Best essential oils for head massage

Getting a head massage with essential oil blends has many beneficial effects. It can help you relax and at the same time treat dandruff and dry scalp, leaving your hair strong and shiny.

The best essential oils to use for a head massage are

Lavender: soothes the scalp and heals dry skin and hair.

Rosemary: stimulates hair growth,  slows down the graying process and treats dandruff.

Chamomile: adds shine and softness to your hair while soothing your skin. Lightens hair naturally.

Cedarwood: promotes hair growth, reduces skin irritations and repels bugs.

Clary Sage: regulates oil production, treats dandruff.

Lemongrass: strengthens hair follicles, soothes itchy and irritated skin. Acts as a natural bug repellent and treats headache.

Peppermint: stimulates the scalp, treats dandruff, promotes hair growth, relieves tension and headache.

Head massage blend

30 ml sweet almond oil

6 drops lavender e.o.

4 drops rosemary e.o.

Massage 1/2 teaspoon into temples, at base of neck and hair.


Are you after great recipes of personal care and massage products? Then don't miss the exceptional book from Beth Jones "600 Aromatherapy Recipes for Beauty, Health & Home".

Essential Oil Perfume

In Aromatherapy, blending does not have strict rules that must be followed, even when creating a perfume. Essential oils can be categorized in many groups. The most common ones are those based on their therapeutic properties, their scent and their "note".

Oils in the same scent category generally blend well together. However the magic of Aromatherapy lies in the endless opportunity to experiment, mix and match essential oils until you achieve a unique, personalized blend. So try not to limit your creativity by using only essential oils of a certain scent category.

Nevertheless, even when creating an Aromatherapy perfume it is advisable to stick to the rule of the 3 notes. Which means your perfume should contain essential oils of all three note categories in order to feel and smell balanced.  Not sure what a "note" is? 

Have you ever noticed that a fragrance smells differently after several hours than when you first apply it? This is due to the fact that some essential oils evaporate more quickly than others. The oils that evaporate the quickest, usually within 1-2 hours, are called "top notes". Oils that evaporate within 2-4 hours are considered "middle notes". Oils that take the longest time to evaporate are referred to as “base notes".

Looking forward to creating your own signature scent? Use the following basic recipe and expand your creativity with the help of the Note - Scent Chart. 

Homemade Perfume

15ml Jojoba oil

15ml Vodka

8 drops sandalwood e. o.

2 drops orange e.o.

1 drop patchouli e.o.

1 drop ylang ylang e.o.

More fat, less weight?

True or false? A diet that lets a person eat fat - even saturated - without calorie counting could lead to substantial weight loss, treatment of diabetes into remission, increased HDL levels, lower triglycerides and blood pressure? True, as research and many clinical trials report those beneficial effects for the ketogenic (keto or low carb high fat) diet.

Usually low-carb diets emphasize protein and limit fat. On the contrary, the goal of a properly maintained keto diet is to limit carbohydrates without restriction of fat or overall calories. Through starvation of carbohydrates the body begins to burn ketones as its primary energy source, which are produced from the breakdown of fats in liver.

According to an article published on the latest Journal of the American MedicalAssociation, there are hints that the ketogenic diet may help obese people and patients with type 2 diabetes.

People on ketogenic diets tend to:

• Lose more weight and keep more of it off than people on low-fat diets.
• Feel less hungry.
• Maintain their metabolic rate.
• Get control of their blood glucose.
• Experience improvements in triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, abdominal circumference, and blood pressure.

Starting a keto diet means you will have to keep your carbohydrates limited, coming mostly from vegetables, nuts, and dairy. Refined carbohydrates such as wheat (bread, pasta and cereals), starch (potatoes, beans, legumes) or fruit should be totally avoided. The small exceptions to this are avocado, star fruit, and berries which can be consumed in moderation. The more restrictive you are on your carbohydrates (less than 15g per day), the faster you will enter ketosis.

Generally speaking the keto diet is safe. A few adverse effects of the diet include lightheadedness, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty exercising, poor sleep, and constipation. But they tend to pass in a few days to a few weeks. However people taking insulin, oral hypoglycemic and blood pressure medications should consult with an experienced clinician when starting a keto dieting plan.

For a full list of ketogenic diet food see here or get your hands on the No 1 best seller cookbook “Ketogenic Diet Cookbook: 500 Ketogenic Diet Recipes to Cook atHome”. Learn everything you need to know about the ketogenic diet and start cooking in this new, exciting and healthy way!

Maca, the Peruvian super food

MACA, the Peruvian super-food:

• grows at altitudes of 3500 m and above,
• contains protein, fiber, 19 amino acids, 6 vitamins, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, sodium, potassium, calcium, several glucosinolates, 20 free fatty acids, and unique compounds called macaenes and macamides,
• is very beneficial for hormone balancing, endocrine and thyroid function enhancement and even immune system enhancement.
• when consumed regularly has several benefits including greater energy, stamina, clarity of mind and spirit, the ability to handle stress and healthier sexual life.

Try this tasty Maca Strawberry Banana Smoothie:

Ingredients:

6 fresh strawberries

1 banana

1 tsp maca powder

1/4 cup milk or almond milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 small ice cubes

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Anticancer diet

David Khayat led France's war against cancer and has been in the medical trenches for thirty years. In this international bestseller, he shares his knowledge on the role of diet and lifestyle in getting different types of cancer and how to bolster the body against those risks. Bringing together his own cross-national studies with those of other top cancer experts, Khayat empowers readers with the latest nutritional knowledge. He displays the correct anticancer diet through a range of products and dietary habits to be avoided. A detailed list of dangerous or beneficial foods and tips for a healthy lifestyle are included.
Unlike books based on personal experience with cancer, this edition combines the wisdom of the rules set by the researcher for thirty years, both in the laboratory and with patients, in France and the USA.

The book has been published in Greek, "Η σωστή αντικαρκινική διατροφή", Νταβίντ Καγιάτ, 2013 and in English, "The Anticancer Diet", David Khayat, 2015.

Essential oils for better digestion

High quality essential oils are a great option when you are trying to get relief from digestive discomfort. Massage is the most effective way to getting these oils into your body. So the next time you feel discomfort after a hearty meal, use one of the following blends rubbing with gently, circular movements on your stomach and belly area:

Indigestion
20 ml almond oil
5 drops e.o. basil
5 drops e.o. peppermint
2 drops e.o. roman chamomile

Heartburn
30 ml almond oil
7 drops e.o. roman chamomile
7 drops e.o. marjoram
4 drops e.o. anise

 

Love your hands

Our hands are often over-looked in our skincare routine. But when you think that your hands are exposed to the elements as much as your face is, it makes sense to use a moisturizing product that will also prevent ageing in the future. The best hand cream is the one you will make on your own with little cost and natural ingredients! You will need:

5 gr cocoa butter

10 gr bee's wax

50 ml jojoba oil

2 drops e.o. neroli

2 drops e.o. jasmine

2 drops e.o. lavender

Place cocoa butter and bee's wax in a bain marie and warm until they melt. Stir in jojoba oil and remove from fire. Transfer the mixture in a glass jar, stir in the essential oils and leave to cool. 

The healing and moisturizing properties of your hand made cream will last up to one year if you store it in a cool and dry place.

Easy lip balm recipe

Winter is here and so are chapped lips. Did you know that we lose up to 10 times more moisture through our lips than we do elsewhere on our face or body?

Usually our fragile lips develop tiny splits and cracks when exposed to cold, wind, sun, indoor heating and low humidity. But chapped, painful lips may also be caused by:

• Breathing through the mouth
• Cold sores (herpes simplex virus infections)
• Malnutrition
• Mild dehydration
• Repeated licking of the lips
• Vitamin deficiency (iron, B, D)

What can you do to keep your lips in shape?

Positive thinking amid recession!

An article by Lia Leontidou, aromatherapist, member of HAA.
Translation: Vivi Kavvada, aromatherapist, member of HAA.

Every thought we make has the dynamics for creation, a fact that can be reversed if someone is possessed with negative energy!

"Thought precedes action (energy) and action precedes realization". Taking into consideration this phrase it becomes evident that when we are making a thought a beam of energy is created which constitutes the beginning of our efforts to accomplish our initial thought.
Positive thinking is helping our brains to produce chemical substances beneficial for our bodies, while negative thoughts encourage the production of acidic and less healthy chemicals in our organisms. These chemical substances are creating the substructure for the realization of our ideas. In todays worldwide adverse situation, with fear and negative disposition hovering all around us, it is extremely difficult to keep a positive attitude towards challenges and our faith in a harmonious world is weakening day by day. However, that faith is exactly what we should not lose!

The benefits of aromatherapy massage

One of the main methods of aromatherapy to relieve physical nuisances and emotional stress is massage.

Ithaca, the island of sage

One of the most famous ancient Greeks worldwide is Ulysses or Odysseus. His adventurous, ten year journey of return to his homeland after the Trojan war, as it was narrated by Homer in his epic poem Odyssey, constitutes the most lyrical and timeless symbolism of every person's struggles in the battle of life.

This summer I spent a few days in modern Ithaca, which will remain a field of research for many scientists until there is clear proof that it coincides with the ancient kingdom of Ulysses. I have to admit that the beauty of this small island has surprised me. Ulysses had every reason to fight with bravery and cunning against the elements of nature, frightening cyclops and seductive sirens in order to return to that earthly heaven!

Sage, the Protective Herb

Sage (faskomilo or alisfakia in Greek) belongs to the botanical genus salvia whose name is derived from the latin word salvare, which means to save/protect. The name for this herb was self evident since the therapeutic uses of sage in antiquity were so many. Pliny the Elder was the first author known to describe a plant called salvia*. 

Many plant species belong to genus salvia, approximately 500-700 according to botanists. However the species mainly used for their therapeutic properties in aromatherapy and herbal therapies are salvia officinalis or common sage, salvia fruticosa (trifolia) or Greek sage and salvia sclarea or clary sage.

Apple remedy

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away." My mother used to tell me that proverb very often when I was a child.

Nowadays folk wisdom is confirmed by a number of scientific studies relative to the beneficial properties of apples. According to a research by the University of Florida, a decrease of the total cholesterol levels by 14% was achieved for the 160 women who participated in the program  and followed a diet including daily dried apple consumption for one year. It is estimated that eating raw apples would lead to even better results*. Other studies relate the systematic consumption of apples to the avoidance of heart disease, the loss of weight and the reduced risk of suffering from colon, prostate and lung cancer*. It is also believed that apples help liver detoxification, tone the gums and cure constipation. Apple cider regulates intestinal flora, lowers stomach acidity, reduces intestinal gas and promotes good kidney function*.

Aromatherapy versus H1N1

You surely remember that last winter the World Health Organization had warned that H1N1 flu could easily evolve into a pandemic. That did not happen fortunately, however a significant number of people worldwide was infected by the virus and for many of them what seemed to be a simple flu did not have a happy ending. Much fuss was also created in relation with the new vaccine that entered the market in order to avert virus spreading.

Pink pill

You have surely heard about the "blue" pill, the one that has the reputation of helping many men improve their love life (male readers please, tell us your opinion!).

What you may not know is that research is conducted, in order to produce an equivalent "pink" pill that could prove to be a cure for reduced female sexual drive and specifically the so called "hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD)".

Christmas Scent

Are you thinking of decorating the Christmas Tree or Ship and searching for cookie and gingerbread recipes? Have you already done that and your only worry is what gifts to buy for your beloved persons? Then you are the kind of person who knows how to enjoy a preparation period and you are already living the holiday spirit.

Two wonderful Christmas ingredients, that combine very well and have many beneficial properties, are cinnamon and orange.

Ginger

The first autumn showers are a fact and the sudden temperature drop reminds us that winter is around the corner. If you would like to avoid colds and strengthen yourself against flue this year start as soon as now drinking a very nourishing, healthy and heating beverage: in boiling water add one cinnamon stick and a small piece of ginger. After 2-3 minutes remove from fire, drain, add one teaspoon honey and enjoy!

I have referred to the properties of cinnamon at a previous post and any words about honey are superfluous. But what do we know about ginger?

Cinnamon

We all know that what is giving special taste to a delicious warm cream pie or a fresh aromatic rice pudding is cinnamon.

Cinnamon, "kinnamomon" in Greek, is referred in Chinese texts dating back in 2800 B.C. It was used by ancient Egyptians for embalming and in medieval Europe for religious rites and the production of antiseptics.

At the work of Herodotus "Histories", specifically the third book named "Thaleia", an ancient notion is reported about the "cinnamon birds". According to the myth those birds were flying to a far away land in order to bring back to Arabia cinnamon sticks by which they were building their nests on the top branches of very high trees. The natives were tempting the birds with big pieces of meat. However their nests could not bear the weight and were falling apart. That way the Arabs were collecting the cinnamon sticks from the ground. It is said that the price of cinnamon was periodically reaching that of gold. Aristotle referred to the cinnamon birds too, while Pliny the Elder thought that the myth was the Arab's trick to raise the price of cinnamon! Pliny also reports that 350 gramms of cinnamon had the same value as 5 kilos of silver.

Nowadays cinnamon is used widely for the preparation of sweets, salty dishes and beverages. Apart from the pleasures offered to our palate, traditional quackeries and recent scientific studies underpin the indications that cinnamon has many healing properties.

Are air fresheners safe?

Are you using air fresheners in your home, office or car? How safe are they?

"How stuff works" hosts a very interesting article on air fresheners. You may read it here.

I am only quoting some parts that certainly drew my attention:

"A 2007 study by the National Resource Defence Council of USA concluded that many contained chemicals that could cause developmental and reproductive problems, especially for infants."

"According to the USA Environmental Protection Agency, most store-bought air fresheners consist of formaldehyde, petrochemicals, p-dichlorobenzene and aerosol pollutants. The agency's "Indoor guide to air quality" also notes that air fresheners release pollutants more or less continuously."

"The USA National Institute of Health Sciences reported that the chemicals in air fresheners can reduce lung capacity and may hasten respiratory diseases."

It could be that those statements are exaggerating and further studies need to be carried out to prove them.

However I believe that the use of natural alternatives, such as essential oils, is safer and should be preferred. You can prepare a fragrant air freshener that will simultaneously lift your mood and tone your spirit with this recipe:

in 25 ml orange flower water add

6 drops eo mandarin

5 drops eo patchouli

4 drops eo sandalwood

My suggestions:

Use an oil burner to create the atmosphere you desire with the appropriate essential oils. A great variety of oil burners is available, such as the simple ones for romantic souls that love candles or the practical yet stylish electric diffusers.

Most of us spend every day a lot of time in the limited space of our cars. Use a few drops of the above mentioned mixture with a special car scenter and feel the beneficial effects of aromatherapy even while you are driving!

Combating cellulite

The season of summer baths is coming closer. Unfortunately for many women exhibiting their bodies in common view is an unpleasant ordeal due to cellulite. It is estimated that approximately 90% of women in the developed countries have cellulite while its symptoms are starting to show up in some men also.