May
2002 Ageless herbal newsletter
Is the quest to look good vain, or is it natural when done in context?
In the past we have received mail from readers regarding the fact that we promote "looking good" and they felt that looking good and being attractive is counter-productive to their religion and is the maxim of vanity.
Just to place this in context - we do not promote the idea that physical beauty is more important than building on your inner
beauty or soul, and being a good person - but your external looks unfortunately are also of importance in our modern day life.
Modern day society demands that we look our
best. Surveys and studies have shown that good looking beautiful people normally
more success - have better jobs and are
paid more than their less attractive counterparts.
After we have calmed down and worked through the morals of these statistics, we may want to have a look at this phenomenon in another perspective.
Good-looking people are naturally more confident than less attractive people, not because they are simply
more attractive, but because we as a society have empowered them to be more confident since they were young.
If you take a less attractive person, and bolster them with real confidence over a period of time, would they also then result in having a better job and pay?
I personally think that the answer would be yes - since I do not think that it is the
physical beauty alone that people find appealing and
attractive, but the sure-footedness that comes from having enough confidence to run your life.
Have you ever met a person that is not stunningly beautiful nor drop-dead
gorgeous, yet through their confident manner and sparkling personality come across as far more attractive than what they really are.
This is where good grooming can give a person that extra
boost, since self-confidence increases when you are assured of the fact that you are
looking the best you possibly can, and that every snag and chip has been polished away and you can show the world that you have enough self esteem to see your
personal grooming and looks as important.
So, our premise would be that if you take a moderately less attractive, or very normal looking person, and you make sure that they process real deep seated confidence and make sure that their physical and physiological grooming is faultless, they will go through a
metamorphosis like the duckling to the
swan.
There are many different alternative and complementary therapies out there - from
herbal remedies to crystals and iridology to spiritual healing, but one of our all time favorites is aromatherapy and the use of essential oils.
Although essential oils are used medicinally in France, they should never be taken internally unless so prescribed by a medical practitioner who is suitably qualified to prescribe them.
Essential oils are used for more than simply massage and beauty products, and can be found in food, toothpaste, beverages etc. Certain
anti-aging salons and clinics make extensive use of essential oils in their therapies and more and more skin treatment ranges are turning to the
power of essential oils to assist in achieving the best looking skin.
The extracted oils from botanical materials have been used for centuries in a variety of ways, and modern aromatherapy is gaining huge popularity since this gentle way of helping the body cope and recuperate is not only pleasurable but also stimulates the senses in different ways.
Essential oils are extracted from botanical materials in a variety of ways, but the misconception still remains that "cold pressing" all
essential oils is the best. This simply is not true as such, as the type of plant material/flower used will determine the best extraction method.
The limbic system, one of the prehistoric systems that we carry around in our brain, is extremely sensitive to smell and can trigger a variety of responses in the body and mind.
Although essential oils are natural and wonderful to use in the various ways, care must be taken to stick to the
safety precautions, since they are extremely concentrated, and also be careful when
buying essential oils that they are from a reputable company.
Pure essential oils are not cheap, and should be purchased only in colored glass bottles, fitted with a dropper mechanism, since light accelerates the deterioration of essential oils and the dropper mechanism is required to measure the amounts accurately.
Certain essential oils, like the citrus family, should not be used in aromatherapy massage if older than 6 months, but can still be used in fragrance therapy.
Most essential oils, except lavender and tea tree oil to a certain extent, should never be used neat on the skin, and it is also advisable to perform a skin sensitivity test before using an unknown oil on your skin, since some people have reactions to certain oils.
Essential oils are blended with vegetable carrier oils to the desired dilution, to help spread the active molecules, and to help prevent any
skin irritation. Care must be taken not to dilute essential oils in a mineral oil base, as it will effectively negate the beneficial effects of the essential oils.
Some oils, like bergamot, should also not be used prior to going out in the sun, since it can cause photosensitivity, while others should be avoided during pregnancy or when suffering from epilepsy or hypertension.
It is however interesting to note that although some essential oils are contra-indicated for epilepsy, recent research in the UK has yielded great results in the treatment of epilepsy by using essential oils and aromatherapy.
Essential oils can be used in the bath, in room vaporizing, steam inhalation, blended in a massage oil for massage,
blended in facial creams, hair lotions, shampoos and in most personal grooming products.
The rate of dilution when using essential oils is important, and massage oils normally use a 2% strength, while some oils mixed for specific problems can be increased to 4 to 5% depending on what oils are used, and what results are being sought.
In using essential oils it is important to keep in mind that the oils are used for their therapeutic properties, as much as for their smell, and that the
smell of the essential oil may in some cases vary a bit from the actual flower or herb.
There are literally hundreds of essential oils, and although some are not indicated for use in aromatherapy, there are a great selection of oils to choose from, each with its individual fragrance, profile, personality and active ingredients, which falls way out of the scope of this article to discuss in detail.
If you want to have a look at specific essential
oils, we can recommend that you have a look at our one sister site: www.essentialoils.co.za and to have a look at their extensive index on essential oils please go to www.essentialoils.co.za/essential_oils/index.htm.
Although the use of essential oils has been used successfully to help treat a variety of
problems and ailments, it should be seen as an alternative and complementary health system, and should not be used in lieu of normal medicine.
Other articles of interest
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