Pines are coniferous trees belonging to the genus Pinus, which comprises of about 120 different species that are divided into 3 sub-genera based on cone, leaf and seed characteristics. Over 140 varieties of Pinus sylvestris have previously been described and catalogued in botanical references, but after reclassification only 4 varieties of this species are currently acknowledged as being genetically distinct. The species normally used in aromatherapy is Pinus sylvestris var. sylvestris, which is also known as Scots pine. Read more…

Stress is the curse of living in modern times and it seems almost impossible to escape from. And despite what some people might say to the contrary, just about everyone suffers from stress at some point during a typical working day. The problem is, if we experience stress continually it can take a heavy toll on our mind, body and spirit.

In recent studies experts have determined that heart disease is linked to anger, and irritability is linked to mental stress. Too much stress can cause the blood flow to the heart to become restricted (cardiac ischemia) which can lead to a heart attack. Read more…

Knowing how to choose the right carrier oil can be somewhat bewildering for newcomers to aromatherapy because specialist suppliers usually offer such a wide range. Very little is written about this subject in most aromatherapy books, so unless you enroll on a training course knowing how to select them can seem like a bit of a black art.
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