Aromatherapy, like all new age practices, is riding on to successville. Everyone wants to try some yoga or have a massage with scents that will relax not only your body but also your soul. But along with its increasing popularity is the increasing number of questions about the process. What is it about? What makes it work? Is it safe? Does it really calm the nerves and relax the muscles?

Aromatherapy is the practice or use of oil extracts from plants for their medicinal and aromatic benefits in order to improve psychological, spiritual and physical well being. True aromatherapy does not include the use of oils that are only used for fragrance.  These are considered unnatural products because they have been tampered with already in the laboratories. 

Most think that aromatherapy is a new discovery but the truth is, the practice of using essential oils for medicinal and aromatic purposes has been going on for centuries. It started with the Greeks and the Egyptians, who used a crude distillation process to extract oils from the plants and flowers in the area. 

One o the primary benefits of aromatherapy is in the improvement of a person's psychological and mental state. Aromatherapy, they claim, can help relax the mind and get rid of the everyday stress that people suffer from. It can lighten the mood and alleviate stress symptoms such as feelings of depression, heaviness and sadness. Of course, it cannot cure actual psychological problem. And if you are thinking along these terms, you are in for a disappointment. Aromatherapy only helps to alleviate the surface effects of stress but not the underlying causes and psychological problems.

There are also claims that aromatherapy has medicinal purposes and it has but it does not directly cure an illness. It only serves to strengthen the bodies of the person and also calm their fears so that they can better cope with the disease. Aromatherapy can also in easing the feelings of nausea when having an illness. This is especially true with people who are undergoing chemotherapy.

Also, aromatherapy can improve one's immune system, which is a big plus in fighting off diseases and illness. Like with the claims with psychological well being, aromatherapy cannot cure a disease. People who claim otherwise should not be trusted. Aromatherapy indirectly helps but it does not directly cure the problem.

Another benefit that aromatherapy provides in the improvement in common ailments such as indigestion, acne and other skin problems and also PMS and menstruation. The therapy has been known to help stop dysmenorrhoea, a condition wherein a person feels pain in the abdominal area due to menstruation.

Essential oils are also used and combined with some hair care formulas because they have been known to keep the hair healthy and shiny. The same goes with skin care.
Aromatherapy can also help in coping and dealing with various emotions. In fact, there are special plant extracts that can be used for this very purpose.  Anger for instance can be alleviated by Jasmine, Orange, Roman Chamomile, Rose and Ylang Ylang while anxiety can be dealt with extracts from plants such as Bergamot, Geranium, Cedarwood, Mandarin and Lavender.

Confidence can be improved with a touch of Cypress, Bay Laurel and Rosemary while depression can be alleviated by Clary Sage, Helichrysum, Neroli, Sandalwood, Frankincense and Mandarin.

Neem is a bitter, pungent and cooling plant that has many well-documented medicinal uses. The neem plant is well known as an antifungal agent, an anti-inflammatory plant, and a bitter tonic that can help expel worms, a cleansing agent, a tonic that can help prevent vomiting, and a plant that can help reduce fevers. The plant itself contains flavonoids, tannins, meliacins, and triterpernoid bitters. Traditionally, the neem plant has been thought of as a cooling remedy. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, the plant has been thought of as cooling remedy that particularly effective in treating fevers. It has also been highly prized as an insecticidal agent. The wood of the neem plant is particularly prized for its insecticidal properties. In many parts of the world, the neem wood is used to make worm-resistant furniture. Now, in some parts of Africa, neem is also being introduced into hedges to help farmers protect their crops against insect infestation. Neem is rapidly becoming famous for its insecticidal agents. Many modern studies have also shown that the neem plant may have spermicidal properties. The seed oil from the neem plant has traditionally been used as a contraceptive. Neem is also sometimes known by another name: the bead tree. This is because the hard nuts that grow on the neem tree were used in the past to make rosary beads.

The leaves of the neem plant have been traditionally used to make an infusion that is used for treating malaria and parasitic worms. The leaves of the neem plant have also been traditionally used in various manners. The leaves are usually crushed and pulped to make ointments and pastes that are used to treat eczema, ringworm and other skin conditions or infections. The leaves of the neem plant are also used to make household insecticides.

The neem leaves are also used to prepare special treatments that are sprayed on library books as a natural deterrent and pest preventative. The seeds and the seed oil of the neem plant have also been used to make several natural remedies. The oil that is extracted from the neem seeds has traditionally been used to concoct a treatment for leprosy. The seeds of the neem plant are traditionally crushed to make a paste that is used to treat hemorrhoids. Recent research demonstrates that the neem seeds and seed oil indeed contains many strongly antibacterial properties that are used today in many commercial products, including commercial hair lotions and, naturally, in insecticide sprays that are used to deter locusts.

There are many applications for the Neem plant.  Some are listed here:-

•It can be used as a potent hair rinse that can get rid of lice and nits. Simply mix 5-10 drops of neem oil into a cup of water and rinse hair thoroughly.

•Another use is to make a poultice from the neem leaves. Simply crush the leaves and make them into a paste. Use this poultice to treat ringworm, eczema or other skin infections or disorders.
 
•The neem seed oil can also be easily added to lotion to treat ringworm or athlete's foot.

Mint is one of the herbalist's best friends: there appears to be at least thirty species of mint, and all can be used in a number of herbal remedies that are safe and effective. Mint has become so common that some people even forget its history as an herbal remedy. Up until the 17th century, herbalists used most varieties of mint in more or less the same way. But now herbalists have expressed definite preferences toward some kinds of mint. Today it appears that peppermint has gained favor with most herbalists. Peppermint is indeed the preferred mint variety in the West, but in China it appears that field mint has prevailed in popularity. Another popular mint is garden mint, which is sometimes also referred to as spearmint. Although spearmint can be used in much the same way as peppermint, it is mostly recommended for children.

The aerial parts of the min plant are used to create herbal remedies. The leaves and other aerial plants of mint plants are well known for their ability to relax the muscles and stimulate bile flow in the digestive tract. Mint is well known for its ability to help treat digestive ailments. Mint is often used to treat indigestion, colic, flatulence, and other similar conditions. Min is also thought to help reduce the feeling of nausea and can be taken to treat motion sickness. Min can also be used to promote sweating in individuals suffering from fevers and influenza. In traditional Chinese medicine, mint is known as bo he. It is thought of as a cooling remedy for the flu and head colds. It can also be used to treat headaches, eye inflammations, and a sore throat. In traditional Chinese medicine, mint is also used as an herbal remedy to treat digestive complaints or liver stagnation. Mint should be harvested just before harvesting.

One of the most popular ways to take mint is as an essential oil. Peppermint oil, for instance, is known to contain large amounts of menthol. Taken in large doses, peppermint oil is well known for its cooling, calming and analgesic properties. It is also thought to be a good herbal remedy for treating fevers, skin complaints, migraines and headaches. Peppermint essential oil is also believed to be antibacterial, and it is often used to help combat minor infections. Peppermint oil can also be uses to inhale by patients suffering from severe nasal congestion. However, patients should take care to avoid the prolonged use of peppermint oil as an inhalant. If breathed in for too long, mint has been known to irritate the mucous membranes. It should not be given to very young children directly. Peppermint has also been known to reduce the flow of milk, so nursing mothers should use extra caution when dealing with mint.

The aerial parts of any type of mint plant can be used to create an infusion, tincture, compress soak, or inhalation. An infusion of mint leaves can be used to create a hot tea. Mint tea is one of the best and easiest ways to consume this helpful herb. It can be used to treat nausea, indigestion, colic, flatulence, migraines, and fevers.

e all think of weight loss food as the really healthy items, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, a selection of foods high in fiber, a small quantity of fats, some protein and some carbohydrates.  After weeks of eating the same healthy food you may start to resent your diet and start binging on the foods that made you start your diet in the first place.  If you start to feel this way, stop and think about all the hard work that you have done and are about to undo. 

Being on a weight loss program does not mean that you have to miss out on the treats.  When you do notice a change in yourself, reward yourself with a treat. I do not mean go for a large bar of your favorite chocolate or a huge bag of candy.  A little treat every now and then will not do any harm.

Chocolates should be made a luxury in your diet and not a routine. Do not indulge in too much of them. Yes, you can treat yourself to a piece or small bar of chocolate occasionally, but do not get into the habit of settling down in the evening to eat a large slab of your favorite chocolate.  If you can not resist the temptation to binge, do not buy it from the grocery store. If your partner, friends or family normally buy you a box of chocolates as a gift ask them to buy you something else, for example tickets to the cinema, a new dress for when you reach your goal or even a day of pampering.

When you buy your chocolate look at the calorific value on the wrapper, some of the diet chocolate bars are very nice to eat and are low in fat, which is a bonus.  Avoid the cream filled chocolates because although there is less sugar, there is still the cream in them, which is high in calories.  

Perhaps, you would like to treat yourself to an alcoholic beverage maybe once or twice a week. Alcoholic beverages contain calories too.  Just look at this list of standard measures of the most popular drinks:

Alcohol Free Wine 37 
Champagne  96 
Dry White Wine  77 
Dry Red Wine  83 
Sherry (average) 140   
Sweet Red Wine  100   
Sweet White Wine 103 
Beer, Bitter (Pint) 182
Cider (Low Alcohol) 97
Cider (Sweet)  239
Cider (Vintage)  574
Lager (Can)  221
Guinness, Stout (Pint) 170 
Gin and Slimline Tonic 56
Vodka and Diet Coke 55
Whisky and Lemonade 82
Baileys, Irish Cream 129

It is a myth that beer is fattening. According to the BBPA, a glass of beer with a typical 4.6% alcoholic volume, has fewer calories not only than a similar measure of wine, but also milk or fruit juice.  The rest of the alcoholic drinks may not be fattening by themselves but when mixed with coke, lemonade or another soft drink the calorific value rises.  However, after a couple of drinks you will be in no position to watch your diet and may find yourself at the local pizza parlor or curry house indulging it a lot of the foods that you have been missing.

If your choice of drink is wine, choose the dry option.  Dry white wine contains 77 calories as opposed to sweet white wine which has 103 calories per standard measure.  Sweet wines naturally contain a lot of sugar.  Most of this sugar has been fermented away in dry wines.  Avoid fortified wines because they contain even more sugar, a standard glass of sherry has 140 calories!

Hopefully, this will keep you motivated to reach your target weight loss.

Remember, a little of what you fancy does not do your diet any harm, it is when you over indulge that you start to damage the hard work and effort that you have put in.

Ayurveda is one of the world's oldest healing traditions, and it is famous for incorporating a number of herbal traditions. The term Ayurveda is derived from two Indian words: ayur, which means life, and veda means knowledge. Thus the term Ayurveda translates as something like the 'knowledge of how to live well.' In Ayurvedic medicine, illness is often seen in terms of imbalance. This leads to the use of herbs and dietary controls to restore equilibrium to the mind and body. The earliest Ayurvedic texts date all the way back to 2500 B.C. and new herbal traditions were successively added as new invaders made their way into India.

The Ayurvedic model of healing focuses on three primal forces: prana, or the breath of life, agni, the spirit of light or fire, and soma, or a manifestation of harmony, cohesiveness, and love. The Ayurvedic tradition also focuses on five elements that comprise all matter. These are: earth, water, fire, air, and ether (ether is more or less defined as a nebulous nothingness that fills up space all around).

The five universal elements of Ayurvedic medicine are balanced by agni, which is the digestive fire, into three distinct humors. Each humor influences individual health and temperament in its own way. The Ayurvedic philosophy states that digestion is imperfect, and if it were perfect there would be no humeral imbalance. But digestion is not perfect, so it follows that imbalance will occasionally occur. Air and ether yield what is known as vata (wind), fire makes the humor pitta (sometimes thought of as bile), and earth and water come together to form kapah (or phlegm). The most dominant humor can be observed in an individual's character. Someone who has a vata-dominant personality is seen as a melancholic individual. Someone with a pitta-dominant personality is thought of as choleric. Someone with a kapha-dominant personality is thought of as phlegmatic.

Herbal remedies are often thought of as a way to balance out a person's natural humors. This is often accomplished by using the Ayurveda chakra philosophy. Chakras are energy centers of the body, and they can often be balanced through herbal remedies. Different chakras of the body are associated with various areas of the body, such as important glands and organs.

For instance, the throat has a chakra, and when it is out of balance, Ayurveda medicine recommends taking herbs like cloves and vervain. To balance out the heart chakra, it is recommended that rose or saffron is taken. The solar plexus chakra is associated with the liver and adrenal glands, and it can be balanced by taking goldenseal and lemon balm. The brow chakra is associated with the pituitary gland, and it can be supported by taking sandalwood and elecampane. The splenic chakra is associated with the ovaries and testes. It can be balanced by taking fennel and coriander herbal remedies. The root chakra is associated with the uterus and the prostate gland, and herbal remedies like haritaki and ashwagandha can support it.

Perhaps the most famous herbal remedies these days are made from the Echinacea flower. Native Americans have traditionally used Echinacea to treat colds, fevers, snakebites, and stubborn wounds. It is believed that the early settlers adopted the Echinacea plant early on as a popular home remedy to treat colds and influenza. The plant was a popular choice with the 19th century Eclectics. In recent years, Echinacea has grown immensely in popularity for its antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. Echinacea has also been used in AIDS therapy. The cultivated purple coneflower is known as E. purpurea, but E. angustifolia is generally considered to be the more potent version by most herbal practitioners. The character of Echinacea has alternately been described as cool, dry, and strongly pungent. Its constituents include volatile oils, glycosides, antibiotic polyacetylenes, amides, and insulin. The actions of the Echinacea plant are described as antibiotic, an immune stimulant, antiallergenic, and a lymphatic tonic.

Several parts of the Echinacea plant are used to create herbal remedies, but the most common parts that are used are the root and the aerial parts. The root of the Echinacea flower is most commonly used to make tinctures or powders. These tinctures and powders are used to treat many different types of infection or inflammation. Many traditional herbalists have used Echinacea to treat recurring kidney infections, as well as to treat less serious conditions including the common cold, influenza, and cold and respiratory infections. The aerial parts of the Echinacea flower are often used to make an effective antibiotic. These are usually taken in capsule form.

There are many applications for the Echinacea flower. For instance, the flower can be used in a decoction. Simply take 10 ml doses every one to two hours, especially during the acute stage of infections. Echinacea can also be made into a tincture. Herbalists recommend taking two to five ml doses of Echinacea tincture. Take the tincture every two to three hours for influenza, chills, and for urinary tract infections. For more serious or chronic conditions, herbalists recommend that standard doses of Echinacea be combined with the appropriate herbs. For instance, Echinacea can be combined with buchu and couch grass to make a potent tincture to treat kidney infections. It can also be combined with cleavers to treat mononucleosis. To treat food poisoning or snakebites, roughly 10 mil doses can be used.

A special wash can be created from the Echinacea flower that can be used to treat infected wounds. Simply bathe the affected area with this wash several times a day. Echinacea can also be used in an effective gargle. Simply combine with warm water to treat sore throats. Echinacea can also be made into a powder that is dusted over infected skin conditions, including weeping boils, infected eczema, and other skin infections. One of the most common ways of taking the Echinacea plant is in capsule form. Herbalists and naturopaths recommend taking three 200 mg up to three times a day to treat acute infections, colds, influenza, urinary tract infections, and kidney infections.