Aromatherapy Learning (6)(7)
- Cindy Blog Space
- Apr 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 23
The following two classes were about Aromatherapy and our Skin.
Considering that the body works holistically, understanding skin health and conditions is like opening up
to what happens internally and externally to the body, to look inwards and go within to find the underlying root cause(s). The skin is closely related to the other parts of the body, and so topical/dermal applications of essential oils could not only support skin conditions but also potentially the whole body
Learnings include skin anatomy, skin care routines & skin types, use of essential oils/carrier oils/hydrosols in skin care and supporting symptoms of common skin conditions.
Something occurred to me when reading a section of the course material on the skin's functions, of which one of them is body temperature regulation (e.g., at times of warm temperatures, where it cools the body down through sweat production):
My Thoughts (click to open/hide)
本自具 “知”。
这个 “知” 在这里指的是身体知道ta喜欢/适合生活在什么样的环境中，在哪里感到舒服自在。（聆听身体内在的声音，给出的信号）
想到在热带潮湿气候居住，经常出汗是身体为了维持内在恒温的举措。然而如果本身湿寒体质+气血虚弱但因为感到太热就穿得很少/吹空调，比如皮肤长期暴露在外，吹空调加重湿气、加重身体失衡……
后来到有四季，整体干燥些的环境，身体就感到更舒服、自在。在之前的环境居住时早上起来经常鼻子不通气的症状（可能也和当时住的房间有关），在后来的气候环境就迎刃而解了
（当然身体感到更舒服自在不单单只是居住环境的变化，因人而异，需要去找到根本去对症下药。我个人从怕热 ➡️ 到不怕热 ➡️ 到夏天及各季节都可以感到舒服自在的过程背后有很多因素的影响和帮助…… 此部分提出的点只是关于聆听身体在不同环境中的反应作为其中的一个指引）
Inherent "knowing".
The "knowing" here refers that the body knows what kind of environment they prefer/is suitable for them to live comfortably at ease. (Listen to the inner voice of the body and the signal it gives)
Recalling the experience living in a hot humid climate, that sweating profusely was the body trying to maintain homeostasis. However, if the body was in a state of damp-cold constitution with weak Qi and Blood but trying to combat the "hot and perspiring" sensation by wearing less/exposed to air-conditioning, e.g., long-term of exposure of skin under air-con, it is only going to intensify the damp phenomenon and bodily imbalance......
When living in a climate with four seasons with an overall drier climate, my body felt more comfortable and at ease. The symptoms of blocked nose after waking up in the morning (might be related to the room lived in then too) was relieved and gone living in the new climatic environment.
(All in all, the body feeling more comfortable and at ease is not only due to change in living environment. And it varies with individuals. It is necessary to find the root cause(s) to alleviate symptoms accordingly. There were many factors involved in helping me changed from fear of heat ➡️ to no longer fear of heat ➡️ to being able to feel comfortable and at ease during Summer and each season...... This section only mentions to point out about listening to the body's responses in different environments as one of the guides)
Product Application
We learned to make Foaming Hand Soap and Face Toner in one class, then Face/Body Oil and Whipped Body Butter in the next.
For the face toner, I used the "Moisturise and Tone" recipe my Aromatherapy course teacher demonstrated live during class (also suits my skin type).
~
For the body butter, there can be a few ways to make it and/or vary the ratio of ingredients, depending on personal preference. I thought of trialling the cold process this time first.
My Thoughts (click to open/hide)
Regardless of using the cold or heat process, it would be a first-time making the body butter.
I thought it might be a quick process compared to the heat method - may or may not be (TBC after trying with the heat process in the future too). The part of adding the oil component into the butter bit by bit at a time then whisk took a decent amount of time. Another factor to put into consideration was probably because I was using a fork to whisk instead of a mixer.
However, the time taken was worth it. Like seeing how the butter slowly transformed from its hard texture to turning softer with the addition of the oil component, and gradually into a creamy texture with more oil being added to it... Enjoying the process, take it slow and relax.
