Scientists who have studied aging are now saying that your genes only have 40 percent of deciding factor to how old you look and feel, rest is due to what you eat, drink and your state of mind. According to these studies, this means you can delay aging symptoms by years, simply by taking small steps to improve your diet, fitness and by trying to cut down levels of stress and negativity in your life.

Cutting down on stress is one of most important things you need to think about, prolonged stress can be hazardous to your health. Studies have shown there is evidence that chronic stress weakens immune system, making us more susceptible to infections and illnesses.

Try to be positive about your life, if you are not one of life’s natural optimists it will be worth learning to become one by practicing positive thinking, such as; If you find yourself reacting to an event in a destructive way, stop for a moment and focus on positive areas of your life or think of a good time in your life and reflect on best features about yourself, once you have managed to get into a better state of mind take another look at your problem or event, is it actually as important as you first thought?

Is there an easier way to go about your problem? Or perhaps there is someone who you can ask for help to lighten load. By believing in yourself, thinking that things can only get better and that this situation is temporary, you will be surprised how much happier and calm you can become.

Ah, Patchouli oil - people seem to love it or hate it. This well know essential oil has a somewhat deserved reputation as scent of Hippy generation (according to one source, it’s use began as a mask for odor of a particularly cherished herb), though it’s traditional use dates back hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. Today, Patchouli oil has a well-deserved reputation in aromatherapy, with it’s deep, musky, and sweet odor, and Earth and Fire balancing energy. It is an exotic aroma that can forever leave an imprint on olfactory memory.

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) is a perennial herb native to Southeast Asia, growing wild in Sumatra and Java at elevations between 3,000 and 6,000 feet – though it’s cultivation is more pervasive in lower tropical jungles. This bushy plant grows to height of 3 feet, having a strong stem and soft, hairy leaves. For essential oil production, plant is cut two or three times per year, with best quality oil derived from leaves harvested in wet season. The leaves are hand picked, bundled or baled, and allowed to partially dry in shade and ferment for a few days before oil is extracted via steam distillation (Patchouli oil is now becoming available as a CO2 extract in limited quantities). The fermentation process softens plant’s cell walls, easing extraction of oil.

The relative ease of it’s cultivation, and it’s high oil yield keeps price of true Patchouli essential oils relatively low. It is important to note however, Patchouli is one of few essential oils that improve with age (others being Frankincense, Cedarwood, Sandalwood and Vetiver), and that a properly aged Patchouli oil is much more desirable than a fresh one. Over time, oil looses a harshness that many find distasteful, and adds a sweet top note. As it ages, oil turns from light yellow to a deep amber, with aroma becoming smoother and more rich. Principal constituents of oil include: Patchoulol (25-35%), Alpha-Bulnesene (12-20%), Alpha-Guaiene + Seychellene (15-25%), and Alpha-Patchoulene (5-9%).