5 Amazing Benefits of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is fast becoming popular in the western world. If you are familiar with it, then it wouldn't surprise you that many people are now very enthusiastic about aromatherapy. Spas and massage parlors everywhere offer aromatherapy for people to enjoy the amazing benefits. You can readily buy all the supplies that you need in any leading spas or health food stores in your vicinity, if you have a participant to give a massage to or have some-one who can massage you.

Aromatherapy is not just meant for relaxation. Believe it or not, several studies show that aromatherapy can serve as an aid for different kinds of ailments. It is considered a healing therapy that helps to lessen body discomfort with the use of oils and aromas. Are you ready to start your very own aromatherapy session? First, here are the benefits that you may receive from the massage.

1. Aromatherapy will improve your mood.

One essential oil that is used in aromatherapy is rosemary. So many studies have shown that rosemary helps in boosting one's mood and it provides a feeling of contentment. In addition, it also regulates the production of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone.

2. Aromatherapy may induce good sleep.

Trouble sleeping? Then aromatherapy can be the answer to your sleeping problem. No need to toss and turn on your bed or pop sleeping pills to get a decent sleep. Aromatherapy can help you with this. Essential oils used in aromatherapy will help stimulate your brain, specifically your limbic system. In effect, it will relax your nerves and your entire body making you feel refreshed and also relaxed and calm at the same time. Later you will be ready for a good night of restful sleep.

3. Aromatherapy will improve your skin.

Aromatherapy aids several skin conditions. Use Jojoba oil as it is the nearest thing to natural sebum, found naturally in our skin. If you have dry skin, say goodbye to your flaky complexion by using essential aromatherapy oils. Aromatherapy can help you maintain a moist and youthful skin. Other serious skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema may be aided too.

4. Aromatherapy may help relieve asthma.

Suffering from chronic wheezing and consistent coughing due to asthma? Worry no more because aromatherapy can free your lungs from discomfort and irritation. When massaged by a professional therapist, aromatherapy can aid your asthma with the use of ginger and peppermint essential oils which are known to be decongestant oils. These oils, are diluted in to carrier oils, are also considered anti-histamines.

5. Aromatherapy may lessen PMS symptoms.

Premenstrual syndrome is a condition that most women suffer from sometime during their life. Due to the symptoms brought about by PMS, some women go through physical and emotional problems. If you are among these women who are having a hard time during their monthly period, aromatherapy could be the solution to your problem. The relaxation that one may get through aromatherapy can help lessen PMS symptoms such as mood swings, depression, and irritability.

Aromatherapy may serve as a gentle alternative in healing certain conditions. Why pollute your body with countless pills that contain harmful chemicals if you can enjoy better alternatives such as aromatherapy? There are so many professional health care providers who recommend aromatherapy so if you are suffering from any kind of discomfort, take advantage of the amazing benefits that this relaxing treatment can offer.

Margaret Le Monnier has over 20 years-experience as a qualified natural health professional in the UK. She is well known for giving intuitive and expert advice to people regarding natural approaches to correcting a wide range of illnesses and conditions. Margaret is now writing articles for a website solely devoted to bringing a comprehensive range of natural health advice to everyone. To find out more about aromatherapy visit her website at Natural Health 4 Life

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Margaret_Le_Monnier/1206777

What is detoxification and how can it help your skin?

Every day we are exposed to toxins in our air, water, food and personal products. Examples of these chemicals are pesticides (in our food, lawns and parks), solvents (in gasoline, paints and cleaning products) and plastic chemicals (such as BPA and phthalates). We can do our best to live free of these substances, but some are unavoidable.

The good news is that we do have organs of elimination and detoxification that work hard to clear these from our bodies. When it comes to detoxification, the most important organs are the skin, lymphatic system, digestive system, liver, and the kidneys. The liver is the primary detoxification organ in the body. It protects the rest of the body from harmful substances by reducing their toxicity and making them ready for excretion.

When the liver and other organs involved in detoxification aren’t working properly, it can cause a build up of toxins in the body. This also happens when we’re exposed to more toxins than our body can handle. When there are excess levels of toxins, we can notice it in our bodies –skin rashes and itching, fatigue, headaches, body aches, and even weight gain are some of the symptoms people notice.

What does detoxification have to do with hormones?

The liver is responsible for metabolizing hormones (breaking them down so they can be properly eliminated and maintain balance). In addition, estrogen-mimicking chemicals found in day to day products such as in many skincare ingredients and plastics should also be eliminated by the liver.

Therefore, supporting the liver is one of the most important and essential parts of treating hormonal imbalance. If the liver is congested, fatty or overtaxed, ALL the good things you are doing won’t be very effective until that liver is cleansed and balanced. If you have hormonal acne, this is particularly important for you.

What is a cleanse?

Our bodies get out of balance over time—our hormones, digestion, and nutrition. A well-designed cleanse enhances the functions of the detoxification organs and helps us regain balance. A big focus for my cleanses is enhancing phase 1 and phase 2 liver detoxification while at the same time supporting elimination via the kidneys, digestive tract and skin.

Here are 7 steps for healthy cleansing:

1.  Consume food and drinks that support detoxification.

During a cleanse, you’ll want to nourish your body well to support your liver, kidneys and colon. 
Here are some of the most important foods and drinks:

• Cruciferous vegetables(such as broccoli, cabbage, arugula and radishes)
• Sulfur-containing foods (such as onions and garlic)
• High fiber foods (such as fruits, veggies and legumes)
• Antioxidant-rich foods (such as colorful fruits and veggies)
• Herbal Teas (such as Milk Thistle, Dandelion, Burdock Root, and Yellow Dock)

2.  Avoid common reactive foods.

Eating reactive foods leads to inflammation, which can lead to a number of symptoms and diseases, including chronic skin problems such as acne and eczema.

Common reactive foods include Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Peanuts, Soy, Caffeine, Alcohol 
and Sugar. A cleanse is a great time to take a 10 – 21 day break from these foods and see for yourself how much these impact your health.

3.  Keep the exit routes clear

Ensure your bowels, kidneys, and skin are all working effectively to clear toxins released during a cleanse. For bowels, fiber is key. For kidneys, it’s essential to drink plenty of filtered water. For skin, it’s a good idea to exfoliate and ensure clean pores so you can sweat adequately and slough off dead skin.

4.  Sweat.

Exercise during a cleanse leads to lipolysis (breaking down fat cells) which also helps release toxins that are stored in our fat cells.

5.  Avoid toxins in your environment

If you’re doing a cleanse to support your body, the last thing you want to do is add more toxins to the mix. Take a close look at your air, water, food, and personal care products to see how you can reduce exposures such as eating organic, using natural cleaning products, drinking filtered water, and choosing non-toxic skincare products.

6.  Enhance detoxification with supportive cleansing techniques.

Certain supplements – herbs (such as milk thistle) and nutrients (such as glutathione) – can help phase 1 and 2 liver detoxification pathways. There are also specific hydrotherapy and massage techniques that improve blood and lymph flow.

I go into much greater detail in my Spa Cleanse Program. It’s the program that I’ve refined over the last 15 years and added at-home spa treatments to enhance the results.

7.  Cleanse emotionally.

This might seem unrelated but I find that emotional cleansing is key to a successful in depth cleanse program. Emotions come up during a cleanse, and it’s a great opportunity to work thru them. During my program, I walk people thru exercises such as meditation, breathwork and guided imagery.

Symptoms that indicate you may need detoxification support:

• Fatigue, feeling run down
• Skin rashes, skin itching
• Acne (especially hormonal acne)
• Digestion problems – bloating, constipation, diarrhea, etc.
• Bad breath
• Headaches
• PMS, irregular cycles, infertility and other signs of Hormone imbalances
• Brain fog, difficulty focusing/concentrating
• Weight (fat) gain or inability to lose weight
• Chronic muscle or joint pain
• Inflammatory conditions/diseases such as eczema

Wondering where to start?

Some simple changes to your diet can be a great start for a healthy liver to keep your skin clear and body healthy. You can begin with drinking plenty of filtered water, eating colourful fruits, veggies and legumes as well as cruciferous vegetables, onions and garlic.

Show your liver and other detoxification organs some love by giving it the support it needs. This will show not only in how you feel but how your skin looks too!

Source: http://drtrevorcates.com/detoxification-hormones-and-your-skin/