Aromapathic Labs Turmeric Oil - 30ml + BONUS

Turmeric as a Herb

You are probably familiar with turmeric as the spice that gives curried dishes their characteristic colour and flavour. Turmeric contains antioxidant chemicals, called curcuminoids, for neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause damage to the body’s tissues when they bump into healthy cells.

Thus turmeric can be used to stop infections, protect the liver from toxins. The same molecules inhibit inflammation, thus acting as pain relieving agents. Turmeric has been shown to improve joint mobility and reduce the pain and swelling associated with all forms of arthritis. This activity is equivalent to the effect of some NSAID drugs. Turmeric lowers the level of harmful, or LDL, cholesterol and increases the level of helpful, or HDL, cholesterol. It also increases circulation and blood flow. All of these properties make turmeric a good choice for individuals with compromised circulation, heart disease and high cholesterol.

Turmeric can be used as a spice, encapsulated herb, dried herb, tincture or liquid extract. Better quality supplements are standardized which is an assurance that the product contains turmeric and has some active properties. Turmeric is found as a component of pain relieving, anti-inflammatory and cholesterol lowering formulas. Turmeric may be found in topical creams or gels for pain relief. Turmeric supplements are sometimes labelled as curcumin.

Turmeric contains substances that decrease your blood clotting ability therefore those with active bleeding, or those who use blood thinners, aspirin or NSAIDs should use caution. For the same reason, stop using turmeric 2 weeks prior to surgery or dental procedures. Turmeric may alter the effectiveness of some heart and cholesterol medications. Turmeric may irritate the gastrointestinal tract and liver or gallbladder, in some individuals, because it causes the release of digestive juices.

How Does Aromatherapy Work?
There are two proposed mechanisms. The first follows the theory that the aroma of the oils have a direct influence on the brain. Through the olfactory system, our nose, the aromas travel to the limbic system of the brain.

The limbic system is involved in various functions in the body such as emotional responses, memory storage and hormone regulation. It also plays a role in sensory perception and motor function, as well as olfaction, the sense of smell.

Another theory is simply that, just as plants and herbs have medicinal properties, essential oils made from the same plants and herbs have pharmacological effects, as well. This theory relies on the ability of the scented oils to be absorbed through the skin and exert their medicinal effect on deeper bodily processes that way. These two mechanisms support the argument that the oils can be, but do not necessarily have to be applied on the skin to achieve their healing goals.

Versatile as a mode of treatment, aromatherapy offers improvement for mental and emotional issues such as anxiety, depression and insomnia while also treating symptoms like difficulty concentrating and muscle and joint pain. Acute conditions such as exhaustion, nausea and headaches can also be improved through the use of aromatherapy. Even chronic conditions like respiratory difficulties, stress and low libido can be treated. Aromatherapy has even been known to improve immune functioning.

Aromatherapy has many applications and is used to treat a variety of ailments with reported success. Unfortunately, there are limited scientific studies on the efficacy of aromatherapy due to the individualized nature of treatment.

Dilution
Because of their extremely concentrated state, it is important to dilute essential oils in other high quality carrier oils like olive, almond, grape seed, or sesame. Keeping in the spirit of oil not mixing with water, an essential oil can only be diluted by mixing it with another oil. When essential oils are used without being diluted, they can cause severe skin irritation, gastrointestinal upset and even liver damage in the long term. Certain essential oils are not for internal use, and can be toxic even in small amounts.

Essential Oils can be:
*inhaled through steam inhalation, humidifiers, diffusers, and vaporizers
*added to a carrier oil and applied to your skin directly or as a hot or cold compress
*spritzed onto objects like pillows, bedding and furniture
*added to infusers, potpourri and candles to enhance the odour of an indoor space
*applied to skin as perfume
*used as a gargle or mouth wash, added to toothpaste, soaps, cleaning solutions, lotions and creams, face and body spray
*added to baths, hot tubs, Jacuzzis, hand and foot baths and saunas

Essential Oil Uses
Essential oils are aromatic compounds extracted from a number of different plants. They are also known as volatile oils because they evaporate so quickly, which is also how they create such a strong aroma in the air. Because of this ability to quickly create strong scents, these oils are often used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps and other scented products.

How are they made?
Essential oils are extracted from the plant by steam distillation, cold pressing, or solvent extraction. Good quality products create a pure product that will evaporate cleanly if dripped on a piece of paper. Each type of extraction is used for different plant materials. Solvent extraction is used for substances like flowers that contain very little volatile oil, and those that can be damaged by the temperatures used in steam distillation. Solvents used are hexane or supercritical carbon dioxide. Because carbon dioxide evaporates quickly when the temperature is raised to normal, it is the preferred solvent extraction method to maintain purity. Solvent extraction performed at lower temperatures is preferred to maintain the integrity of the active compounds.

Medicinal Properties
The benefits of essential oils are as diverse as the oils themselves. Some are diluted and used as skin treatments for acne or rashes, while others are used for internal use to fight infection or even help to treat specific diseases. Often current research will focus on specific compounds found in essential oils, to determine which one is responsible for their medicinal benefits. More traditional herbalists believe that it is the synergy between all of the active constituents in the oil that provide the full benefit. In some cases, the benefits of essential oils can simply be attributed to the effect of their scent on the brain. To stimulate the limbic system in the brain, essential oils are often used for aromatherapy in combination with massage and other balancing techniques.