Scents are extremely powerful and evocative.  Just think how one waft a particular smell can take you back to a previous situation – so powerfully that you can ‘see’ it and ‘feel’ it.  Combine that power with a substance that has medicinal properties but is in no way harmful and it is easy to understand why aromatherapy is so popular.

A rose by any other name…

Essential oils have been used for centuries, going right back to the Ancient Egyptians.  However, the modern term ‘aromatherapy’ was first used by a French chemist called Professor Rene-Maurice Gatfosee.  He worked for the perfume trade, often using essential plant oils for creating fragrances.  Some of these oils were extremely volatile and in June 1910, there was an explosion which burned his arm severely.  He plunged his arm into the nearest cooling liquid which was a vat of lavender.  To his surprise and huge relief, the pain stopped straight away.  Despite the severity of the burn, there were no blisters and no scarring.  Because of this incident, he forgot perfume and transferred his attention entirely to the medicinal properties of the plant oils.  He created the term ‘Aromatherapy’ in 1920 and published a book of that name in 1937.

A brief history

Ancient alchemists used plant oils for healing and called them ‘essential’ because of their belief that the scents showed the true, hidden inner nature of the plant.

• Ayurvedic healing is also enjoying resurgence. This Indian tradition believes that the scents from essential oils are needed to obtain the correct doshic balance which is the basis for good health.
• Throughout India, it is still believed that scents can have a positive affect and so many of the Indian rituals, especially worship, involve the use of flowers. Garlands decorate shrines in houses, villages and temples. People take them to temples to be blessed and then wear them for the rest of the day to strengthen and heighten their spiritual senses.
• To the Ancient Egyptians, smelling good brought a person nearer to the Gods. To that end, they used oils daily when bathing. This became even more important once death had occurred. They had oils that ‘matched’ to each organ and the body would be heavily anointed to make it acceptable to the Gods and ease the persons’ passage into the next life.
• Sadly, there was a period in history when mans’ greed for power took over. When Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, all the victors were interested in were demanding oil formulas for power over others – especially in the form of aphrodisiacs.
• The downward slide continued in Greece. Corrupt priests gave the people oil formulas with costly ingredients missing and so the desired results weren’t obtained, leading to a loss of confidence in the practice.

• The Romans took the abuse of essential oils to the limit. They spent fortunes to have their fountains running with them and included them in orgies – and not just the food and drink kind! Christian priests were horrified by this behavior and forbade their use.

The renaissance of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a perfectly natural form of health care.  So much so, that in Europe it is being increasingly used alongside conventional medicine as a reimbursable treatment.

Japanese businesses now use scent to increase the performance of their workers.  This followed a study where errors made by key punch operators were halved when a lemon scent was piped into their offices via the ventilation system.

Other studies showed that passengers on the New York subway were less aggressive if the compartments contained a pleasing smell of food and that eucalyptus oil is good for keeping truck drivers awake and alert.

Aromatherapy doesn’t have to smell!

Manufacturers have quickly recognized the potency of the word and now apply it to many products, especially shampoos.  However, although you can’t have aromatherapy without essential oils, you can use essential oils without an aroma.

To a qualified Aroma therapist, the difference lies in both the application and the intent.  Aromatherapy is the goal of creating positive changes, be they physical, emotional, mental or spiritual, with the use of essential oils.

How are they made?

Steam distillation is used to extract the essential oils from plant.  These oils are then condensed. It takes enormous amount of plant material to get a tiny amount of oil.  For example, it takes 2,000 pounds of rose petals to give one pound of oil.  When you think how much one rose petal weighs…that’s a lot of petals!

The oils are extremely concentrated and that is why only single drops are often used – which is just as well considering the price!  One drop of oil would contain the equivalent chemicals to thirty cups of tea distilled from the same plant.

The oils can also be very complex and may contain from one hundred to four hundred naturally extracted chemical compounds.  It is this complexity which gives each oil a vast range of healing properties.

Because the cost of making true oils, most products made for the commercial market consist of synthetic chemicals.  These may smell like the real thing but they don’t work in the body in the way that oils do.  They’re not easily eliminated from the body as oils are and they may provoke allergic reactions.

How are they used?

There are many methods but the two main ones are by inhalation and application to the skin.

Inhalation - via the steam from a water bath, in the fumes from a humidifier, in the wax from a candle or simply as a drop on a handkerchief held to the nose.

There are cells in the upper part of the nose that capture the molecules of the scent and this sends signals to the limbic region of the brain.  This area helps to control the basic functions of the body needed for survival by influencing the glands that secrete hormones which affect the whole body.  This is why a smell can have such an immediate affect.

Via the skin – Because of their high concentration, oils are often diluted by being added to cream or lotions before application.  They may be absorbed though the pores of the skin and hair follicles.  They then enter the bloodstream and are able to travel around the body.  If fragrant oils are being used, this method of application would also include inhalation as you would smell the oils as they are rubbed in.

Why are they better than conventional drugs?

Synthetic chemicals and medications can accumulate in the body and often rely on this accumulation to work.  However, it is the accumulation that can cause unwanted side effects.  Essential oils don’t accumulate and are quickly eliminated from the body.

Also, because they don’t need to be swallowed, oils don’t harm or aggravate the stomach or liver.  Because they bypass these organs, their strength is not altered by the metabolic processes that conventional medications undergo.

What can they be used for?

It would be impossible to write a list as aromatherapy can be used for pretty much anything!

How can I get it?

You can easily try it out for yourself.  It’s simple to pick up a mood-lifting scented candle or a lavender scented pillow to help yourself sleep.

If you have a specific medical ailment that you would like aromatherapy to help with, it’s best to find a qualified practitioner in your area.

CLICK HERE FOR AROMATHERAPY  PRODUCTS AND ESSENTIAL OILS

Dream Catchers have become very popular and are now very easy to obtain.  They are very pretty but there is more to them than mere decoration.  And how do you know if you have an authentic Native American dream catcher mandella.

Here’s an easy guide to Dream Catchers.

What is a Dream Catcher?

It’s a circular or tear shaped willow hoop with a net or web of threads or sinews woven across it.  It is then decorated, often with hanging feathers and beads strung on thin strips of leather or sinew.  It usually has a loop for hanging it up and can be hung on walls, in windows or wherever you would like it to be!

Why is it called a Dream Catcher?

Dream catchers originated in the Ojibwa Nation of Native Americans.  In Ojibwe, it is either called asabikeshiinh which means spider or bawaajige nagwaagan which means dream snare.

The item is hung over the bed of a child, to catch bad dreams or as a charm to protect against nightmares.  Bad dreams would become entangled in the web, disappearing as morning comes.  The open holes in the ‘net’ are to allow good dreams to filter through and then slide down the feather or bead strings back to the person who is asleep.

They are traditionally constructed of willow and sinew because they are not intended to last forever.  The idea is that they dry out and fall to pieces as the child grows and once the child becomes an adult they are then disposed of.

The Dream Catcher catches on…

Although dream catchers were devised by the Ojibwa, they were taken on by all Native American Nations as a sign of their unity during the 1960′s and 1970′s.  They were then ‘adopted’, made and widely sold by ‘New Age’ groups and shops.  Because of this, some Native Americans themselves now view dream catchers as over-produced and over commercialized.

Where can I get a ‘real’ Native American dream catcher?

Although decorative, sadly most dream catchers have nothing to do with Native Americans.  They have either been made in sweatshops or by ‘new age’ enthusiasts.

If you are lucky enough to live near to a Native American Reservation or are going to visit one, then that is the best place to get an authentic dream catcher.  Alternatively, you can search online for sites that specialize in Native American crafts such as Crazy Crow or Standing Bears Trading Post.

You can also buy kits to make your own.  Children will really love doing this!  Again, to be sure of supporting Native Americans, source your kit from a genuine Native American Site.

Did you know…

Ralph Klein, who was Premier of the Canadian province of Alberta is married to Colleen Klein who is Métis – pronounced may tee.  Métis are descendants of the marriages of Cree, Ojibwa, Algonquin, Inuit and other indigenous peoples to Europeans.  They are one of the three aboriginal peoples of Canada that are officially recognized.  The other two are the First Nations and the Inuit.  The official portrait of Mr and Mrs Klein includes a dream catcher.

As our lives become more stressed and frantic than ever before, people are turning to alternative and ancient therapies for help.  One of these therapies is called Reiki, pronounced Ray-key.  In 2002, over one million adults in America had at least one Reiki session.

What is it?

Reiki is a Japanese technique to reduce stress and promote relaxation and healing.  It was introduced by Doctor Mikao Usui in 1922 and is based on the ancient beliefs of energy flow through the body.  The Japanese call this ‘chi’ (or Ki) and say that it flows naturally through our bodies, allowing vitality, well being and happiness.

If the pathways that the ‘chi’ use become blocked because of ill health or stress of any kind, the energy flow is stopped, which in turn leads to further ill health and stress.

During a Reiki session, the practitioner simply lays their hands onto various points of the body – often the head, shoulders, chest, abdomen and legs) to allow the blockages to be removed and the correct flow of chi to be reinstated.

What does the word mean?

‘Reiki’ is derived from two words.  Rei is Japanese for ‘The Wisdom of God’ or ‘the Higher Power’ and Ki means ‘life force energy’.  So Reiki is ‘life force energy which is spiritually guided’.

What can it do for me?

Reiki is a holistic treatment that can affect a person’s mind, body and spirit.  Those who have experienced it say that they feel warm, safe and highly relaxed.  It appears to affect people in different ways.  Many find a session deeply relaxing while others seem to get a huge energy boost.  However it affects you in the first instance, the effects last for a few days.  Reiki can also improve your sleep and appetite.  It also appears to speed up healing from injuries.

Many people find it an intensely emotional experience and during a session, are finally able to let go of grief, anger, upset and other negative emotions.  If you have been suppressing tears or grief a Reiki session may trigger an extensive bout of cleansing tears – and once you have had a good cry – you will feel a lot better!  This is bourne out by fact as tears contain a chemical which, if allowed to build up in our systems, can cause depression – so it really is OK to cry!

Isn’t this just another example of New Age mumbo jumbo?

Apparently not!  Experts have been so impressed with the results from Reiki that the National Institute of Health backed a clinical trial on it.  A study done in 2003 showed that a group of cancer patients who were given Reiki as well as their usual medications experienced a reduction in their pain and an improvement in their quality of life.

Who can give a Reiki treatment?

It’s best to receive it from a bona fide Reiki practitioner.  Reiki is not a skill that is learned but is passed on from one practitioner to another during an ‘attunement’.  There are three levels of Reiki – the highest being a Master.  It is the Master who passes the ability to the student.  This allows the newly ‘qualified’ practitioner to tap into the life force energy which comes from God or a Higher Power.

To be a Reiki practitioner, one does not have to be of a certain intellectual standard.  Thousands of people of all ages and from every sort of background have successfully been attuned to use Reiki.  They use it in their everyday lives to help themselves, their families and others who need help.

Do you need to believe in God for it to work?

No.  Reiki is a spiritual technique rather than a religious one.  Neither you nor the practitioner has to believe in God although the practitioner will believe in, at the very least, a Higher Power.  In keeping with spiritual beliefs, the Reiki practitioner should be an individual who lives their life in such a way as to promote the universally ethical ideals of peace and harmony.  This doesn’t mean that they have to live or behave like a monk – but they should be peaceful, caring and compassionate.

If you do have an interest or belief in spirituality or religion, Reiki will help you to become more in touch with that.

What is “Usui” Reiki?

Several years after introducing Reiki, Doctor Usui added five ‘Reiki ideals’ to the technique.  These came to him during meditation and he believed they would add spiritual balance.  This differs from ‘ordinary’ Reiki in that clients are helped to realize that making a conscious decision to improve oneself is part of the healing experience of Usui Reiki.  In doing so, the recipient is accepting responsibility for their healing and this will help to improve both their life and their healing.

The five Usui Reiki ideals -

Just for today:

1.      Do not be angry

2.      Do not worry

3.      Be grateful

4.      Work with integrity

5.      Be kind to others

Do all spiritual healers use Reiki?

No – all spiritual healers use energy but not all have received the Reiki attunements that allow them to be a Reiki practitioner.  Spiritual healers who then receive attunements have discovered that their previous ‘success rate’ has gone up by at least 50%.

How much does it cost?

This is an area of ongoing disagreement between Reiki practitioners.  The argument also extends to whether practitioners themselves should have to pay to receive their attunements.

A quick search of the internet will come up with numerous offers of weekends or day courses to gain attunement – and it’s not unusual to see the fee as thousands of dollars.  It’s also possible for an individual to regularly attend a spiritualist church or group and then be offered the attunements free.

However the practitioner has received their attunements shouldn’t affect the quality of the treatment that they offer.  However, what they charge can make a big difference to the recipient.

Practitioners who disagree with charging say that the healing energies are given freely and should be passed on freely.  Those who say charging is right, argue that the recipient won’t value the healing if it doesn’t have an associated cost.

So, as with all things, it’s best to shop around or see if you can find personal recommendations in your area before booking your Reiki or Usui Reiki session.  One thing is for sure, you will be glad you did!

Readers of this blog will have noticed a change. We have removed the majority of the old posts and are taking a new direction into another sphere of life that we both enjoy – the sphere of self growth, understanding ourselves and others and natural healing.

There is so much to write about as New Age covers such a vast range of topics.

We are both immersed in different aspects of what is considered to be New Age, although anyone who is interested in these topics knows that New Age is not new, the thoughts and ideas on things like aromatherapy, meditation and massage, natural healing using herbs and crystals are all age old traditions in many cultures.

Hopefully you will find much to interest you as we embark on this new direction and bring you information and products that will help you in your daily life.

Self awareness is a very important aspect of understanding why we do things in a particular way, some of which are self destructive to our well being, so we will bring you information that will help you to understand why you repeat self destructive patterns and how to get out of the rut.

We will cover healing and protecting yourself with the power of crystals, meditation and other trusted methods.

Come with us as we embark on this new phase of growth and healing.