All About Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a science of using fragrant essential oils extracted from tress and plants, natural herbs for enhancing a person’s health and beauty. Alternative medicine such as aromatherapy is becoming more popular as the public searches for new solutions to their common medical problems.

Science and art is involved in making use of the medicinal properties of herbs and essential oils from plants and tress. A healthier life is possible through the sensible, secure, and cheap method of aromatherapy. This method of extracting essential oils from naturally aromatic plants and herbs can improve a person’s health and emotional well-being.

Where did this idea originate?

The early Egyptians, particularly the pharaohs, employed essential oils and herbs in order to purify the body in preparation for life after death. The origin of the term Aromatherapy is credited to the French chemist, Rene Maurice. It was he, who started Aromatherapy. By accident the term was born into existence. The story of the origin of the term Aromatheraphy is explained as follows:

In 1920, while working in his lab, he burned his hand and then to get relief from severe pain, he plunged his arm in the lavender essential oil which was the only cold substance around him then. This action quickly healed his hand and a new science was born. This French chemist devoted the rest of his life in exploring the healing powers of the natural essential oils and the medicinal properties of herbs.

How might Aromatherapy be applied?

Aromatherapy is used in a wide array of different treatment methods. Aromatherapy and the use of natural plants is an accepted form of treatment in some countries. Coldness from plants and oils can immediately help lessen the pains from wounds and burned. To help burn victims to recover, products containing lavender are applied, and the pleasant smells can also help in therapy for mental illnesses.

Essential Oils are extremely concentrated plant extracts that are many times stronger than just the plant itself, and they may be used with great efficiency for treatment. Lots of varieties of essential oils can be employed for their scent alone. The smell of Eucalyptus can help with chest congestion and other ailments.

Out of all of the essential oils, a large portion is used for their anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Ringworm and fungal infections are two ailments helped by tea tree oil.

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Herbology

Asian herbal medicine has been in practice for thousands of years. Many generations pass down recipes and cures within the family structure. This practice is used by mixing together certain herbs to obtain a remedy for an ailment. These remedies can range from poultices that may have only one ingredient to prepared drug mixtures that may have many uses.

When we think of herbology, many parts of the world have engaged in this type of healing, the Chinese, however, have made it a part of their culture. Each person who seeks advice from a healer will get a personalized mix of herbs intended to cure what ever their ailment may be. This preparation will be made at the time of the visit and may take up to an hour to mix.

When the practitioner makes a decoction, they may use many different parts of many different plants as each part does it own type of healing. There may also be animal or mineral types of ingredients included as these have healing properties as well. There are many ingredients that have been lost because of danger to the species of animals involved.

Origins of Asian Herbal Medicine

The first written manual for oriental herbal medicine dates back to the Han dynasty. There were over three hundred and fifty medications with over two hundred and fifty herbs listed. This manual when translated means Sennong Emporer’s Classic of Materia Medica. There are a plethora of remedies included in this tome. In the seventh century, and when the Tang dynasty was at it’s peak, the Treatise on the Nature of Medicinal Herbs was written. The Compendium of Materia Medica was put together during the Ming dynasty.

Even today, many of these ancient forms of herbology are in use and put in to practice. Because the nature of alternative health cures, being that is not a traditional science, oriental herbal medicine is considered an alternative health practice. There are many Western cultures that have also used herbology to cure every day illness throughout history. These can still be seen today in the use of teas. There are many herbs that can aid in today’s more common ailments. If we look at the past, in Western and Eastern cultures, we will see many parallels in the uses of certain types of herbs. These all share a common theme of a healthier life style.

Resources For Online Alternative Healing

The internet is one of the best places to search for alternative healing information. You may want to do a more specific search by sticking to certain topics when you search that will give a more defined search result. If you put in an abstract search, you may come up with hits that have nothing to do with the area of alternative healing you are looking for. Below is a list of terms that will help you when searching for alternative healing online:

Herbal Medicine - This search will help you find the herbs that will help any ailment.

Naturopathic Medicine - You will find web sites that deal with overall wellness.

Massage Therapy - Using massage to relieve stress.

Holistic Medicine - This is the theory of healing all parts to maintain a balance.

Homeopathic Healing - This is using the natural environment as well as herbs and other types of alternative healing methods to attain wellness and to cure ills. Any remedy that is not considered a standard medical practice could be considered homeopathy.

The above are the most common forms of alternative healing methods. When you search for these items online you begin your journey into better understanding what alternative healing methods are all about. You may have to search more than one site to get a full understanding, but there are many to choose from and you should have no problem finding everything you are looking for.

You may want to speak with your general practitioner or family doctor before you begin your own form of alternative healing. Many doctors today are going to a merged form of medicine that uses the alternative healing methods mixed with the more common practices we have come to know today. Your doctor may be able to help you on your way and will be able to give you more insight in to what your body should and should not be doing.

You may have friends or family that are already using alternative healing methods with success. These people will be a great resource that you can access free of charge. Many who follow these practices will be happy to help you on way to alternative healing. They may have already done the research and will have web sites that they can direct you to that will save you time and effort in your search.

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Massage Physiology

The massage is one of the best forms of alternative medicine for lowering blood pressure, eliminating fatigue, unblocking portions of the body and relaxing muscles. A massage therapist can work wonders on a person if the massage is performed properly. There are some guidelines and tips, if you are thinking about going into massage therapy or you are thinking about getting a massage.

The condition of your mind is important during a massage, and you should only be thinking of getting rid of the other person’s pain and tension. Your mind and feelings must be pure in nature to avoid transmitting tension to the receiver’s body. You should first watch your vibrations before giving a massage.

It is best if you delay or reschedule appointments if you hands or other body parts are shaking, because you are upset or frustrated. Example: If you find yourself in a situation where you have contracted the flu or a cold, you should not, under any circumstances, provide a massage to another person as this person may catch your sickness. The main objective when giving someone a massage is to first calm yourself. When you are at peace with yourself, you can share that peace with others and give them a sense of calm through massage. If you are upset or sick, this can not happen.

The first thing to remember when you are giving a massage is that you should relax and be guided by your instincts. You should not hesitate if you suddenly feel that you should touch a particular receiver’s body in a certain way while giving a massage. In giving a massage, apply the suitable stroke and pressure to the body part to alleviate body aches.

Your mind and body should have pure intentions and should not let ego get involved when giving massages. While giving a massage make sure to target the problem area with the correct stroke and technique but keep in mind that it may take several times and much effort to achieve your goal.

People often try to sublimate their fears and tensions in order to hide them from the world and from themselves. Many people try to hide their fears and tensions but they can return in the form of physical aches and pains to which the patient may not understand the cause. A qualified message therapist can handle the different tensions and use massage to get rid of them.

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Brief Historical Overview of Tai Chi

China, sometimes referred to as the “Land of the Sleeping Giant’, is the undisputed birthplace of Tai Chi. According to legend, and very limited historical documents, Tai Chi was initially developed as a meditative physical movement, imitating the flow and motion of animal-based martial arts techniques. The creation of this earliest form of Tai Chi generally is ascribed to Chang San Feng. He is said to have lived during the year 1391 until 1459.

Chang San Fend lived in the Wu Tang monastery as a monk. By combining the different principles of Taoism, kung fu, and the theory of Yi Jing, he created Tai Chi. Research indicates that wide acceptance of Tai Chi, and additional development of Tai Chi, further developed in the village of Chen.

Characteristic

One meaning of the phrase “Tai Chi” means “Supreme Ultimate Fist”. Tai Chi is performed using hand gestures and different slow motions. Tai Chi may be performed either as a solo exercise or as a partnered exercise. Tai Chi stresses to its practitioners that they must observe proper breathing, and correct posture throughout every movement. Tai Chi can also be used as a form of self-defense but this aspect of Tai Chi is unfortunately not taught to students, and the self-defense knowledge is slowly being lost over time.

Schools

Usually Tai Chi is taught in schools specifically dedicated to the teaching of martial arts. It can also improve the personal characteristics of an individual, such as self-respect, discipline and confidence. While there are many styles of Tai Chi, four of the most popular styles are Yang, Wu, Sun and Chen. These four are all distinctively unique in appearance and method of instruction, yet each follows the fundamentals of the basic Tai Chi principles, including cultivation of chi, correct posture and principles of breathing. In the upcoming sections, a brief overview of each style is provided.

Yang Style

This is the most famous and popular form of Tai Chi. In this style, consistency regarding the speed the movements are performed is paramount. Movements are gentle, graceful, and refined, with a continuous flow throughout the entire session. Every part of the body moves as a piece of the entire body, and maintaining a state of connectedness is important. The rear foot generally maintains an angle of 45 degrees outwards from the forward direction.

History Of Herbal Medicine

Asian herbal medicine has been in practice for thousands of years. Many generations pass down recipes and cures within the family structure. This practice is used by mixing together certain herbs to obtain a remedy for an ailment. These remedies can range from poultices that may have only one ingredient to prepared drug mixtures that may have many uses.

When we think of herbology, many parts of the world have engaged in this type of healing, the Chinese, however, have made it a part of their culture. Each person who seeks advice from a healer will get a personalized mix of herbs intended to cure what ever their ailment may be. This preparation will be made at the time of the visit and may take up to an hour to mix.

When the practitioner makes a decoction, they may use many different parts of many different plants as each part does it own type of healing. There may also be animal or mineral types of ingredients included as these have healing properties as well. There are many ingredients that have been lost because of danger to the species of animals involved.

Origins of Asian Herbal Medicine

The first written manual for oriental herbal medicine dates back to the Han dynasty. There were over three hundred and fifty medications with over two hundred and fifty herbs listed. This manual when translated means Sennong Emporer’s Classic of Materia Medica. There are a plethora of remedies included in this tome. In the seventh century, and when the Tang dynasty was at it’s peak, the Treatise on the Nature of Medicinal Herbs was written. The Compendium of Materia Medica was put together during the Ming dynasty.

Even today, many of these ancient forms of herbology are in use and put in to practice. Because the nature of alternative health cures, being that is not a traditional science, oriental herbal medicine is considered an alternative health practice. There are many Western cultures that have also used herbology to cure every day illness throughout history. These can still be seen today in the use of teas. There are many herbs that can aid in today’s more common ailments.

If we look at the past, in Western and Eastern cultures, we will see many parallels in the uses of certain types of herbs. These all share a common theme of a healthier life style.

The Art and Practice of Reflexology

Reflexology is the practice of foot and hand massage where it helps release stress, heals the body and allows it to regenerate. It is believed that reflexology works with the central nervous system.

The reflexology practitioner applies pressure to the feet, hands or ears that sends a calming message from the peripheral nerves in these extremities to the central nervous system. This sends signals the body to adjust downward the tension level. Reflexology enhances overall relaxation, brings internal organs and their systems into a state of optimum functioning and increases blood supply. Reflexology also has a positive effect on the circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, immune, neuropeptide systems.

The history of reflexology has evolved down through history since 2330 BCE in Egypt, 204 BCE in China and 690 CE in Japan. In the Western part of the world, the concept grew in the 19^th century based on research into the nervous system and how reflexes work.

There are many theories on how reflexology works. There are pressure sensors in the hand and in the feet that are part of our body’s reflexive response. Those reflexes are trained to react to danger when necessary. When there is danger our feet and hands tense as we prepare to fight to defend or run to save ourselves.

Reflexology is applied to only two parts of the body; the hands and the feet. Some think it is possible to apply reflexology to the ears, but this has not been proven to be as effective.

Reflexology is applied specifically to the hands and the feet using specific thumb, finger and hand techniques. The motion is done as a stretching motion as to relax the feet and hands. In the traditional method of reflexology, there are no creams, lotions or oils that are used.

There are charts that are followed when practicing reflexology. The feet and hands are highlighted on the charts. Left foot and hand reflects the left side of the body, and the right foot and hand depict the right side of the body. The spine runs down the inside of the feet and hand with reflex areas for the arm and shoulder that are reflected towards the outside of the foot or hand.

The toes and the fingers are the head and neck reflexes, the ball and the feet reflects the chest and upper back as well as the heart and lungs.

Reflexology is normally performed by a just about anyone knows correctly how to do it. Anyone from parents to doctors to cosmetologists to nurses can perform reflexology. Reflexology sessions last from 30 minutes to an hour. The only things that have to be removed are the shoes and socks. You will sit either on a lounge-type chair or lie on a table. At the end of the session, people report feeling more relaxed and upbeat.

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Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy is the art of soft tissue manipulation with physical, functional and psychological goals. The word “massage therapy” comes from the word friction or kneading in French, to touch, feel or handle, in Arabic it means mass, and gouge in Latin.

Massage Therapy involves massaging the body with pressure, tension, motion or vibration that is either done manually or with mechanical aids. The target areas on the body during massage therapy are muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, arms, fingers, forearms and feet.

In a massage therapy setting, the client is being massaged while relaxing on a massage table usually. Sometimes the client will sit in a massage chair or even on a floor mat. Normally, the subject is unclothed and is covered by sheets and/or towels.

There are specialized tables that are used specifically for massage therapy. The surface is heavily padded, and there is an opening at the head of the table so that clients can lie down and still breathe.There are many methods of massage therapy that can be done. A few of the most popular ones are listed below.

Acupressure, as you know, is traditional Chinese medicine where physical pressure is applied to specialized points by the hand or elbow.

Deep tissue massage is designed to relive tension in the muscles. This type of massage focuses on the muscles located deep under the skin. It is more for people who have severe or chronic pain.

Reflexology is related to your feet. It is the belief that your hands and feet somehow relate to every organ and gland in your body. So when your feet and hands are rubbed, it reaches all your other organs such as your heart and kidneys.

Russian Massage therapy is divided into three phases. The first phase, the massage is gentle and slow. During second phase, the massage is done harder and faster. And the last phase, reverts back to the first phase of slow and gentle.

Shiatsu can be broken down into two words. “Shi” means finger and “atsu” means pressure. Shiatsu is an eastern born therapy that uses pressure that is applied with thumbs, fingers and palms as well as rolling, brushing, vibrating and grasping to apply pressure to the back, legs and feet.

A hot stone massage uses water heated stones to apply pressure and heat to the body. Stones can be coated in oil and used by a massage therapist to knead into the skin using a stroking motion.

Alternative Medicine to Treat Depression

In today’s society more and more people are relying on alternative medicine techniques for treating various ailments.  The growing concern of side effects and risks with drug therapies is the main reason for the rise in alternative or holistic remedies.

It is also believed that the body, mind, and spirit are all interconnected, resulting in the need to heal the three together.  This is where alternative medicine comes in, because it works on more than just the body and strives to produce a state of well being.

Exercise is a great alternative to drug therapies when dealing with depression.  Exercising releases endorphins which act as a mood booster.  Exercising is most effective when done on a regular basis early in the morning.

A proper diet is the key to living healthy in all ways. Maintaining a good diet rich with folic acid and vitamin B-12 is extremely helpful in fighting fatigue that is commonly associated with depression. Caffeine and sugar are not recommended as they cause a rise and crash effect and further alter the ability to control moods.

Meditation has been a very popular form of alternative medicine for many years.  Meditation allows you to reach a state of complete awareness and relaxation.  This form of alternative medicine has proven to help relieve stress which is a significant cause in depression. In order to achieve a state of complete well being one needs to allow their body, mind, and spirit to connect by going beyond the state of thinking to the state of complete relaxation.

Herbal remedies, such as St. John’s Wort, have proven to help people deal with depression.  There have been debates as to whether or not they are effective, but studies have proven that herbals supplements are just as effective as antidepressants and placebos.

Acupuncture is a very popular form of alternative medicine. It is the practice in which needles are inserted into certain points in the body.  This method works by releasing endorphin and aiding in better circulation.

Environmental factors also have an effect on depression.  It is a known fact that colors alter moods in many ways.  For instance, red induces a state of irritability.  Yellow is most conducive to happiness and therefore is a great color to use in interior design. With depression, colors to avoid are, black, brown, and gray.

When seeking out alternative medicine as a way to deal with depression getting a doctor’s advice is always recommended.  There are a number of alternative medicine practitioners to seek advice and information on how to treat depression the holistic way.

Using Alternative Medicine to Treat Anxiety

Alternative medicine has a great reputation for treating the various ailments. It is no surprise that its popularity comes from the fact that this natural approach reduces many risks. Prescriptions have numerous risks and side effects and are growing more and more unappealing.

It is also believed that the body, mind, and spirit are all interconnected, resulting in the need to heal the three together.  This is where alternative medicine comes in, because it works on more than just the body and strives to produce a state of well being.

Anxiety is a common disorder affecting millions of people.  Sufferers of anxiety endure irritability, restlessness, tension, nervousness, or lack of concentration. There are a number of drug therapies that help maintain anxiety, unfortunately these treatments come with side effects like drowsiness and fatigue.  So by treating a condition that affects their daily lives, they are still affected by the side effects.  It is no wonder as to why more and more people are turning to alternative medicine for help with treating anxiety.

Massage therapy is a popular form of alternative medicine used to relieve anxiety.  There a variety of massage therapies to help relieve anxiety.  Aromatherapy massage uses scented oils to calm the nerves while the message relieves the tension in the muscles.  Hot stone therapy uses heated stones rubbed along the muscles allowing the heat to relax the muscles and relieve pain.

Meditation is one of the most popular forms of alternative medicine.  Meditation allows a person to focus their thoughts and achieve total relaxation and awareness.  It helps to align the thoughts to the present rather than the past.

Herbal remedies are a great form of alternative medicine for anxiety.  Valerian root is used to cure insomnia which is a symptom of anxiety. Passionflower cures symptoms of anxiety, showing higher performance and awareness without the feeling of being drowsy. Certain teas like chamomile and aromas like lavender create a calming effect.

Aromatherapy is a great way for relieving many of the symptoms associated with anxiety.  Fragrances to avoid are the ones that stimulate the senses, such as citrus.  Vanilla, lavender, and chamomile have calming affects.  The great thing about using aromas as a way to relieve anxiety is that there are no side effects to endure.

Anxiety disorders can cause serious problems and talking to a health care or alternative medicine professional before starting an alternative routine is vital.  High blood pressure and insomnia can have detrimental effects and it is important to manage it the best way possible.

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