Cooking Up Good Scents

Aromatherapy is a wonderful natural alternative to modern medicine when it comes to treating common ailments and mood swings. In aromatherapy, there is no risk of ingesting blends of herbs that may have harmful or adverse effects on us. Aromatherapy uses essential oils that benefit us in two ways: through the connection of our olfactory sense with the brain and as well as through the direct application of essential oils to the skin.

The use of essential oils for aromatherapy can be easy. All you need is to gather the right resources to increase your knowledge on the different types of essential oils and their benefits. You can go down to your local bookstore and browse the shelves for information on essential oils and aromatherapy. You can also choose to go online and browse the web’s resources and tips from various aromatherapy practitioners and experts.

To get you started on your quest, below you will find aromatherapy recipes for treatment of some common problems.

Aromatherapy recipe for the skin

Aromatherapy for the skin is beneficial because the essential oils provide much needed moisture and healing to skin layers. It also helps invigorate your skin cells to promote new skin cell regeneration. Certain essential oils are also extremely useful for treating bacteria and fungal infection as well as inflammations.

If you have dry skin, you can use rose, sandalwood, lavender and myrrh. If you have sensitive skin, try this aromatherapy recipe: combine 2 drops of chamomile with a drop each of myrrh and rose plus 2 ounces of jojoba or almond oil. You must store this mixture in an airtight dark glass container which should be kept in a cool and dark place. You can then use this aromatherapy recipe to treat sensitive skin.

If your problem is mature skin, you can revive the youthful properties of your skin using a simple aromatherapy recipe. All you have to do is combine 2 drops each of frankincense and myrrh with 2 ounces of jojoba or almond oil. This easy rejuvenating treatment is the most natural way to a more youthful skin. Remember to store this aromatherapy recipe accordingly.

Acne can also be treated by a simple aromatherapy recipe, which involves combining 15 drops of tea tree oil with 10 drops of lavender along with 2 ounces of jojoba or almond oil. For a whole body treatment however, you can try the simple aromatherapy recipe of combining 1 cup of milk with 1 teaspoon each of honey, olive oil and vinegar with 2 drops each of spearmint and lavender. You can use this wonderful aromatherapy recipe with mixing it in a warm tub of water for a relaxing and invigorating bath.

Aromatherapy for the hair

Don’t neglect your crowning glory! Simple aromatherapy recipes can help you get your mane in tip top shape. For instance, if you suffer from dry hair, try this aromatherapy recipe to give life back to your parched hair: combine 1 drop of rosemary with 1 tablespoon orris root powder. Simply sprinkle the mixture on to your hair and scalp and brush off thoroughly after 5 minutes.

If coaxing your hair to grow is what you want, a simple aromatherapy recipe can do the trick. Simply combine 10 drops rosemary with 8 drops of bay along with 7 drops cedarwood and 50 ml of jojoba oil. Apply this aromatic mixture of essential oil to your scalp and cover with a shower cap or towel. Leave it like this overnight and rinse thoroughly when you wake up.

Summer Grilling

Summer time is the perfect time for barbequing. Not only is the temperatures perfect for outdoor activities, but often the children are out of school, and families are traveling for their summer vacations. Today in America, it is unheard of for a family to go a full summer without having or attending a barbeque cookout. Today, over 90% of families attend a barbeque at least once a year.

Summer is indeed the perfect time to plan a barbeque party. It is important to remember certain things when barbequing to ensure that your party goes flawless.

Grilling Dos and Donts

1. Always start with a completely clean grill. The amazing fish that you cooked last week was indeed tasty, but unless you want a hint of fish with your hot dogs, you need to clean your grill before cooking. It is recommended that you clean you grill each and every time you use it. Wait until it cools down, and then clean the surfaces with baking soda and the racks with grease fighting dish soap and water.

2. Before you begin cooking, spray your cooking area with a nonstick cooking spray. This will prevent your meat from sticking when you are rotating or removing it. If your meat sticks and tears, you will lose a large amount of juice, and your meat may dry out.

3. Never place food on the grill until the temperature is correct. The fluctuation in temperatures will cause your food to dry out or burn. If you are using a charcoal grill, make sure that the coals are completely gray before putting the meat on the grill. This will allow the temperatures to level out, and the majority of the lighter fluid to burn off.

4. While marinating before you cook will add flavor, covering your meat in barbeque sauces before cooking will dry your meat out, and may even cause it to burn. This happens because most barbeques sauces contain high amounts of fat and sugar, which burn really easy. Alternatively, lightly seasoning your meat will work well, and will not have any adverse effects. If you must use barbeque sauce, only add it in the final minutes before taking your meat off the grill. Just remember that meat has a natural flavor that is only brought out by barbequing, so you do not want to ruin that.

5. Searing you meat will lock in the juices and taste, but you do not want to cook your meat at that temperature for the whole amount of time. Once you have seared both sides, reduce the heat to medium. This will ensure that your meat is full of flavor and tender.

6. Once meat is cooked, never put it back in on the same plate you had it on when it was raw. This could cause the spread of many unwanted illnesses. Do not handle cooked meat with the same utensils that you used when it was raw.

7. Never poke you meat while it is cooking. Poking holes in meat will cause the juice inside to leak out into the bottom of the grill. Not only will this make your food dry and unappealing in the end, but it also could potentially ruin your barbeque grill. At the very least, it will cause a buildup of unwanted grease and juices on your grill, which will make cleanup harder.

Summer Grilling

Summer time is the perfect time for barbequing. Not only is the temperatures perfect for outdoor activities, but often the children are out of school, and families are traveling for their summer vacations. Today in America, it is unheard of for a family to go a full summer without having or attending a barbeque cookout. Today, over 90% of families attend a barbeque at least once a year.

Summer is indeed the perfect time to plan a barbeque party. It is important to remember certain things when barbequing to ensure that your party goes flawless.

Grilling Dos and Donts

1. Always start with a completely clean grill. The amazing fish that you cooked last week was indeed tasty, but unless you want a hint of fish with your hot dogs, you need to clean your grill before cooking. It is recommended that you clean you grill each and every time you use it. Wait until it cools down, and then clean the surfaces with baking soda and the racks with grease fighting dish soap and water.

2. Before you begin cooking, spray your cooking area with a nonstick cooking spray. This will prevent your meat from sticking when you are rotating or removing it. If your meat sticks and tears, you will lose a large amount of juice, and your meat may dry out.

3. Never place food on the grill until the temperature is correct. The fluctuation in temperatures will cause your food to dry out or burn. If you are using a charcoal grill, make sure that the coals are completely gray before putting the meat on the grill. This will allow the temperatures to level out, and the majority of the lighter fluid to burn off.

4. While marinating before you cook will add flavor, covering your meat in barbeque sauces before cooking will dry your meat out, and may even cause it to burn. This happens because most barbeques sauces contain high amounts of fat and sugar, which burn really easy. Alternatively, lightly seasoning your meat will work well, and will not have any adverse effects. If you must use barbeque sauce, only add it in the final minutes before taking your meat off the grill. Just remember that meat has a natural flavor that is only brought out by barbequing, so you do not want to ruin that.

5. Searing you meat will lock in the juices and taste, but you do not want to cook your meat at that temperature for the whole amount of time. Once you have seared both sides, reduce the heat to medium. This will ensure that your meat is full of flavor and tender.

6. Once meat is cooked, never put it back in on the same plate you had it on when it was raw. This could cause the spread of many unwanted illnesses. Do not handle cooked meat with the same utensils that you used when it was raw.

7. Never poke you meat while it is cooking. Poking holes in meat will cause the juice inside to leak out into the bottom of the grill. Not only will this make your food dry and unappealing in the end, but it also could potentially ruin your barbeque grill. At the very least, it will cause a buildup of unwanted grease and juices on your grill, which will make cleanup harder.