Make My Hair Grow!

08 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy, Beauty & skincare

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , ,

 

Make My Hair Grow!

Essential oils are good for promoting hair growth. Photo by Girls Hair

Noticing more hair than usual disappearing down the plug hole when you shampoo and condition?  Cleaning a  scary amount off your hairbrush every day?

Central heating,  harsh hair colourants, styling products containing synthetic chemicals, falling levels of oestrogen, a sluggish thyroid, stress and genetics are some of the things that can affect hair growth and loss.  Luckily, some essential oils are known to promote hair growth and, when used regularly, can improve the quality of your luscious  locks.

Continue reading »

Essential Oils For Muscular Aches and Pains

07 Tuesday Dec 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , ,

Essential oil of juniper clears "waste" from body and mind, good for muscular aches and pains. Photographer unknown; 1961

An ache or pain in the top of your shoulder or lower back can be debilitating over a couple of days, but there’s a sure fire way of alleviating this discomfort without suffering any longer.

There are some very effective pain relieving essential oils which, when combined with a carrier oil or used in the bath, make an effective home remedy that you can administer yourself at home.

Essential oils can can be stimulating or sedative  in their effect on your body and mind, so when making a massage blend or bath, you can consider whether you’re about to head out for a 12 hour day or going to bed for a restorative nights sleep.

Continue reading »

If You Wouldn’t Eat It, Don’t Put It On Your Skin

29 Monday Nov 2010

Posted by in Beauty & skincare

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , ,

 

If you can't eat it, don't put it on your skin. Photo by Seier+Seier

The more I learn about our skin and its ability to absorb everything we put on it, the more crazy it seems to use products that we would never dream of eating.  It’s prudent to check the ingredients of the products you use, consider buying certified organic and, one step better, to use natural products you can find in your kitchen at home.

Continue reading »

The Reflection Principle

25 Thursday Nov 2010

Posted by in Mind

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

,

 

The Reflection Principle - Photo by D.C Atty

Whatever you see in other people, you have within yourself.  It’s called the reflection principle and is explained best by Dr John Demartini:

“You have inside you everything you see around you.  If you see someone who has a great mind, then you have it….The second you start to acknowledge it and start recognising the form it’s in, it starts to surface and come out of the buried treasure into the captured treasure.”

It may be in a different area – within your role in the family, within your role at work, within the sport you play..but it’s there and you just need to dig for it.  Once you identify it, your confidence will grow and you’ll start to recognise it more often and even on a daily basis.  Think about anyone you admire and discover where inside yourself you have their amazing traits inside you.

Continue reading »

The brain is the organ of love

18 Saturday Sep 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , ,

The brain is the heart of love - photo by eyehook

According to Helen Fischer, the brain is at the heart of love.  In her interview with John Cookson The brain of love for the Big Think, she says that there are three components to love:

  1. the craving for sexual gratification
  2. romantic love
  3. attachment and companionship

These different aspects of love can interlink or exist independently but one thing she is sure of is that they are all without doubt part of the chemistry and architecture of the brain.

From a chemical perspective, when one of the above aspects of love are ignited, the brain will release dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin.  Each encounter registers on the specific neural network that leads to love and this is why Fischer says there is no such thing as casual, or rather no-chemicals-attached sex, since any sexual stimulus might lead to the right combination of neuro-chemicals that result in love.

Continue reading »

Aromatherapy Tips for Beautiful Skin

14 Tuesday Sep 2010

Posted by in Beauty & skincare

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Aromatherapy Tips for Beautiful Skin

Regardless of your skin type or condition, there is an aromatherapy skin care solution perfectly suite to created the most gorgeous glowing skin you may never have thought possible.  Follow these aromatherapy tips for beautiful skin:

  • Essential oils are highly antiseptic, stimulate the growth of new cells while removing old ones, improve muscle tone and blood flow, help eliminate waste, reduce inflammation, regulate sebum production and reduce the impact of emotional stress.
  • Hydrosols, the distillate produced as a result of steam distillation during the extraction of some essential oils, are as therapeutic as the essential oil they are derived from as well as being nourishing, hydrating and soothing.
  • Carrier oils made from seeds and vegetables are softening, protecting, prevent moisture evaporating and supply the skin with essential fatty acids and vitamins with specific healing properties.

Aromatherapy skin care creates beautiful skin

Combining the above in your daily skin care routine will enable your skin to flourish.  Your skin type determines which essential oils, hydrosols and carriers oils you’ll use on a daily basis.  Follow these tips for beautiful skin bespoke for your skin type:

Continue reading »

Get rid of cellulite with some aromatic oils

01 Wednesday Sep 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy, Beauty & skincare

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Essential oils such as lemon can help get rid of cellulite - photo by André Karwath

Cellulite bothers us more than any other skin condition.  We hate it and spend millions trying to get rid of it.  While some experts says it is impossible to get rid of it, with some dedicated lifestyle & dietary changes and some TLC, it is possible to minimize the signs of that orange peel effect. Essential oil that are detoxifying, stimulating to the lymphatic system, hormone balancing and which have diuretic properties can be very effective.

What is cellulite?

Cellulite is basically toxic fat that appears on our body as puckered bits of flesh like orange peel.  Fat cells love toxins and chemicals so they hide them away in places like our thighs and arms to protect our vital organs from them – it’s our body’s way of protecting itself and preventing self poisoning.

Continue reading »

Cure a hangover with fennel and juniper

23 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy, Health

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

Shower with fennel and juniper to cure a hangover. Photo by Ordinary Guy

If you’re suffering from a hangover, help is at hand with a couple of well chosen essential oils combined with either a hot shower or a simple inhalation. Try inhaling or showering with essential oils of fennel and juniper to cure a hangover.

Essential oils of fennel and juniper make a great hangover cure

The sweet and earthy smell of Fennel packs a punch with it’s peppery, spicey undertones. It is an effective lymphatic decongestant and excellent at eliminating toxins from the body.  It also gives you strength and stamina to face the day. An absolute essential for any hangover cure.

Juniper Juniperis communis is a fantastic all over body stimulant, that gets all process moving in the right direction!  It is a superb detoxifier, helping to clear waste from the mind and body.  Really great for that depressed morning after feeling as the fresh, warm and woody aroma uplifts the spirits and refreshes all parts that other hangover cures just cannot reach.

Continue reading »

Aromatherapy is effective for menopausal symptoms

23 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy, Health

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

 

Essential oils like geranium help relieve menopausal symptoms - Photo from Wikimedia Commons

A confusing and emotional time characterised by a zillion unfamiliar symptoms can make your favourite loved one quite difficult to be around.

Whether it’s your mother, partner, sister or friend, you’ll want to be a strong support for them during a time of dramatic change – which they experience as PMT times 1,000 – called the menopause with symptoms actually starting about 10-15 years prior to what most people consider “true” menopause.

Continue reading »

Essential Oils for an Under-Active Thyroid

20 Friday Aug 2010

Posted by in Health

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Essential oils like grapefruit effective for under-active thyroid. Photo by Liz West

Chances are you or someone you know suffers the inconvenience of  an under active thyroid.  A hugely important gland in our body, the thyroid affects every cell in the body excepting only a few (the adult brain, spleen, testes and uterus).

When we have thyroid problems, the symptoms can be acute and debilitating.  Alternative remedies such as essential oils can be very effective thyroid treatments.  Black pepper, grapefruit, coriander, thyme and geranium are all fantastic for the body and the mind.

Continue reading »

Getting rid of a plantar wart with essential oils

16 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy, Health

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,

 

Essential

Essential oils like thyme are effective in getting rid of a plantar wart. Photo by Donavan govan

Have you tried an over the counter salicylic acid treatment, cryotherapy (freezing) and other remedies like duct tape and still no luck?  Getting rid of a plantar wart is not always easy and can take time.  If all else has failed, you might like to consider an alternative.

It might be time to bring in the big guns: Lemon, Tea Tree and Thyme essential oils.

Continue reading »

Essential Oils for Baby Rash

10 Tuesday Aug 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy, Health

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

 

Essential oils for baby rash. Photo by Paul Sapiano

Any skin condition on your baby is a tough one.  The mystery of the cause and the degree of discomfort it might be causing is unknown to you because baby can’t tell you how they feel.  Essential oils of lavender and roman chamomile can be used on baby rash for babies over 6 months in a very low dilution to gently and effectively treat any irritation.

The first step is to go to your doctor for a proper diagnosis.  Once you’ve done this you are in a better position to research both the causes and try alternatives to relieve the symptoms.  Even if the doctor can’t figure out what it is, there are a number of proactive measures you can take to determine and remove the cause:

Continue reading »

Benefits of nuts for health and skincare

08 Sunday Aug 2010

Posted by in Beauty & skincare

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , ,

 

Benefits of nuts for health and skin care. Photo by Sanjay Acharya.

One of nature’s richest anti-ageing foods, they are packed with protein, omega 3 and 6, Vit E, calcium and magnesium which are great for our health.   They also contain lipase which could be a key enzyme for weight loss, especially if they have been “soaked” first in order to release their enzyme activity.

They are also beneficial in our skincare in the form of “carrier oils” widely used in aromatherapy and the skin care industry.  The vitamins, minerals and other nutrients they are packed with are nourishing, softening, healing and regenerating for our skin.

Continue reading »

The law of manifestation

04 Wednesday Aug 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy, Mind

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

 

The law of manifestation. Photo by Deb Roby

Have you ever imagined how you’d like your life to be?  If you haven’t it’s time to have a go at picturing exactly how you’d like your life to be, because that’s the first step to manifesting it.  This is the law of manifestation.

Know what you would love in life and pursue it.  People who are focused on their life’s mission draw opportunities.  Their certainty of who they are and where they’re going acts as a drawing card for others to align and assist.  People love to be around others who are purposeful – John D. Martini

Continue reading »

Managing change with elegance and style

01 Sunday Aug 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

 

Manage change with elegance and style. Photo by Thephotographmuse

You may have found yourself in a situation in which you are completely aware that it is not right for you, but perhaps the solution to rectifying it is not so clear.  If you have trouble sleeping, feel your heart beating at an alarming rate and start to see someone different looking back at you in the mirror, it’s time to put that best foot forward and head in a different direction.

The decision to do that, in itself, is an empowering thought and, thereafter, you might find that your heart continues to beat for different reasons: excitement and trepidation about what lies ahead for you.  So this post is for you if, like me, you’ve just dived into the ocean of adventure and reached out to grab that dream in front of you.

Continue reading »

Why you should love coriander (aka cilantro)

18 Sunday Apr 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , ,

Superb for digestion and producing an essential oil great for muscular aches and pains as well as being stimulating, uplifting and refreshing in all its forms, Coriander has been cultivated for thousands of years.  Believing it to contain the secret of happiness, it was among the plants offered to the temple Gods and found at the tombs of both Tutankamun and Rameses II.  The seeds have been a popular aromatic stimulant and culinary spice since (almost) forever, so it was with great surprise to read Cilantro Haters, It’s not your fault in the New York Times, highlighting why many Europeans and people in the Western World have such a huge aversion to it.  Apparently there’s an “I Hate Cilantro” Facebook page with 4,762 fans and several blogs centred around the theme of “I hate Cilantro”.  Why such animosity towards such a staple ingredient in so many cultures?  It’s an essential ingredient of many Asian and Indian recipes and used in many Latin dishes, particularly salsa and ceviche, which are delicious (and good for you)!

The Latin name Coriandrum is derived from the Latin “koros” meaning bed-bug.  Apparently the odour of the leaves resembled the bug’s smell!  Eeuuuw!  The Egyptians hailed it as a spice of happiness and used it as an aphrodisiac.  The Greeks and Romans flavoured their wine with it.  Chinese medicine used (and continues to) the whole plant for various ailments and it’s still used far and wide for it’s digestive and carminative properties.  Seriously, what is not to love?!

Continue reading »

Aromaguru Series: Introducing Shelley Monrad

08 Thursday Apr 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

Shelley Monrad, founder of Aromaflex

Shelley Monrad, business woman, mother and inspired Aromatherapist, is the founder of Aromaflex, a burgeoning Aromatherapy business based in Nelson, New Zealand.  Taking the Nelson region by storm for the last 15 years, Shelley began the business with a NZ$3000 loan and a big dream.  Offering a new concept in  retail Aromatherapy – uniquely offering pure and organic essential oils by the ml and the drop – Aromaflex has morphed into a 360 degree Aromatherapy business comprising retail and e-shop, treatments and a training Academy.

Continue reading »

Some thoughts on the toxicity of nature

07 Wednesday Apr 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy, Musings

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,

Following our recent organza ribbon campaign (see above tab) to raise awareness about the Aromamuse blog, we did a small follow-up with each of the friends we sent the samples to.  The idea was to send several beautiful aromatic samples to friends for them to pass on to their friends.  The premise was that these were “trusted” networks and the samples would be well received. While many friends said they had passed them on to their girlfriends with delight, there was one response that made me think.  She said: “I have a lot of close friends who became pregnant and not really willing to try out new essential oils.”

It’s pretty wise to be cautious when you’re pregnant.  A US study, called Body Burden: The Pollution in Newborns, tested each sample of umbilical cord blood for an unprecedented 413 industrial and consumer product chemicals.  In total, the babies’ blood had 287 chemicals, including 209 never before detected in cord blood.

I wondered, though, about the extra concern when pregnant.  And why concern only for “new essential oils” and not products already in use?

Continue reading »

Unsung Heroes #4: The beauty serum

05 Monday Apr 2010

Posted by in Aroma & Aromatherapy

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , ,

Rosehip oil for skin regeneration. Photo by Luc ViatourPage 112 of this months edition of Scoop, Western Australia’s lifestyle, events and travel magazine, has a great approach to beauty care – covering your skins needs through your 20′s, 30′s, 40′s and fifties.  Although a rather simplistic approach to skin care (like a horoscope it has to be relevant for everyone in a vague, yet informative sort of way), it’s one of the few articles that talks about the importance of keep harsh chemicals to a minimum in your beauty ritual.  It also introduces the idea of adding a “serum” to your beauty regimen in your 30′s and we thought this was fantastic! Although serums can be used by ALL ages, we think this is a sign that the industry and consumers alike are waking up to the skin’s thirst for purity.

The beauty of a serum: they nourish and balance your skin without stripping it of its natural moisture and oils

Rosehip Oil is hailed as the beauty serum in this article, so we thought we’d cover this and a few other beauty oils not to be missed, whatever you age.  You can buy the recommended (expensive) brands talked about in the glossy mags, or you can source organic suppliers in your country to mix and match your own creations bespoke for yourself at home.  Whatever you choose, these oils are bound to impress and you’ll never look back after the glow emerges!

Continue reading »

The inconvenience of an under-active thyroid

30 Tuesday Mar 2010

Posted by in Health

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

Chances are you or someone you know suffers the inconvenience of  an under active thyroid.  A hugely important gland in our body, the thyroid affects every cell in the body excepting only a few (the adult brain, spleen, testes and uterus).  When it is over active or under active we can experience a plethora of symptoms that are both uncomfortable and downright inconvenient.  This post sets out to give you the gist of what happens when you have an under – active thyroid and how the strategic use of Aromatherapy can help to alleviate some of the symptoms.  Not only is Aromatherapy good for providing relief for the physical symptoms, it also excels at creating a more balanced terrain upon which healing can occur by creating a positive state of mind and relieving stress.

BACK TO THE BASICS – THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

The thyroid is part of a collection of glands that make up the endocrine system.  This collection of glands secrete hormones, or chemical messengers, so to speak.  These chemical messengers instruct or stimulate other glands or tissues in the body in a variety of ways.  Carried by the blood stream, they maintain homeostasis  (a stable, constant environment within our bodies) and help to regulate the essential processes of growth, reproduction, development and the control of the storage & utilisation of every cell in the body.

Continue reading »