Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is one of the oldest methods of holistic healing, equipped to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit with the use of fragrance or aroma.

“Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains” - Diane Ackerman”

Do you like the smell of freshly baked bread and cookies? Does the fragrance of roses and jasmine uplift your spirits and make you feel great? I am sure the answer to both these queries will be a very emphatic yes!

Aromatherapy is an alternative and complementary health science that uses the physiological and psychological benefits of herbs essence to manage a wide range of illnesses. The volatile and essential plant oils (the pure essence of plants) are used, through the sense of smell, to promote health and in treating several diseases ranging from stress, arthritis, obesity, cancer, pain reduction and dementia.


It is important to understand that all “fragrances” or “perfumes” are not necessarily beneficial and do not qualify as aromatherapy. Only essential oils which are natural and do not have any synthetic chemicals or artificial ingredients are capable of providing therapeutic value, but only if used correctly and in a safe manner. The healing power of the essential oil is the essence of aromatherapy.

The essential oils used in aromatherapy are highly concentrated and should never be used on the skin without diluting them, barring a few exceptions. Different essential oils can be blended together and this combination is called synergy. The synergy is more powerful and effective than the individual oils on their own. The effects of these essential oils can be reduced by diluting and mixing them with carrier oil.

“Wholeness or health is our natural state. The nature of healing involves removing obstructions to this natural state and bringing individuals into alignment with themselves and their world. Free of these obstructions, an individual's innate intelligence and self-regulating capabilities will guide him toward a state of well being.” — Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

Aromas or scents have the power to transform our emotion, and heal our bodies. They not only treat our physical bodies, but also elevate our state of mind. Indeed, aromas influence our emotions and behavior.

The fragrances inhaled through the fine hair lining the nose, enter the section of the brain called the limbic system. The limbic system controls our moods, emotions, memory and learning. When the brain reacts to the positive power of the aroma, it induces emotional well being and brings back pleasant memories. In turn, this encourages relaxation and energisation.

Fragrances stimulate the power of affection. The odors inhaled have a corresponding effect on our feelings and emotions. When one loses the sense of smell, it could affect a person’s well-being, and trigger anxiety and depression.

A French Chemist, Rene Maurice Gate Fosse in the 1920’s, discovered the healing property of essential oils. Egyptians also harnessed the power of essential oils for medicinal, cosmetic and embalming purposes.

Aromatherapy is practiced in many homes without them being aware of it. As the name suggests, this therapy has to do with aroma (scent or fragrance). The source of aroma may be from flowers, plants, incense sticks and pastes.

Flowers such as rose and jasmine and herbs, like basil, emit special scents, which help to relieve mental and physical stress. Placing fragrant flowers in vases in the drawing, as well as bedrooms, will do the trick. Flowers and herbs need to be changed every day.

Burning incense sticks of mild, natural fragrance creates a healthy mood. Same is true of the sandalwood incense sticks and sandalwood paste.

Bathing in the water mixed with the extract of fragrant flowers and plants help immensely in relieving the stress. Along with this therapy one can consume ginger paste mixed with honey or essence of basil leaves and cinnamon mixed with honey to hasten the healing process. The idea is to heal inside and outside.

All medicine is in the Earth

Introduction of Mud Baths

Mud bath is a detox therapy, which has become extremely popular around the globe. Until rather recently, many European practitioners promoted mud baths as a treatment for arthritis. This back to the basics, relatively simplest of alternative therapies, tends to help relax muscles, soothe aches, improve blood circulation and smoothen the skin.

With today's emerging trends mud baths are often recommended to help reduce stress and leave us feel rejuvenated at the end of the session.

Skin and Detoxification

Conscious detoxing is a great way to achieve optimum health. The best ways to detox is through the skin. Detoxification is one of the most effective methods to eliminate toxic substances that build up throughout our system. The toxins present in the environment constantly attack the body. These toxins get accumulated in the body's fat layers. Accumulation of toxins in the body cause harm to the biological processes. Hence, it becomes essential to remove the toxins regularly from the body otherwise; a high toxin load may cause skin problem, frequent or recurring colds, chronic pains, low energy levels, allergies and other illness.

The skin is the largest breathing human organ. Keeping the skin healthy promotes general health and well being. Taking a hot bath or sauna promotes sweating that flushes the toxins away from the body. Mud baths draw out the toxins and impurities from the body, exfoliating and nourishing the skin.

Mud and Clay

Mud is an element of the earth that is said to possess therapeutic properties. It is made of a combination of soil, silt, clay and water. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and plant substance. Scholars believe that it was the Romans who discovered the therapy of Mud baths as early as 120 B.C. Today we know that Mud, helps to draw out excess heat and cool the body. Its property of water solubility allows the skin to absorb nourishing nutrients when applied. One of the additional benefits with Mud is that, due to its nature other ingredients can be added to the mixture to further boost treatment results. 

Clay like mud comes from the earth. However, due to its composition nature it has a tendency to soak up or dry, hence it is used in cosmetic products as a drying agent. It is a component found in many cosmetic products like foundation and powders. Clay has the ability to remove matter suspended in liquid, as its natural property is oil balancing. Thus, clay helps to assist the body in the systemic removal of many industrial chemicals that the body would otherwise have difficulty eliminating. 

Types of Mud Across the World

Mud is used as a healing agent for cracks, bites, burns and other skin afflictions. Pure mud helps to de-toxify, remineralize and is anti-inflammatory. Every region on earth, according to its geographic and climatic conditions produces Mud that is unique in its mineral and biological content. Depending upon the region, where the Mud is obtained it may contain high concentrations of Iron, Manganese, Zinc Copper or Selenium. This can be used to treat various ailments, when used in a variety of combination.

About Dead Sea Mud

One of the world's best and most sought after mud comes from The Dead Sea. The Jordanian Dead Sea has black mud enriched with healing minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium bromide and organic remains of plants and animals. It contains 100% natural Dead Sea mineral clay, known for its therapeutic properties.

This brand of mud is used by clinics to revitalize the skin by removing dry cell tissue. This helps to increase the supply of oxygen to the skin tissues and removes toxins from the body. It penetrates deep into the pores and helps the skin absorb the 26 Minerals and trace elements. The rich in minerals black mud can be used as contouring body wrap over the entire body for thirty minutes. A thermal wrap sheet is used to wrap the mud over the body to prevent the mud from drying out. The body is covered from below the neck and the mud can be rinsed away with warm water after 30 minutes. This is followed by the application of herbal massage cream to relax the body and further rejuvenate it.

About Moor Mud

The rich black mud from the Moors of Austria is known for its healing properties. It is formed as a result of plant matter deposited thousands of years ago deep beneath the earth. It contains 100% Austrian Moor peat with water. The mud is odorless, containing just over 1000 plant extracts and trace elements. It is however not a clay based mud. In fact it contains only 3% clay. The rest of the ingredients for this natural healing magic are organic residue of herbs, flowers and grasses. It consists of 97% of decomposed botanicals, high amounts of humic and fulvic acids, bio-minerals, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, plant hormones and fatty acids. It contains no aluminium oxide a metal that is considered harmful by many detox therapists. 


Moor mud has been used in the European spas since 1800's. For over 200 years, it has been referred to as having magical properties, which today can be explained through science. Its popularity has however not decreased and is still being used to:

• Cleanse the body of toxins
• Hydrate the skin
• Cure health problems like arthritis, chronic skin conditions and stomach ailments.
• Helps to ease joint problems, muscle tension and rheumatism.
• It induces relaxation, as it helps to stimulate the body's natural production of cortisones.
• It helps to deliver nutrients and anti-inflammatory elements to the body, improve circulation, boost the immune system and rejuvenate the body tissues.
• It is very effective in clearing acne and calms inflammation in the skin.
• Due to its richness' in humic acid, which helps in the absorption of moisture and nutrients into skin tissue, it helps to fight ageing of the skin.

This natural mud is applied and wrapped around the body for thirty minutes. Then it is rinsed thoroughly in warm water. An herbal relaxing oil is applied over the body after the bath. 

The moor mud is a fine paste that dissolves in water without clogging. Absence of clay makes it safe for septic systems. It does not clog the pipes and is suitable for normal bathtubs.

About Volcanic Mud Bath - Calistoga (California)

Mud baths have been a tradition in Calistoga since the time of Maya camas Indians. Calistoga was formed after a series of volcanic eruptions 2-6 million years ago. It is blessed with geothermal waters rich in magnesium and calcium that burst gently upon the earth into steaming pools and rivers. Calistoga is found at the foot of Mt. St. Helena and at the top of the Napa Valley. The combination of mineral water from local springs and the volcanic ash from Mt. St. Helena make up the key components of the Calistoga Mud.

The combination of clay, peat and hot mineral waters in the mud bath relaxes muscles and joints, cleanses impurities and leaves the skin soft and renewed. The mud treatment detoxifies, soothes aching muscles, reduces stress and induces relaxation.

The treatment begins by slipping into a tub of fine clay based mud for 10-15 minutes. Mud treatments are considered wet treatments, which means they require a special wet room or shower treatment in the spa, to rinse away the mud after treatment. 

In the 1930's and 40's people suffering from arthritis came to Calistoga spas to take a mud bath every day to get healed. These days, people come to these spas to relieve stress and experience peace and relaxation. 

About Great Salt Lake Mud Body Wrap

The Great Salt Lake in Utah is an island sea that contains minerals and trace elements in abundance. It is 6-10 times more concentrated than regular seawater. On average approximately 500 inches of snow falls on the mountain ranges surrounding the Great Salt Lake every year. During summer the water of the melted snow wash over the mountains, drawing minerals and trace elements from the rich soil. Mountain Rivers and streams wash these elements away into the Great Salt Lake. Since the lake has no outlet all of these minerals remain in the lake. The salt content in the Utah's great salt lake makes it unique. 

Many clinics used this mud to treat people with psoriasis, eczema, body ache or other skin irritations. It helps to calm and soothe reactive skin. A Body Wrap is prepared. The body wrap is done to remove the old dead skin. The heat from the wrap helps to unclog the pores that increase the rate of respiration. Thereby it helps to increase the skin tone and texture. One of the beneficial effects of body wraps is its ability to bring positive influences to one's mind, body and spirit. 

About Hungarian Wellness Mud

Hungarian Wellness Mud is a therapeutic mud used in medicinal spas in Hungary to treat ailments like chronic diseases of the joints and spine, sports related injuries, fibrositis syndrome, chronic joint inflammation and stress management. In the late 1800's, this fine mud was found in a natural spring in a place about 130 kilometers south east of Budapest. This mud was used to treat various aches and pains. Hungarian wellness mud has over 60% silicon dioxide, which helps to firm and strengthen body tissues. It also contains iron and sulphur known for stimulating blood circulation. When used as a body wrap, it promotes firmness and strength to body tissues and draws out toxins from the body. It is known for detoxification, cellulite, cell renewal and deep skin cleansing.

About Clay Baths

This is one of the most effective methods to eliminate toxic substances that have accumulated in the body. They cleanse the skin and stimulate the lymphatic system. The goal of a clay bath is to relax the conscious mind and release stress.

It is recommended to have clay baths without a combination of herbs. The best water to use with clay baths is natural, high quality spring water or if not possible, reverse osmosis water can be used. Adding natural sea salt to a clay bath is a good idea. Sea salt acts as a tonic and increases the ion exchange capability of clay in a clay bath. A healing clay bath should predominantly consist of green or grey sodium or calcium smectite. Natural raw clays are best, agricultural grade clays are next best and technical grade class are third. A warm or tepid clay bath lasts for 20-30 minutes. The bathtub should be filled with water at a temperature of 98-100 degrees Fahrenheit. The bath should be discontinued if the heart rate accelerates or if extreme fatigue occurs. Any systemic shock indicates that the bath should be discontinued.

Clay can ruin standard plumbing, so the water in the tub after a clay bath should be either pumped out or be left to dry outside. Once the water evaporates the clay can be disposed easily into the garbage. One can also install an inline-pressurized filter to remove clay from water. 

About Ischia Mud - Italy

Ischia is the eight largest Italian islands and the largest in the Bay of Naples. This volcanic island is known for its volcanic mud and thermal waters. Ischia mud originates from many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The mud contains sodium, chlorine, potassium, calcium and sulphur. It is hence suitable for therapeutic treatment like arthrosis, psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, respiratory diseases and intestinal disorders. 

About Bad Wilsnack - Germany

Bad Wilsnack, pronounced as But Wilsnack, is a town in Germany. Since 1928, it is recognized as a spa town. The brownish black mud in Bad Wilsnack in Germany has been used to ease back pain and arthritis for more than a century. The mud bath in Bad Wilsnack has healing properties because of its high mineral content. People take mud baths in tubs with the mud heated up to 39 or 43 degrees Celsius. The heat creates an artificial fever, stirring up a person's enzymes and this makes the immune system function better. This mud therapy is recommended for people with joint problems, arthritis, skin diseases or menopausal problems.

About Ayurvedic Mud Bath - India

About Multani Mitti - India

It is known as Indian Fullers earth. It is highly absorbent and formed due to the decomposition of volcanic ash. It is good for drawing excess oils from the skin and stimulates circulation to the skin. This clay is used by many Indian women to wash their hair, as it makes it soft and shiny. 

Multani Mitti or Indian Fullers earth as its called in the west is popularly used to cool the skin. With India being a tropical country, this mud has been popularly used to take care of the skin during the prickly heat season of summer. It is applied as a paste on the skin's surface for 15- 20 mints and then washed off. This leaves the skin feeling smooth, soft, moist and rejuvenated. 

Multani Mitti is popularly mixed with other products such as oils and herbs to match the skin type of the patient. The positive result can be immediately felt and seen once washed off. It is however impeccable that the mud is left on for the right duration of time. If left for too long, it can in fact cause discomfort and dry the skin. Many spas, in India use this mud for beauty treatments. It is widely used as a core element in many herbal face packs.

Mud Pack

Mudpacks are the most common form of beauty treatment used extensively around the world by women. Mudpacks are produced by some of the top beauty brands with easy to use instructions. Over the years there have been a variety of mudpacks introduced in the market. Due to this, most skin types can find the right pack at the right price. 

The Mudpack has to be made in to a paste before being applied on the face. However the Eye area and the lips are to be avoided. Usually most packs are left on for anywhere between 15 to 20 mints before being washed off with luke warm water. It is always best to read the instructions on the pack. 

The result of a Mud Pack treatment is to leave the skin feeling clean, smooth, soft and rejuvenated. Regular use helps to cut down wrinkles forming in the skin. However it is advised by experts not to over use this treatment as it can have adverse effects. Usually Mud Pack treatments are done once in every 1 or 3 months depending on the client's age and skin tone. 

Acupuncture

 Introduction

 List of disorders 

Acupuncture is based on the theory of yin and yang, which are not absolute but relative. Yin and yang are the opposites that make the whole. Yin is conceptualized as being cold, dark and female. Yang is warm, light and male. Neither of them can exist in isolation. These two opposites are not stationary, but in constant motion. The interaction of yin and yang produces "Qi", the bipolar energy. Life is possible only because of the interplay between these forces. The body, mind and emotions are all subject to the influences of yin and yang.

Each organ has an element of yin and yang within it. The histological structures and nutrients are yin, and the functional activities are yang. Some organs are predominantly yang in their functions, such as the liver, while others are predominantly yin, such as the kidney. Even though one organ may be predominantly yin (or yang) in nature, the balance of yin and yang is maintained in the whole healthy body because the sum total of the yin and yang will be in a balance.

Historically, acupuncture points were believed to be the holes that allow entry into channels. These holes provide us gateways to influence, redirect, increase, or decrease body's vital substance, Qi, thus correcting many of the imbalances.

The efficacy of acupuncture, especially for relieving pain, has been proved beyond doubt and is no longer a question today. According to the Gate Control Theory , pain signals pass through a number of high-traffic 'gates' in the spinal chord, as they move from the area of injury upward into the brain. Like a road or highway, these nerves can handle only a limited number of nerve signals at a particular time. Under normal circumstances, this gate is wide open and pain impulses get through very easily. But when acupuncture needling is carried out, another stream of non- painful impulse flow towards the spinal chord. This causes overcrowding at the gates, resulting in jamming. This competitive inhibition of pain impulses leads to an analgesic effect and no pain is felt at the level of brain.

Chemical or humoral mechanisms are also involved in relieving pain. These substances, called endorphins, are present in the brain, spinal chord and the intestines. The pituitary responds to acupuncture by releasing this painkiller, into the blood and cerebro-spinal fluid. This indirectly decreases the pain by reducing the firing rate of the pain impulses by the nerves at a distance. This phenomenon is described as pre-synaptic inhibition .

The electrical theory of acupuncture states that acupuncture works by influencing the electromagnetic field in the body. This electrical field influences the growth, maturation, and functioning of some types of cells. The body also continually generates tiny, but detectable electrical discharges. Studies have shown that there is a correlation between the electromagnetic fields in the body and the channels or meridians. Acupuncture points, which lie along the meridians, when stimulated, alter the amount of neurotransmitters, leading to an altered sensation of pain.

The important effects produced by acupuncture are analgesic, sedative, homeostatic or regulatory (an effect important for the body to adjust itself to the external environment), immune- enhancing, tranquilizing __apart from mere sedation, and motor recovery in paralytic patients.

Apart from controlling pain, acupuncture can treat a wide variety of common and uncommon disorders. It has been shown to improve the circulation of blood, decrease high blood pressure, stabilize the rhythm and stroke volume of the heart, control the secretion of the gastric acid, increase the production of red and white cells. It also stimulates the release of a variety of hormones that help body to respond to injury and stress.

The following is a list of disorders that can be treated by acupuncture (World Health Organization data):

Respiratory: Acute Sinusitis, Acute rhinitis, Common cold, Acute tonsillitis, Acute bronchitis, Bronchial asthma.

Eye: Acute conjunctivitis, short sightedness (in children), Cataract (without complications).

Mouth: Toothache, post extraction pain, Gingivitis (gum disease), Acute and chronic pharyngitis.

Gastrointestinal Disorders: Hiccups, Gastritis, Gastric Hyperacidity, Ulcers, Colitis, Constipation, Diarrhea, and Paralytic ileus.

Neurological and Musculoskeletal Disorders: Headache and migraine, Trigeminal neuralgia, Paralysis following stroke, Meniere's disease, Neurogenic bladder dysfunction, Nocturnal enuresis (bed wetting), Intercostal neuralgia (pain in the ribs), Cervicobrachial syndrome (pain radiating from neck to arm), "Frozen shoulder" or "tennis elbow", Sciatica, Low back pain and Osteoarthritis.

In the United States, acupuncture is used frequently for the treatment of chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, headache, athletic injuries, and post traumatic and post surgical pain. It is also used for treating chronic pain associated with immune function dysfunction, such as psoriasis (skin disorders), allergies, and asthma.

Acupuncture is also found to be effective for the treatment of mind-body disorders such as anxiety, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, insomnia, menopausal symptoms, and depression.

Acupuncture has become popular throughout the world in the past few decades. It is now recognized as a simple, safe, effective and economical form of therapy, besides being free from side effects. It has not only been used as an anaesthetic agent, but also in many diseases that are resistant to conventional forms of therapy.

Some modern application of acupuncture is in the treatment of disorders such as alcoholism, addiction, smoking, and eating disorders.