Detoxes, Diets, and Healthy Lifestyle Plans abound in the spring complete with pills, potions and special appliances. Although swimsuit season is just around the corner, there are serious health risks associated with extreme dieting, rapid weight loss and strict detoxification regimes. Most of these efforts end up in relapses into old habits and frustration at a perceived lack of willpower.Purifying Aromatherapy is a more holistic approach that can be done in the home with the use of essential oils. Essential oils are the aromatic essences of plants, herbs and flowers, and can be used as a gentle, natural, and enjoyable way to purify the body and enhance a healthy lifestyle.
Each essential oil has different properties, communicating with the body, mind and spirit in their own way. The following essential oils should take a place on your bathroom countertop for the spring and upcoming summer seasons:Pink Grapefruit-Especially good for combating depression, pink grapefruit essential oil is excellent for someone struggling with sadness or frustration stemming from unhappiness with excess weight or previous behavior patterns.Lime-Cheerful and light, lime is excellent for those seeking to turn over a new leaf. It can be mixed with the other citrus essential oils for an uplifting blend.Sweet Orange-Traditionally used to attract prosperity, sweet orange is warming and well-liked by most. Smell this whenever thinking about an unhealthy food and feel your cravings vanish or transform into a desire for a juicy, nutritious orange filled with Vitamin C and other nutrients, especially important for the winter.Juniper Berry-The great eliminator, Juniper Berry helps to rid the body of colds, flu, infections, and is astringent and a great tonic.Cypress-One of the most detoxifying essential oils, cypress acts as a diuretic for the body and flushes out waste and toxins.Frankincense-One of the precious gifts from biblical times, frankincense is known for its restorative properties. It is especially healing for skin conditions, and can be mixed with face creams and ointments. Frankincense calms the mind and aids in meditation. It is best used during periods of quiet contemplation.
How to Choose Essential Oils?
When looking for essential oils to purchase, make sure the oil is 100% pure and natural, containing no synthetic additives. The essential oil should be the sole ingredient and nowhere on the bottle should it read "fragrance". The Latin name of the essential oil should also appear on the bottle (for example, Lavandula Angustifolia). Natural food stores and spas are usually good places to find essential oils for purchase, as staff in these outlets are generally knowledgeable about the therapeutic use of essential oils and can offer advice.
How to Use Essential Oils
Although inhalation of the aromatic vapors are the quickest and most powerful way to use aromatherapy, for detoxification and purification purposes, trans-dermal absorption of the essences is very helpful. This can be achieved by putting the essential oils on the skin in a lotion or cream, or dispersing the oils in a bath.Warm baths are an excellent way to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy. Since essential oils tend to float on the top of water, it's important to dilute the oils in a bubble bath, shower gel, shampoo, or milk before dispersing in the bath water. For a rejuvenating bath, blend two or three citrus oils, such as sweet orange, pink grapefruit, and lime. For a detoxifying bath, blend cypress and juniper berry with one of the citrus oils. If you need to soak to mull things over, a particularly delicious blend is frankincense with geranium and sweet marjoram.For normal day time use, place warm water in a ceramic aromatherapy burner and drip 10 drops of your chosen essential oil into the water. Light the tea light under the bowl of the burner to warm the water and diffuse the scent with steam.� Be careful not to let the water run out, as it will cook the essential oil into the top of the diffuser. Dripping essential oils into a regular bowl of hot water will work as well, albeit temporarily.For aromatherapy on the go, drip a few drops of essential oil onto a tissue for your pocket.
Scrub Ritual
For a special treat, this scrub ritual is especially effective for detoxification and adoption of a healthy lifestyle. Mix a cup of pure Epsom salts with unscented bubble bath or even better, a pure plant oil like grape seed oil or olive oil. Drip 30-40 drops of your chosen essential oil(s) into the slush and blend.While the bath is filling with warm water, lightly buff your body all over with the salt mixture in gentle sweeping motions up from the feet and in from the arms towards the heart. Then, sink into the warm water and allow the mixture to dissolve aromatically while you soak in the bath, all while breathing deeply. When stepping out of the bath, towel dry and apply a cream or natural oil with the same essential oil(s) mixed into it with the same light sweeping movements as used for the scrub. Do not wash off. This scrub ritual can be done once per week but not more to avoid irritation of the skin from over-exfoliation. Do not perform this scrub after shaving.Treating yourself with aromatherapy is a wonderful way to embark on a healthy lifestyle. It not only helps the body to detoxify, it also focuses the mind and lifts the spirit. Like all things, it takes time to build a healthy habit. The daily use of pure essential oils is worth the effort for lifelong health and wellness.
