Smell Your Way to Better Health
Need to improve concentration? Increase energy? Enhance immunity? There’s a simple but effective way to do all of these things — aromatherapy. By using fragrance, you can improve both your mental and physical health, and create a pleasing atmosphere in your home or workspace at the same time.
Mind Games: Aromatherapy for Improving Memory and Mood
Scent is a powerful way to enhance mental performance and improve overall mood. The right scents can stimulate the brain, prevent drowsiness, reduce anxiety and even boost memory. There are several ways to scent your environment, including potpourri, incense, scented candles, diffuser and light bulb rings.
To reduce stress, look to the relaxing scents of lavender, bergamot, marjoram, sandalwood, lemon, chamomile and valerian. These scents have been shown to produce sedating brain wave patterns that make people feel calmer and better able to cope.
To stimulate the brain and improve memory, use basil, bay laurel, bay rum, clove, lemon, rosemary or sage. These scents increase blood flow and produce beta brain waves, which help keep people alert and improve attention. Because aromatherapy encourages you to breathe deeply, you also take in more oxygen, which is one of the best ways to improve your memory. In fact, not getting enough oxygen is one of the primary causes of memory problems, and can lead to confusion and trouble focusing.
Anxiety is a normal emotional response in stressful situations, but too much anxiety can lead to emotional and physical problems. To counteract this, use scents that restore emotional equilibrium and ease apprehension. Lavender and sandalwood increase alpha waves in the brain, encouraging relaxation. Eucalyptus, fir and pine also increase alpha waves, with the added bonus of acting as stimulants. And blood pressure, which can increase due to anxiety, can be lowered using marjoram, orange or geranium.
Fatigue and boredom can interfere with concentration, but keeping the mind stimulated can increase productivity and focus. For a boost during the day, turn to angelica, basil, benzoin, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, cypress, ginger, jasmine, peppermint, rosemary and sage. These aromas help sharpen the mind without the side effects of more common stimulants like coffee. Not only are they stimulating, they also help prevent irritability and headaches.
Heal Thyself: Aromatherapy Cures for Common Health Problems
Aromatherapy can be an effective remedy for minor health problems, and essential oils can be applied to the skin, used in the bath, inhaled, diluted in water or put in a compress. They’re also versatile, and can be used to enhance immunity and kill microorganisms.
Battling Bacteria
Bacterial infections can spread throughout the body and be passed on to other people. They are especially responsive to essential oils, because they don’t develop a resistance to them as they often do with antibiotics. The most effective bacteria-fighting oils are bay laurel, cinnamon, clove bud, garlic, oregano, savory and thyme. While these oils are the most potent, they can irritate the skin. Gentler oils include bay rum, benzoin, cardamom, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, helichrysum, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, marjoram, myrrh, myrtle, rose, sage, sandalwood, tea tree oil and vetivert.
Aromatherapy should be used in different ways depending on the kind of infection. For example, a skin infection would be best treated with an ointment or salve. But an infection in the tissue underneath the skin might respond better to a massage or body oil that could go through the skin directly to the afflicted area.
Vanquishing Viruses
Viruses are fast-multiplying and highly contagious, and include everything from the common cold to chicken pox. Because they manipulate a cell’s DNA and RNA to suit their purposes, they are difficult to treat without also harming healthy cells. The most effective antiviral essential oils are bay, bergamot, eucalyptus, garlic, geranium, hyssop (decumbens), juniper, lavender, melissa (lemon balm), lemon, oregano, rosemary, sage and tea tree. Also effective are: black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon bark, clove bud, lemongrass, marjoram, myrrh and rose.
Again, the type of aromatherapy used will depend on the type of infection. For a cold or the flu, try adding a few drops of essential oil to steaming water. Inhaling the steam will send the oils straight to the lungs to clear out infection. For skin infections and herpes, a body oil, lip balm or salve would be more effective.
A Fungus Among Us
Fungal infections like ringworm and candida spread throughout the body quickly, and are easily passed on to others as well. Several oils seem to be effective in treating them, the most powerful being basil (especially holy basil), bergamot, cinnamon, clove bud, garlic, geranium, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, oregano, peppermint, tea tree and thyme. Other effective oils are: black pepper, caraway, coriander, cumin, lavender, lemon, melissa (lemon balm), marjoram, myrrh and sandalwood.
To treat skin and nail infections caused by fungus, try a remedy containing powder or vinegar, which are drying and can inhibit fungus growth. A foot or hand bath containing a few drops of essential oils can also be effective, and thrush can be treated by swabbing the inside of the mouth with essential oils mixed into vegetable oil.
Enhancing Immunity
The body’s immune system is its most powerful weapon, protecting against intruders like infections and viruses. A compromised immune system leaves you more vulnerable to illnesses ranging from colds to lupus to cancer. With the help of essential oils, you can strengthen your immune system so your body is better able to fight off disease.
For overall strengthening of the immune system, try bay laurel, cinnamon, eucalyptus, frankincense, oregano and sage. To enhance the functioning of white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting infection and protecting against foreign substances, try bergamot, chamomile, lavender, lemon, myrrh, pine, sandalwood, tea tree, thyme and vetivert. To promote healing, turn to carrotseed, frankincense, helichrysum, lavender, rose, rose geranium and sandalwood. These oils encourage new cell growth and repair skin damage, and because they help cells regenerate, they can improve the skin’s overall appearance. Lymphatic massages are an effective way to use essential oils for immunity, because they encourage the flow of lymph and can help strengthen immune responses.
Using aromatherapy for physical and mental well-being has several advantages over conventional treatments. It is more pleasant, has fewer side effects and in many cases targets illness more specifically than prescription medication. Care should be taken with any course of treatment, however, and aromatherapy may not be appropriate for all conditions. Severe illness often requires conventional treatment, but for everyday ailments, aromatherapy is sometimes easier and more effective.
Mind Games: Aromatherapy for Improving Memory and Mood
Scent is a powerful way to enhance mental performance and improve overall mood. The right scents can stimulate the brain, prevent drowsiness, reduce anxiety and even boost memory. There are several ways to scent your environment, including potpourri, incense, scented candles, diffuser and light bulb rings.
To reduce stress, look to the relaxing scents of lavender, bergamot, marjoram, sandalwood, lemon, chamomile and valerian. These scents have been shown to produce sedating brain wave patterns that make people feel calmer and better able to cope.
To stimulate the brain and improve memory, use basil, bay laurel, bay rum, clove, lemon, rosemary or sage. These scents increase blood flow and produce beta brain waves, which help keep people alert and improve attention. Because aromatherapy encourages you to breathe deeply, you also take in more oxygen, which is one of the best ways to improve your memory. In fact, not getting enough oxygen is one of the primary causes of memory problems, and can lead to confusion and trouble focusing.
Anxiety is a normal emotional response in stressful situations, but too much anxiety can lead to emotional and physical problems. To counteract this, use scents that restore emotional equilibrium and ease apprehension. Lavender and sandalwood increase alpha waves in the brain, encouraging relaxation. Eucalyptus, fir and pine also increase alpha waves, with the added bonus of acting as stimulants. And blood pressure, which can increase due to anxiety, can be lowered using marjoram, orange or geranium.
Fatigue and boredom can interfere with concentration, but keeping the mind stimulated can increase productivity and focus. For a boost during the day, turn to angelica, basil, benzoin, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, cypress, ginger, jasmine, peppermint, rosemary and sage. These aromas help sharpen the mind without the side effects of more common stimulants like coffee. Not only are they stimulating, they also help prevent irritability and headaches.
Heal Thyself: Aromatherapy Cures for Common Health Problems
Aromatherapy can be an effective remedy for minor health problems, and essential oils can be applied to the skin, used in the bath, inhaled, diluted in water or put in a compress. They’re also versatile, and can be used to enhance immunity and kill microorganisms.
Battling Bacteria
Bacterial infections can spread throughout the body and be passed on to other people. They are especially responsive to essential oils, because they don’t develop a resistance to them as they often do with antibiotics. The most effective bacteria-fighting oils are bay laurel, cinnamon, clove bud, garlic, oregano, savory and thyme. While these oils are the most potent, they can irritate the skin. Gentler oils include bay rum, benzoin, cardamom, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, helichrysum, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, marjoram, myrrh, myrtle, rose, sage, sandalwood, tea tree oil and vetivert.
Aromatherapy should be used in different ways depending on the kind of infection. For example, a skin infection would be best treated with an ointment or salve. But an infection in the tissue underneath the skin might respond better to a massage or body oil that could go through the skin directly to the afflicted area.
Vanquishing Viruses
Viruses are fast-multiplying and highly contagious, and include everything from the common cold to chicken pox. Because they manipulate a cell’s DNA and RNA to suit their purposes, they are difficult to treat without also harming healthy cells. The most effective antiviral essential oils are bay, bergamot, eucalyptus, garlic, geranium, hyssop (decumbens), juniper, lavender, melissa (lemon balm), lemon, oregano, rosemary, sage and tea tree. Also effective are: black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon bark, clove bud, lemongrass, marjoram, myrrh and rose.
Again, the type of aromatherapy used will depend on the type of infection. For a cold or the flu, try adding a few drops of essential oil to steaming water. Inhaling the steam will send the oils straight to the lungs to clear out infection. For skin infections and herpes, a body oil, lip balm or salve would be more effective.
A Fungus Among Us
Fungal infections like ringworm and candida spread throughout the body quickly, and are easily passed on to others as well. Several oils seem to be effective in treating them, the most powerful being basil (especially holy basil), bergamot, cinnamon, clove bud, garlic, geranium, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, oregano, peppermint, tea tree and thyme. Other effective oils are: black pepper, caraway, coriander, cumin, lavender, lemon, melissa (lemon balm), marjoram, myrrh and sandalwood.
To treat skin and nail infections caused by fungus, try a remedy containing powder or vinegar, which are drying and can inhibit fungus growth. A foot or hand bath containing a few drops of essential oils can also be effective, and thrush can be treated by swabbing the inside of the mouth with essential oils mixed into vegetable oil.
Enhancing Immunity
The body’s immune system is its most powerful weapon, protecting against intruders like infections and viruses. A compromised immune system leaves you more vulnerable to illnesses ranging from colds to lupus to cancer. With the help of essential oils, you can strengthen your immune system so your body is better able to fight off disease.
For overall strengthening of the immune system, try bay laurel, cinnamon, eucalyptus, frankincense, oregano and sage. To enhance the functioning of white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting infection and protecting against foreign substances, try bergamot, chamomile, lavender, lemon, myrrh, pine, sandalwood, tea tree, thyme and vetivert. To promote healing, turn to carrotseed, frankincense, helichrysum, lavender, rose, rose geranium and sandalwood. These oils encourage new cell growth and repair skin damage, and because they help cells regenerate, they can improve the skin’s overall appearance. Lymphatic massages are an effective way to use essential oils for immunity, because they encourage the flow of lymph and can help strengthen immune responses.
Using aromatherapy for physical and mental well-being has several advantages over conventional treatments. It is more pleasant, has fewer side effects and in many cases targets illness more specifically than prescription medication. Care should be taken with any course of treatment, however, and aromatherapy may not be appropriate for all conditions. Severe illness often requires conventional treatment, but for everyday ailments, aromatherapy is sometimes easier and more effective.
