Understanding the basics of aromatherapy
Aromatherapy has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, assisting and comforting me at different phases of my life. My very first memory is the smell of roses when, as a child, my mother gave me her last kiss goodnight. As she bent close I could smell her favourite scent – rose. Ever after the fragrance of roses has always instilled in me a feeling of security and love.
The smell is for me the smell of freedom and long hot summers. When I was a teenager I would spend the summer at my grandfather’s house in France. There was a pine forest behind his garden, and as the pine needles literally cracked under the hot sun they released their fresh aroma. Today the freedom and happiness of those holidays is rekindled each time I walk through pine trees or smell the fragrance.
Lily of the valley always brings me joy and reminds me of the time my son was born. My room was filled with the sweet smelling flowers.
Aromatherapy involves more than fragrance. Plant essential oils have therapeutic powers in addition to beneficial fragrance, and all are antiseptic in different degrees. In the plane on the way to India a few years ago, my index finger began throbbing violently. A rose thorn had lodged in it two days before, as I pruned my roses. It was now turning septic. I straight away applied tea tree oil neat to the finger. By the time I arrived in Bangalore the swelling had almost gone and the throbbing had stopped.
Other oils have the power to comfort. Just before my guru, Marguerite Maury died, she gave me a personal formulation of different oils which she asked me to spread on her coffin. Their strong aromas, released in the confines of the small church in Switzerland, enveloped me and comforted me as Marguerite had so thoughtfully intended.
During the late nights spent writing my books the stimulating odiferous molecules of basil placed near my desk helped me overcome the physical tiredness I felt, and helped to keep me going.
Over the years plants, flowers and their essential oils have been my great companions, healers and fortifiers, and it is impossible to imagine a world without them.
Sadly, however, it is a false claim that the therapy is 100 per cent safe, and that the therapy is for everyone; there are actually some severe dangers in self-help aromatherapy.
It is for this reason I wrote the Aromatherapy Bible. It gave me as much pain as joy to write. On the one hand, I have enjoyed all the research, talking about the plants encountered on my travels, their therapeutic values and the method of treatments. But on the other I have had to use a critical eye and condemn certain essential oils and their curative values for safety reasons.
The reader should also be aware that the demand for certain plant essences has contributed to the wrecking of forests and has added to the pollution of our planet. Further, for economic reasons some oils are often adulterated, and this of course affects their therapeutic value. Essential oils must be absolutely pure and of the very best quality for use in therapy.
I created the Aromatherapy Bible website www.aromatherapybible.com to help people understand essential oils and enjoy the benefits of essential oils. Also to warn them to be careful that as demands for alternative therapies have increased in the last few years, it is time to make sure that the public takes serious precautions before embarking on self-treatment. Essential oils are drugs and should be considered as such.
I do not prescribe essential oils internally. Many essential oils are very strong indeed, and have a corrosive action which could be a danger if used in this way. (If certain oils can perforate metal – for example clove oil – what can they do to the human body?) The methods used are external application and, my own preference, vapour inhalation. If the essential oil is well diluted in a chosen carrier oil or in water, it can give very good results, offer relief, and be very pleasurable, causing an immediate sense of well being when inhaled. Essential oils are only used neat in special circumstances.
With the dangers of oils still in mind, I have also given alternative methods of treatment from the plant world. Instead of the oils, the plants themselves can be used in the form of tisanes or cooking, when you can still find and benefit from the essential oils in minute proportions. In fact, a dish without herbs is a dish, without sense: the addition of herbs or spices to a dish enhances the subtle fumet (aroma) of the food and not only sharpens the appetite but facilitates the digestion – as well as, of course, pleasing the taste buds. Rosemary, for example, aids the functioning of the liver and promotes the body’s digestion of fatty meats like lamb and pork.
In my latest book: ‘Secrets of Youth & Beauty’, I show you how to make your own plant oils from bought or home-grown plants. The finished oils contain tiny but beneficial proportions of essential oils, and will be absolutely safe to use.
My Aromatherapy Bible website provides you with details of over 80 plants, including botanical and historical research on each and their therapeutic values.
Best wishes
Danièle
Happy New Year and 2009 to all the visitors to my website
Positive essential oils and scents for this year!
Start the New Year with a positive scent, bring to your attention a new scent every day and enjoy and recognize and memorise the notes. It can be from a flower like a Rose, leaves of a tree like Eucalyptus, bark from Cinnamon, pods from Vanilla and so on…
This kind of meditation on a fragrance can be very positive to your psyche and can change a state of mind which is usually stress and depression early January after couple of week’s holiday.
Coming back to public transport and the office can be quite stressful: It can feel as if you’re surrounded by a barrage of germs on every side! People snuffling into handkerchiefs, sneezing through scarves and coughing behind coats sleeves.
Prevention is better than cure. Make sure your immune system is in good condition with supplement of Echinacea and cod liver oil. Do eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and substituting hot water with lemon and ginger for your usual morning coffee. A nice change can also be rosehip tea with a squeeze mandarin and honey.
Take with you in a small bottle with a mixture of half Rosemary and half Eucalyptus essential oils which you would have mixed. Apply few drops to a tissue and time to time bring it to your nose and inhale the fumes for couple of minutes. Keep next to your desk at work.
Air in your house needs changing - even when it’s really cold. Every other day open all the windows and let clean air in for at least half an hour to an hour or so. Central heating can be very drying to your skin, but it can also weaken your respiratory system.
Always place a bowl of water by each radiator to slowly evaporate or spray the air with the following time to time. In a spray bottle (100) ml add 20 drops of peppermint and 10 drops of lemon, 10 drops of Ravensare essential oils, then add warm water.
Shake well and spray well the room a few times a day. I always do this before exercise, yoga or meditation - it makes sense. Not only you will deal with germs in the room but also your respiratory system will benefit from it. This is much better than air freshener-artificial chemicals can actually make respiratory problems worse.
To counter the winter evening blues, try to get at least some fresh air exercise every day. Rainy weather is dreary, but a cold clear day is so invigorating. It boosts energy levels and the sunlight makes a real difference to your spirits- even if only for 10 to 15 minutes walk in a lunch break.
Your New Year resolution could be:
De-stress with a massage each month, using essential oils such as: Orange, Geranium, and Neroli.
During the winter months, a good time to change your skin regime; start to make your own product, save money save your skin.
Look at my video at the bottom of my Home page: www.danieleryman.com and see how easy it is making your own facial serum, or consult my latest book: “The secrets of youth and Beauty “For many valuable and helpful skin recipes.
Never be out of a good moisturiser. My Daily Moisture Crème product is a good way to start looking after your dry skin keeping it looking radiant, especially when you have central heating.
Best wishes
Danièle
Essential Oils – Easy healthy recipes
All essential oils, apart from their antiseptic and bactericide properties, have natural hormones and traces of vitamins, minerals and the antioxidants that are so important in rejuvenation.
All these organic essential oils have natural anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. They are tremendously helpful for healing minor burns, scars, when the integrity of the skin is damaged. They not only reduce the possibility of infections, but also stimulate the regeneration of new skin cells to encourage healing.
Here are some simple but wonderful recipes that you can make to help you and your family during this coming Holiday season. All of these oils are in my Starter Pack which are 100% organic.
Lavender: To Combat insomnia and induce sleep
Something for all of us! Very often the inability to sleep is caused by easily remedial factors such as lack of exercise, too many stimulants like coffee and tea, cigarettes and alcohol or eating too late in the evening. These are all best avoided. The following can be of help.
Apply few drops of Lavender on a tissue and leave it near your pillow for a good night sleep.
Have a warm bath with Organic Lavender essential oil half an hour before going to bed to induce sleep. Inhale the fumes relax for 10 minutes in the water, breathing deeply (15 to 2o minutes).
Ever feel stressed or panic? Here is what you can do…
A simple remedy to help you feeling calm: Place two drops of Lavender in the palm of your hands, rub them together vigorously, and inhale the fumes slowly breathing deeply. You will notice the difference.
Rosemary – Acneique conditions
Treat acne spots with cotton bud by applying some of the essential oil of Rosemary neat; rub gently on the acne spots and the red irritated spots. You can follow with a hot compress. Apply twice a day.
Many plants and plants oils have an effect on the nervous system, just as their pleasant smells can always help lift spirits.
The essential oils can help balance the nervous system, restoring, galvanising into action.
Wake up with Rosemary essential oil by rubbing a few drops on your torso before your morning shower. You will find this a great way to recuperate after sleep, by simply inhaling the fumes during the shower time.
During the day, place a few drops of Rosemary on a tissue and inhale when feeling tired or low by placing the tissue near your nose.
Leave a tissue in your car with Rosemary essential oil when driving to be alert. Don’t forget that a lot of accidents are caused when you are tried at the wheel.
Grapefruit: A wonderful perfume Organic essential oil
Add a few drops to a clear non-perfumed shampoo for lustre, or use a few drops in the last rise water.
Grapefruit is an ideal essential oil for young people. It is a tonic to keep in good health.
In 10 ml Almond oil in a large egg cup add 6 drops of essential oil of Grapefruit 3 drops of Wheat germ, massage on your torso, arms, feet and legs – every day and see the difference!
Ylang Ylang: An aphrodisiac, stimulant body Oil
In 20 ml (2 egg cups) Almond oil, add 10 drops of Borage oil +
4 drops of wheat germ. Mix well. It is good to keep in a little bottle for those ‘special days.’
Apply on the body after a warm bath or shower.
Add 10 drops of Organic Ylang-Ylang, you will be rubbing noses that night! Enjoy.
Roman: Chamomile: Excellent Facial Serum
To soothe any dry skin. Ideal to also use after an illness or during menopause.
In one egg cup, pour half Argan oil, half Rose Musqueta, 5 drops of wheat germ. Mix well and place in a little bottle. Use morning and night.
PEPPERMINT: Helps alleviate headaches and migraine
Place one drop of the Peppermint essential oil in the palm of your hands, rub your hands together, then gently massage , temples, forehead , back of the neck, then inhale the fumes for a few minutes by placing your hands near your nose.
You will find that this will help significantly.
Lemon: To help combat Flue
Flue and colds although a common condition can be treated and helped with this organic essential oil.
Place some very hot water in a bowl add 3 drops of Lemon organic essential oil, place a small towel on your head and inhale the fumes for a couple of minutes.
Make also an oil to rub on torso and sinus when starting a cold.
In one egg cup place Jojoba 5 ml, Borage 5 ml , 2 drops of wheat germ add 10 drops of Lemon, mix well and place in a little bottle .
Apply , massaging gently three times a day around sinus, torso , behind ears , temples, back of the neck.
Geranium: A natural antiseptic
Geranium is a very antiseptic essential oil and is great to use when you have been bitten by an insect i.e. Mosquitoes bites or any insect bites.
Rub on the bite straight away with a cotton bud the essential oil neat, massage gently the area.
Place near your bed some Geranium essential oil in a cup of warm water 3 to 4 drops it will help to keep the insect away.
Place a few drops 10 of Organic Geranium essential oil in a pint of water when you are rinsing your bedding. Place in the rinsing compartment of the washing machine.
I do trust that those recipes will be of a great help and know that you will enjoy preparing them for yourself and the family.
Best wishes
Daniele
Beautiful skin with aromatherapy and essential oils – and save money!
I know that you can have exquisite and beautiful skin I believe with the daily use of organic essential oils, mixed in an Organic carefully chosen base oil.
Aromatherapy is a natural therapy which is becoming increasingly popular. It is not new (indeed it is known to have been practised by the Ancient Egyptians), but in our twenty first century society, full of stresses, pollution and chemical solutions to illness – aromatherapy has come to be seen as a gentle, relaxing and extremely pleasant mode of healing. Importantly it is also a wonderful way to treat different skin conditions.
Aromatherapy is one of the few therapies which can be practised – and enjoyed at home. Although the major principles and benefits of the therapy: wonderful perfumes, gentle massage, skin and beauty care may seem to be aimed more to women but also men are certainly benefiting from aromatherapy essential oils as well.
Most commercial skin-care products work only superficially on the surface of the skin and also irritating ingredients are added bringing about only minimal changes to the internal nature of the skin. Because essential oils on the other hands can penetrate the skin and help to restore proper functioning, they actually beautify the skin from within and are the perfect ‘anti-ageing solutions.’
My Youth and Beauty Pack Youth and Beauty Pack – Organic Essential Oils is ideal. It contains the most exquisite quality of Organic essential oils and organic base oils well researched which will enable you to achieve that. Aromatherapy makes the skin look healthy, thus obviating the need for make- up, giving a much natural look.
The Youth and Beauty Pack is the answer to a time when we are told that a recession is coming and we have to save money.
By saving your skin from expensive beauty products, you can make over 100 easy recipes and enjoy preparing your own cleanser, facial serum, toner, mask, body oil, bath essence, facial and body scrub, hair products etc…
With the Youth and Beauty Pack you can make so many formulations to suit your skin. Easy to take with you on holidays and on short trips or even ideal to take with you in your sport bag.
The perfect answer to a busy life and also will save you money.
Enjoy beautiful skin!
Best wishes
Daniele
Certified by the Soil Association
Organic Essential Oils for our immune system
Health of body and mind is an irreplaceable present or gift.
Our living body is designed to defend and restore itself all along our lives.
Our natural defences are formidable and present. The skin is an incredible structure like a wall of defence, protecting us constantly form invaders, shock and damage and also protecting our inner self.
Our doors of defences are guarded with filters. Invaders that pass these physical defences meet a range of protective barriers such as mucous linings to the mouth and the nose. If our natural defences are breached the body rushes into action and the repair to the damage caused start immediately. The system uses a natural defence of desyintoxication, detoxifying the system.
The role of organic essential oils is there to assist our immune system to fight better against the encountered infection. They have bactericide, antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory properties, they really or should find their place in our every day life.
Essential oils used in perfumery, flavouring and in therapies are capable modification due to their adulteration at source, dilution in transit or by various extraction procedure or also mixed with other essential oils to cut down cost.
It is also possible to replicate aromas and create synthetic oils which are known as Nature Identical and resemble the original oil in some of its components. This is why it is important to purchase the right quality organic oils to obtain the desired results, to make skin, body, mind remedies as illustrated in my latest book ‘The Secrets of Youth and Beauty’ published by Pan McMillan.
We have just launched this week our range of organic essential oils, they are stamped with the Soil Association logo. The organic essential oils were approved by the Analytical Committee dealing with authenticity and purity.
The come in three packs with a brochure giving some guidance on how to use them in the most satisfactory way.
1) Starter Pack
2) Youth & Beauty Pack
3) Mothers To Be Pack
I have just returned from Paris where I spent time with my mother. I love Paris it is the city of my youth and I miss it. Paris is always so inspiring and full of surprises, they are at every corner. I love the little boutiques which abound with luxuries and good ideas.
I always check ‘Raisonnance’ a small chain of shops which specialize in youth, beauty and health, selling essential oils and books on aromatherapy. They continually have intriguing and innovative concepts on display.
It was in Paris, where I started work with Marguerite Maury, still recognised as the doyenne of aromatherapy. I was so privileged to have her as my mentor and moved to London when she started her clinic there.
Marguerite Maury established clinics and schools in Paris, London and Switzerland where she gained an outstanding reputation and awards, through her work and innovative research.
For many years, she researched and firmly believed, that the correct essential Oils have a positive effect on our immune system, health and wellbeing.
