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Article Series: Aromatherapy
Teach Me Some
Aromatherapy Benefits
Candles
and Aromatherapy
With aromatherapy being such a popular practice
there are so called ‘aromatherapy’ candles in stores everywhere.
Many of these candles are not true aromatherapy candles. In
order to get the vast array of benefits associated with aromatherapy
(relaxation, relief from insomnia, relief from depression,
heightened libido, relief from congestion, relief from nausea,
etc) you need to be using pure essential oils.
Many of the candles that people are burning, thinking that
they contain essential oils, merely contain a pleasant smell.
The person may enjoy the glow and scent of the candle but they’re
not really getting the benefits that they’re expecting. So,
if you are in the market for a good aromatherapy candle, make
sure that you know exactly what is in that candle before you
buy it.
Some of these same candles may contain some essential oils
but you may not be able to find out how much, what quality,
or what type of essential oil is actually in the candle. Another
thing about a lot of the scented candles is the issue of safety.
There have been many reports about scented candles containing
carcinogens, neurotoxins and reproductive toxins. Among these
are acetone, benzene, xylene, and phenol.
Exposure to acetone happens through breathing it into your
lungs as well as skin exposure. Acetone is irritating to your
eyes, nose and throat. And people that have been exposed to
it can experience dizziness or fainting.
Benzene is another toxic liquid that is in many scented candles.
Exposure to this can cause drowsiness and unconsciousness.
Long-term effects of benzene can harm the bone marrow and cause
leukemia or anemia.
Xylene is also a cause of concern when burning these scented
candles. People that were exposed to for both short and long
periods of time reported suffering from these symptoms: headaches,
dizziness, confusion, stomach discomfort, respiratory problems,
and lack of muscle coordination.
With skin exposure to phenol people have experienced liver
damage, anemia and diarrhea. It’s unclear what effects are
experienced when phenol is inhaled.
With all of these concerns it just seems too dangerous to
take any chances with burning scented candles. If you’re going
to use a candle in aromatherapy it’s safer to use a natural
beeswax candle that doesn’t contain any scents, additives or
colors. Although these candles may not be as attractive looking
as the others on the market they will not burn toxins into
the air you’re breathing.
When you find some of these beeswax candles you can add your
own favorite essential oils to use. A trick that many people
like is to just drop some of the essential oil into that little
circle of wax that forms around the wick. While the candle
is burning, the oil can heat up and give off the therapeutic
vapors.
If you’re still a little shaky about using candles for aromatherapy,
that’s okay. There are still safer ways to practice aromatherapy
without burning candles. There are other ways to experience
the joys of aromatherapy.
You can buy an essential oil diffuser from many stores or
even online. They’re really easy to find. Or you can get the
benefits of aromatherapy by massaging the oils along with a
carrier oil onto your skin (or have someone else do it for
you). Another creative way to use aromatherapy is to mix it
with water in a spray bottle and just use little squirts here
or there.
Find what you’re comfortable with and then do it. Just remember,
when using candles for aromatherapy, you get what you pay for.
Make sure the candle contains real essential oils. If you decide
to add the oil to the melted wax, just make sure it is done
safely. Oil is flammable.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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