Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Benefits of Aromatherapy

 

Despite its reputation as a new-age alternative medicine, aromatherapy predates almost any other type of treatment.  It has practiced by civilization for over 5,000 years, which puts in origin 2,500 years before Hippocrates, the father of medicine who used it as part of his care.  It was in the 11th century that the process of steam distillation made it possible to extract essential oils from plants. As this practice spread, aromatherapy spread all over the world.  Now it is practiced in over 40 countries including Western Europe and the United States.  The use of volatile plant matter to improve one’s health gives a whole host of benefits from improving skin to reducing pain to increasing circulation.  The variety of health improvements that can be derived from aromatherapy make this alternative medicine worth exploring.

Why Do Essential Oils Work?

Essential oils are taken from a single plant.  Each of these oil soluble elements is made up of over 100 chemicals which gives it is ability to provide aromatherapy. In fact, the essential oil of a plant have the ability to keep the plant itself healthy.  There are multiple ways to extract essential oils from a plant (steam, expression, or Super critical CO2 extraction) which will give oils different healing capabilities even from the same plant.

 

Just as different oils have different healing powers, different types are utilized in different ways.  Some are inhaled, some are applied to the skin, and some are actually taken internally.  This all depends on what kind of oil it is and what type of treatment you are looking for.  To get the proper type and the proper use, make sure you read up on your aromatherapy of choice before beginning use.

Benefits of Different Essential Oils

Essential oils are used for a myriad of health issues.  This can be anything from fighting every maladies such as stress to terminal diseases such as cancer.  The healing abilities of essential oils many not be as effective in some of the plant extracts as others, so there are no guarantees that a using the therapy that induces sleep will also relieve menopause symptoms.

 

Reduce Anxiety:

Aromatherapy seems like a natural solution to reducing anxiety (pun intended), but it also is scientifically proven one too.  The calming effect of the therapy has none of the aftereffects of pharmaceutical anxiety drugs.  Lavender, Bergamot, Clary Sage are three types of oils that deliver anxiety relief.

Boost Cognitive Abilities:

If you hear that aromatherapy can improve brain function, you may that is asking too much.  Well, you would be wrong.  In fact, studies show that the peppermint essential oils are beneficial in improving cognitive abilities while ylang-ylang was actually shown to hurt it.

Induce Sleep:

For those who are having trouble sleeping, aromatherapy is a great assistant.  Whether you bathe in it, put it under your pillow, or put some in your room, it can put you in the right place for sleeping.  The oils are not a cure for insomnia, but they will be a feast for the senses and will provide some sleep and a better experience.  A lavender bath is a great way to induce, as is lemon citrus.

Ease Depression:

The debilitating effects of depression can be addressed with aroma therapeutic oils. This should not be a substitute for seeking a mental health professional since depression is a very serious issue and is the number cause of disabilities in the United States.  However, there are a number of scents that can help someone fight depression.  There are a dozen oils that can assist in this battle than can be utilized in many ways whether it be inhaling or bathing.

Reduces Nausea and Helps with Healing:

Aromatherapy has been proven to reduce nausea from surgery, pregnancy, treatment, or motion pictures sickness.  Ginger, spearmint, and peppermint, or a blend can assist in reducing the discomfort and patient recovery.

Pain Reduction:

There are at least seven different oils that can be used for pain reduction, whether it be in the head or in the muscles.  Each of these oils can be used in a massage therapy to bring relief.

Digestion Assistance:

Stress causes many of the issues with the digestive system.  The soothing powers that make essential oils so effective at reducing stress can be used to improve digestion.

Increase Circulation:

There are multiple ways that aromatherapy helps with circulation. Some oils assist in clearing up physical issues such as varicose veins.  Others help improve the issues that cause the circulation such as stress.  Research the various oils and find the one that works for your specific situation.

Improve Energy Levels:

Many of the oils that help battle other maladies are also great at improving energy levels.  The best approach for choosing an energy focused oil is to choose one for another issue and see if it will help with energy issues as w

PMS or Menopause:

Aromatherapy can be used to fight the effects of hormonal imbalance brought on by premenstrual syndrome or menopause, as well as fighting the pain.  Clary sage, lavender and peppermint are all effective in relief.

Cancer:

Essential oils have been used in both fighting cancer and giving relief from the effects of treatments.  Cancer is a disease that needs to be fought on all fronts, so if you are looking for help in prevention or treatment, do your research on getting the right oils to assist.

What to Watch For

All medicine come with cautions, and aromatherapy is no different.   This is especially true since the oils are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.  Make sure that you get your essential oil combinations from a professional, because some chemicals that are poisonous.  Others may trigger allergies.  Those with medical conditions (including pregnancy) should use extreme caution before trying this or any alternative medicine.  Do your research before you begin your regimen.  This will allow you to find the proper treatment for you as well as save you money.

 

Article by: Katie Mills from https://vidalux.co.uk. Vidalux has extensive knowledge in everything related to steam showers, saunas and hydrotherapy benefits.

The post Benefits of Aromatherapy appeared first on Better Health Lifestyles.



from Better Health Lifestyles https://betterhealthlifestyles.com/benefits-of-aromatherapy/

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Sex and Our Senses – Aromatherapy Awakening

Sex and Our Senses: Aromatherapy Awakening

With Valentines Day approaching I thought it would be a good idea to explore the link between sexual arousal and aromatherapy. Instead of getting too scientific on you, I’m going to veer off a bit from my typical style of writing and provide you with some practical tips to apply this Valentine’s Day. I bet I can guess what you’re thinking, “what does a scientist know about sexual arousal”? Would you believe that sex neuroscience is actually quite a large field of investigation? Sex is one of those things that captivates people’s attention and brings up a lot of why questions. Believe it or not, for every why question that you have about sex, there’s likely a sex scientist who’s turned to the brain to answer that same question. In fact, as a clinical neuroscientist I’ve had the opportunity to speak on the radio, write for a few sexual health blogs, appear in magazine articles and a variety of other media formats discussing sex and the brain. So I hope I’ve convinced you that what you’re about to read is the real deal and strongly grounded in the scientific literature.

Can Aromatherapy Enhance Our Sex Life?

Let’s first start off with a couple of psychological dimensions that can interfere with human sexual arousal, then we’ll explore how my step-by-step guide to more fulfilling sex can help. Feeling anxious or depressed, experiencing changes in confidence levels, doubt, disappointment, negative body image, unrealistic expectations regarding sexual performance, and even adjustment to new living conditions can all illicit psychological stress that interferes with our arousal. Even success and positive change can be stressful and have the same impact. Luckily coping methods, like using aromatherapy, that help us regulate our stress response can also help lift some of the effects that psychological distress has on sexual desire and arousal. The end goal is to simply calm your body and mind, focus on the here and now and fully enjoy the moment.

Here are some neuroscience-guided tips that can help you do just that and have a sensual valentine’s day and more fulfilled sex life.

1. Ease the stressors in your life

by taking them as opportunities to ask your partner for support. By doing so your brain releases the neurhormone oxytocin, which plays an important role in bonding, stress regulation and even orgasms. Doing this before sex is a great way to ease your mind and allow you to focus your attention on experiencing pleasure.

2. Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques

prior to, during and after sex. Take a moment to breath and let your brain feel all of the sensations that you’re experiencing. Don’t let your mind wander beyond the here and now.

3. Openly communicate

with your partner about what does and doesn’t feel good.

4. Slow down

sex isn’t a race.

5. Stop thinking orgasm

and start thinking whole body pleasure. Explore other zones of stimulation apart from just your genitals. Experiment with different types of touch, from soft and warm embraces to being a little bit more rough and vigorous.

6. Go beyond touch and use all of your senses

by bringing taste and smell into your intimate experience.

Taste:

  • Sip a glass of red wine while your partner focuses on exploring other parts of your body. But try not to overindulge too much; while red wine has been shown to increase arousal, higher doses can interfere with orgasm.
  • Integrate dark chocolate into your play and allow the rich taste to center you in the here and now.

Smell:

this is where our favorite essential oils come into play. Turn on your essential oil diffuser and add a combination of the following oils.

  • Stimulate your sympathetic nervous system and increase alertness with jasmine essential oil.
  • Increase sexual desire with neroli essential oil.
  • Calm your cardiovascular system with ylang ylang.
  • Increase alertness, attentiveness and vigor with sandalwood.
  • Regulate your emotions and induce a sense of calmness and relaxation by using rose oil

There you have it, neuroscience guided tips for a sensual valentines day. It’s time to awaken your senses and experience pleasure beyond just the orgasm.

Contributed by:  Better Health Lifestyles.com  

The post Sex and Our Senses – Aromatherapy Awakening appeared first on Better Health Lifestyles.



from Better Health Lifestyles https://betterhealthlifestyles.com/sex-senses-aromatherapy-awakening/