In the world of medical science, dermatologists concentrate on things like a glycolic acid peels and a laser treatment to deal with scars. These can be incredibly successful, but it never hurts to bolster your approach with something that works underneath your skin as well. No matter how well a laser or glycolic treatments may work, it is after all a surface treatment. For something that goes beyond your skin while cutting to the core of the problem and dealing with underlying factors, aromatherapy is a perfect alternative.

It’s important to remember that there are many elements absorbed into your skin on a regular basis, and most of them happen to be negative influences. There’s no reason why you can’t use this same principle while using positive factors to strengthen your skin. Some of the elements that are naturally absorbed include cigarette smoke, pollution, and toxins. With a guided aromatherapy in the right adaptations, you can compensate with healthier elements and essential oils. The results can be absolutely remarkable for anyone dealing with how to get rid of acne scars and discoloration.

The overall effects of aromatherapy results in a far better rate of regeneration for acne scars. It can effectively boost healing while getting kings back on track at the same time. While also helping you to deal with how to get rid of blackheads and acne, you’ll find that rough surfaces on acne scars are eventually smoothed out. This is because you’re tapping into a variety of factors that benefit your skin ranging from stress reduction to less oil production to hormonal changes. The results can be quite staggering if you combine a healthy approach of aromatherapy and dermatology for the most comprehensive treatment possible.

As you exercise your body is under stress and you feel your muscles being worked. Exercise never feels pleasant and so you can easily stop even when your body can do more. What aromatherapy can do is to help remove the overwhelming feelings you have when you are just about to stop your workout. It helps you to relax so you don’t realize just how hard you have been working out thus enabling you to go on a bit longer than usual.

On top of that you can do even more to amp up your workout. Start with your regular routine, add some aromatherapy scents for relaxation and rejuvenation and then add an abs belt.

The best form of undergoing aromatherapy while working out is with a diffuser – you can’t be massaged with aromatic oils while you work out, that would probably just put you to sleep. There are a number of different types of diffusers you can choose from. Check out this video for what to choose. 

But don’t get bogged down with the term.  It suggests that essential oils work through the sense of smell, when in fact most essential oils interact with the body chemistry in different ways.  Many are applied externally in the form of a topical application – for example tea tree oil for nail fungus treatments, lavender as an anti-inflammatory or geranium for reducing stretch marks.  They work topically but also become absorbed via the skin and transported throughout the body.  (That’s why if you rub a garlic clove on the soles of your feet, a few minutes later you’ll be able to notice it on your breath).

It makes sense to consider aromatherapy within the broader field of herbal medicine as it’s not just essential oils that can be derived from plants.  For example chamomile can be used both as a volatile oil as well as a herbal preparation that is used as an infusion.  Another example is peppermint – used as an inhalant for the treatment of respiratory conditions and in extract form for the treatment of digestive disorders.  

When using essential oils it’s safest to limit them to external use only.  They are highly concentrated and can easily irritate or damage mucosal membranes (such as your stomach lining).  When it comes to storage, keep away from light and heat and ideally store in a dark bottle.  When purchasing make sure the packaging is of good quality and made from an inert material (such as glass) that won’t react with the contents.

It’s been in use around the world for several thousand years, due to it’s beneficial, tension releasing properties. It comes from the Santalum genus, of which there are more than one. Chiefly the Santalum Album and the Santalum Spicatum, otherwise known as the Sandal tree, and situated in India and Australia respectively.

The trees are protected, this because they’re slow to mature and low in number. In some parts of the world, particularly India, there are incidents of ‘tree poaching’, whereby individuals damage immature trees in order to harvest the oil for monetary gain.

Sandalwood Tree

The Sandalwood tree reaches maturity somewhere between sixty and eighty years into its growth cycle. The oil itself is gathered from the tree roots and the heart-wood. This is where the oil is at its most concentrated. The amount of oil yielded is related to the tree’s age. A mature sandal tree will produce higher levels of oil.

Typically, an Australian sandalwood tree will be harvested anywhere between it’s twelfth and twentieth year. Interestingly, the trees are never cut using the traditional felling method. They’re uprooted, as a means of harvesting the oil from the heart-wood and the tree roots. Due to the fact that the tree is notoriously difficult to cultivate, sandalwood plantations are carefully controlled and monitored.

According to scientific study, the tree is far happier to populate naturally, than it is through the manipulation of man! On a side-note, if you have Google Earth, you can view sandalwood plantations in Western Australia, and enjoy a birds eye view of their rather impressive looking sandalwood forests.

Sandalwood Essential Oil

Once a tree has been harvested, the oil is distilled and allowed to mature, before it’s used on the commercial market. As an essential oil, it’s uses are mainly related to inducing tranquillity and relaxation, and the scent itself is deliciously aromatic – spicy, sweet and soothing.

It can be used in diffusers, for bathing and showering. The oil is used in soaps, lotions, creams and perfumes. Due to its popularity, Sandalwood is readily available, and the heady fragrance is well worth paying for. The next time that you’re feeling a little stressed or harassed, try burning sandalwood oil in an oil diffuser. Then simply sit back, relax and soak up the wonderful aroma!