic (as the most widely used and enjoyed), carminative (to relieve flatulence), antibacterial, antiseptic, nervine (to calm the nerves), expectorant, stimulate, cosmetic, and antispasmodic. Lavender has been known to prevent some childhood infections and to soothe temper tantrums in some children. Some of the most common uses of lavender are to treat burns (from minor to scalding), eczema, grazes, cuts, inflammation, dermatitis, headaches, migraines, fainting, nausea, insomnia, bacterial infections, boils, acne, arthritis and rheumatism. Lavender oil is a non toxic germicidal agent containing linalool and linalool acetate that plays an important role in the healing processes.

Inhaling lavender has a sedative effect for both human and animals, with a calming effect that closely favors the calming effect of the peppermint and geranium plants. This may be the reason why these aromatic herbs are favored for a variety of uses from treating depression and sleep disorders to treating premenstrual syndrome. Lavender is widely used for external purposes as in beauty and bath products. These products are often available in gift baskets that make a wonderful gift for any occasion. A gift of Lavender is surely to be greatly appreciated by all who receive it. Lavender is also used in aroma therapy products and treatments and is available to specifically treat depression and created for sleep pillows.

Lavender is the most popular gift item that can be purchased separately or in gift baskets. Most of the gifts available as aroma therapy gifts are made with lavender essential oil and dried lavender buds such as the bath bomb fizzer, a lavender sachet made to hang in a closet or placed in a drawer, bath oil beads, bath crystals, hand and body lotions, soothing herbal sea salts, and bar soap. The beauty products range from a variety of skin care products to body sprays and hair care products. All made for the sole purpose of creating a sense of peace and promoting relaxation.

Lavender is also used in home cleaning products and for many recipes as well. Lavender has found its way throughout history into the homes of many historical figures. Queen Victoria had insisted that her furniture and floors be cleaned with lavender to freshen up the rooms in her home. Queen Elizabeth I of England used to enjoy drinking lavender tea as a way to relieve her migraines and other maladies. In World War I, the nurses treating injured soldiers would wash their wounds with a lavender wash as an antiseptic wash.

Lavender has become an amazingly versatile herb for cooking at home and in upscale restaurants. These fresh edible flowers are wonderful for enhancing the flavor and appearance of food everywhere. As a member of the mint family and in close relation to sage, thyme and rosemary, the flowers of and leaves of Lavender can be used freshly cut and the buds and stems can be dried before use. Lavender works best when used with other herbs such as savory, fennel, oregano and its other mint cousins sage, thyme and rosemary. Lavender should be used sparingly because of the powerful aroma can make a dish taste bitter, almost like eating perfume. So next time youâ€™re cooking up a storm, why not add a sprig of Lavender to the mix and enjoy?