"Aromatherapy" What is it?Written by Machelle Reaves
Aromatherapy is art and science of treating illnesses through essential oils and/or inhaling herbal mixtures. The sense of smell or olfactory senses are quickest path to brain. Once scent molecules pass brain, it enters bloodstream through lining in our lungs. Once molecules enter bloodstream they influence nervous systems, adrenal glands, stomach, intestines, heart rate, circulatory, and immune systems. Now scent molecules also stimulate or relax emotions, attitude, energy level, sex drive, concentration, memory and other brain activity. All of that from smelling scents that we already know. Essential oils used in ancient Egyptian times had many purposes. Burial, spiritual, medical and perfume are just some of their uses. The word perfume comes from Latin phrase “through smoke”. Egyptians closed themselves in small rooms and burnt herbs and oils to cover their body odor. This is where incense came from. The Egyptians also noticed that scented smoke had medicinal purposes also. Rene- Maurice Gattefosse was a French chemist who coined phrase Aromatherapy. It was actually an accident; He burned his hand then confused a bowl of water with a bowl of Lavender oil. Instead of a bad chemical reaction, he learned that lavender oil healed burn quicker and left less scarring. This launched his research in Essential oils and Aromatherapy. The process of distillation is used to extract essential oils from grasses, leaves, trees, roots, and flowers. Some oils require a lot of raw material to make a small amount of oil, and then other oils are easier and less expensive to produce. Therefore, if oil has a higher price, and a few are quite expensive, then that means that particular oil is difficult to harvest and distill. A headache is relieved with essential oils such as Eucalyptus, Lavender, feverfew, chamomile and marjoram. You could place a few drops of any of these oils in a diffuser or aroma lamp to keep your home or workplace headache free. Many homeopathic doctors prescribe herb feverfew for migraines. In addition, valerian root, hops and lavender, which are all sedatives and muscle relaxers for those tense stressed out, neck muscles. Yarrow is an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and helps control high blood pressure, common cause of migraines and headaches
| | Top Ten Reasons To Add Strength Training To Your Daily RoutineWritten by Monique Rider
1. Strength training tones, builds and firms your body. Using any type of resistance (bands, weights, water, etc.) tones and builds muscles. For certain exercises, even body weight can accomplish this. The muscle will become firmer and skin around muscle will tighten. This produces a more sculpted look.2. Strength training burns body fat. The higher your muscle to fat ratio, more muscle on your body. The more muscle on your body, more fat you'll burn because it takes more calories to maintain muscle. 3. Strength training builds strong bones. Bone density can be increased by strength training. Therefore, reducing risk of Osteoporosis. 4. Strength training can be done with very little equipment. Most people think they need expensive equipment to begin a strength training program. Not true! All you need is a set of hand held weights or several sets of weights. 5. Strength training is fun and motivating. You may not feel motivated to begin a program at first, but after a few weeks of strength training, you'll notice a more sculpted body. Then your motivation will build and you'll want more of that same result. When performed in a group setting, strength training is even more fun and motivating. 6. Strength training helps rid us of mental and physical stress. Due to level of concentration needed when strength training and endorphins that are being released during exercise, stress levels are greatly reduced and you'll have a clearer head! 7. Appetite is improved due to strength training. You learn to listen to your body and feel what it needs. After a session of weight training you may be hungry but it's not usually for "junk food." The body usually begins to crave whatever it needs to replenish energy after a strenuous workout. You'll find yourself heading for fruit, yogurt, or protein.
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