Stress can have a truly negative effect on our health. Modern medicine has not found a safe way to create a stress free situation in our lives. This can be where looking into alternative medicine can be the answer.

Aromatherapy has used a variety of essential oils throughout history to decrease a patients stress. These methods are completely safe and without side effects, as long as the patient does not have a allergy to the particular component used.

Lavender is probably the most popular essential oil to help with stress. It has a long track record of being safe and totally effective. Most also find that it not only reduces their stress, but it also elevates their mood.

Rosemary and sandalwood are also other popular choices. These two have a particularly pleasant aroma so are good for adding an overall scent scheme to a room without overpowering it.

There are a few other materials that are well known for their stress relieving properties. Many of these are usually used in what is called a “blend.” Blends are mixes of essential oils that have similar properties. It is thought that these effects are cumulative in nature, therefore you can get all of the benefits of each in a truly potent blend.

These other materials include: geranium, palma rosa, juniper, frankincense, cypress, basil, chamomile, ylang ylang, bergamot, and geranium jasmine. Using lavender or rosemary as a base and then adding a few of these materials can make a quick and easy method of stress relief aromatherapy.

These mixes should be used in what is known as a “carrier oil.” These are base oils such as Almond oil. These will act to make the scents less intense, while allowing you to stretch the amount of money that is spent on the aromatic materials. Essential oils are so potent that it would be hard to sprinkle a few drops around without overwhelming oneself with the scents.

There are a numerous ways to experience these aromatherapy essential oils. The most popular is to use a diffuser. A diffuser is filled with water and a few drops of whatever essential oils you choose. When plugged in, it will infuse the air around the room with the scent. This is the most efficient use of the material, and most models allow you to set a timer so it can be used to fall asleep.

The oils can also just be sprinkled around the house. Lavender is a very traditional material to sprinkle on a pillow. It not only helps with stress relief, but it can also help with falling to sleep naturally. Aromatherapy oils can also be dropped directly in a hot bath. The steam will help disperse it around the room.

It’s very important to test a few different blends to find out which is the most effective for your personal situation. Stress is not something that can be cured. It is something that has to be managed, and using aromatherapy techniques can help in that process.

Are you the type that reaches for the salt shaker before even tasting the food? What’s the point in sitting down to a healthy meal and then drowning it in salt? Wouldn’t you rather taste the food rather than the salt? Cooking with essential oils and herbs is a much healthier and tastier way to prepare food.

Unless you’re under doctor’s orders to restrict sodium, you probably don’t worry about sodium in your diet. The biggest benefit of eating whole foods is that you control the ingredients. By it’s nature, processed food has had the taste processed out and food manufacturers compensate by adding copious amounts of sodium. So, even without adding sodium to your plate, your diet is probably already exceeding the normal limits of what the FDA recommends for salt intake.

While sodium is the flavor enhancer of choice for most households, many canned, processed, and even frozen foods are already full of this ingredient. In fact, a single fast food meal can supply more than twice your daily limit of sodium.

The biggest offenders for over-delivering on sodium are cheese, bacon, and soy sauce. Instead of infusing these ingredients, spice up your dish with ginger, rice vinegar, or lime juice.

Some foods mask their sodium content so that you don’t even know it’s in there. A Java Chip Frappuccino from Starbucks packs in 300 mg of sodium. Baked cookies, doughnuts, and bread can contain baking soda, which houses 1,259 mg of sodium per teaspoon.

Instead of regular iodized salt, try substituting sea salt. Unlike regular table salt, sea salt comes in chunks. It’s grainy and adds texture to food. Sea salt also has a stronger flavor than regular table salt so you do need to use as much of it. Sea salt works especially well for meats, fish, stews, and marinades. If you buy sea salt in grinders, you can control its coarseness.

This overdosing on salt leads to over 150,000 deaths each year, so it’s vital that you shake your sodium habit and learn to infuse flavor without risking your health. One way to add flavor without the negative side effects of salt, is to use herbs and essential oils to deliver taste.

Essential oils are powerful substances that have to be used with care. Any time you’re cooking with them, you should start with a 1 percent dilution which is equivalent to six drops of essential oil in one ounce of carrier oil such as olive oil. From there, you can adjust the dilution one or two drops for taste.

Other popular herbs for cooking are garlic, dill, basil, and parsley which also allow you to pull out the flavor of the food without having to rely on sodium to do the job for you.

When using essential oils in cooking, ONLY USE FOOD GRADE essential oils. Please carefully read all labeling before use. Essential oils should not be taken internally or placed on the skin directly without dilution, unless clearly designated as Food Grade. If non-food grade oils are improperly ingested, please contact a physician or visit your nearest emergency room immediately.

Chicken Grilled with Herbes de Provençe
Serving Size: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, about 6 ounces each
• 2 tablespoons good quality fruity olive oil
• 5 drops culinary grade lavender essential oil
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried herbes de provençe

Instructions:

Rinse chicken breasts with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Set aside. Stir together olive oil with lavender food grade essential oil. Reserve two teaspoons of the lavender olive oil in a small bowl.

Brush chicken breasts with lavender olive oil. Season both sides with salt, pepper and herbes de provençe. Grill over direct high heat or in a grill pan over high heat for three to four minutes per side. Remove chicken to serving platter and use a clean pastry brush to dab reserved lavender olive oil on chicken breasts. Garnish with fresh herbs, if desired.

Herbs de Provence

• 4 teaspoons dried thyme
• 3 teaspoons dried savory
• 2 teaspoons dried marjoram
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon dried lavender flowers
• 1 dried bay leaf, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed

Instructions:

Crush or grind herbs together. Store in an air-tight container for up to three months.

Aromatherapy, when used to reduce pain, is usually applied directly to the affected area in conjunction with the benefits that come from breathing in the oil particles. Throughout time aromatherapists have been using these methods to help patients with their pain related problems.
These methods are meant to help a variety of ailments from minor discomfort all the way up to major injuries.

Massage therapists often will use aromatherapy in their practice. The two go hand in hand, as the act of massage can also help ease a variety of pains. Essential oils are added into a base oil meant for massage. Full strength essential oils are often too potent to be applied directly to the skin without being diluted first in this way.

Lavender is truly one of the powerhouses in the aromatherapy world. Not only is it well known for its sedative effect, it also acts as an antiseptic because of the antimicrobial properties it has. Lavender has been long used for the treatment of wounds for this reason.

It has been shown to be very effective during massage for the treatment of sprains, cramps, muscle strains, and nerve related damage. Because it also helps a patient to relax, it is also a great way to soothe muscle related ailments.

Chamomile works as an anti inflammatory, which makes it perfect to ease post injury inflammation. This will ease pain, and also help in healing because of increased blood flow to the area. It has also been shown to ease head ache, mild muscle pulls, and lower back pain in patients.

When a patient is suffering from muscle stiffness, ache, or arthritis then a aromatherapy specialist will often have them use a mix including Vetiver. Vetiver not only can help with pain, but it will also help to increase circulation to the affected areas.

For direct trauma Helichrysum is the preferred method of treatment. The essential oil of this plant has been used for centuries as a first line of defense in treating pain related to bruises, burns, and scrapes.

Oftentimes aromatherapists will create a tincture using a variety of substances that are meant to work in tandem with each other. A good aromatic massage therapist will work closely with a patient in order to figure out the best method of treatment for their specific ailment. If self healing, it is a good idea to research the various oils to see which will be the best fit for the condition that is trying to be treated.

The main benefit of using aromatherapy to reduce pain is the safety of the method. Even the most mild over the counter medications can be harsh on the well being of the human body. These techniques can often be a much more holistic method of healing.

Many people are dismissive of aromatherapy as an alternative health method. They think aromatherapy is simply taking a whiff of some scented oil and miraculously being healed of an illness. Well, aromatherapy is much more than that. There is a large body of science behind it that says so.

Herbs contain chemicals that make them effective as medicine. Their curative powers also extend to their fragrance. If you think about it, disease and stench are associated with each other. Ever since the Black Plague of the middles ages, certain physical conditions are associated with particular smells. Death, the most obvious example, has its own distinctive smell; however, many diseases have a distinctive smell associated with them.

In modern times, preliminary studies show dogs can smell cancerous cells on the human body before they can be detected by laboratory tests. Smell, or scent, is a powerful indicator of health or disease. We’ve all met someone with chronic halitosis bad breath. Despite good oral hygiene, some people can’t seem to rid themselves of bad breath. That’s because an underlying medical problem is the root cause.

Medical science is not 100 percent sure about how the immune system and central nervous system work. It is known that certain smells activate the central nervous system and trigger a response in the immune system. People who practice aromatherapy believe it is possible to teach the body to release endorphins or activate an immune response by sniffing specific scents. Aromatherapy involves infusing scents via essential oils into commonly used products not just smelling them. The essences are obtained from various botanicals herbs, plants, flowers—such as basil, ginger, lemongrass, rosemary, or bergamot to name a few.

There are three ways essential oils enter the body—applied to the skin, inhaled, or ingested. For example, a cream made with black pepper and ginger could be applied to the skin for arthritis. Eucalyptus essential oil may be placed in a diffuser and used for a cough, or peppermint may be used for nausea.

In the U.S. it is not common practice to ingest essential oils; however, in some countries such as France, ingesting essential oils is common. This is something that should be done under professional guidance as essential oils can be toxic to the liver or kidneys when ingested.

The essential oil you choose will depend on what you’re trying to achieve. A good place to start is to get a good book about aromatherapy. It will teach you the various formulas that match your needs, how to dilute essential oils, and how to choose a carrier oil that’s the oil that will go on your body. Don’t experiment without knowing the effects of the oils. Done correctly, aromatherapy is a valid and wonderful alternative health therapy.

Using the essential oils of plants — aromatherapy — is an alternative form of medicine that helps improve a person’s mood, cognitive functions, or health. Don’t equate aromatherapy with a feel good placebo. Essential oils are very strong and are usually diluted with a carrier oil like almond oil or jojoba oil that has no strong fragrance its their own.

Jojoba oil is considered to be the most stable for long-term storage. Stored properly, essential oils should last between six months and two years. Lids should always be tightly capped and oils should be stored in amber bottles, away from light and heat.

Be aware that jojoba oil, itself, is also regarded as an essential oil. So, when you are choosing essential oils, ask for a sample and choose the brands that have the strongest scent. These oils are usually the least diluted. Food grade oils are usually of very high quality.

If you are using high quality essential oils that are not as diluted, you will not need to use as many drops of the oil as some aromatherapy recipes suggest. Quality is less important depending on what you plan to use the essential oil for. For example, if you are only making a massage oil, the quality of the oil is less important than it would be if you are using an oil internally.

Inhalation is the simplest method of using essential oils. Different types of diffusers are available, such as light rings and potpourri pots. Use as a mist by adding ten drops of essential oil to one cup of distilled water, pour into a mist spray dispenser to spritz into the air or onto your linens.

For relaxation, add ten drops of your favorite fragrance to a warm water bath. Blend six drops of an essential oil with two ounces of jojoba oil and massage into your hair, leave on for 20 minutes and shampoo as a treatment for dry hair. Blend six drops of essential oil with olive oil or almond oil for a relaxing massage.

Here are some of the best known essential oils and their uses:

Lavender
Lavender oil is gentle enough for children. It is a relaxing sleep aid and a natural antiseptic. To soothe a cranky baby, put a drop of lavender oil on a soft cloth or blanket and place the baby, tummy down, near enough to inhale the relaxing aroma of the oil.

Ease headaches with one drop of lavender, peppermint and rosemary oil. Drop the oils in the palm of your hand and apply to the temples and base of the skull.

Peppermint Oil
For stomach ache, place one drop of peppermint oil and rub into your gums to sweeten your breath and aid digestion. Place one drop of peppermint oil at the bottom of the rib cage, and massage the oil directly into this a spot for quick relief of stomach ache and indigestion. Add five drops of Peppermint oil to each gallon of water to use for a refreshing foot soak.

Keep a small bottle handy to breathe easier and to decrease your appetite. Put a few drops on your forehead when you feel congested or put some on a tissue and inhale the aroma to increase respiration and relieve headaches. Place a drop of oil on your tongue or inhale peppermint oil to ward off hunger pangs.

Purchase “food grade” peppermint oil. Be cautious about getting this oil too near your eyes. Even the fumes can cause problems for sensitive people.

Angelica Oil
Angelica offers emotional and physical strength. When struck by heat exhaustion or anxiety place a drop of angelica in the palm of your hand holding it near your nose and breath deeply. Angelica is an excellent sedative, having a soothing effect on the adrenal glands. Blend five drops of Angelica into one ounce of a carrier oil and use for a relaxing massage.

Jasmine Oil
Jasmine is considered a sensual oil. It is a relaxing anti-depressant which helps to relieve tension, anxiety, depression or fear and promotes confidence making it an excellent choice for a relaxing massage oil.

Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a strong antiviral and anti-fungal that is used in everything from toothpaste to dandruff shampoo. It works wonders on athlete’s foot, but must used sparingly because of its ability to dry the skin. Add few drops to a cotton ball and dab affected area daily. Tea tree oil is excellent for the treatment of acne. Lightly dab a few drops of tea tree oil on each blemish.

For removal of a tick on a person or a pet, place one or two drops of tea tree oil on a Q-tip, dab it on the tick and it will back out allowing it to be easily removed. Use a drop of tea tree oil on the area where the tick was located for an additional disinfectant.

Using essential oils is generally safe, but there are some oils that should not be used by pregnant women. Avoid using essential oils on newborns. Some essential oils are not safe to be consumed. So, take care and always do your own research on essential oils that interest you.