Have you ever noticed that some scents seem to make you feel calmer or more energized? This is what Aromatherapy is all about. You find yourself always picking out the same scents because of the way they make you feel. That aromatic quality soothes your senses and brings you a sense of joy. What is this called? It is known as aromatherapy and it is not new to humanity. It has been used for quite some time, to help the body recover from stress, an injury or a mental disorder that was affecting the person’s daily life.

Aromatherapy is nothing new to us. It has been used for thousands of years to help heal the body and spirit. Treatment for different problems has always relied on different holistic medicine approaches. That approach is used in a body massage or body lotions and of course in essential oils for the body. Different smells are said to have different effects, such as lavender for calming and soothing.

Our sense of smell drives us to influences our behavior. Think about a freshly made pumpkin pie. Now, if that image was reinforced by the smell of a pumpkin pie, then it will probably make you hungry for a slice. Our sense of smell plays a huge part in everything we do. Aromatherapy is about using pleasing scents to change your behavior and mood. If you think about it then consider your reaction to a foul smell.

Scientists and doctors are now embracing the fact that an aromatherapist can work wonders on a person’s psychological well-being. If the body is to be relaxed and free of tension, then the mind will follow. Perhaps these discoveries will help guide mental health professionals when dealing with individuals who are Bipolar or suffer from depression.

Aromatherapy is here forever. Each time we breathe in and smell something that changes our mood or changes the body’s response to certain stimuli we are embracing the concept. Considering how long the practice has been used and how long mankind has responded to these scents. It is fairly certain that there will be continued use for a variety of treatments. Perhaps one day medical science will be able to reproduce those calming effects that lavender and vanilla have on the human body.

Massage therapy is literally one of the oldest and simplest forms of therapy in the world. It is a system that involves stroking, pressing and kneading different areas of the body in order to relieve pain and to relax and tone the body. Massage is truly a combination of science and art, and provides a relaxing experience by use of artistic hand strokes on the body. The practice of massage has its roots in the ancient Chinese, Greek, Roman, Indian and Egyptian eras.

Most people only really care about the relaxing and pleasant sensation on the skin, even though there is so much more to massage. Massage in addition to providing a form of relaxation also works on the soft muscle tissues, tendons, and ligaments of the body by improving the muscle tone. Massage helps by stimulating the blood circulation throughout the body and this assists the lymphatic system with enhancing the removal and elimination of waste in the entire body.

The Benefits

There are some really fabulous benefits that are offered by massage therapy. It is relaxing, soothing, healing, reassuring, improves breathing and circulation, and enhances one’s overall well-being.

When people feel stressed out or agitated they often opt for a massage therapy session, however others actually do it as a necessity to treat their body because of strains and other injures. The benefits today that massage therapy brings is actually quite varied and diverse, and for this massage is being considered as an important aspect in any physical rehabilitation program available.

Discovering Aromatherapy

Another form of therapy is aromatherapy, which is actually different from massage therapy but is commonly used as a combination. Aromatherapy is a form of alternative treatment which utilizes volatile liquid plant compounds popularly known as essential oils. The purpose of this type of therapy is to further enhance the soothing and relaxation effects upon a patient and for this reason it is used in conjunction with massage.

Massage therapy is really a great option for you, whether you are tense or sore, or simply want to find a way to relax or take it easy. A single massage therapy session allows your muscles and nerves to relax and feel loose for a few days, and sometimes this effect can even last weeks. If you have never experienced massage therapy before then this will be a good opportunity for you to get one and feel the relaxing benefits it gives.

When you do get a massage, you will often find that it not only gives you a lot of physical simulation and relaxation, but it allows provides great mental and emotional relief, and makes you feel enlightened and relaxed mentally. This mental relaxation will allow you to change your daily thoughts and perspective in a more positive light.

Lavender may be the most widely used of all Aromatherapy herbs. It is beautiful; growing in long purple rows that make you think of Tuscany or Provence. It’s romantic; evoking feelings of peace and well-being.

The aroma is calming and soothing, and lavender has medicinal effects in healing burns and wounds, helping digestion and improving respiratory problems. One of the most useful aromatherapy herbs, lavender is well tolerated even by people with allergies, and doesn’t cause skin irritation.

Lavender blossoms are formed into wreathes, tied into bunches or braided into wands, then dried. Used decoratively, lavender adds color and texture to a room, and the delicate scent lasts for months. Sometimes the buds are stripped from the stems and made into sachets or used in potpourri. Because it aids sleep, lavender is often sewed into pillows, sometimes called “dream pillows.”

Essential Oil

Like other aromatherapy herbs, lavender is most therapeutic as an essential oil. It has a wide range of therapeutic uses, including healing wounds and burns, headaches, lung diseases, digestive problems, aiding in sleep and helping decrease the stress response.

When purchasing essential oils, make sure the product is 100% essential oil, and not diluted. Essential oils are best when made from organically grown aromatherapy herbs, because chemical soil additives change the scent. Essential oils are rated for purity on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being most pure.

Essential oils are very concentrated and should be used sparingly. A drop or two in an oil diffuser or on a light bulb ring will scent an entire room. Essential oils can be diluted with carrier oils (such as pure rapeseed or safflower oil) to make massage or bath oil, or to add to unscented shampoos, soaps or lotions.

Cream, Lotions and Bath Products

Lavender is often added to bath products because of its calming effect. Luxurious creams and lotions are also calming and romantic. Lavender massage oil helps relax and soothe sore muscles.

Lavender is safe to use on babies because it is gentle and soothing. Lavender baby powder and lotion help cranky babies relax and sleep, and lavender diaper cream is soothing and mildly antiseptic.

Candles and Room Fragrances

Like lavender wreaths, lavender candles and room fragrances are soothing and romantic. Using lavender scent throughout your home may help relieve mild “blues,” especially during rainy weather. The scent of lavender may also help calm agitation in older people with dementia. Some people like to burn lavender candles during large gatherings, to keep tensions from building and maintain calmness and peace.

As with all aromatherapy herbs, not everyone responds to lavender the same way. Even without any medicinal effect, however, most people enjoy the soothing, romantic scent of lavender.

Learn more about Aromatherapy

Aloe Vera Juice - Drink Your Aloe Vera Juice Daily

Aloe vera juice is the liquid that comes out of the aloe vera plant when cut or squeezed. For hundreds and probably thousands of years it has been used medicinally as a soothing balm for burns, cuts and scrapes.

The gel that comes out of the aloe leaf contains 96% water and 4% of 75 known chemicals. These chemicals are anesthetic, reduce swelling and itching, and antibacterial and ant fungal. They also increase blood circulation and activate skin cells to heal.

Today it is used for the same purposes, and also many more. I love aloe vera juice for sunburn treatment, and I also find it makes a great skin moisturizer to be used after shaving or on dry patches of skin. I use it on my face just before I go to bed to help heal any sun damage done during the day.

Dermatologists that do facial surgeries use aloe vera to speed up and reduce facial or skin surface scarring.

Aloe vera can also be mixed with a few drop of jojoba oil and applied to your hair. This combination helps to keep your hair pores from plugging up.

Aloe vera juice has more recently become very popular as a drink and for use internally. By drinking aloe vera juice you can eliminate your constipation. It is a strong laxative when used in strong concentrations. You can also help your constipation when taking it in capsules. Look for aloe capsules or drinks that have other herbs to tone down its strong effect in the colon.

If you drink aloe vera juice, here are some of the benefits you can expect:

Good for blood circulation

regulates blood pressure

good for disorders of the bones and joints

benefits the immune system

defends the body against hostile organisms

provides exceptional nutritional value for health and energy

excellent for healing tissue damage inside the body

good for healing ulcers

good for controlling sugar levels in diabetics

helps to reduce itchiness in psoriasis heal

helps to make you regular and eliminate constipation.

Most of us know that aloe vera is excellent for treatment of minor cuts and scrapes, burns and also sunburn. It is used in all kinds of cosmetics. But aloe vera is more powerful for external and internal use than most believe. So always keep a small bottle of aloe vera juice and add an ounce to two to your juice drinks. Also keep a bottle of 99% pure aloe for external emergencies and of course apply it to your face just before bedtime.

Rudy Silva is a nutritional consultant that writes a week newsletter on natural remedies. If you want to stay healthy without the use of drugs and pick up a free report on eliminating constipation sign up for his newsletter at: http://www.natural-remedies-thatwork.com

aloe vera is extracted from the aloe plant and has been credited with the ability to serve a medicinal purpose. Aloe is a succulent that can be grown indoors or outdoors. Aloe vera is used in many forms for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe vera has been used for centuries as a home remedy.