The Aromatherapy Element of Holistic Treatments

This installment of the basics of holistic treatments is about aromatherapy.

In a nut shell, Aromatherapy involves the use of Essential Oils (EO's) in healing. To elaborate a bit, Essential oils are natural substances, the volatile oils that are extracted from grasses, flowers, herbs, shrubs, trees, resins, and spices. These oils contain a number of properties that affect the body on physical, psychological and/or emotional levels. They can soothe, relax, rejuvenate, heal, energize, reduce or relieve pain, act as antibiotics, antiseptics, antifungals, and/or antivirals. They work by stimulating the body to use its own healing abilities via the sense of smell.

The first step is to identify the oil or oils that will impact the ailment you are seeking to get relief from. There are currently around three hundred essential oils, however you only need seven to create a "first aide kit" that can soothe ailments from the common cold to heart palpitations, and from black eyes to sprained ankles. These much needed basics are; clove, geranium, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, rosemary, and thyme. For more details on essential oils see this previous post; http://uniquegardenessences.blogspot.com/2008/10/essentials-of-essential-oils.html or any of the several posts from October to December of 2008, where I go through the alphabet of oils, detailing their uses.

Once you have decided the oil (s) that you need to utilize, you must decide the best delivery method. Generally speaking, the oils must be either Essential oils can be absorbed through the skin, sometimes reaching the bloodstream, or inhaled through the nose, affecting the brain through the olfactory system. Know that essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin. Although technically there are a few exceptions to this rule, generally speaking, they should always be diluted in a carrier oil. Which carrier oil you use will be largely dependent upon your personal needs and tastes. Some oils are better for dry skin, some better for oily skin, and some have a longer shelf- life than others. You can read up on the differences in carrier oils here; http://uniquegardenessences.blogspot.com/2008/10/lets-get-carried-away.html

Certainly there are others that I didn't cover, just remember that experimentation is half of the fun, so try something new to you!

Pure essential oils can be added to bathes for a soothing experience, added to compresses to alleviate chronic or acute pain [chronic pain is a backache or arthritis, and acute is like a sprained ankle or headache], or diluted and used for treating body parts or even full body massages. They can be mixed in water and alcohol for a refreshing room spray, or vaporized in burners to eliminate unpleasant odors or to create an atmosphere where you can simply inhale and reap the benefits of that particular oil.

For inhalation, place 5 drops of essential oil on a tissue and sniff for five minutes. This is a fast and easy way to give yourself an inhalation treatment. You can also put a few drops on your pillow before retiring at night, or add 6 to 8 drops of essential oil to a bowl of almost boiling water, then lean toward the bowl, place a towel over your head and the bowl, and inhale for five minutes. This type of steam treatment is especially great for facials or cold and sinus ailments. For some great recipes see http://uniquegardenessences.blogspot.com/2008/06/step-two-to-facial-care-is-steam.html For massage add 15 drops of essential oil to any carrier oil, or mixture of carrier oils that you desire. Be sure to read the tips for massaging and see the recipes in this post; http://uniquegardenessences.blogspot.com/2008/09/reach-out-and-touch-someone-or-touch.html For bathing add 5 to 10 drops to warm bath water and soak for about 20 minutes. To prevent that oil ring around the tub, you can mix the essential oil in a cap full of pure liquid Castile soap or baby shampoo. You can also add 10 to 15 drops to an ounce of coconut oil and pour that into your bath. Compresses; For chronic pain such as aching joints, tired or sore muscles, backaches, earaches, etc., prepare a hot compress by diluting 4 to 6 drops of essential oil in a large bowl of almost boiling water. Dip a cotton sheet strip (about 4 inches wide) into the liquid and wrap it around, or apply it to the affected area. Repeat when the compress has cooled off. For acute pain such as headaches or sprains etc., prepare a cold compress by diluting 4 to 6 drops of essential oil in a large bowl of ice water. Dip a cotton sheet strip (about 4 inches wide) into the liquid and wrap around, or apply to, the affected area Vaporization; Add a few drops of essential oil to a light bulb ring, fragrance burner or diffuser. Dilution Rate; To be safe and effective, most aromatherapy formulas are blended at a 2 1/2% concentration rate. Although the number of drops will vary slightly with the density of the oil and the diameter of the dropper opening, you can use the following measurements as a pretty accurate base for measurements.

• 2-3 drops of essential oil per teaspoon carrier oil
• 7-8 drops of essential oil per tablespoon of carrier oil
• 15 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil
• 500 drops of essential oil per liter of carrier oil

Essential oils are quite potent and you should NEVER take them internally without being under the care of a knowledgeable, professional practitioner. And, prior to your home use of these, you really should familiarize yourself with the indications and effects of the oils. Education is the key to being safe, as some of these oils can thin blood, raise or lower blood pressure, induce seizures, and/or negatively impact fetuses, and more . You should also report any use when giving medical history so that your physician will be fully informed. You certainly would not want to have surgery while using an EO that thins blood without you Doctor knowing ahead of time. For more information on essential oil safety considerations see; http://uniquegardenessences.blogspot.com/2008/09/essentials-of-using-essential-oils.html

Once again, this type of therapy is also being used by Veterinarians to treat dogs. To use for the dog you simply place ten drops of the chosen EO into a cup of hot water, and place the cup near the dog's head while they sleep. It works better if you try to keep it warm for about one half hour, using a candle or coffee cup warmer.

The following EO's are frequently used in treating dogs;

* Peppermint for gastritis

* Rosemary for certain heart problems

* Peppermint to suppress kennel cough

* Peppermint relieves itching if your dog has mange

* Geranium and Rosemary for oancreatitis

* Many oils are used for the treatment of various emotional issues

* Eucalyptus for pneumonia. **As with any medical problem, do not attempt to diagnose or treat without seeking professional services. This is obviously a serious respiratory problem and you should consult your Veterinarian as soon as symptoms are noted.

The Sharp Points of Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion and manipulation of "filiform" needles into various points of the body for therapeutic purposes or to relieve pains. According to traditional Chinese theory, the points where the acupuncture needles are applied are situated along invisible lines on the body, called "meridians". The life's energy, also known as "qi", flows through these meridians.

The goal of acupuncture then, is to balance the energy system of the entire body. In doing so, any problems will be corrected, and symptoms will cease. Each acupuncture point specifically corresponds to a line of energy, a meridian, and each meridian is connected to specific functions of the body. Therefore, any problem in the body can be treated by applying acupuncture to the point that connects/corresponds to the area that needs treatment.

During the acupuncture treatment, endorphins are said to be released from the brain, which leads to relaxation, and even sleepiness. This treatment modality strives to re-balance the body's energy system, which not only corrects the problem being treated, but positively impacts the body's energy level. Many people report an increased energy level post treatment.

Even when symptoms of an illness are not present, acupuncture points can be checked to make sure that none are deemed deficient. If a point is found to be deficient, treatment can then be initiated in a preventative nature, to avoid the development of problems that would result from this decrease in energy.

Actually, acupuncture is even being used by Veterinarians to treat dogs with conditions such as; arthritis, spinal disorders, hip displasia, allergies, kidney problems, and others. According to Holistic Veterinarians, dogs love it. They are reported to be relaxed during treatment and to evidence signs of increased energy after treatments. They are even [purportedly] excited for their next treatment. One thing is for sure, animals do not have the capacity to exhibit a placebo effect. If they do not like something, you will know it. So, if dogs love it, why not give it a try and see what you think?

Next up, a specialty of Unique Garden Essences, one of my personal favorites, and something that I have used regularly for many years, AROMATHERAPY!

What is Holistic Medicine?

Since I create and offer all natural products, I constantly strive to educate myself about what nature has to offer and the effects/interaction(s) that those offerings have upon our mental status and other bodily systems. In becoming more "Earth based" myself, I have been studying alternative medicines and treatment modalities. Since many people are turning to these methods, and many more are curious about them, I thought that I would share some basic information with you. While this does not mean that I am encouraging you to self prescribe (please don't, these are potent treatments and should be administered by knowledgeable professionals), I do hope to encourage you to further educate yourself on the alternatives to the straight, traditional, medical model. I encourage you to open your mind to explore the possibilities!

First of all, the general term for all of these "alternative" treatment modalities is "holistic medicine", while traditional medicine is labeled as "allopathic" medicine. It is important to understand that the goal of holistic medicine is to treat the CAUSE of the problem, not just the problem itself. Most often, traditional medicine is aimed at simply treating the symptoms, never looking for or even considering the cause, the root of the problem.

Holistic physicians actually combine the knowledge and skills of regular/traditional (allopathic) medicine, with the holistic approach. To the patients benefit, this provides a broader range of healing possibilities, and it is also what makes this field of medicine so interesting and important.

Holistic medicine and treatments are more lifestyles than immediate fixes. While holistic treatments usually do cure the problem being looked at, they do tend to be at a slower rate than traditional medicine. Of course it also tends to be without the potentially harmful, synthetic drugs that traditional medicine routinely prescribes. The focus, if not key, to holistic medicine is prevention of the problem that causes the symptoms, while traditional medicine tends simply to focus on the problem at hand.

While there are many holistic treatments, the mainstays or the "basics", as I see them, are; homeopathy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage treatments, herbal treatments, nutrition and education. Of course these areas are very broad, and yes, there are many, many more that I did not mention, but I'd like to offer you an overview of these common treatment modalities. The first installment will be on "Homeopathy".