Ayurveda Beginner's Guide: Essential Ayurvedic Principles and Practices to Balance and Heal Naturally by Susan Weis-Bohlen

Author:Susan Weis-Bohlen [Weis-Bohlen, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Althea Press
Published: 2018-01-23T05:00:00+00:00

AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy, the therapeutic use of essential oils, is healing and balancing to both the body and the mind. When used on the skin or by inhaling, essential oil infuses the body with tiny molecules that can enter the bloodstream to nourish and heal, calming the nervous system and thereby stimulating the body’s natural defenses and inner pharmacy. It’s a super practice to learn about and incorporate into your life, not to mention most oils smell good. Keep in mind, though, that using essential oils properly and learning to make blends is a serious process. Make sure to study with a professional before trying to heal yourself of any complicated ailment with essential oils.

Many essential oils have volatile compounds in a concentrated form that can offer therapeutic-level healing in just a few drops. Less is better when working with oils; just a few drops can be highly beneficial. Many essential oils are antimicrobial and antifungal (e.g., tea tree, lavender, and oregano). Some essential oils can repel insects, too (a mix of citronella, lemongrass, and geranium works well). Tea tree and lavender oils are always with me when I travel. If there is room in my luggage, I also take peppermint, ginger, and sandalwood—all of which physically and mentally ease any travel disturbances I encounter, from nausea to fatigue.

Mentally, the sense of smell can invoke memories—both good and bad. Different areas of your brain can be stimulated to heal, release tension, or increase joy depending on the scent you choose. The use of essential oils to evoke these sensory feelings is an Ayurvedic method to create a healing pathway to the brain through the body.

Choosing Your Oils

Essential oils are completely different from fragrance and scented oils, which have zero therapeutic effect and can cause allergies. Choose only 100 percent pure essential oils—look for therapeutic-grade oils, organic oils, or pure plant oils. High-quality oils are becoming more easily available and at better prices. There are several multilevel marketing companies that sell expensive essential oils, but in my experience, you can get a good high-quality oil at your local health food store. Do your research before you buy any essential oils to make sure you are buying high-grade products. Also, be aware that some oils are endangered due to over-harvestation of the plants, including rosewood, sandalwood, and frankincense.

Choose a quality carrier oil to dilute the essential oil if you are using it on your body, as essential oils are quite powerful. (Some undiluted essential oils can be used directly on this skin, but do this only under the advice of a certified aromatherapist.) Using a dosha-specific carrier oil, a list of which follows, will enhance the medicinal qualities of the essential oil and will also make them safer to use.

A good gauge to determine if an oil is right for you is the smile test. Do you smile when you sniff it? If so, use it! Nevertheless, certain oils are best for each dosha. Listed here are single essential oils, but with some knowledge

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.