Introduction to Vitamins

Vita – for live;

Amines – nutrient containing substances

Vitamins are organic food substances found only in living organisms. Our source of natural vitamins comes from animals and plants we eat that produce them. There is only a few of B vitamins that can be manufactured within body, with assistance of bacteria and biochemical conversion. Vitamins don’t provide us with any energy and are not building blocks of our body, so therefore we cannot live on them alone, and we cannot live without them. Eating food provides us not only with vitamins we need and energy to function but also to help form tissues of our bodies.

One of main uses of vitamins is to function as co-enzymes, assisting metabolic processes to take place. Vitamins don’t function on their own as independent substances. They function in synergy with each other and with other minerals and enzymes. This is why it is so important to have a balanced supply.

Vitamins have many varied roles within our bodies. They are essential for growth and vitality, digestion and elimination and helping us to maintain our health and resist diseases of all types. When our diet is insufficient in certain vitamins, it can lead to disorder, which can range from mild to very serious. This depends, of course on how deficient diet is and to which vitamin, or combinations are lacking. It was observations of diseases and ill-health in general that lead to discovery of vitamins.

There are two main categories vitamins fall into; Water-soluble and Fat-soluble.

Aromatherapy

Aroma – fragrance or smell Therapy - treatment

Aromatherapy is a based on use of pure essential and absolute oils. It is a holistic form of treatment which has been found to work on physical, emotion and spiritual levels. There benefit can be felt psychologically and physically.

The oils used come from a variety of plants and are prepared from flowers, fruit, bark or roots. There is a couple of different methods of preparation used; steam distilled or cold-pressed.

Essential oils are usually used through massage, baths, compresses or inhalation. When they are used in massage and bathing, essential oils are absorbed though skin into bloodstream.

Essential oils that are inhaled are believed to offer benefits both psychologically and physically. The oil molecules stimulate scent receptors in brain that trigger a response in part of brain that influences heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels and hormone balance.

Essential oils are often blended together for specific therapeutic action or just because they create a pleasing aroma. A blend of well selected oils can be of greater benefit than just one oil on its own.

Aromatherapy provides health and body care on a completely natural basis, and subtle qualities of oils lend themselves best to a gradual experience.

Only highest quality of essential oils should be used in aromatherapy. The majority of essential oils produced in world market are used in food flavour and fragrance industry, so essential oils are often found on market adulterated with similar essential oils, chemicals and synthetics.

Not all ready-made aromatherapy products labelled with word 'aromatherapy' are pure and natural. Products that contain artificial ingredients do not provide true aromatherapy benefits. At worst, they provide no benefit

A look at some popular remedies.