Essentially Yours - Part 5
essentially yours - part 5
Essential Oils and Aging
by Denise Washburn
The human face tells a story, much like a good book;
chapter-by-chapter your life is revealed, wrinkle-by-wrinkle your aging unfolds
and blossoms into an exciting novel. But
how much of that “story” are you comfortable showing off to the world?
Many women are waging wars on the wrinkles and are slamming shut their
“book.”
One can hardly step foot into a department store without coming face-to-face
with products galore, all designed to help us fight the war on aging.
If you have a complaint, there is probably an over-the-counter product
for you…to prevent lines and wrinkles; lift sagging eye lids; reduce the
appearance of aging; fight acne, blackheads and whiteheads; to make your skin
look tighter; to reduce the appearance cellulite, the list is endless.
The list of medicinal products and techniques are endless.
You have the topical products, the injected products and the plastic
surgery techniques…all in the name of fighting that war on aging.
Just look at how popular the TV show, “Extreme Makeover” is!
Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in (or in this case, on)
your body? It reacts to our
emotions, hormonal changes, climate, even the air and pollution around us.
It is defined by genetics, our diet and everything it comes in contact
with. Technically, the skin is an
organ weighing about nine pounds. It
protects us from the outside world and regulates the body’s natural cooling
and heating systems. There are few differences between male and female skins.
The epidermis is the outer layer of skin cells, the layer that is visible
to the world; it is created by a lower level called the basal level.
It can take three to four months for the new cells to move out and become
part of the epidermis. So, if you
are treating your skin, depending on the type of treatment, it may not show
results for this amount of time. And,
of course, the opposite is also true; damage done by nutrition can also take up
to four months to show on your skin. When
the skin cells reach the outer layer, they fall off and become household dust.
(Now, I know why I hate dust so much!
LOL) Our skin is a
living and dying, regenerating organ, forever on the move.
Essential oils work cosmetically and as anti-aging agents in several ways.
They stimulate skin cells into reproducing at a quicker rate, thus
reducing the time lag between new skin growth and the elimination of old cells
(and reversing the process of aging in which this time span is extended). Skin
that has been treated with essential oils becomes more dynamic and stronger.
Essential oils can prevent the congestion of toxins and expedite the
elimination of toxic debris by improving the lymphatic flow and general
condition of the lymph glands. They improve circulation, which aids oxygenation and energizes
the dermis by the rate nutrients are fed to it.
Some can balance the rate at which sebum is produced by the sebaceous
glands, thereby stabilizing a healthy skin condition. As bactericides they neutralize unwanted and unfriendly
bacteria, preventing blemished conditions; and as anti-inflammatories, they calm
sensitive and damaged skin. Since
some essential oils contain photo-hormones they create an equilibrium within our
endocrine systems, which surpasses in effectiveness that produced by any other
substance. Their action on the
peripheral nerve endings helps to relieve the stress and tension that so often
lead directly to an aging skin – you look as worn out as you feel.
Collagen and elastin are kept in good condition, and there is some basis
to believe also that the nutrients and proteins contained in essential oils
actually work as restorative building blocks to these all-important tissue
fibers.1
While treating yourself with these anti-aging oils, it will obviously
speed things along if you don’t overload the system with yet more toxins that
the skin has to work hard to eliminate. Cut
out alcohol, coffee, tea, sweets, red meats, and all the things that you know
clog your skin cells as well as your digestive system.1
The most expensive skin preparations in the world contain essential oils and
other natural ingredients as their principal active ingredients but, because the
product must be able to endure a long shelf life, they also contain chemical
preservatives. All sorts of
chemicals are used in commercial cosmetic preparations and some of them cause
serious problems in certain individuals. Besides
by making and using your own homemade beauty products you will not only avoid
these chemicals, but you will save yourself a great deal of money…you and your
skin will be the ones to profit!
There are quite a few essential oils that can be useful to the anti-aging
process. Anti-aging essential oils
to combat wrinkles include; violet leaf, clary sage, fennel, neroli, rose,
lavender, thyme, patchouli, german chamomile, frankincense, myrrh, lemon,
hyssop, carrot, oregano, orange, rosemary, palma rosa, and lime.
There are many combinations and recipes for various age groups, but even
one single essential oil can be a great help in your personal revitalization
program.
Take, for example, geranium. This
is an excellent oil for helping you deal with stress, tiredness, and anxiety
over problems --- all of which can make you look and feel much older than you
are. Geranium oil won’t actually get rid of the problems for you
in a puff of aromatic smoke, but it will get rid of the anxiety so that you can
better deal with the problems. It
will also treat the various conditions that can manifest themselves on the skin
as a result of difficult emotional experiences – red blotches on the chest,
spots on the back, or skin that looks saggy or has flaky patches.
In addition, it will reverse the apathy and body droop that often
accompany the troubled mind. Use 6 drops of geranium oil in the bath; put 30 drops into 2
tablespoons light nut oil for a face oil; and 30 drops into 2 tablespoons light
nut or vegetable oil for a body rub.1
But, if you want more than a single oil program…here are some
anti-wrinkle facial treatment oils for various age groups.
Use them every night on the face and, if you wish, on the neck and chest,
as far as the collar bone.
Wrinkle Preventative for the Over-Twenties:1
8 drops neroli
5 drops lavender
5 drops fennel
3 drops german chamomile
8 drops geranium
1 drop carrot
2 tablespoons hazelnut, almond, or apricot kernel oil
Anti-Wrinkle Oil for the Over-Thirties:1
10 drops yarrow
2 drops patchouli
10 drops clary-sage
7 drops fennel
8 drops rose
5 drops carrot
5 drops borage seed
5 drops jojoba
2 tablespoons hazelnut, almond or apricot kernel oil
Anti-Wrinkle oil for the Over-Forties:1
10 drops neroli
10 drops lavender
10 drops frankincense
2 drops rosemary
10 drops fennel
3 drops lemon
10 drops carrot
10 drops evening primrose
2 tablespoons hazelnut, almond or apricot kernel oil
Anti-Wrinkle Oil for the Over-Fifties:1
5 drops violet leaf
5 drops galbanum
5 drops rose
10 drops neroli
3 drops lavender
2 drops myrrh
10 drops carrot
10 drops bois de rose
10 drops evening primrose
10 drops borage seed
2 tablespoons hazelnut, almond or apricot kernel oil
Forget about aging gracefully --- in a way that’s giving in.
Fight it every step of the way!
Articles used for researching this article:
1 The Complete Book of Essential
Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood
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