| |
| |
Alternative medicine Home |
Beauty InfoMassage techniquesPure Natural Aromatherapy Essential oils |
|
Aromatherapy Favorites - Beautiful Rose Oil
Ah, Wonderful Rose Oil If there's an aroma that more individuals find deeply moving than any other, it is the oil of rose. The scent is divinely sweet, rich, and deeply floral - exclusive to the extract of history's most revered flower. Though the rose is renown for it's fragrance, the flower actually contains very little aromatic oil by weight. Some 60,000 roses are needed to distill a single ounce of oil, or about 60 roses PER DROP, a fact which brings the seemly high cost of rose oil into perspective. The Flower of Love The hardy nature of the thorny rose bush and the flower's magnificent beauty make it a horticulturalist's dream. The genus Rosa has some 150 species spread around the globe, being cultivated in your grandmother's backyard garden, in vast fields in Bulgaria's Valley of Roses, and everywhere in between. Roses have somewhat of a unique past, peppered with interesting stories and extravagant displays of affection. The flower's association with devotion was perhaps most wonderfully expressed during the Roman empire, with banquet halls being carpeted with petals. Cleopatra once received her beloved Marc Antony in a room literally knee-deep in rose petals - how's that for greeting? Roses are the unrivaled symbol of love, given dear ones through the ages as an affirmation of true affection. It's no wonder the flower's oil has great healing properties, both physically and emotionally, for the human heart. Rose's health Benefits With it's considerable therapeutic and aesthetic value, the 'queen of the flowers' had a special place in medicine and perfumery in the ancient civilizations of Persia, Egypt, India, Greece and Rome. The modern healing tradition of the extract of rose began in the 17 th century with the writings of English physician Nicholas Culpeper. The herbalist described the use of red roses to strengthen the heart, it's cooling and astringent actions, and its effect on headaches and tired eyes. Perhaps inspiring it's use as a beauty tonic 'par-excellence', he went on to suggest it's use as a remedy for a variety of skin complaints. In aromatherapy, the psychological effects are wondrous for those with a broken heart, or other emotional wounds. Rose oil calms and supports the heart center, inspiring a sense of happiness and well-being. When rejection or loss has injured one's ability to love and nurture, either themselves or those around them, rose oil can bring sweet and gentle comfort and allow an emotional 're-opening'. Use in Aromatherapy It is the Bulgarian Damask rose, or Rosa Damacena, most often used in aromatherapy. The oil of this 36-petaled beauty is available in two forms: the 'otto', or true essential oil, and the 'absolute'. Harvest of the flowers occurs in the early morning, before the sun's rays has warmed away the aroma. Rose otto is made in a two step steam-distillation process; the first distillation yields an essential oil and a large amount of 'rose water'. The water is again distilled, producing an oil which is combined with that from the first distillation. The absolute is made with a different process entirely. Similar in a way to 'effleurage' (the pressing of petals in fat to produce an extract), the flowers are processed in a solvent, with a wax-like 'concrete' being produced. Through a second extraction of the concrete, rose absolute is yielded. This method is significantly more efficient than steam distillation, producing nearly 7 pounds of oil per 10,000 pounds of roses (distillation yields 1 pound oil per 10,000 pounds of roses), with a corresponding lower cost. Does one produce a better oil? There is certainly debate; while some argue that traces of solvent are likely to exist in the absolute, others claim the heat of distillation does not result in a true representation of the flower. And as with either method, the quality and effect of the oil varies greatly with the experience and care of the manufacturer - the answer truly lies with the individual and the application. Using Rose Oil of rose can be utilized in a number of ways; it is very gentle, being suitable for use on the skin 'neat', in massage oil, and in a bath, as well as in a diffuser. As a perfume, the absolute can be worn directly on the skin - it's 'tenacious' quality will have the aroma slowly released for many hours. For therapeutic use for the emotions, a dilution of 10% of otto or absolute in jojoba oil is often used, being massaged into the heart area - a diffuser is very effective for this purpose as well. The absolute or otto can also be added in small amounts to any skin cream, though using a home-made natural recipe is often the nicest. Rose water, or hydrosol, the water resulting from the distillation process of rose otto, can also be used directly on the skin, with it's mild astringent and toning properties. A rose and lavender facial cream can be made using the following recipe:Melt ounce of beeswax in 4 ounces of jojoba using a double boiler. Add 3 ounces of distilled water in a thin stream while stirring vigorously with a wire whisk. Remove from heat and continue stirring while adding 20 drops of rose oil (absolute or otto) and 15 drops of lavender. Allow to cool, then enjoy this wonderful homemade cream for sensitive skin. There are, of course, many ways to enjoy rose oil's benefits. It is revered on many levels, from its pure aesthetic aromatic beauty, to its physiological healing and emotional uplifting. True rose oil, with its great depth and sweetness, is easily appreciated by almost all who experience this natural wonder. Misty Rae Cech is a Naturopath in Boulder, Colorado. She enjoys rose oil absolute and otto for their many applications, along with other aromatherapy essential oils.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Fraicheur DAgrume (Citrus Fruits): Freshness in a Bottle Citrus oils are perhaps one of the more popular essential oils for perfumery. They provide a fresh, invigorating and stimulating aroma that is indispensable in fragrances. Fasting is the Fast Track to Detox Because of our mechanized and industrialized society we find toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury and arsenic polluting our food, air, water and soil. The human body works hard to eliminate toxins, but as exposure increases, the body is less able to detoxify. Hypnotherapy - Does It Really Work? Okay, so some of you are familiar with hypnotherapy. You've heard it can be used for curing a number of ailments including stress, alcoholism and the like. The Healing Effect of Scented Candles In June 2002, I was a bridesmaid at my cousin's wedding when I had my first panic attack (or "episode" as I called it at the time). I managed to get through the wedding without anyone knowing I was having a problem, but in two months I was going to be a bridesmaid at my sister's wedding. Constipation Remedy Using Apples and Other Juices Here are two constipation remedies that you can use for a mild case of constipation and for a chronic case of constipation.Apple and Pear JuiceIf you have a mild case of constipation, you can use this remedy to get results. What AreThe Symptoms Of A Sinus Headache? Problems with sinuses, give rise to headaches, so you have to know the symptoms of a sinus headache in order to know if you actually have one. The sinuses are small spaces in the facial bones just below the facial skin. Natural Remedy for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADHD Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurobehavioral disorder of higher brain functioning. ADHD is common among the disorders that get affected in childhood and adolescence. Amazing Artemesias Artemis - Goddess of the herbalist - gives her name to a genus of marvelously aromatic, safely psychedelic, highly medicinal, dazzlingly decorative, and more-or-less edible plants in the Asteraceae family. I love Artemis, and I love her plants. Health Benefits of Hemp Oil Hemp oil has long been recognised as one of the most versatile and beneficial substances known to man. Derived from hemp seeds (a member of the achene family of fruits) it has been regarded as a superfood due to its high essential fatty acid content and the unique ratio of omega3 to omega6 and gamma linolenic acid (GLA) - 2:5:1. Natural Smoothie Formula to Stop Constipation and Acne Here is how to build a natural smoothie that can stop constipation, relieve acne, improve your skin and give you more energy. The smoothie base is a liquid slurry that can be used to add more natural ingredients. Stuttering Treatment, Stammering Treatment There are many different treatments for people who stutter/stammer. In this article I will describe some of the experiences and types of stuttering or stammering therapy people experiment with. Alternative Medicine is Holistic, Western Medicine is Reductionist The major difference between alternative medicine, or what I'll call holistic health, and Western medicine, is in approach.A Western doctor, or MD, sees his duty as searching out disease, diagnosing it, and treating it. Sheepskin Underlays, For a Better Sleep Sheepskin a better sleep If you want a better sleep, consider that when medical researchers report on the best padding available for increased comfort and reduced stress, they are referring to sheepskin. One reason sheepskin makes for a better sleep is because sheepskin padding redistributes weight over a larger surface area than do other materials. Static Magnetic Therapy: Does It Really Work? Recently, a number of articles have been published on static magnetic therapy. Static magnetic therapy is the placement of a magnet field on or near the body to enhance healing, relieve pain and improve body function. Improving Your Body Immune System The immune system in your body is an amazing functionality that produces antibodies to fight against any infections whether it is bacterial, fungal, or cancers. Any micro organism that invades our body is kept under check and it is destroyed by the immune system in our body. Bois De Santal: The Source of Tranquility The near extinct bois de santal has a sensual and exotic scent that gives an elevating experience for those who use it. The oil extraction process of the sandalwood is lengthy; the tree has to be about 30 years old before the process can take place. Magnetic Bracelet Used in Research Study Now in United States At the end of 2004 results from a study on arthritis patients in the UK was published in the British Medical Journal.It stated that it had found positive pain reliving results using a magnetic bracelet. Aromatherapy What is aromatherapy? Used for centuries, aromatherapy is known to have been utilized by the Egyptian physician, Imhotep; and Hippocrates. The first person to dub the term "aromatherapy, was French chemist, Rene-Mauric Gattefosse during the 1930s. Love, Appreciation, and the Heart As I started to write this article a few words from a song kept running through my head "all you need is love.. The Future of Healing... Your FUTURE is NOT in a doctor's office or a vial of prescription drugs.Western medicine has done a wonderful job in treating our symptoms and masking the pain of physical imbalances with drugs that cost a small fortune.
|
| Alternative home | site map | Beauty | Massage oils | Essential Oils | Privacy and FAQ | Alternative medicine Courses |
| Massage oils 365 © 2011 Alternative medicine |
