Aromatherapy
Essential Oil Distillery
Aromatherapy is a modern term for an ancient healing practice that has been used for thousands of years. The original Ayurvedic texts describe how the burning of herbs, flowers, barks, and resins not only enhances our consciousness but also benefits the healing process with the use of medicated oils, salves, and poultices. Modern aromatherapy practice uses highly concentrated oil extracts known as essential oils that are distilled from flowers, fruits, herbs, grasses, and trees.
During distillation, the plant material is placed inside a still. Steam slowly breaks through the plant material, extracting its volatile constituents. These constituents rise upward through a connecting pipe leading into a condenser. The condenser cools the rising vapor back into liquid form, which is collected in a vessel below the condenser. Because water and oil do not mix, the water is siphoned off, leaving the oil.
When we use essential oils, the oils tiny molecules enter our bloodstream, initiating the production of hormones that control our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual functions and influence our consciousness, memories, desires, and creativity. Many people experience powerful results using these oils—including relief from migraine headaches, joint pain, skin rashes, anxiety, insomnia, and many other physical and emotional conditions.
When considering an aromatherapy practice, it is best to consult a professional to help you make a decision on which oils are best and how to use them safely. These concentrated oils are very powerful, and caution should be used when applying them directly to the skin. Below are the most popular avenues for using aromatherapy and adding essential oils into your daily practice, “Dinacharya.”
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The use of aromatic flowers, herbs, and candles in your home.
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Mixing essential oils with other oils (carrier oils) for use as a massage oil.
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Introducing essential oils into your bath water or using them in the shower with a towel.
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Using a tabletop diffuser, which distributes the oil into your environment.
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Using an aromatherapy mister bottle, which is portable.
Individual blends can be designed for specific doshic constitutions, and health concerns, but below are a few favorites.
Aromatherapy Mister Bottles - 8oz. $14
Fall Balancing- Warming, grounding, and focusing improve clarity and cognition.
Winter Balancing- Warming, energizing, and creating expansiveness and increasing circulation.
Spring Balancing- Balancing and grounding bring stability, focus, and clarity and builds immunity.
Summer Balancing- Cooling, calming, creates open-mindedness, and promotes a Sattvic nature.
Vata Balance- Sweet, warm, grounding, promotes intellect and rejuvenation, and builds immunity.
Kapha Balance- Energizing, warming, breaking up stagnation and heaviness, improves the clarity of mind.
Pitta Balance- Cooling, adrenal balancing, builds immunity, detoxes the liver, and benefits hyperacidity.
Healthy Heart- Heart tonic improves circulation, reduces HBP and cholesterol, and brings stability.
Soothing & Calming- Sweet and heavy, balancing, relaxing, and grounding in nature.
Sleepy Time- Relaxing, nervine sedative, relieves agitation, and overload, reduces anxiety and stress.
Breathe Easy- Improves respiratory function, a bronchodilator, antibiotic, and harmonizer.
Pure Focus- Brain tonic supports focus, memory, and retention and is a nervine stimulant.
Headache Relief- Pain reliever, headache, and migraine tonic soothes and rejuvenates.