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Aromatherapy is the use of plant-based aromatic essential oils to promote physical and mental well being. Learn about ginger and aromatherapy with help from a natural remedy adviser in this free video clip.
Jojoba oil and essential oil are two amazing tools to use to clean your skin in a really effective way. Clean skin with Jojoba oil and essential oil with help from a medically-trained aesthetician, makeup artist and beauty blogger in this free video clip.
Oregano essential oil has a number of great disinfectant properties, so long as it is used in the proper way. Use oregano essential oil as a disinfectant with help from a certified clinical herbalist in this free video clip.
Certain essential oils are absolutely great for taking care of and styling black hair. Find out about essential oils for black hair with help from a hair professional in this free video clip.
Jojoba oil and eucalyptus oil mix is absolutely great for maintaining fresh and healthy skin. Make a Jojoba oil and eucalyptus oil mix for skin with help from an experienced massage expert in this free video clip.
Clove oil is very concentrated and even at concentrations of 0.03 can still burn the skin. Learn about using clove oil to get rid of pimples with help from a board-certified naturopathic doctor and a licensed acupuncture physician in this free video clip.
Oil of oregano is a great tool to use when curing certain kinds of wounds. Learn about oil of oregano for wound care with help from a licensed Naturopathic Doctor and a Registered Nurse in this free video clip.
Acacia and Aromatherapy use a sense of smell to enhance health and well-being. Find out more about Acacia and Aromatherapy with help from a licensed Naturopathic Doctor and a Registered Nurse in this free video clip.
Lemongrass is a type of grass that originates in the C. flexuous and the C. citrates family and is commonly used to add scent or flavoring to a variety of foods. It is most commonly available as an oil. In addition, lemongrass is used in many alternative medicine treatments as an antifungal or anti-carcinogenic agent and can also be an effective non-chemical insecticide. While lemongrass is generally considered safe, lemongrass might be toxic in large quantities, so following recommended quantity guidelines is recommended.
Tea tree oil has some very important benefits and dangers associated with it. Learn about the benefits and dangers of tea tree oil with help from a Ph.D in Natural Health in this free video clip.
Lemon essential oil has a great, clean scent and is a great cleaning tool. Make your own lemon essential cleaner with the help of a cleaning coach in this free video.
Socks are not normally associated with pleasant aromas. They spend their time in a warm, sweaty environment inside shoes, where odor-causing bacteria flourish. There are several ways to minimize the distasteful scent of worn socks, including antibacterial or deodorant sprays for shoes and insoles lined with charcoal for odor absorption. Another alternative is scenting the socks themselves with a pleasant aroma before they're worn. Commercially scented socks provide a longer-lasting effect, but you can make your own at home using certain ingredients.
Burning oil produces carbon monoxide and other toxic gases. To prevent those gases from entering household air, a heat exchanger separates the combustion area from the air or water to be heated. The firing into an isolated chamber isolates the combustion reaction, ensuring the air you breathe remains safe.
Essential oils are aromatic compounds typically distilled from herbs, fruits and flowers. Adding an essential oil to your clothes dryer will give your laundry a pleasant smell and may even help to keep household insects away. If you want a fresh, clean scent, try using lavender, lemon, pennyroyal or bergamot. If you prefer a floral scent, try geranium, jasmine or rose. For an herbal scent, try rosemary or sage. Remember, though, that essential oils are highly concentrated and potentially toxic. Two or three drops will suffice for a single load of laundry. Don’t be misled by labels stating that these…
When respiratory symptoms strike, few things are more soothing than the warm, moist air from a humidifier. But for many people, a humidifier fails to deliver adequate relief. Adding eucalyptus oil to the water in your humidifier is one way to increase the immediate benefits, but it is best to know the facts before using it to avoid causing harm to your humidifier or yourself.
E10 gasoline, which is a blend of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol, generally will not affect the performance of a car or truck engine manufactured after 1980. However, E10 is water-soluble and could affect engines in pre-1980 vehicles that are garaged for long periods and in areas with frequent weather changes. Only a handful of U.S. states require E10 gasoline, but vehicle owners should take care as to what they use for fuel when traveling.
Monarda fistulosa, also known as wild bergamot or bee balm, is valued for its bright pinkish-lavender, red or purple blooms that attract honeybees and hummingbirds all summer. The bright green, fuzzy leaves have a pleasant, minty aroma. Although Monarda fistulosa is a wildflower that grows freely in dry, rocky areas or along roadsides, it is often cultivated and grown in home gardens.
Almond oil comes from almond kernels and contains a variety of vitamins and nutrients. It is rich in protein, which helps relieve inflammation and dry skin. This makes almond oil ideal for use under the eyes to treat eye bags. Whether you’ve developed eye bags because of stress, lack of sleep or they are just hereditary, use almond oil to help tighten the skin and get rid of the bags.
You can make blackberry infused vinegar right from your own kitchen so long as you have the right ingredients. Make blackberry infused vinegar with help from a celebrity chef who trained at the Culinary Institute of America in this free video clip.
Pomade originated in the 19th century. Made from animal fat, it was used to create the slicked-back men's hairstyles popular at the time. During the 1950's, pomade became widely used due to the popularity of the pompadour and duck tail hairstyles worn by rock 'n' roll idols. Men sporting those trademark hairstyles were known as "greasers" due to the amount of greasy pomade required to keep their hair in place.
With the price of basic essentials such as food and clothing always a concern, it's important to save money wherever possible. One way to do so is to make your own laundry detergent, which not only costs less per load than commercial detergents, but allows you to see exactly what ingredients are going into your detergent and decreases the chance of skin irritation. You can even add essential oils to the washing detergent if you want to make it scented and leave a fresh smell on your clothes.
Rose water has a light and fresh scent, caused by the fresh rose petals used in the distillation process. Manufacturers use the product in health and beauty products, but homemade rose water has uses far beyond beauty applications. The water adds a distinct flavor to cooked dishes, including rice and desserts. Storing the rose water away from sunlight prolongs the flavor and scent.
Many different face mask recipes use a combination of essential oils. Learn about face mask recipes with essential oils with help from an experienced makeup artist in this free video clip.
Eucalyptus leaves grow on trees native to Australia, and from these leaves comes a fragrant oil that has many health and cleaning uses. For example, eucalyptus oil makes an ideal kitchen or bathroom disinfectant, and it also works as an insect repellent. Buying eucalyptus oil from a store can be expensive. If you have access to a eucalyptus tree, harvest the essential oil from its leaves with either a hot or cold extraction method.
Benzoin absolute is an essential oil used in aromatherapy, and it smells somewhat like vanilla. It is usually used in an aroma lamp, because other methods of burning the benzoin can cause problems. For example, cleaning the nebulizer after burning it can be difficult. This aroma is used to treat bronchitis, coughs, asthma and laryngitis, and the substance comes from Styrax benzoin trees -- native to Indonesia. It is extracted from resin produced by the benzoin. Essential oils are “absolute” when they are derived using the solvent extraction method, which makes the benzoin more concentrated.
Swimming in a chlorinated pool has a drying effect on both skin and hair. Making sure to rinse off well after swimming is one way to stave off damage to hair. Chlorine strips the sebum from the hair shaft, which leaves hair weak and prone to breakage. Using essential oils after swimming as an extra means to removing chlorine will help keep your hair healthy and well moisturized.
Skin creams are a combination of oil and water that emulsify to become a semi-solid mixture. There is a lot of flexibility in terms of the types of oil used and the additional scents added during the process and using an herb-infused oil will let you tailor the cream to your liking. A home mixer and a steady hand will turn your liquid oil into a skin cream that will last for several months in the fridge.
There are more than 3,000 different species of Myrtaceae or myrtle trees growing all over the world. Some common myrtles are Crepe myrtle, Star myrtle, Eucalyptus and Alternifolia, or the common tea tree. Some common myrtles used in cooking as well as health are allspice and clove. All myrtle trees produce oils and many are used in natural skin and hair treatments.
Oil of oregano has achieved popularity in the natural healing community because it has proven antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial and antiparasitic properties according the "PDR for Herbal Medicines.” While you can ingest oil of oregano, you want to use it topically for skin abrasions and infections, foot and nail fungus or for other skin conditions. The essential oil is too strong to use alone, so you must dilute the oil before smoothing it on your skin.
Exfoliation is key to maintaining youthful, healthy skin, as the practice sloughs off dead skin cells that cause skin to look uneven, rough and blotchy. Rather than spending money on expensive scrubs that may contain chemical ingredients, make your own at home using almond oil. This oil is a natural skin conditioner that keeps skin looking healthy and hydrated and also works to heal dry, burned, irritated skin or skin that has broken out in a rash.
It’s refreshing to walk into a room and smell a fragrant aroma, and you don’t have to use store-bought air fresheners to get that fresh scent. Instead, try making your own room spritzer at home. Not only is homemade room spritzer better for the environment -- no aerosol cans or toxic chemicals -- you can customize the scent to match your preference.
Eucalyptus oil has many different uses and is one of the few oils that can be used externally as well as internally. Make it one of the major ingredients in your body wash for its cool and stimulating qualities. It contains healing and antimicrobial elements that many other essential oils do not have. When mixed with complementary oils, it provides a pleasant and refreshing shower or bath experience. One of the benefits to adding it to your body wash is the stimulating effect of its decongestive attributes.
If you are looking for a way to add moisture and vitality to your hair, you can use a homemade hair oil infusion. Hair oil infusions can be used as daily moisturizers, hot oil treatments or as a last-minute additive to your hair conditioner. Oil infusions combine a variety of natural herbs and oils to combat dry and damaged hair. Making your own homemade oil infusion will allow you to choose your own selection of health enhancing herbs and oils.
Break apart a grapefruit and you witness it first-hand: the essential oils of the grapefruit contained in the peel burst forth in an explosion of zingy freshness. The invigorating scent of grapefruit essential oil is prized for its uplifting and aromatherapeutic properties. Extracting the essential oil from the peel requires separating the spongey inner membrane from the outer peel; moreover, temperature must not be so high that it destroys the volatile qualities of the oil.
Almond oil is a all-natural substance with many uses, ranging from a component in skin creams to wood furniture polish. Applying almond oil to wood furniture not only works as a polisher, it also acts as a protective layer against water spills and other elements which your furniture can come into contact with. Applying almond oil to your furniture can be done by hand.
Frankincense essential oil is used in aromatherapy to relax and calm the mind. In some religions, it is inhaled by followers seeking a higher sense of self-awareness that allows them to meditate and slip into a state of trance. However, this powerful oil can be expensive and commercial versions are often laboratory-created synthetics. Making it yourself will ensure you have the best oil possible for your needs.
With stinging hairs on its leaves and stem, nettle is considered a weed, but it is also a highly nutritious addition to the diet when made into an oil infusion. Making an oil infusion simply involves extracting a plant's essential oils by brewing its leaves or stem in boiling water. Once nettle is cooked or dried, its stinging properties are not active. Nettle oil infusion is drunk as a tea. Wear gloves when harvesting live nettle, and make your own infusion to enjoy the plant's healthful benefits.
Oils infused with herbs can boost the flavor and health benefits of ordinary salads, marinades and sauces, or can serve as key components for creating natural cosmetics, including healing lotions, balms and soaps. Shelves lined with bottles of infused oils add a gourmet touch to the kitchen and are thoughtful gifts. You can create infused oils at home quickly and safely using dried herbs and a Crock-Pot.
Most pure essential oils are too powerful to consume internally or apply externally, so the majority of essential oils from manufacturers are oil infusions or dilutions in a carrier oil. In addition, extracting pure essential oils requires the use of a complex still to slowly draw out and collect the oils. Essential oils or essential oil infusions can be made at home and require no complicated or expensive equipment. If you already own a Crock-Pot or slow cooker, you have the perfect essential oil extractor.
Every person has his own go-to product for pest control. What many homeowners do not know, however, is that many commercial insecticides contain harmful chemicals. To keep your family safe, it is best to avoid commercial products, but this does not mean that you have to settle for less-effective solutions. Natural pest-control solutions, such as clove oil, can be used the same way as the most popular commercial insecticides, and they are nontoxic.
Herb infused oils are a quick and easy way to add flavor to a dish. Flavored oil can be used as a topping for salads or vegetables and used during cooking to impart the flavor. Rosemary's strong, woody flavor lends itself well to oil infusion. Rosemary can be cooked with oil or simply combined with oil to slowly leech the flavor from fresh sprigs. The rosemary flavor is most pronounced when infused in a neutral flavored oil.
When you enjoy carrying essential oils around with you for your aromatherapy business, it may be difficult to find a way to carry the oils, without stuffing them into a purse or pocket. One solution is to use a small leather pouch to carry your essential oils. Although you can buy a pre-made leather pouch from a department store or specialty shop, you can save money by making your own leather pouch using the basic craft materials.
As you use a shower and bathtub daily, grime and hard water deposits may accumulate on the fixtures and surfaces. Many manufacturers make daily shower cleaners designed to spray on shower surfaces every day to reduce the surface germs and build-up. Instead of using expensive cleaners that may contain harmful chemicals, make a homemade shower cleaner with vinegar and essential oil. Vinegar contains acidic properties that power through grime and build-up, and essential oil can add enjoyable scents and cleaning power to the solution.
Eggs are one of the most useful foods a chef or a cook can make. They are nutritious and versatile, and are used as an emulsifying agent, a thickener, a raising and foaming agent, as well as a food. Volume and lightness can be added to sweet and savory foods by adding frothed egg whites to a basic mixture. By whisking egg whites until they are foamy, you can add lightness and fluffiness to your own, delicious creations.
With a million home brewers in the United States alone and more than 300 home brew competitions annually, the craft of brewing beer in small batches has become a popular pastime. While commercially produced brewing equipment is available, some home brewers prefer to build their own setups, either for economic reasons or simply to have a hand in every part of the brewing process. Building your own mash tun will allow you to try your hand at all grain brewing through the single infusion process.
Maceration procedures utilize a variety of solvents to extract complex oils and fragrances from plant material. Traditional maceration procedures require whole or ground plant material to soak in a water, oil or alcohol-based solvent, inside a sealed glass container, at ambient temperature for days or weeks. Hundreds of plant species contain useful extractable oils, which may be used in aromatherapy, alternative medicine, cosmetics or foods.
Natural lawn care is important for the environment and our families. The combinations of chemicals found in most weed killers are toxic and potentially dangerous to ground water, animals and soils. Fortunately, there are safe solutions you can find in your own cupboard or kitchen. Pungent aromatic oils such as clove and acidic bases such as vinegar are common household items with effective weed control abilities.
Aromatherapy, according to Wavelengths Natural Health, not only aids relaxation and relieves stress, it can also stop growing infections. If you feel yourself coming down with a cold or flu, aromatherapy could help stop the sickness in its tracks. Of course, you can also simply use scented oils to calm yourself after a stressful day. Either way, the steam and warmth of a hot shower only enhances aromatherapy's benefits by dispersing the scents. Take advantage of this by creating your own shower infusers.
Diluting edible oil for human consumption is essential for anyone interested in watching their weight. Diluting cooking oil, for example, with water reduces its thickness and consistency. Tea tree oil, on the other hand, is an ideal mouthwash when diluted with water. Keep in mind that mixing oil with water is only temporary because the chemical makeup of oil and water forces the elements to separate. Remember this fact when using diluted oil for maximum effect.
People in hospital or other medical care facilities often lack the ability to take in fluids on their own. Fortunately, pressure fluid infusion devices exist to administer fluids, nutrients and medications under those circumstances. Patients who need to take medicines that aren't in pill form can also purchase such a device to take home; this machine will allow their bodies to receive the substances they need to live without the presence of a medical professional every time they need the medication.
