Frusi News - Eire / English

Aromatherapy is a great way to relax, unwind and lift your spirits. It can also be used as an effective treatment for skin conditions, digestive complaints, emotional feelings of stress, anxiety or depression, or just to create a sensual mood.So how can you get experience the benefits of home aromatherapy, which oils should you use, and how?

What are essential oils?

Pure essential oils are naturally organic and come from the essence of fruit, flowers, leaves, twigs, bark, or root. They are extremely concentrated and will usually be diluted before use in aromatherapy, especially when used on the skin. Most scented aromatherapy massage oils are only around 2 or 3% oil, blended with a base or carrier oil.
 

How to use them for home aromatherapy

There are lots of ways to use essential oils; whether it’s to relax, to create a mood, or to treat a specific ailment. It’s easy to get started at home with a few basic oils which can be used in a variety of ways, the four main ways are:

In a bath - a few drops mixed with a carrier oil and used as you would bath oil, or put about 10-12 drops directly into the water

For massage - either using a pre-mixed massage oil, or by adding a few drops of essential oil to a base or carrier oil

On the skin - you can mix essential oils with a base oil to treat specific conditions such as dry skin, or even cellulite, or add a few drops to fragrance or lanolin free lotion or cream. You shouldn’t apply pure oils directly to the skin.

In the air - this could be aromatherapy candles, a few drops of essential oil on a burner, in a humidifier or vaporiser to create a calming atmosphere, or add a few drops to a bowl of hot water and inhale the steam to relieve a cold. You could even mix a few drops into a spray water bottle to create a room or linen spray.

Getting started - some easy to find oils and what to use them for
We’ve put together a list of some of the more commonly available, and versatile oils, along with what they can be used for. Two good ones to start with are lavender and chamomile, which together are great for relaxing and helping you get a good night’s sleep. But which oils you choose, should depend on your mood and what you want to treat, if you’re using them on your skin.

Chamomile - gentle herbal, fruity aroma - calming and soothing oil used for stress relief, muscle aches, irritated skin, digestive complaints, headaches, acne, feelings of depression and anxiety
Neroli - sweet, floral, refreshing aroma - for stress, feelings of depression, relaxing the mind and soothing the nervous system, also good for treating digestive complaints, headaches, insomnia and dry, sensitive skin
Bergamot - sweet, spicy aroma - antidepressant used to refresh and uplift, also good for oily, acne prone and dry skin conditions, sinus related problems
Geranium - sweet, floral, earthy aroma - used for calming, comforting and healing, effective when used to treat eczema, PMS, fluid retention and poor circulation
Lavender - distinct, floral, sweet, woody aroma - calming and therapeutic, with antiseptic, anti-depressant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities it can be used to treat a range of symptoms and conditions including: colds and flu, sinusitis, headaches, muscular aches and pains, acne, PMS, sunburn, eczema, wounds and sores - a true wonder oil
Frankincense - rich, sweet, warm aroma - relaxing and uplifting, helps create an inner peace while soothing respiratory conditions and relieving pain associated with rheumatism and muscular aches, also good for anti-ageing qualities, colds and healing wounds
Orange - sweet, zesty aroma - creates feelings of warmth and happiness, calming for digestive conditions, helps cold and flu and eliminates toxins, also good for treating cellulite, muscular aches and pains, insomnia and dry, sensitive or ageing skin
Peppermint - strong, fresh, menthol aroma - refreshing and stimulating, can be used to ease respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis, as well as treating nausea, colds, flu and sinusitis, headaches, digestive complaints including irritable bowel, indigestion and colic, effective insect repellent, muscle and joint pain reliever
Clary sage - sweet, spicy, herbal aroma - known to ease depression, exhaustion and respiratory conditions, good for cleansing congested complexions, and effective for asthma, digestive complaints, to ease muscle cramps and PMS
Grapefruit - zingy, fresh aroma - to uplift and energise, great in an aromatherapy shower gel to get you wide awake and refreshed at the start of the day, also good for the digestive system, anxiety, depression and water retention
Lemon - fresh, sharp, refreshing aroma - used to simulate and refresh the senses as well as treating cellulite, circulatory conditions, insect bites, headaches (including migraine) and varicose veins
Patchouli - sweet, spicy, woody aroma - a gentle, relaxing effect, can be used to ease feelings of anxiety, depression and symptoms of PMS, also known to increase libido. Has excellent healing properties for things like eczema and scar tissue, and chapped skin

As with all alternative therapies, it’s wise to seek advice before use, many of the places you can buy these oils, like health stores and specialist shop will be able to advise you. If you’re pregnant, you should seek advice before using essential oils.

Acupuncture is increasingly used around the world to treat various conditions, including stress, anxiety, infections and even grief. Gwyneth Paltrow has said that acupuncture helped her to cope with her father’s death, and Kate Winslet received acupuncture treatment during the birth of her child.

So what exactly is acupuncture and how does it work?

According to traditional Chinese philosophy dating back thousands of years, our health is dependent on the body’s motivating energy - known as qi - moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of channels beneath the skin.

By inserting fine needles into these channels of energy, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body’s own healing response and help to restore its natural balance. The overall effect is a refreshing and energising lift.

Have you tried it? If so, tell us all about it.