Helichrysm is one of my personal favorite essential oils I go to for my own personal use.  Helichrysm is one of the primary active ingredient in the Young Living Oils blend, PanAway*.

As a Massage Therapist, I know that one factor in muscle pain is muscle tone, or tension. Often, to reduce pain and inflammation, one must reduce the muscle tone, because having the muscles too tight restricts the blood flow to the area. What does restricted blood flow cause? Many things which are not good!  Chronically tight muscles and reduced blood flow in an area can mean:

• The tissues are not getting enough blood, which means the cells are not getting enough oxygen
• Lack of blood supply also means the cells are probably not getting enough of their nutrients
• With reduced blood flow, the toxins are not being removed as quickly, which may contribute to inflammation
• Often edema, or swelling is present, which further contributes to the feeling of pain, and this can even restrict range of motion in some cases.

This is one reason that massage can help reduce muscle pain. The massage creates a relaxation response in the muscle tissue, which restores blood flow, and the oxygen and cell nutrients can be restored to the cells in that area, and the toxins and swelling are able to move out, which the movement of the massage actually furthers along quite quickly. Applying synergistic essential oils can enhance the effect.

Essential oils which calm and soothe the stress response can also lower muscle tone, and some essential oils may support muscle tissues in maintaining their proper tone and homeostasis.

Have you ever had a sports massage or deep tissue massage? I bet you were sore the next couple of days! I always use essential oils on my sports massage clients to soothe and balance them out.

My favorite oils for pain in my practice, which are affordable for daily use are:

• Marjoram
• Peppermint
• Wintergreen
• Aroma Siez blend*
• Idaho Balsam Fir
• Release blend*

Headaches: I see many people who come in with headaches. Whether the headaches is from muscle tension or is more of the type caused by hormones or environmental sensitivities, there are a couple of things that may help.

1. Peppermint oil – place a dot on the temples, being careful not to get it in your eyes, and around the back of the neck and base of the skull. I often put some across the forehead also. For simple tension headaches, this can give a soothing, cooling sensation to the area.
2. Release the muscles in shoulders and neck – if you can’t get a professional massage, get a friend to rub your shoulders and neck. I have some tools, such as a Theracane, which you can use to release your own shoulders, if you cannot get someone to help you. Theracanes are a plastic device that looks like a shepherd’s crook with knobs on the end, that you can dig into your shoulder muscles and back muscles to release the tension buildup and relax the muscles. It is a band aid approach, and won’t substitute for a full massage, but often can reduce or eliminate headache pain which originates from muscle tension.  Some essential oils can support the balance of the muscle tone and restore harmony in the muscles.
3. Neck and shoulder stretches – Rotate your shoulders, stretch your neck, especially the back of the neck.

Even when you have migraines, often muscle tension is contributing as either the trigger or helping to maintain the intensity of the headache. If you suffer from chronic headaches that are not chemical, but are caused by muscle tension, you may need to see a competent sports massage therapist to correct any postural body mechanic problems that may be causing your shoulders and neck to be chronically tight. Those who have to sit at a computer all day often have chronic shoulder and neck issues.

Chronic muscle tension can be caused by stress, and most of us have more stress than we would like in our lives! Dealing with the physical components of pain, and addressing posture and repetitive use issues sometimes clear up the issue, but often, until the underlying emotional issues and/or mental stresses are dealt with, the physical issues will recur. If you are experiencing chronic stress related issues, consider checking out the Access Bars® or Access Body Process sessions I offer.

*Blends are made by Young Living Oils, a company in Utah that I recommend, especially for beginners to aromatherapy. The U.S. is a “buyer beware” marketplace for essential oils, and it is important to get unadulterated, pure essential oils with no additives, chemicals or quality issues.  See Article on Essential Oil Basics for more information.  I do sell essential oils in my office to clients.

**”Essential Oils Desk Reference” compiled by Essential Science Publishing, @2004, www.essentialscience.net, 1-800-336-6308

***This author makes no medical claims for essential oils.  Please seek a doctor’s care for any condition of pain, inflammation, or injury.

The post What about Muscle Pain? appeared first on helpyoutransform.com.

which are not necessarily negative, but definitely will influence how the person experiences their journey of healing:

• Healing is a process, and it often takes time (sometimes a very long time!)
• Healing implies someone is “ill” or “not whole” – an aspect of negative judgement
• Healing often requires a lot of work and repetitive treatments in order to be effective
• Healing can have a “detox” time, in which the person will experience a worsening of physical symptoms, or an emotional or mental “healing crisis”
• Healing often just shifts the pattern into something else, i.e. one cancer being resolved, only to return somewhere else

Healing is an older paradigm, and it has been used for centuries as our main way of dealing with issues and making them better. Most well known healing modalities participate in the healing paradigm, and have most of the distinguishing characteristics hard wired right into their individual healing model.  Some examples are:

• Traditional Medicine – drugs, surgery, etc. – side effects, pain from surgery, hard work and time to rehab and recover
• Nutrition, Herbs – detox reactions very common here, must take repetitively, sometimes indefinitely, to maintain results
• Massage, bodywork – one is sore the next day, often must do stretches or work to maintain changes
• Exercise and Physical Therapy – push through the pain, takes a lot of work, repetition
• Some types of Energy therapy -healing crisis can be fatigue, moodiness, mild detox, etc.

This paradigm has worked for a long time, and we humans have managed to make progress in healing, although it is often painful, time consuming, and expensive. The “no pain – no gain” mentality is very dominant in the healing paradigm. Many people experience trying many different types and modalities of healing, investing a lot of time and money, to find that they are not much further along in their healing process. There are SO many “healers” presenting so many variations of the latest nutritional discovery, bodywork, health gadget, etc. It can be daunting and expensive to experiment and try enough types of healing modalities until you find a combination to work for you. It might be understandable if at some point, one might throw up their hands in frustration! I have talked to quite a few people who have found themselves at this point.

Transformation – A New Paradigm!

There is a new paradigm emerging, which I call Transformation. It is different, in that one can avoid many of the more difficult characteristics in the healing paradigm. These new modalities work at a level of change that allows the pattern to transform at a higher level, in the person’s energy field. What is unique about these new modalities is that the rules are different! They do not require a long, difficult process, the results are often instantaneous, and hopefully, one can avoid the “healing crisis”. (Caveat:  One’s personal beliefs often can override the rules of this paradigm, so if you believe you MUST have a healing crisis in order to feel better, you will usually experience one!)

These new consciousness technologies are amazing, and as we “allow” ourselves to transform more easily, we can access the true Grace that they bring to us. We are in a habit of processing, doing repetitive work, and so forth, and if we believe in “no pain – no gain”, we will not value or see results from anything that doesn’t provide that. So, we have to do our own mental shifting to allow ourselves to get the full benefit from a more graceful way of changing. Working with the new consciousness technologies holding onto our belief in the old healing modality rules would be kind of like Fred Flintstone’s car in the old cartoons, still powered by his feet!  These new techniques cannot work properly until we begin to let go of our old obsolete rules, models and values!

Auriel believes that often, the first thing that is necessary in providing effective transformational technologies is clearing the old, limiting beliefs about “healing” that the clients holds, so the new techniques will actually work as they are designed to work! If you have tried EFT and not gotten great results, this could by why. That is the reason that it is helpful to work with a facilitator, because we often cannot “see” our own issues clearly enough to navigate our own path with these new modalities!  (Even professionals who provide energy modalities for others usually find that they must get help with their own issues for best results).

If we can borrow the analogy of the computer, then the old healing techniques are similar to working on the “hardware” of the computer, or the electronic and mechanical “guts” of the computer to make it work better.  The new, transformational technologies are more like changing the software.  I think that in the future, we will find that working on our “software” is often the best and most efficient way to go!  It is usually less messy and  frustrating as well!

Transformational modalities are a true gift to all of mankind. Consider whether or not you are open to receive more graceful, efficient change… are you ready?

Auriel offers the following Transformational Modalities: Access Bars®, Access Body Processes

@Auriel Coleman 2012 All Rights Reserved

The post Thoughts on Healing and Transformation appeared first on helpyoutransform.com.

• A luxurious combination of nine very special essential oils applied to the back and spine, which provides a nurturing, relaxing experience for the lucky recipient.  After essential oils are applied, you rest on heat packs for a period of time to further enhance the actions of the essential oils and release the muscles of the back, neck and shoulders.  While resting on heat packs, energy therapy can be applied.
• Exquisite relief for tired, tight and chronically sore muscles due to the therapeutic actions of the essential oils which are applied, the heat packs and the energy therapy, if added on.
• A life enhancing treatment which has been said to support one’s overall health and level of energy, because energy centers are aligned and stress is reduced dramatically.
• A tune up for the spine, back and central nervous system by aligning energy centers.
• An pampering experience that feels absolutely luxurious, and is extremely relaxing to the body, mind and spirit
• Raindrop Therapy is a 30 minute service.  It is recommended that you add 30 to 60 minutes of Reiki or Access Body Processes to get the full benefits.  (See Service Menu and Prices for Description)

What can it do for me?

These are some of the results that others have reported:

• Profound relaxation and nurturing of spine and central nervous system.
• Reset of chronic patterns of energy and muscle memory
• Increase of circulation and oxygenation of tissues from essential oils and heat packs
• Address tight muscles which can cause discomfort in your back, neck and shoulders
• Support for the immune system through the synergistic actions of the essential oils
• Most people report an increase in overall energy, mood, and mental outlook that can lasts for weeks or even longer after receiving a Raindrop Therapy

Who would most benefit from receiving A Raindrop Therapy?

I believe that everyone* would enjoy this wonderful aromatherapy treatment, and would experience release from tension and stress. It is truly a nurturing experience.

However, if you are someone who deals with certain issues, such as those listed below, your results from Raindrop Therapy might be even more noticeable:

• If you have stress in your life
• If you have chronic pain
• If you feel a sense of being tired and unable to catch up with your energy levels
• If you feel you just don’t have a sense of well being and harmony, the Raindrop Therapy may gently support you by getting you aligned energetically and structurally***.

We recommend that for best results, you should schedule three Raindrop Therapies in a row, scheduling 1-2 weeks apart, if possible. However, one Raindrop Therapy can also give you tremendous benefits, and it is always such a relaxing, pleasurable experience.

These are just a few of the experiences and benefits that others have reported after experiencing a Raindrop Therapy. We hope that you will let us know your positive benefits and experiences, if you decide to give Raindrop Therapy a try! We would love to hear your feedback.

The Raindrop Therapy essential oil treatment is offered in spas, clinics and by independent therapists across the United States, and is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the finest aromatherapy treatments available today.

We hope you will indulge yourself by scheduling your own Raindrop Therapy services very soon!

Auriel Coleman has been offering Raindrop Therapy professionally for over twenty years, and offers Raindrop Therapy massages to her local clients by appointment.

*There are certain situations which would require modification of the essential oils which are used, such as pregnancy, so please disclose fully any health conditions you may have when you come for your appointment.

Also see article on: What about Muscle Pain?

***Please seek a doctor’s care for any condition of pain, illness, or injury, especially any chronic issue that doesn’t resolve for you.  They could be a sign of a medical condition that should be addressed by your Physician.

@Auriel Coleman 2012 All Rights Reserved

The post What Can Raindrop Therapy do for Me? appeared first on helpyoutransform.com.

learning how to work with them effectively can take years of study! However, everyone can choose a few basic essential oils and work with them and get amazing results!

The best essential oils are the distilled volatile oils of healing plants, in a very concentrated form. Therapeutic, or Medical grade essential oils are of a different caliber than fragrance oils and the common over the counter type essential oils that one finds in the health food store that claim they are pure and therapeutic. Basically, essential oils are a “buyer beware” market in the United States, as the FDA does not regulate the use of essential oils except as food additives, and some are “Generally Recognized as Safe” as food additives. However, the chemicals and extenders which may or may not be approved by the FDA as food additives are often added to commonly available essential oils, which make them unsuitable for serious therapeutic use.

For those who are serious about their health, please educate yourself on how to evaluate and choose the appropriate essential oils for therapeutic use. There are several types of essential oils that are marketed at this time, and they are designed for different uses, so it is good to understand the different types of essential oils and what they are appropriate for, and most especially, what they are NOT appropriate for! Here is a basic overview of a complex subject, just to get you started:

1. Synthetic Fragrance Oils:

The most common type of “essential oil”, which I don’t personally consider to be an essential oil are “fragrance” oils. These are usually synthetic chemicals put together to mimic a scent. These are most commonly used in candles, bath products, body sprays, lotions, shampoos, and commercial perfumes. (Commercial perfumes probably have both synthetic and real essential oils. The more expensive the perfume, the more likely it contains some real essential oils, but MOST of them have some synthetic oils in them.) Ironically, we have become so used to synthetic copies of popular fragrances, such as Rose and Lavender, so that many people are surprised when they smell the “real deal”, and in a blind test, would choose the synthetics as the real thing, because that is what they are used to!

If you get an apple spice scented candle, the odds are, it is a synthetic fragrance. Synthetic fragrances are less expensive to produce than the “real” essential oil, so are used in cosmetic products and candles, to keep the cost down. Also, obviously, there is no “apple” essential oil that would smell like the fruit of an apple! That oil is synthetically made, and it is fun to have those scents available. However, these oils should not be used therapeutically, because you have no idea what chemicals are in them, and especially, if you are environmentally sensitive, avoid these!

Many people who claim that they are allergic to essential oils are often NOT sensitive to pure, therapeutic grade oils. They are reacting to the synthetic oils that are in commercial perfumes, body products, candles, room scents, etc. If you have had a reaction to someone’s perfume, don’t assume you cannot work with pure essential oils. Most likely, unless you are allergic to the actual plant that they are derived from, you will be able to tolerate real therapeutic grade essential oils. However, if you have asthma or serious allergies, or environmental sensitivities, proceed with caution, and do patch tests on the inside of your arm before slathering a bunch of it on yourself!

2. Essential Oil Absolutes – Expensive, commonly used in high end perfumes/cosmetics:

Absolutes are used by the perfume industry and sometimes in cosmetics, although they are usually used only in the most expensive products, especially now that there are so many inexpensive synthetics available. Absolute is a word which designates the process by which the essential oils were extracted. One example is Rose Oil absolute. Often, absolutes are the extracts of flowers, which yield a low percentage of essential oil. It takes so much raw material, or so many flower petals, to extract a few drops of oil, and the flowers are so delicate, that steam distillation (the preferred method) is either too expensive or yields too little to be economically effective. Therefore, the oils are chemically extracted.

The traditional way of doing this was to place the flower petals on grease or fat of some type, and let the essential oils of the flower infuse itself into the fat. The obvious problem was, how do you get the delicate, complex essential oils out of the fat? Well, they use chemicals to do this, to separate the volatile essential oils from the fat! The problem? There is always some residual of the chemical used to extract the oils that are left in the essential oil. Therefore, absolutes are great for scenting, and using them for aromatherapy (smelling them), but usually are not used for topical use, or certainly not ingested! This category of oils can be allergy culprits, so be cautious when engaging! However, they are also some of the most beautiful scents!

The precious flowers, like Rose and Neroli, Magnolia, Iris, etc. are more affordable when bought in absolute form. They are also more complex, because they have more of the heavier molecules left in the oil than steam distilled oils, so they are richer in scent, in my opinion. As long as you know how to use them, they are beautiful! NOTE: A new technique, CO2 extraction, is cleaner, and those oils are generally less contaminated, as they use CO2 gas extraction.

3. Steam distilled essential oils – the Best type for Therapeutic Use:

These essential oils are extracted through the process of steam distillation. The plant matter is placed in a cooker and the steam takes the volatile essential oils out of the plant matter into a cooling system, which distills the steam into a liquid. This is the purest form of essential oil, as only the volatile oils which are light enough to be carried into steam are extracted. It also eliminates contaminants like fungus, fertilizers, etc. that might be on the plant, for the most part. This category is the one which is generally considered the only one to use for therapeutic use. Some essential oils, such as Rose oil, are available as both Absolute and Steam Distilled. Usually, the steam distilled version is a lot more expensive! It will also be stronger and more powerful. Many essential oils are only produced overseas, and U.S. companies import them to resell.

Issues with steam distilled essential oil – You might think that buying a steam distilled oil guarantees you purity and therapeutic grade, but there are further issues to address:

• Chemical contaminants added after distillation is done – often, steam distilled oils are low yield, so it is customary in some parts of the world to “extend” the volume by adding fragrance free chemical extenders, to make the batch bigger, so more money is made. Some companies add fragrance enhancers, such as synthetic scents, to keep the batches consistent, or improve the scent if the oil turned out to be low quality, due to weather conditions, etc. It would shock you if you knew how often this is done!
Currently, due to lack of regulation in the U.S., there are many chemicals which can be added to essential oils without triggering any legal problems. This is why any reputable essential oil company will do gas chromatograph testing of every batch of oils it buys from a Distiller to resell, in order to find out if any chemicals have been added that are not supposed to be there! Some companies do no testing, others do random samples. For me, with my allergies, I want to KNOW that every batch is tested! There are very few companies in the U.S. that test every single batch.

• As stated above, economically, steam distilled oils are often low yield, and it takes time to distill them properly. If you distill them at too high a temperature, it fractures the complex molecules, and you still have the fragrance, but the therapeutic qualities are no longer there. It is similar to burning your food or overcooking one’s broccoli – it is still there, but not very nourishing. (Is it still broccoli, or is it green mush?) To speed up the distillation process, and to make more money, Distillers often cook the plant matter at high temperatures and put it under pressure, similar to cooking your food in a pressure cooker.
This makes business sense, and for some applications, like the candle and body scent industry, it is ok, but if you are trying to support your body’s health with the resulting oil, it may not work! This, in my opinion, is one of the reasons that people who try buying “over the counter” essential oils, don’t get good results. Even if they are not contaminated with chemicals, they are often fractured by too much heat and pressure when they are distilled.

When I first started out in massage, I tried various essential oils that I bought “over the counter”, which were reputable companies, and claimed to be therapeutic grade. I kind of gave up on it, because the results I got were not impressive, and the work of mixing scents in my massage oils and the cost of buying them did not really give me enough return for my investment. Then, I was introduced to a line of essential oils that are therapeutic grade, and did meet all the criteria above, and my results were dramatic! I was hooked!

Since then, I have become certified in Aromatherapy from Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy, and learned about the chemistry of essential oils, and the science behind their actions. It is a fascinating study, and well worth some investment, if you have an interest!

There are a few essential oil companies which I work with, but until you get educated, be aware that you may not get the therapeutic results you want until you find a company that offers truly therapeutic grade essential oils. Until then, don’t discount essential oils and their healing qualities, because you may not have been working with the “real deal”!

Auriel Coleman

Auriel recommends Young Living Essential oils as a wonderful line of essential oils that are of the highest quality, and have a lot of educational materials to work with as well! They are a great place for most people to start, and you can trust all of their products to be of the highest quality. For more information, contact Auriel or schedule an Aromatherapy Consultation so you can learn more about Young Living Oils and even purchase essential oils from Auriel, if you are ready to get started!

Bookmark this website!  You can also sign up for Auriel’s newsletter, see box on bottom of page.

***This author makes no medical claims for essential oils.  Please seek a doctor’s care for any condition of pain, inflammation, or injury.

About Essential Oil Consultations with Auriel

@Auriel Coleman 2012 All Rights Reserved

The post Essential Oils Basics appeared first on helpyoutransform.com.