Healing Archives - InnoHEALTH magazine

Unseen Struggles: Finding Peace When the Future Feels Too Heavy

Khushi Khandelwal — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 10:30:00 +0000

Khushi Khandelwal

“When your mind won’t rest, and your heart feels tired“

Introduction
We live in a world that doesn’t slow down — not for our feelings, not for our fears. Every day, we’re surrounded by expectations, comparisons, deadlines, and distractions. And in the midst of all this chaos, there’s one silent struggle many of us carry but rarely speak about: The inability to be present.

We lie awake at night, mentally rehearsing conversations, imagining worst-case scenarios, or wondering if we’re falling behind. It’s more than just “overthinking” — it’s a slow, quiet war between our need for control and our longing for peace.
This article is not a guide. It’s a mirror — for you, for me, for anyone who’s ever felt the weight of the future pressing on their present.

This Isn’t Just Overthinking — It’s Mental Exhaustion

Overthinking has become a buzzword, but let’s be real — what most of us are experiencing is deeper than spiraling thoughts. It’s a constant inner noise that refuses to shut off. It’s unfinished thoughts, unresolved emotions, and unreleased fears.

You might find yourself:

Replaying conversations that never actually happened.
Planning for outcomes that are months or years away.
Doubting yourself every time you pause to breathe.
Feeling guilty for resting, yet too drained to keep pushing.

It’s not about drama or crisis. It’s about the everyday mental chaos we’ve normalized.

The Hidden Fatigue of Our Times

This isn’t physical tiredness. It’s the emotional burnout that comes from trying to stay “okay” in a world that constantly demands more.

You might:

Snap easily, then apologize for being “too much.”
Feel anxious in silence and overwhelmed in crowds.
Second-guess your joy, as if you don’t deserve it.
Struggle to even answer the question, “How are you?”
Feel detached from your own wins, as if they weren’t enough.

You’re not broken. You’re just tired of carrying things that nobody sees.

Why Are We So Anxious Without a Clear Reason?

Today, our fear isn’t about survival — it’s about being enough.
We fear falling behind.
We fear not living up to expectations — ours, our family’s, society’s.
We fear being forgotten, rejected, misunderstood. We’re always thinking of the “next thing”:
What if I don’t get that job?
What if I never feel fulfilled?
What if I never become who I thought I’d be? In this constant state of future-focus, the present slips away.

The Luxury of Feeling Calm

Ask anyone what they truly want, and it’s rarely fame or wealth. It’s peace.
Silence — the kind that doesn’t feel heavy. Rest — the kind that doesn’t come with guilt.

We all want:

Someone who listens without fixing.
A moment where we’re not being compared or measured.
A space where we can just be — imperfect, unpolished, real.

But most days, we just keep scrolling, smiling, surviving.

The Loneliness That’s Hard to Explain

You can be surrounded by friends and still feel unseen.
You can be doing well “on paper” and still feel hollow.
You can laugh at a meme and still feel empty afterward.
Because this isn’t about what’s outside.
It’s about the quiet, confusing storm inside. And the scariest part?
You’ve learned to hide it so well, even you forget it’s there sometimes.

So What Can We Do?

There’s no magic fix. No 5-step routine to solve what’s going on inside. But maybe, we can start with something smaller — something softer.

Leave your phone in another room.
Sit by the window and notice the sky.
Reach out to someone and just say, “I feel a little off today.”
Don’t plan your life. Just get through the afternoon.
Allow yourself to do nothing — and not feel bad about it.

Give yourself permission to be human, not perfect.

Conclusion: A Reminder You Might Need Right Now

You don’t have to have it all together. You don’t have to be productive every day.
You don’t need to be stronger, tougher, smarter, or faster than you are. Sometimes, just showing up — tired, messy, uncertain — is more than enough. And if you’re reading this and thinking, “This is me” — then know this:

You are not alone.
You are not failing.

You are simply living in a world that moves too fast and listens too little.
So slow down.

Breathe.

And if you have nothing else to give today, give yourself kindness.
Because even if it doesn’t feel like it — you’re doing better than you think.

If this article made you feel something, don’t keep it to yourself.
Maybe someone you know is carrying the same silent weight — and needs these words as much as you did.

The post Unseen Struggles: Finding Peace When the Future Feels Too Heavy appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

Trending Innovations in Healthcare

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 10:34:17 +0000

1. Osteodetect

An AI-Based Diagnostic Tool Detects Wrist Fractures

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Imagen’s product ‘OsteoDetect’, an Artificial Intelligence-based diagnostic tool that can quickly detect distal radius wrist fractures is one of the latest products to get US FDA marketing clearance. Its machine learning algorithm studies 2 dimensional x-rays or radiographs for signs of fracture by analysing the posterior-anterior and medial-lateral x-ray images of adult wrists. Studies conducted on comparing fracture detection aided by OsteoDetect and certified orthopaedic surgeons showed that the readers’ ability to detect wrist fractures was improved by using the software as evident by greater sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values, compared with unaided standard clinical practice.

https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/27/fdaapproves- ai-wrist-fracture-detection/

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2. Alterego

A Device that Let’s Others Hear Words You Are Thinking

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Arnav Kapoor, an Indian-origin researcher at MIT, has developed a device named ALTEREGO that lets others hear words you are thinking without your making a sound. The product looks like a curved bone hooked to one ear that touches the jaw on the chin and under the lower lip which works by using ‘subvocalisations’ which are the tiny, imperceptible movements in the jaw each time you say a word in your mind. There are four sensors which pick up the signals and transmit them to a computer that has been trained to recognize and convert them back to words which are conveyed to the listener’s mind through bone conduction in the listener’s jawbone, instead of words being openly spoken and conveyed. With the use of Alterego’s technology, one could ask questions soundlessly and get a voice reply only in your ears. Presently the product has an accuracy of 92% which claims to keep improving with the exposure to more types of vibrations and words. Times of India

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3. Inito

New Portable Diagnostic Device: Affordable and Accessible

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A study undertaken by Dr. Satish Dubey at IIT Delhi has revealed a new portable diagnostic device which is developed by Inito, Bengaluru-based company that can do a dozen tests with the comfort of a person being at home. It has the advantage of reading dozens of diagnostic test strips with a 99.12% correlation when compared to lab grade scanners irrespective of the mobile phone used. This makes it a very reliable tool for portable diagnostics. The device uses patent-pending imaging technology called flat lens that allows a single portable device paired with a smartphone to conduct dozens of diagnostic tests with the same device. The first test that the company has launched is a fertility monitor targeted at couples trying to have a baby. Soon tests for Thyroid, Diabetes and Vitamin D will be added to the device. To add more tests to the device, you just need to update the App and order the strips for the user. Advantages of the device are that it is easy to use, portable, small size, affordable and also third-party strips can be added to the Inito platform by just an App upgrade. The device has won CII Design Award, India Design Mark and Japanese Good Design Award. The device is priced at INR 3195 and is available on Inito’s official website and Amazon. Soon the device will be made available at pharmacies. HT Team

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4. Paper Battery

An Indian Innovation Developed using Sewage Water

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An innovation by an Indian research scholar, Ramya Veerubhotla at IIT Kharagpur, is the development of a disposable and flexible battery made from paper that could generate power from the bacteria present in sewage water. The battery is made using air cathode and the anode can be made from any carbon-based material. The product is unique because it is very light in weight and the power generation starts within ten seconds, unlike other usual microbial fuel cells which take a couple of days to start power production as the bacteria need time to adjust to the environment. The capacity of power generated from one cell is in the range of a few microwatts. For more power production, one can stack and fold these cells together giving it a compact shape. This research recently received the First prize and a cash award of INR 10 lacs at KPIT Sparkle 2018. www.news18.com

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5. NakedLabs

World’s First Home Body Scanner

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The product Naked 3D Fitness Tracker is a health and fitness tool for people to track changes in their measurements, body fat percentage, lean mass, fat mass, circumference and overall shape. The start-up has recently raised a $14 million Series A led by Founders Fund. The device has two parts, first is a scale that has sensors and a computer and second being a weight scale that spins a person around so that the stationary mirror can grab the body scan of the user in about 15 seconds. Naked uses infrared light to capture your 3D body model which then gets visualised on the Naked App and alerts the user when there is progress being made by the user in terms of their fitness and also where there is potential for more work to be done. The device has an Intel x86 processor, RAM, 4GB DDR4 RAM and a 64GB SSD which makes it easy to beam the image directly from the device to the user’s phone. The depth data of the users’ body is not uploaded to the cloud instead is being handled on the device itself and also the resultant image is more of a TSA body scan image rather than a 3D avatar. A person can permanently delete the data from his phone if he/ she wishes to. Presently the device is priced at US$ 1395. www.techcrunch.com

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6. Wearable Sensor to Detect Stress Levels

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A group of researchers under the mentorship of Scientist Alberto Salleo at Stanford University has created a stretchy patch which when applied directly to the skin, takes up sweat and assesses the amount of cortisol the person is producing. This stretchy, rectangular sensor around a membrane/specifically binds only to cortisol but also detects charged ions like sodium or potassium present in our sweat. This patch has a waterproof layer that protects it from contamination. So far, a wearable prototype version has been made but if this is converted into reality it would be very easy to monitor salt imbalances in our bodies and reveal the emotional state of people who are under immense stress and do not open about their situation. The present methods for measuring cortisol levels requires several days of waiting for the lab results. This device seems to solve the waiting problem for the results and is user-friendly. All the user needs to do is to sweat enough to glisten the patch and connect it to a device for analysis which gives results in seconds. The researchers are still working on its reusability though the prototype seems to work multiple times so long as it is not saturated with sweat. A paper co-authored by Scott Keene and Andrew Marais of Stanford University and colleagues at Ecole Nationale Superieure des Mines in France about this wearable sensor was published in Science Advances on 20 July 2018. https://news.stanford. edu/2018/07/20/wearabledevice- measures -cortisol-sweat

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7. CustomFlex

World’s First Artificial Flex

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Iris is the part of the eye that is colored around the pupil and controls the amount of light entering the eye. It is found to be damaged in conditions like Aniridia in which people are born with a partial or missing iris or it could happen later in life due to traumatic injury or surgical removal due to melanoma. With patients of eye damage, the surgically implanted device known as the CustomFlex Artificial Iris is a boon. Recently this prosthetic iris has got the US FDA approval. The CustomFlex Iris is surgically inserted and held in place either by sutures or eye’s anatomical structures. This iris is made of thin, foldable medical grade silicon and is custom-fitted and colored for each patient. A study of nearly 400 adults and children with Aniridia or other iris defects found that the device was safe and effective, with 70% of participants reporting significant decreases in light sensitivity and glare, as well as improvement in health-related quality of life. The study also found low rates of adverse side effects. As per FDA, the artificial iris is contradicted in patients who have uncontrolled or severe chronic inflammation, abnormally small size of eyes, untreated chronic glaucoma, cataract caused by the rubella virus, abnormal blood vessels on the iris, inner eye infections and certain kind of damaged blood vessels in the retina. Also, pregnant women cannot be its takers.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news /fda-approves-first-artificial-iris/

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8. Smart Bandage to Monitor Wounds and Dispense Drugs Made

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Sonskusale has recently developed a first of its kind ‘sense-then-respond’ smart bandage which uses sensors to detect subtle biomarkers that signal wound healing. The device has a microprocessor to read the data captured by the sensors, communicate with the mobile and also can direct the bandage to release medication if it is needed. It takes into account things like sensing whether the wound is getting enough oxygen, right pH level is there, what is the temperature near the wound and is there any inflammation? All this information is communicated to a central processor where the doctor already has programmed drug release for antibiotic or growth factor to improve healing. Such a bandage has applications in bed sores, burns and surgical wounds with the advantage of reducing complications from infections and reducing the number of amputations. The key is the timely application of the bandage to the wound site to fasten healing. https://www.digitaltrends.com/cooltech/ smart-bandage

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AYURVEDA: MOTHER OF ALL HEALINGS

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 09:27:56 +0000

The fundamentals on which the Ayurvedic system is based are essentially true for all ages and so can be easily adopted time after time, century after century – By Indu S Arya

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Ayurveda is generally understood as ‘Science of life’ translating ‘Ayuh (r)’as life and ‘Veda’ as science. Ayurveda is an ancient system of life and also the oldest surviving medical system in the world. Dating back almost 5000 years, it is also considered to be an ancient science of healing that enhances longevity. It has evolved from the quest to have a happy life, through a deep understanding of creation and its maintenance, perceived and conceived by the rishis or seers of ancient India. Ayurveda emphasizes upon life in general with bit more emphasis on human life.

Its influence can be found in many ancient traditional methods of healing including Tibetan, Greek, and Chinese medicines thus making it the ‘mother of healing’.

The fundamentals on which the Ayurvedic system is based are essentially true for all ages and so can be easily adopted time after time, century after century. The philosophy of Ayurveda teaches a series of conceptual systems characterized by balance and disorder, health and disease. It teaches that am person’s mental, emotional and spiritual being are all interconnected and any kind of imbalance between them results in health disorder and diseases. Therefore, to be healthy, harmony must exist between the purpose for healing, thoughts, feelings and physical action.

Health and disease are defined in a very special way in Ayurveda. Ayurveda’s central tenant is that life is a manifestation of mind, body, soul and spirit. Body and mind are prone to suffering while the spirit is free of any such trappings of life. Thus to remain healthy and happy, efforts are required to be made in the direction of maintaining harmony among all these elements and only then can one get closer to the goal of longevity and disease free life.

Science of Ayurveda

Ayurvedic science is not merely a traditional Indian form of medicine but a perennial naturopathic system of healthcare that has survived the test of time as well as onslaught of modern science and methods of treatments. Based on wisdom acquired through the centuries, the main aim of Ayurvedic science is to achieve perfect health by creating an equilibrium of perfect harmony between human body and the environment it habitats.

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Ayurveda is also known as the science of living a healthy and disease free life. It is built on the premise that in olden days, man used to live close to nature and whenever he got exposed to some disease, he used to cure himself using resources and material provided by the Mother Nature. It therefore would not be wrong to say that Ayurveda charts out a health patter based on nature and its natural resources.

The Vedic philosophy believes that human beings are all a part of nature. Just as animals and plants are interdependent on each other to create balance within their beings, there is a concurrent and inherent connection between the universe and human beings. The complex world that the human beings reside in, is perpetually exposed to environmental changes. Any amount of change in weather, lifestyle, diet, work, emotions and relationships can easily tip the balance and negatively influence an individual’s state of mind, body and soul.

Ayurveda calls for a complete harmony of human body with the elements of nature and the surrounding environment for a stress free and healthy life. The Ayurvedic science does not merely deal with medical science but its scope goes much beyond the universe of the conventional science. It also includes factors like herbal medicine, body works, and surgery apart from social, psychological, ethical, spiritual and intellectual life of human beings.

Ayurvedic Body Types

According to Ayurveda, each one of us has a unique mix of three body principals that constitutes our mental, physical and spiritual well-being. These three principals are known as doshas, which are further classified as Vatta (air ether), Kapha (water-earth) and Pitta (water). But each individual has its own unique constitution that is usually governed by one or two of the doshas predominantly. It means that that our Ayurvedic constitution is mainly be either of these doshas or a mixed constitution of two doshas like Vatta & Kapa, Kapa & Pitta or Vatta & Pitta.

Kapha:

Kapha governs all structure and lubrication in the mind and body. It is the principle that holds the cells together and forms the muscle, fat, bone, and sinew. It controls weight, growth, lubrication for the joints and lungs, and formation of all the seven tissues — nutritive fluids, blood, fat, muscles, bones, marrow and reproductive tissues. It helps build excellent stamina but when it goes out of balance it can also cause a person to become overweight, sleep excessively, and suffer from the problem of diabetes, asthma and depression.

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Pitta:

Pitta dosha controls digestion, metabolism, and energy production. The primary function of Pitta is transformation. Those with a predominance of the Pitta principle have a fiery nature that manifests in both body and mind. Pittas have a lustrous complexion, perfect digestion, abundant energy, and a strong appetite. When out of balance, Pittas may suffer from skin rashes, burning sensations, peptic ulcers, excessive body heat, heartburn, and indigestion.

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Vatta:

Vatta dosha is known to govern all the movements of mind and body. From controlling the blood flow to elimination of the waste and harmful toxins to breathing and the flow of thoughts in the mind; the vatta dosha is like a predominant force that minimizes stress and feeds the creativity within you. If the vatta dosha is in balance, you will feel energetic, enthusiastic and lively, but the moment it becomes imbalanced, it manifests in the body problems like constipation, hypertension, fatigue, digestive challenges and restlessness among others.

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Ayurvedic Herbs

Ayurveda understands health as a reflection of a man living in harmony with nature and disease arises when this harmony gets disturbed. In the ancient times, rishis and sages believed in Ayurvedic herbs as the solution to cure a number of health problems and diseases. The conducted thorough studies and experimented with these herbs before arriving at any conclusion regarding the accuracy of the medicinal values of these herbs and their effectiveness in treating various ailments and diseases. Due to their natural Ayurvedic herbs are considered to be free of any side effects and thus enjoy a global appeal.

Ayurvedic medicines are mostly formulated using a mix of herbs and other plants, including oils and common spices. By combining several kinds of plants and herbs to get benefit of the drug or therapeutic value, Ayurveda has proven itself capable of overcoming various health problems that occurs in the human body. Today, Ayurveda is being widely used in modern medicine systems. This was triggered by a number of research-conducted by scientific research and has proved how effective and positive the role of plants or herbs can be on human health.,/p>

Herbs play a vital role in the Ayurvedic system and a small herb is known to dissolve stones in the kidney, bladder and gall-bladder easily and effectively. Apart from timely cure, Ayurvedic herbs are also know to provide permanent relief from a disease by removing the metabolic toxins from the body. Know more about the various Medicinal Plants and Their Uses.

Ayurvedic Home Remedies

Ayurvedic home remedies are considered safe as they are natural and herbal in nature, therefore, free from any side effects. They have an advantage over other methods of treatment as Ayurvedic remedies are known to cure the disease form the root, effectively. Treating an ailment or a disease using Ayurvedic remedies will not only help you get rid from it permanently but also aid you in leading am healthy life in the long run.

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Some of the major benefits of using homemade Ayurvedic remedies include:

• Ayurvedic remedies are preventive as well as protective and curative in nature.

• As the emphasis is on using herbal and natural ingredients or things that can be easily found in the kitchen, it does not pose any danger of being toxic.

• These remedies are free of any side-effect and provide long term or permanent cure from the disease.

• The remedies also emphasize on the need for a lifestyle change with modification required in one’s diet, sleep pattern and other basic everyday activity. Therefore, the holistic approach towards the overall well-being of a person is much effective as compared to other conventional forms of modern day science.

Ayurvedic Medicines

Ayurvedic Medicines are fast gaining popularity across the world. One of the major reasons for it being that Ayurveda seeks to normalize body functions with varied techniques including advice on food and activity, internal herbal preparations, purification treatments (panchakarma), and surgical methods (shalya chikitsa).

Ayurveda is based on the belief that the delicate balance of mind, body and spirit determines health and wellness of the body. The goal of Ayurveda is prevention as well as promotion of the body’s own capacity for maintenance and balance. Ayurvedic medicines are non-invasive and non-toxic in nature and therefore are free from any side effects.

Using Ayurvedic medicines in your daily life enables you to re-establish balance and harmony in body’s system, aids in detoxification and cleansing of the body by removing accumulated toxins and normalize body’s functions. Products made using Ayurvedic plants have a stronger action on the body as they help in stabilizing the doshas.

Tulsi, Guduchi, Ajwain, Brahmi, Shilajit and Ashwagandha etc., are some of the most commonly used herbs in Ayurvedic preparations. Each of these herbs or spices hold a multitude of benefits — for the mind, body, and spirit and can be easily used internally or externally, depending on the need.

Ayurveda to the rescue

The daily activities of life in the modern world systematically wear us down and speed up the aging process. Ayurveda maintains it is crucial to practice daily rejuvenative regimens to counteract the stressful wear and tear of everyday life. According to Ayurveda the most important rejuvenative routines for your life are:

Going to bed by 10:00 PM. This simple habit is one of the most powerful techniques for health and longevity, according to Going to bed by 10:00 PM. This simple habit is one of the most powerful techniques for health and longevity, according to Maharishi Ayurveda.

Meditate daily any meditation that does not involve concentration (which has been shown to increase anxiety) can be very helpful. I highly recommend the twice-daily deep rest and enlivenment of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique, whose benefits have been verified by over 700 published research studies.

Eat organic, whole fresh food that is freshly prepared. There is an Ayurvedic saying: “Without proper diet. Medicine is of no use. With proper diet, medicine is of no need.” Be sure to avoid those leftovers, processed and microwaved foods for better nutrition and vitality.

Read all the issues of InnoHEALTH magazine:
InnoHEALTH Volume 1 Issue 1 (July to September 2016) – https://goo.gl/iWAwN2
InnoHEALTH Volume 1 Issue 2 (October to December 2016) – https://goo.gl/4GGMJz
InnoHEALTH Volume 2 Issue 1 (January to March 2017) – https://goo.gl/DEyKnw
InnoHEALTH Volume 2 Issue 2 (April to June 2017) – https://goo.gl/Nv3eev
InnoHEALTH Volume 2 Issue 3 (July to September 2017) – https://goo.gl/MCVjd6
InnoHEALTH Volume 2 Issue 4 (October to December 2017) – http://amzn.to/2B2UMLw

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WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY?

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 09:13:53 +0000

The world is smelling a new reality and enjoying the benefits of sweet smell for a better health and well-being. Officially accepted and identified as Aromatherapy, it’s dating back to Veda times with original Hindu scriptures elaborately mentioning this method for lasting health benefits. The same has also been unearthed in other parts of the world and is getting widely accepted by people and the health industry as such.
Aromatherapy is the practice of using the natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being.
The inhaled aroma from these “essential” oils is widely believed to stimulate brain function. Essential oils can also be absorbed through the skin, where they travel through the bloodstream and can promote whole-body healing.
A form of alternative medicine, aromatherapy is gaining momentum. It is used for a variety of applications, including pain relief, mood enhancement and increased cognitive function.
There are a wide number of essential oils available, each with its own healing properties.
Aromatherapy is the practice of using the natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being.
Aromatherapy is the practice of using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being.
Essential oils, the pure essence of a plant, have been found to provide both psychological and physical benefits when used correctly and safely. The Essential Oil Profiles area details over 90 essential oils. Absolutes, CO2s and Hydrosols are also commonly utilised in aromatherapy. Although essential oils, CO2 extracts and absolutes are distilled by different methods, the term essential oil is sometimes used as a blanket term to include all natural, aromatic, volatile, plant oils including CO2s and absolutes.
In addition to essential oils, aromatherapy encourages the use of other complementary natural ingredients including cold pressed vegetable oils, jojoba (a liquid wax), hydrosols, herbs, milk powders, sea salts, sugars (an exfoliant), clays and muds.
Products that include synthetic ingredients are frowned upon in holistic aromatherapy. It is important to note that perfume oils also known as fragrance oils (and usually listed as “fragrance” on an ingredient label) are not the same as essential oils. Fragrance oils and perfume oils contain synthetic chemicals and do not provide the therapeutic benefits of essential oils.
Buyer Beware: Authorities do not regulate the use of the word aromatherapy on product packaging, labeling or in product advertising, so any product can be marketed as a product suitable for aromatherapy. There are quite a few products on the market that contain unnatural ingredients including fragrance oils and claim to be aromatherapeutic. It’s important to look at the ingredient label when seeking true aromatherapy products.
Also, use caution with marketing claims that state a product is “Made With Essential Oils” or “Made With Natural Ingredients.” Claims like these do not state that the product is only made with the ingredient(s) specified. Such products may contain heavy proportions of synthetic fragrance oils and only contain a minute quantity of essential oil to simply be able to profess the “Made With Essential Oils” claim.
Don’t let false marketing hype scare you away from the benefits of holistic aromatherapy. By exploring on the web, you can learn how to safely use just a few essential oils and start gaining the benefits of aromatherapy. If you realize you hold an even deeper interest, you can learn to make your own products and control the exact ingredients included in your own personal aromatherapy products.
The Benefit of Inhaling Essential Oils
Essential oils that are inhaled into the lungs offer both psychological and physical benefits. Not only does the aroma of the natural essential oil stimulate the brain to trigger a reaction, but when inhaled into the lungs, the natural constituents (naturally occurring chemicals) can supply therapeutic benefit. Diffusing eucalyptus essential oil to help ease congestion is a prominent example.
If not done correctly and safely, however, the use of essential oils can have severe consequences.
The Benefit of Topical Application

Essential oils that are applied to the skin can be absorbed into the bloodstream. The constituents of essential oils can aid in health, beauty and hygiene conditions. Since essential oils are so powerful and concentrated, they should never be applied to the skin in their undiluted form. To apply essential oils to the skin, essential oils are typically diluted into a carrier such as a cold pressed vegetable oil, also known as a carrier oil. Common carrier oils include sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil and grape seed oil.

Other Benefits

In addition to therapeutic benefit at the emotional and physical level, essential oils are helpful in other applications. Essential oils can be used in household and laundry cleaners. Some oils act as a natural insect repellent and pesticide. You may recall using citronella candles during the summer to keep mosquitoes away. Citronella essential oil is the ingredient in the candles that is responsible for repelling the mosquitoes.

Essential Oil Blends

Essential oils can be blended together to create appealing and complex aromas. Essential oils can also be blended for a specific therapeutic application. Essential oils that are carefully blended with a specific therapeutic purpose in mind may be referred to as an essential oil synergy. A synergistic essential oil blend is considered to be greater in total action than each oil working independently.

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Read all the issues of InnoHEALTH magazine:
InnoHEALTH Volume 1 Issue 1 (July to September 2016) – https://goo.gl/iWAwN2
InnoHEALTH Volume 1 Issue 2 (October to December 2016) – https://goo.gl/4GGMJz
InnoHEALTH Volume 2 Issue 1 (January to March 2017) – https://goo.gl/DEyKnw
InnoHEALTH Volume 2 Issue 2 (April to June 2017) – https://goo.gl/Nv3eev
InnoHEALTH Volume 2 Issue 3 (July to September 2017) – https://goo.gl/MCVjd6

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The post WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY? appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

SWEET SMELL OF HEALTH AND WELL BEING

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 07:31:49 +0000

Not all ready-made aromatherapy products labeled with the word aromatherapy are pure and natural. Products that contain artificial ingredients do not provide true aromatherapy benefits. At worst, they provide no benefit or be harmful. At best, they provide only a fraction of the benefit that natural products supply. Buyers seeking true aromatherapy products must look at the ingredient label to ensure that the product does not contain fragrance oils or unpure (chemical) components. A general rule-of-thumb is to be wary of products that do not list their ingredients and those that do not boast of having pure essential oils (look for products that contain pure essential oils on their ingredient list and avoid those that have words like fragrance). A note, however, is that some sellers of good-quality aromatherapy blends do not list their ingredients because they are worried that others may copy their creation. By asking the seller more about the blend, and listening to how they respond, you should have a better idea about the quality of the blend being sold. Good suppliers should be happy to provide you with a list of the ingredients. They understand that some individuals must avoid particular oils due to health problems.

Can aromatherapy cure my major illness or psychological problem?

If you expect that aromatherapy alone will cure a major illness or permanently “cure” “stress,” you will likely be in for a disappointment. But if you develop a realistic mindset and expect that aromatherapy may help with a physical condition, may help with symptoms, may effect your mood, or help alleviate or temporarily eliminate stress or other psychological factors, you should be delighted with the overall results that you experience by incorporating aromatherapy into your lifestyle.

Holistic aromatherapy is a complementary alternative health modality. Aromatherapy is not intended to replace standard medical care, but is meant to complement it. In some cases, under the guidance of a qualified practitioner, aromatherapy can offer an alternative choice to taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
Aromatherapy can offer practical benefit for a variety of common ailments or symptoms such as assisting with cuts, wounds, bruises, inflammation, arthritis, muscle stiffness, indigestion, acne, skincare, hair care, hygiene, PMS, menstruation, and for providing mental and emotional assistance with such issues as stress, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, fear and enhancing concentration.

Aromatherapy does have valid and extraordinary uses. It can improve one’s lifestyle tremendously, especially if you take the time to become educated about each essential oil, its chemistry, safety and applications. But, as with anything in life, sensibility comes into play. Do not fall prey to any claims that aromatherapy can cure major illnesses or can cause miracles to happen. Aromatherapy can be play a beneficial role in assisting with illnesses, but it should not be depended upon as a cure.

How to Buy Essential Oils
Tips that can help you select vendors of pure, high quality essential oils:

When shopping for essential oils, watch out for words such as “fragrance oil,” “nature identical oil,” or “perfume oil.” These words indicate that what you see is not a pure, single essential oil.

Watch out for vendors that sell each of their “essential oils” for the same price. This doesn’t guarantee that the oils are not pure or of good quality, but it really does scream of concern. Generally speaking, Neroli, Jasmine and Rose, for instance, should cost a lot more than Geranium and Ylang Ylang and anyone reputable in selling essential oils should realise that and should be aware that selling all oils for the same price is a red flag to knowledgeable consumers. A good quality Patchouli usually costs more than Eucalyptus. The basic, common citrus oils including Sweet Orange oils are some of the least expensive oils.

Avoid buying oils from retailers/suppliers that don’t provide the essential oil’s botanical (Latin name), country of origin or method of extraction. For instance, there are multiple varieties of Bay, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, and so on. Each offers different therapeutic properties.

Organic oils are typically superior to non-organic oils.

Be cautious about purchasing oils from traveling vendors that set up shop at street fairs, farmer’s markets, craft shows, festivals or other limited-time events. Some traveling vendors at these events may know their customers have no recourse against them after the event is over.

Safety Measures

Essential oils should never be used undiluted on the skin. There are instances when experienced aromatherapy users and practitioners make exceptions to this precaution, but only once significant essential oil knowledge is gained should you ever attempt to apply an undiluted oil on the skin. Lavender and tea tree are listed by a large number of aromatherapy sources as being oils that can be used undiluted. Undiluted use of lavender and tea tree, however, should be discouraged as severe sensitivity still could occur in some individuals. Again, the safest rule of thumb is to never use any essential oil undiluted.

Some oils can cause sensitization or allergic reactions in some individuals. When using a new oil topically for the first time, do a skin patch test on a small area of skin — it’s easy.

Some essential oils are phototoxic and can cause irritation, inflammation, blistering, redness and/or burning when exposed to UVA rays. For more information, learn about phototoxicity and phototoxic essential oils.

Some essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy or by those with asthma, epilepsy, or with other health conditions. Be sure to research/review the safety precautions associated with each essential oil that you use.

Less Is More

When using essential oils, use the smallest amount of essential oilthat will get the job done. If 1-2 drops are called for, for example, don’t use more than that. Essential oils are very concentrated. (As a sidenote, some companies or their representatives may suggest that you use as much as you want — it’s in their best interest that you go through your oils faster so you then need to reorder more frequently. Generally speaking, it takes a lot of plant material (i.e. flower petals, leaves, needles, bark, wood, root, etc.) to obtain the botanical’s essential oil by steam distillation. It’s wasteful to use more essential oil than is needed for your particular application.)

Not all essential oils are suitable for use in aromatherapy. Wormwood, pennyroyal, onion, camphor, horseradish, wintergreen, rue, bitter almond and sassafras are examples of some of the essential oils that should only be used by qualified aromatherapy practitioners, if ever at all.

Never let children use essential oils without the presence of an adult knowledgeable about their use. Most essential oils smell wonderful and many essential oils such as citrus oils can smell like they are “yummy” and safe to drink. ALWAYS keep your essential oils away from children. Treat the oils like medicines that are poison in unknowing hands.

Essential oils should not be taken internally without guidance by a qualified practitioner or until you have gained adequate knowledge and understanding of the risks and safe internal applications and dosages.Even though essential oils are cold pressed or steam distilled from a range of citrus and common spices like Lemons, Oranges, Grapefruits, Allspice, Basil, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Clove, Fennel, Ginger, Rosemary and a number of other botanicals that are routinely ingested without the need for precautionary usage info, essential oils are highly concentrated and should not be ingested without thorough understanding of appropriate usage and risks for each oil. For more information, read Internal Use of Essential Oils.

Essential oils are flammable. Keep them out of the way of fire hazards.

The post SWEET SMELL OF HEALTH AND WELL BEING appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.