Stressed?
Smell Your Cares Away
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by Livia Mercer
Who of us can say that we have no pressures in life? In our
hectic society it is not uncommon to feel stress, anxiety,
headaches, mental fatigue and insomnia. In fact these symptoms
are so common that many of us just learn to live with them,
hoping that if we ignore them long enough, one day they will
just disappear. Not so.
Research shows that not only will they not disappear but they
can lead to much more serious problems including ulcers, heart
attacks and clinical depression. So it would make sense to
devote a little time regularly to de-stress.Granted, not all
of us have the time or the budget to regularly indulge in
the "Day Spa" experience, but we all have a few minutes a
day and a few dollars to invest in a basic aromatherapy oil
kit.
Aromatherapy oils have been shown to have calming, relaxing,
uplifting and restorative effects on the body. There are a
few ways you can use them depending on your moods. You can
mix a few drops of oil in an oil burner or mix five drops
of three different oils in a tablespoon of carrier oil and
put it in your bathwater or five drops of three oils in two
tablespoons of carrier oil to massage into you body.
How do you choose the oils to use?
Well there are a few basic rules but mainly, go with what
you like. Generally the smells you are attracted to are the
ones good for you. (I haven't found chocolate essential oils
yet. Sorry girls) Generally the softer the smell of the oil,
the more relaxing it is. The sharper the smell the more invigorating
it is. So to help you relax you would choose soft, earthy
herbal oils. Some of these are: Geranium, lavender, neroli,
sandalwood, chamomile, rose, patchouli, jasmine, rosewood,
cedarwood and ylang-ylang.
Some of the uplifting oils are: basil, bergamot, cypress,
rosemary, sage, lemongrass, orange, lemon, mandarin, grapefruit,
peppermint and spearmint. I have collected a few of my favourite
recipes for you to try.
But feel free to experiment and create your own favourites.
There are no wrong formulations.
For headaches: 3 drops lavender 3 drops geranium 3
drops sandalwood
For insomnia: 3 drops chamomile 3 drops cedarwood 3
drops ylang-ylang
For mental fatigue: 3 drops basil 3 drops neroli 3
drops sandalwood
John Gerard wrote: "The smell of basil is good for the heart
and for the head, that the seede cureth the infirmities of
the heart, taketh away sorrowfulness which cometh of melancholy,
and maketh a man merry and glad."
For peace of mind: 3 drops jasmine 3 drops orange 3
drops sandalwood
For happiness: 3 drops ylang-ylang 3 drops clary sage
2 drops lemon 1 drop lavender
For warmth: 3 drops lavender 3 drops orange 3 drops
cinnamon
For enthusiasm: 3 drops lemon 3 drops grapefruit 3
drops mandarin 3 drops ylang-ylang
For renewed energy: 3 drops jasmine 3 drops lemon 3
drops bergamot
For sweet thoughts: 3 drops grapefruit 2 drops sandalwood
2 drops jasmine 2 drops cinnamon
For inspiration: 3 drop bergamot 3 drops sandalwood
2 drops grapefruit 1 drop jasmine
Have a great time experimenting. Just one drop can make a
difference in the smell of the oil blend, so go ahead and
create your own signature scent.
© 2006-2007 Livia Mercer - The Beauty Review Online Magazine
About the Author:
Livia Mercer is the creator of The Beauty Review. A FREE monthly
online magazine for women who love beauty and cosmetics and
want REAL product reviews by REAL women. For a free, subscription,
visit: http://www.thebeautyreview.com.au
Keywords: aromatherapy,stress,beauty,oil,tips
NOTE:
You're welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as
it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the
author" info at the end), and you send a copy of your reprint
to livia@thebeautyreview.com.au
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