| Essential oils have long been used by
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| | beyond just warm up and cool down rubs.
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| athletic trainers and sports massage
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| | In many sports, stronger healing
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| therapists to support the health and
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| | properties are often needed due to cuts
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| performance of their athletes.
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| | and scrapes, bruises, twists and sprains.
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| Aromatherapy massage is used both pre-and
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| | Essential oils can powerful healers of
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| post workout and competition, to improve
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| | skin, muscle and connective tissue. Many
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| performance, speed recovery, and lessen
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| | oils are known to have strong
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| chance of injury. Many ointments and
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| | anti-inflammatory action, and contain
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| lotions for sore muscles include
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| | certain molecules which signal the
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| essential oils and essential oil extracts
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| | regeneration of tissue. And, of course,
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| (e.g. 'Tiger Balm', 'Ben Gay', etc).
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| | there's the stress-relieving
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| Modern medical aromatherapy literature
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| | 'aromatherapy' aspect, which further
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| describes the use of oils to even speed
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| | enhances the healing process.
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| the healing of both chronic and acute
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| | To treat bruises and strains, there is no
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| injuries commonly seen in sport. Here is
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| | match for the synergistic molecules
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| an overview of the many ways to use
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| | making up Helichrysum essential oil.
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| essential oils to keep any athlete
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| | Helichrysum (also known as Everlasting
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| interested in natural health and fitness
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| | oil), is touted by Kurt Schnaubelt,
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| performing their best.
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| | Ph.D.: "Used for bruises, sprains, and
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| Essential oils can promote the health and
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| | twisted ankles - usually accompanied by
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| fitness of athletes in many ways, the
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| | swelling and subsequent hemorrhages -
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| most common being the pre- and post-
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| | this oil proves to be practically a
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| exercise (or competition) massage. Long
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| | wonder cure." Keeping a small bottle on
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| used by top athletes around the world,
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| | hand is wise, as with most treatments
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| sports massage with essential oils plays
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| | involving swelling, quick application
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| an important part in warming up the
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| | provides the best results. In cases of
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| muscles before exertion and removing
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| | bruises, twists strains or strains, apply
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| lactic acid (thereby speeding recovery)
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| | a thin film of the oil directly to the
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| after a hard effort. Massage formulas
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| | affected area immediately, then apply
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| often these essential oils - Eucalyptus,
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| | frequently as a ten percent dilution in
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| for invigoration, circulation and opening
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| | any carrier oil until healed (the oil
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| airways; Lavender, with anti-inflammatory
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| | will help with serious injuries, but is
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| effects, relieves pain, relaxes spasms,
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| | not a substitute for proper medical
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| and brings mental calm without sedation;
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| | attention if needed). A blend of
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| Rosemary relieves pain, stimulates the
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| | Helichrysum and Jojoba can also be used
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| mind and body, and has a warming effect
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| | for chronic injuries such as tendonitis -
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| on the muscles; Juniper Berry, used in
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| | simply massage a small amount into the
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| the post-exercise formula, detoxifies and
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| | affected area a few times a day.
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| helps eliminate lactic acid from muscles;
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| | Active athletes and fitness buffs will
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| and Sweet Marjoram which helps relieve
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| | often incur minor cuts and abrasions.
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| cramping in over-exerted muscles.
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| | Essential oils are an excellent choice
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| Blending your own massage formulas for
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| | for caring for such wounds due to their
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| pre and post exercise massages is simple
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| | antiseptic and soothing effects. A 50/50
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| - just between 10 and 30 drops total
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| | blend of Tea Tree and Lavender is a
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| essential oils to each ounce of carrier
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| | wonderful, all-around skin healer. The
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| oil (Sweet Almond, Grapeseed and Hazelnut
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| | Tea Tree prevents infection while the
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| are good choices). Generally, the more
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| | Lavender sooths the area. Apply directly
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| essential oil in a blend, the more
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| | to cuts and scrapes after the wound has
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| stimulating it will be; lower
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| | been properly cleansed. If this is too
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| concentrations of essential oil will be
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| | strong a blend for the younger ones,
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| more relaxing. For pre-exercise, to warm
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| | simply apply a drop or two to the gauze
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| and loosen the muscles, open the airways
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| | portion of a band-aid and cover the wound
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| and awaken the mind, try eight drops
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| | for the same effect. The ratio of
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| Rosemary, four drops lavender and four
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| | Lavender to Tea Tree can also be
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| drops Eucalyptus essential oils to each
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| | increased for an even more soothing
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| ounce of carrier oil Peppermint can be
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| | result.
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| used in place of the Lavender if you're
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| | Other than the direct sports-related uses
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| really looking to 'get going' - though if
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| | of essential oils, the overall health and
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| you're prone to anxiety before strenuous
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| | fitness of any athlete should be
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| efforts, stick with the Lavender. Use
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| | supported for top performance. During
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| light, quick invigorating massage
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| | periods of especially strenuous training
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| strokes. For post-exercise, a little
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| | or competition, athletes may be
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| deeper massage can be performed with
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| | particularly susceptible to infectious
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| longer strokes toward the heart - this
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| | illnesses - colds, flu and the like.
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| will assist removal of lactic acid and
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| | Diffusing Eucalyptus, Thyme, Tea Tree and
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| other metabolic waste products. Try eight
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| | or Lemon in your home can reduce the
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| drops Lavender, four drops Juniper Berry
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| | chance of illness, or the spread of
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| and four drops Sweet Marjoram, or, when
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| | colds. Niaouli essential oil, a relative
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| the muscles are really over-exerted, try
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| | of Eucalyptus, is also an excellent oil
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| eight drops Eucalyptus, eight drops
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| | for supporting the immune system. The oil
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| Peppermint and eight drops Ginger
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| | is recommended to be applied neat all
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| essential oil.
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| | over the body after showers for best
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| Aromatherapy oils can be used during pre
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| | absorption and effect (use 10-20 drops).
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| and post exercise baths and showers as
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| | A strong immune system goes a long way to
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| well, using the same oils and blends
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| | keeping an athlete happy and in top form.
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| mentioned above. Be sure to add any oils
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| | This is a brief overview of many common
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| to the bathwater after the bath is drawn
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| | applications of aromatherapy for
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| so they do not evaporate before you get
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| | supporting the health, fitness and
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| in. Before showers, essential oils can be
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| | performance of any athlete. There are
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| applied undiluted to the body; this is
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| | many variations of the essential oils
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| particularly advised post-exertion to
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| | suggested - if one oil is found
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| support the elimination of metabolic
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| | offensive, too stimulating, etc., try
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| wastes. One drop each of Rosemary, Lemon,
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| | another, as this is usually the body's
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| Eucalyptus and Peppermint essential oils
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| | natural way saying the timing of a
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| can be ideal for this purpose. After a
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| | particular oil is not right, or the oil
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| shower or bath is an excellent time to
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| | is not compatible with the individual's
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| apply a massage blend to the entire body
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| | chemistry at the moment. With a little
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| - the pores are open and the skin is
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| | research and experimentation, an
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| clean, enhancing absorption. Choose a
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| | effective and rewarding combination of
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| stimulating or relaxing blend depending
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| | essential oils can enhance nearly any
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| on your condition.
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| | athletes health, fitness and competition
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| Essential oils' medicinal value goes
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| | endeavors.
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