Aromatherapy Information

 What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is a natural healing system which uses essential oils to help re-establish balance and restore physical and emotional health. Essential oils are distilled or extracted from various parts of plants such as flowers and blossoms, leaves, stems, seeds, roots, peels, bark, herbs, needles, twigs and cones.

Each essential oil is made of up hundreds of natural components. The intricate balance of these components is what gives each essential oil its unique therapeutic properties. All the vital energy of the plant is contained within the molecules of each single drop of oil, making each drop a valuable and potent healing agent. This is why essential oils are typically sold in very small bottles. For most purposes a drop or two is all that is needed.

Some of the properties of certain essential oils are anti-bacterial, antifungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic etc. These properties make essential oils valuable for skin, scalp and hair care.
How Aromatherapy Works

Essential oils work in harmony with our own natural healing system. They travel throughout the body seeking to re-establish balance and to revitalize areas of weakness or malfunction.

Essential oils enter the body through skin absorption or through inhalation. The method used for hair and scalp conditions is skin absorption. Because the molecules of essential oils are relatively small and have a low molecular weight, they are easily absorbed through the skin. This means that they have an affinity to fat cells. Since fat cells are present in the subcutaneous layer of the skin, absorption begins as soon as contact is made.

Once absorbed into the skin, the oil travels into the bloodstream and throughout the body, making their way to muscle tissue, joints, lymphatic tissue, cells and organs. As they interact with our internal chemistry, actual physiological changes take place. Part of their work is to increase blood circulation, transport oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, and to help rid the body of carbon dioxide and other waste materials. Once their work is complete, they leave our system in a gentle non-intrusive manner.

As essential oils work on they physical and cellular level, they also influence our spiritual and emotional well-being. They strengthen and calm the nervous system. This balancing effect on the mind and body creates an overall sense of well being.

The intricacy of essential oils makes them very versatile. Each particular essential oil may be used for many diverse purposes. Using essential oils to improve hair often provides surprising benefits that go way beyond a healthy head of hair!
How Essential Oils Help Produce Healthy Hair

Hair follicles must receive a steady flow of nutrients in order to remain healthy.  The follicles receive their nutrients through the blood supply. If circulation is poor, follicles will become malnourished, the root will suffer and the hair will not grow to its full potential. Essential oils act as a rubefacient, directing blood flow to the area in which they are applied. The increased blood supply helps to nourish and energize the follicles.
 
In order for new growth to occur the scalp must be kept very clean. Essential oils cleanse the scalp of excess oil called sebum. If not thoroughly cleansed this excess oil turns into wax, clogging the follicles and creating a barrier for the new hair to penetrate. If the hair does manage to push through the wax it will be weak and frail not likely to survive. Essential oils also cleanse the scalp of old dead cells and debris.

Essential oils transport oxygen to the roots of our hair. This increased oxygen helps to revitalize cells with our scalp, skin and entire system. They also encourage cellular regeneration. They rid the body of carbon dioxide and other toxins. Essential oils are very compatible with our skin, scalp and hair, making them an ideal natural cosmetic.

Importance of Aromatherapy Scalp Massage

The foundation for beautiful, thick, healthy growing hair is a clean vibrant and well- nourished scalp. The way to healthy hair is through a healthy scalp. Scalp massage with aromatherapy formulas are designed to get the scalp in the best condition possible, allowing the hair to grow with ease as it becomes beautiful, strong and healthy.

Massaging the scalp should be part of every hair care regime. Massaging the scalp with botanical ingredients to promote healthy hair is nothing new. This technique has been used by many cultures throughout history.
 
In India, scalp massage with herbal-infused oil, was performed within the family -- on every family member. Even infants received scalp massage. This tradition is still followed among many families in India today.

Victorian women applied a mixture that included the spirit of camphor to their hair roots each night to promote beautiful, healthy hair. Victorian men used coconut or palm oil with processed ylang-ylang flowers as a hairdressing product known as Macassar oil.
Native American Indians were known to rub the gel of an aloe vera plant into their scalp and hair to keep hair thick and healthy.
Young Polynesian girls bathed their hair in coconut milk infused with the fragrant tiare flower to provide moisture and protection. This sweet smelling lotion is now manufactured in Tahiti as Monoi Tiare, and is highly regarded for skin and hair conditioning.

One of the most obvious benefits of scalp massage is increased circulation. The scalp, being an extremity is one of the hardest places for blood to flow. The increased blood flow helps to nourish the follicle. The scalp depends on blood flow to bring oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles.

Tension causes tightness in the scalp, which restricts blood flow. Scalp massage restores pliability and relieves tension, helping to create an ideal environment for new hair growth.  
 
Massaging the scalp also helps loosen and remove dead cells and excess sebum on the scalp, which can hinder new hair growth. Essential oils greatly increase this capability.  Scalp massage also helps to distribute the hairs natural oils to protect and condition the hair.

Scalp massage activates neural pathways to the brain and stimulates unused brain cells -- enhancing brain function. It also relaxes blood vessels in the head and neck, increasing the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain. Scalp massage improves mental stamina as it relaxes the entire body. And it feels really good too! 

The benefits of scalp massage are greatly increased when essential oil formulas are used. Scalp massage with essential oil formulas can feel relaxing or invigorating. Their lingering scent can produce feelings of euphoria and well-being. Scalp massage with essential oils is an experience to look forward to and enjoy.
Aromatherapy as a Natural Hair Loss Remedy

For women experiencing hair loss, aromatherapy essential oils are like a secret, precious gift graciously supplied by nature. Essential oils, being very compatible with our own skin and hair, have the ability to heal a wide variety of scalp and hair conditions, including most cases of female hair loss.

Using fragrant botanical oils to grow hair may seem like a far-fetched idea until the therapeutic properties are understood. The healing potential of essential oils does not merely come from uncapping a bottle and sniffing the released aroma--as the term “aromatherapy” may imply.

Each essential oil consists of hundreds of intricately balanced natural components contributing to its unique healing abilities. Essential oils are carefully distilled from various parts of plants. The concentrated liquids which are stored in cellular pockets within the plant contain all the vital energy of the plant. Each single drop of essential oil holds the essence of the entire plant.
To stimulate hair growth, aromatherapy formulas are massaged into the scalp. Because the molecules of essential oils are very small they are quickly absorbed into the scalp and hair follicles, where they immediately begin performing their functions – staring with cleansing.

A clean healthy scalp is vital for healthy hair growth. Aromatherapy formulas thoroughly cleanse the scalp of excess sebum and other environmental pollutants. If not thoroughly cleansed excess sebum turns into wax, clogging the follicles and creating a barrier for the new hair to penetrate. If the hair does manage to push through the wax it will be weak and frail not likely to survive. Certain essential oils have the ability to dissolve sebum and exfoliate dead skin cells and other debris from the scalp. This action also helps minimize the effects of DHT for those who are predisposed. The antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties of essential oils contribute to their superior cleansing abilities.

Hair follicles must receive a steady flow of nutrients in order to produce healthy growing hair. Nutrients are delivered to the hair through blood supply. The scalp being an extremity is one of the hardest places for blood to circulate to. If circulation is poor follicles will become malnourished, the root will suffer and the hair will not grow to its full potential. Essential oils are well known for their ability to increase blood circulation. Aromatherapy scalp treatments can dramatically increase the amount of blood directed to the scalp and hair follicles, helping to ensure that the hair is well-nourished.

The vasodilatation which occurs from using essential oils has a stimulating effect on the follicles. The entire scalp feels energized and invigorated. The follicles in their enlivened and widened state are able to accept more nutrients, enhancing overall health and growth. This benefit also helps to combat the effects of miniaturization. Miniaturization of hair which often comes with age--and is caused by narrowing follicles can also be greatly improved by the vasodilating effects produced by essential oils.

Essential oils are known to have cellular regenerative properties. They have the unique ability to deeply penetrate the layers of skin all the way down to the dermal layer where cells are formed. Because each new strand of hair is formed from cells at the base of the follicle, essential oils with cellular regenerative properties can help keep the hair growth cycle alive, healthy and youthful while inhibiting the effects of aging.

Essential oils are absorbed directly in keratin, which is what hair is made of. They are one of the few ingredients that can penetrate the cuticle layer and cortex layer of the hair, allowing true hair repair to occur.
Essential oils also increase oxygen supply, transporting oxygen to the roots of our hair and to every cell in our body. This increased oxygen helps to revitalize cells within our scalp, skin and entire system.

The antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities of essential oils can assist in healing many scalp conditions which hinder hair growth.

Essential oils are powerful natural hair growth stimulators. As they work to create an ideal environment for healthy hair growth, they are also creating other positive influences.  Using essential oils for hair growth may provide additional surprising benefits.
Because essential oils are truly holistic, they work on many different levels. Once absorbed into the skin, essential oils travel throughout the system seeking to re-establish balance and create inner harmony. One may experience deeper sleep, reduced anxiety, mental clarity, and an over-all feeling of wellness. Because of their gentle but powerful holistic nature, the precious oils of aromatherapy can and should be considered a true gift from nature.

In order to promote hair growth, essential oil scalp treatments must be carefully formulated, using the highest quality essential oils at the proper potency. Custom blended formulas based on individual circumstances have the greatest potential for success. VZ Botanicals can help with all your hair loss concerns. Visit VZ Botanicals to order custom formulas, purchase books to make your own natural hair loss formulas or to read more hair loss articles.

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