Tag Archives: Pine

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Most Depressing day of the Year

Next Monday has been given the Moniker, based on people’s lack of enthusiasm for returning to work, low light levels, winter weather and the come down after the winter and new year celebrations.

Of course for some who really enjoy their work, especially if they don’t enjoy time with family etc. for whatever reason this is total bunkum. For me personally, being self employed it will be great if I have clients next Monday!

However, it is the peak time for people to see GPs with problems related to depression, more people die at this time of year and according to at least one website it is also the peak time for people to file for divorce!

If you feel the need for some more brightness in your life and want to get your energy moving, try using this blend of oils.

Bergamot 5 drops,

Frankincense 4 drops,

Pine 3 drops.

You can use this in a burner or vaporiser or use it for massage if mixed in 30ml of a vegetable based carrier oil. In a bath you can add just a few mls of the mix to the bath.

Alternatively, if you live near Trumpington or Central Cambridge, why not book an aromatherapy massage to lift your spirits.

Phone 07939273569 or email dave@cambridgearomatherapy.com to book an appointment.

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Posted on January 9, 2017 in Uncategorized

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Aromatherapy Massage for Depression in Cambridge

 

01In my massage and aromatherapy practice in Cambridge I see a lot of clients with depression, one day  out of five clients three were taking antidepressants prescribed either by a psychiatrist or a GP. Also three quarters of people with depression in The United Kingdom go undiagnosed or untreated — and even if the disorder is diagnosed, today’s medications will work well for only about half of those who seek help.

Depression affects about one in five older people, (two in five in care homes) Over a life time about one in four of us will suffer from depression at some point in our lives.

To see how depression has been ignored by researchers compared to cancer see this article in Nature Magazine.

Massage and Aromatherapy can be very helpful in depression for a number of reasons.

  1. Many when depressed do not feel they are worth spending time on. This leads them to deny themselves pleasurable experiences which then reinforces a belief that life is not good setting up a vicious circle. An aromatherapy massage can be part of breaking this pattern.
  2.   Depression is often characterised by a disturbed sleep pattern, either difficulty getting off to sleep or early morning wakening. aromatherapy can help deal with this sleep disturbance.
  3. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, depression is always associated with blocked Qi or energy. Most essential oils help to release blocked Qi in one part of the body or another. Massage is also powerful in doing this.
  4. Constipation and reduced bowel motility are symptoms of depression. Massage can help with this as can most of the oils derived from culinary herbs.

Essential oils used in treating depression include Bergamot and other citrus oils plus Melissa all helping to move stagnant or blocked Qi or energy. They are invigorating and uplifting in their aroma. Ginger, Pine and Rosemary among others can be used to increase energy levels while Rose and Jasmine can be used to help heal the effects of grief or abuse.

I can see clients both at the Salus Wellness Centre in Norfolk street or my home in Trumpington.

email dave@cambridgearomatherapy.com to find out more.

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Posted on August 10, 2016 in Uncategorized

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Energy

Energy means different things to different people. As an aromatherapist when working with my clients  if often means vitality. Many of my clients in Trumpinton and Cambridge complain of lack of motivation to do things. Other complain of feeling lethargic and not having the energy to do things even if they had the motivation.

I like to think of energy in terms of potential energy and kinetic energy. A skier at the top of a slope has lots of potential energy and this is transformed into kinetic energy or energy of movement once they start the run or jump depending on their discipline.

Clearly these different conditions will not respond to treatment in the same way. A lack of motivation might be thought of as blocked energy, picture a dam in a stream. or a lock gate on a canal. Open the gate and the water pours through. Blocked Qi or energy is a common condition in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is one of the reasons I use meridian massage in my practice. I also use oils such as Jasmine, Rose, Palmarosa and of course, Bergamot and lemon. These are all oils that help free energy that is trapped in our bodies.

When it comes to a real lack of energy such as in M.E. or Myalgic Encephalitis, then it becomes vital that the therapist listens to the client. Often they have tried many things without success including massage and aromatherapy! Diet is of course important, If someone is not eating properly then they are never going to have good energy levels. I will also check that they symptoms do not suggest diabetes. Oils that can help low energy include lemon, Rosemary and Pine.

If you are feeling low in energy or wish to let your potential energy flow,

Call 07939273569 or email dave@cambridgearomatherapy.com

 

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Posted on March 24, 2016 in Uncategorized

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Repeated infections.

IMG_0764I know a few people who have had this problem over the winter,both here in Cambridge and further afield.  Almost as soon as one infection goes they get another cold or chest infection. One of these people has been told by their GP that it is really common this year. Needless to day, this makes it difficult to carry on with doing everything we want to.

I am not going to say that I have a cure for the common cold. If I did, I would probably either be very rich, have won a Nobel Prize or possibly even both! Sadly none of these are true. Yet, it is not unusual for me to go for several years without contracting flu (I don’t get immunised) and many years I manage not to get any colds at all and when I do get them they are usually much more short lived than they are for others.

I know that there is no hard statistical evidence for essential oils building the immune system but I suspect that using essential oils so much does help with this. Another aspect that does have research to back it up is that regular hand washing can reduce the incidence of these infections and not just ones where the connection is more obvious such as winter vomiting virus. If I look through the properties of the sixty plus different essential oils I use, all bar two or three are listed as having anti-bacterial and or anti-viral properties.

As well as Tea Tree, Myrrh and Lemon, three of the oils best known for their anti-infectious properties, I would also recommend  some of the expectorant and decongestant oils. These include Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Benzoin and Pine. It is no coincidence that some of these oils are those commonly used in cleaning products, in fact the market for essential oils in cleaning products is probably an order of magnitude greater than that for Aromatherapy and massage!

There is one other essential oil that I would highly recommend for when you have a cold and it is one that you are unlikely to see in a bottle. That is Horseradish. Grating the fresh root into a bowl will be more effective than any of the essential oils you can get in a bottle!

Of course prevention is always better than cure so to book an aromatherapy massage which will give you a dose of essential oils and also reduce stress levels which again helps to lessen you chances of getting these infections, email

dave@cambridgearomatherapy.com or phone/text 07939273569. If you phone, do leave a message as often I am either busy or just don’t get the phone out of my pocket in time!

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Posted on March 18, 2016 in Uncategorized

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Wood Matters

 

woodstove

Sadly the firm of the name above in Cambridge no longer exists.However today I want to say that wood really does matter from a wide range of perspectives. Wood is important as a way of sequestering carbon. If we build using it the carbon is locked up for hundreds of years. If we burn it, so long as the wood does not travel excessive distances and is burned in an efficient stove, it is a heat source that is close to carbon neutral. Needless to say, it is important to plant replacement trees to ensure a continued supply!

Even more important for locking up carbon however are forests that are not used for fuel. Sadly, lack of regulation means many of these in tropical areas are dwindling at a time when they should be increasing in size. However countries in higher latitudes should also be increasing the amount of woodland and recognise that some of the thousands of acres of moorland could play it’s part in combating global warming.

Wood has many functions. As well as being an environmentally friendly heat source it is also aesthetic. While many think us strange, we have no television and the wood stove is the centre of attention in our living room. Also clients who come to my home in Trumpington prefer the wood stove to radiators that are present at the clinic in Central Cambridge where I also work.

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Cherry logs before being cut and split. Some has been diverted into wood for carving spoons from.

Of course many of the essential oils I use come from wood, Pine, Sandalwood, Spruce and many others. This brings another level of responsibility. I stopped using Rosewood when the supplier I used to get it from no longer had access to a managed woodland in Belize. I see that they now have another source which is from a managed forest in India. In fact this is from a species not on any register and it is also from a managed woodland, harvested through coppicing.

And having said all the above, it is now time for me to go and cut some more wood for next winter!

 

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Posted on February 11, 2016 in Uncategorized

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Aromatherapy for anxiety, stress and depression.

Anxiety, stress and depression are probably the three biggest reasons for clients coming to see me. Back pain and neck and shoulder pain probably come next but I often find neck and shoulder pain is secondary to stress.

Massage and aromatherapy can help with the symptoms of these psychological conditions but if a client is working in a very stressful job and is unable to change any of the factors creating their problems then they will be using massage and aromatherapy as a way of coping rather than eliminating the problems.

There are many essential oils that can help with these problems, bergamot, frankincense, lavender, vetiver, chamomile to name just a few. If there are abuse issues | will probably add one of rose, jasmine or neroli. If the client is expressing a wish to get out of the situation (This has to be their wish and not mine) then I might add Laurel (bay) Rosemary or Pine, all oils that help with poor self esteem and might over time help a client to make a decision to move on.

Massage as well as providing the means of delivering the essential oils can address the symptoms itself and also provide a sense of nurture that can allow the client to feel more accepted and help them move out of depression.

While I do feel that antidepressants and some other psychiatric drugs are vastly overused, I do not advise clients to stop these or use massage and aromatherapy as an alternative to conventional treatment without discussing this first with their GP. If a client is wishing to stop medication and has the support of their GP I am happy to provide aromatherapy a a way of supporting this.

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Posted on December 1, 2015 in Uncategorized

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An Aromatherapy Massage for Relaxation and Stress management..

Ever had one of those days when you are at the end of your tether? I know I have and I doubt f there are many who haven’t. A day when you are in danger of kicking something/smashing something or even worse? A day when what you really need is something just for you?

That is what I offer when I give a massage. Time for you to relax and be taken care of. Time to get red of those aches and pains be that in shoulders, neck and back, arms legs etc.

The massage is enhanced by oils such as Frankincense, Lavender or Rose which can all help us relax and become more grounded. Other oils such as Pine and Bergamot can help if we also feeling depressed as a result of life’s stresses. (Rose helps with this too!)

My normal sessions are 90minutes which means that even on a first appointment after the consultation the massage lasts over an hour. In subsequent sessions it will last about one hour twenty minutes unless you feel the need to talk more before the session. Cost £40/£50 for introductory session.

If you want to find out more or book an appointment either email me dave@cambridgearomatherapy.com or fill in the on-line form. Or phone 07939 273 569

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Posted on October 5, 2015 in Uncategorized

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