Did you know that by having your energy centers balanced you can improve your health and prevent stress?

The Grupo Mayan resorts spa professionals are aware that by balancing your chakras (energy centers) all human desires are focused into leading a blissful spiritual life and enable the fulfillment of personal achievements. When they are unbalanced, they can bring all different kinds of mental, physical and spiritual disorders.

Each energy center keeps up a correspondence to a body part and specific functions, as well as emotional reactions related to them. There are many ways to restore their harmony and obtain all the benefits they could bring to our daily activities.

Breathing and relaxation techniques are part of an energy balance program. The Grupo Mayan therapists recommend an individualized program to focus on specific areas of emotional turmoil and stress for every particular lifestyle.

There are several therapies that can be used to help with this. At the Grupo Mayan resorts’s Brio Spas you can find some of these treatments. A Shiatsu massage, the Hot Stone massage, Reflexology and Aromatherapy provide the benefits of this unique experience. This will make each one of your vacations, a life changing event.

There is no way to use the essential oil straight onto the body, say the Grupo Mayan experts, as they are very strong to be used without dilution. At the same time there are other oils or creams that could be used to dilute the essential oil and this is the most common way now.

The carrier oils need to have some conditions. It should be of very little or no odor, it should lubricate the massage movements without being sticky and it should also carry the essential oil to the inside of a body, say the Grupo Mayan experts.

The primary role
Most of the people think about the carrier oil as just a vehicle to take the essential oil inside the body but, believe it or not, the carrier oil carries out most of the job, as it contains an adequate amount of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids needed for treatment or wrinkled skin, it will also soften and soothes the skin when applied in a massage, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Many researches proved that more than ninety eight percent of the therapy is done through the carrier oil.

In most cases the carrier oil is a vegetable oil like the sesame oil as a prominent example. In some other cases it may be extracted from nuts like the sweet almond oil. The common feature between all the carrier oils is that they do not evaporate and are called fixed oils.

Grupo Mayan experts say that in some cases carrier oil could be extracted from the coconut white matter or from the jojoba shrub. The jojoba shrub extract is used as carrier oil although it is a liquid was rather than oil.

Methods of extraction
There are two methods of oil extraction from seeds and nuts. The first method is called the cold press. It could be explained simply as the squeeze out of oils from the seed without much application of heat. The heat in this process never exceeds 70 degrees. This keeps the vitamins intact without any heat destruction. The only drawback, say the Grupo Mayan experts, is that the yield is very small compared to the second method.

The second method is called the hot press.  The seeds and nuts are heated to over 200 degrees to loosen the shell and inner tissue to extract oil. Obviously the yield in the second case is much bigger than the first one but the resulted oil is suitable only for cooking, as there are no vitamins that survive the hot press. When you are looking for massage oil for your skin then you must use the cold press oils.

Simply, say the Grupo Mayan experts, it is the usage of essential oils as a treatment or a prophylactic for particular diseases. This could occur due to two modes of actions. The first mode is the psychic route where the essence of the oil affects the brain causing a desirable effect. The second mode of action is directly through the physical properties and features of the essential oil itself. Aroma therapists always claim their full knowledge about the different effects of the aromatherapy but this should be proven as some studies had shown positive results.

In the United States of America, doctors always emphasis on the usage of essential oils in massage therapy and in best cases aromatherapy could be considered as a side treatment and in some bad cases it could be considered as a fraud.

Grupo Mayan experts say that back in the European continent and especially in France, where the aromatherapy was discovered, the essential oils are treated as regular medicine and some of them could not be bought except with a prescription. In France, they use a method similar to that used with antibiotic cultivation to determine the suitable essential oil. They cultivate a piece of infected tissue in a Petri dish, after that the culture is divided into different Petri dishes and nourished with certain types of agar according to the tissue itself. After that a different essential oil is added to every dish to monitor the effect that occurred. The best effect is the prevention of microorganism growth. Grupo Mayan experts tell us that this is called an aromatogram.

Even though many countries are dealing with aromatherapy as a regular medicine, say the Grupo Mayan experts, it is still not recognized as a science in different eastern and western countries.

The different modes of action of essential oils and volatile oils could be demonstrated as follows. The scent could be detected by brain and different scents have different effects. When you administer the oil itself topically, it could kill germs and microbes according to its pharmacological effect. Some physicians prepare an oral drug from the essential oil by diluting it with a ratio of 1 to 10 or 1 to 20 in mineral oils to improve immunity.

The materials included in this process:

• Essential oil: is an oil of plant origin that possesses a distinct aroma and mainly it is extracted through steam distillation and in some cases through expression, say Grupo Mayan experts.
• Absolute: is the essential oil purified from a flower or a bud of a plant with the addition of a strong solvent like alcohol when used to excrete “rose absolute”
• Phytoncides: they are bactericides with a plant origin
• Infusion: it is the liquid solution results from dipping a plant in water for a part of time.
• Carrier oil: it is an oil of plant origin to dilute the essential oil in order to be used topically.

The normal route of the essential oil is through the hair follicles and sweat glands and after that, it blends with the body fluids and circulates in the body, say the Grupo Mayan experts. This route helps the essential oil to kill bacteria and microbes and also boosts the immunity system of the body.

The effect of the essential oils on the body systems differs a lot. Some of them may improve circulation; some could expel toxins outside the body while others help in cell growth promotion, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Each oil has its own features and benefits; there are no two similar oils as there is no oils hold the same essence.

Another effective route of administration is the inhalation. Inhaling the essential oil from a vaporizer or a hot towel would reach the lung and defuse to the blood stream with the oxygen exchange, say the Grupo Mayan experts. The inhaled aroma reaches the emotional centers in the brain and causes an instant alteration in our mode.

Powerful synergy

While topical administration is a good way to get the essential oil into your body,  when it is combined with a massage then the benefit is magnified, say the Grupo Mayan experts. You will benefit from the massage effect itself to loosen your muscles and vertebrae while the essential oil will reach your blood stream and start acting in no time.

In case of treatment of chronic insomnia or long stress periods, therapists always apply one of the following oils as they are well known for their excellent effect on mode alteration and relaxation in general: Sandal wood, Clary Sage, Frankincense and lavender are on top of that list, say the Grupo Mayan experts. As they sooth nerves and deliver a very soft feeling of relaxation and help in induction of sleep.

Hollow circle of illness

In case of chronic illness that extends for a long time, the spiritual state of the patient is very important, say the Grupo Mayan experts. If the patient feels depressed then his or her immune system would be very weak and her body would be more prone to other illness. This could create an endless cycle of illness for that patient. It had been found that some of these aromatherapy oils could affect the serotonin compound, which is the ìhappiness makerî of the body.

The serotonin could drastically affect the body status. Scientists prove that the mental status and the mode of the person could affect the physical status of the body and therefore the aromatherapy could help in ailment relief.

The broad principal of the aromatherapy is that there are certain aromas that have a desirable impact on the body although these claims could not be proved through clinical researches, say the Grupo Mayan experts. The only thing that we know that the practical experience proved that the aromatic essential oils have a proven effect in some cases as antibacterial or antiviral. It was also proven that an essential oil in a mouthwash would be of great benefit.

Some data collected from research made some time ago said that the aromatherapy could help people to deal with their fear of closed places when undergoing MRI scans. Also other study findings are the relaxing effect that occurred in the state of body and mind, comment the Grupo Mayan experts.

Any viewer of the scientific researches about aromatherapy would discover easily that they are very weak and most of the cures are based on findings, not on a scientific experiment and proof, say the Grupo Mayan experts.
Bottom line, till now all the uses of the aromatic essential oils are based upon the findings in vivo without solid results in vitro to support these claims.

Safety measurements
In addition to this, there are some safety measures that you must apply when you use the essential oil, as recommended by the Grupo Mayan experts. First, do not use the essential oil as it is without dilution as it may be very harmful to the skin, it may cause serious inflammations if used with its pure concentration. The best way to use essential oil is to add few drops to an oz of oil to be used on the skin.

When you are choosing your carrier oil, say the Grupo Mayan experts, be aware of the sun light toxicity that may occur with some oils. Lime peel oil may cause toxicity if used in the direct sunlight. Take care not to leave the carrier oil container open, as it may be toxic to your pets.

The lavender oil and the tea tree oil may be a cause to abnormal tissue growth in the breast area, although there is no solid proof for the relation between the oils and the symptoms but just one insignificant study stated that this occurred in two out of three kids.

In all cases, say the Grupo Mayan experts, you should take good care when using aromatherapy especially if you are pregnant and lactating women. Most of the regularly used oils for massage and topical use are toxic and poisonous if taken internally. For example, a teaspoonful of eucalyptus is more than sufficient to initiate the toxic reaction. When using essential oils topically those have the same active ingredients as other ingested medicines could be of an adverse effect.

It is very beautiful and sensational when you take a bath with aromatic essential oils, say the Grupo Mayan experts. The hot water will even boost the effect of the aroma on your body. This type of bath could be of great benefits in cases of muscle pain, muscle strain or anxiety and stress relief. It is also considered a very good entrance for a romantic evening with your partner.

It is a much known tradition in Japan that a workingman or woman would get a hot bath just after getting back from work. Actually they are able to program their bathes to prepare the hot water tub until they are back from work, comment the Grupo Mayan experts. From the Japanese traditions also is to conserve the water so, they bath in one tub then move to a clean hot water tub to relax for a period of time. This clean water could be used several times by the other members of the family.

Even if it is not usual till now but many men are enjoying secret aromatic bathes as most of men, even those who already took one, think that this is an activity more related to women and not men.

How to add the essential oil to your bath
You cannot use the essential oil directly on your body or even in the water without any dilution as this may cause some burns to your skin. Grupo Mayan experts say that the first step is to add few drops of the aromatic essential oil to one ounce of carrier oil. The essential oil is chosen according to the aim of the bath, lavender for relaxation or chamomile for sleeping. After that add the carrier oil to the water while the bath is still filling up and stir it to ensure the good distribution in the water.

The usage of relatively hot water could boost the effect of the bath but there are several precautions to take care of:

1. Take care of the long staying inside the bath with hot vapor around you may cause suffocation.
2. The long sitting down in the bathtub may cause over relaxation so take care when you are standing up, recommend the Grupo Mayan experts.
3. Read well the instructions of the safe use of your chosen essential oil. It is always written in the back of the essential oil pack.
4. Try to ad some music or dim the light of the aim of the bath is to relax.

According to the Grupo Mayan experts, the best and most effective way to apply essential oils to the body that had been used since a very long time ago is massage. Massaging the essential oil through the skin is the quickest and most effective way as the oil reaches the blood circulation in the least time.

You can mix and match up to four different essential oils according to your needs, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Add the essential oil to the carrier with a dilution of 5 drops to 10 ml of carrier oil. If your skin is sensitive then add only three drops of the oil.

If you want to calculate the number of drops to the number of ml of carrier oil for larger or smaller quantities then you just need to divide the number of ml by two to get the right number of drops.

Bathing is another good way to administer the essential oil to your body, say the Grupo Mayan experts. It is very useful after a long working day. You can add few drops of essential oil to your water tub and stir the water well before bathing for 15 minutes. Your best choice would be chamomile oil or sandal wood oil for a relaxing bath.

If you are combining more than one type of oil into your bath then the total amount should not exceed 8 drops. If you are using lime peel oil, take care that it might be irritating for sensitive skin, say the Grupo Mayan experts, and do not add more than 3 drops of that type of oil.

If you are going to enjoy both massage and bath in the same session then take the bath first and then apply the massage to your body.

If you are physically challenged then a footbath may be more convenient than a total bath, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Put 3 to 4 drops in your footbath and soak for 15 minutes.

A hot or cold compress of essential oil would benefit your body a lot in different cases. In cases of chronic pains and cramps a hot compress damped with the oil would be very effective for pain relief, say the Grupo Mayan experts. If you are suffering from swelling then apply a cold compress to the swollen part and after that wrap it with a towel.

Steam inhalation is used particularly to address respiratory tract complications as this method will convey the essential oil very quickly to the inside of your body, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Just add few drops of the essential oil that you prefer to a bowel of boiled water. Lean forward and inhale the vapor for several minutes. Place a towel to direct the steam to your nostrils.
If you would like to keep the room atmosphere fresh and get your self in a good mood then simply spray few drops of your favorite essential oil to help relieving stress and kill bacteria, recommend the Grupo Mayan experts.

The majority of essential oils are of a liquid viscosity but, some of the fractionally distilled oils would have thicker consistency as the patchouli oil and sandalwood, say the Grupo Mayan experts. CO2s absolutes and balsams are extremely thick and hard to work with, as they might be nearly solid at normal room temperature.

You might need to heat them up to loosen a bit so they become easier to work with, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Take care while heating an essential oil and keep the heat as low as possible as it might affect the chemical constitution of the oil.

When you are using oil for the first time try the bath method first, recommend the Grupo Mayan experts. Put the oil jar in a war water bowl for 10 minutes. Add some hot water if the water bath gets cooler. Try different temperatures and different periods of time till you find the right amount of heat and time for that particular oil. If you are concerned about the labels on the jar then you may apply a waterproof clear sticky tape on it before submerging in the water bath.

Some handy tips:

1-    When you are using relatively thick oil and you are going to water bath it, remember to warm the carrier oil gently before mixing them together.

2-    If you are going to heat a very small bottle then you may consider using a triple water bath, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Put the bottle in a small cup with a small amount of water then put the small cup into a larger bowel of hot water.

3-    It is not convenient to measure the thick oils and absolutes with drops; the best way to measure it is by using a sensitive digital scale. Get a digital scale that can measure the fraction of gram

4-    When adding a carrier oil to a thick one then you may consider adding the warm carrier oil to the gently warmed essential oil and not the opposite, recommend the Grupo Mayan professionals.

5-    Some absolutes will dilute better in alcohol while some will never dilute in carrier oil like beeswax

6-    While working with a thick essential oil try to keep it in a warm tray. It is a tray that contains a small flame underneath to keep it warm all the time, explain the Grupo Mayan experts. This will help keeping your heavy oil in liquid form while you are working.

There are no common characteristics that can group the essential oils under one category except that they all have a special distinctive scent from the plant of origin, say the Grupo Mayan experts. They are usually extracted by distillation or refining with the usage of a solvent. According to the Grupo Mayan experts, they are called essential as they have a special essence of their own and not because they are essential to the body. This should be well differentiated from the essential fatty acids.
They could be used to add flavor to the foods, drinks or even scenting household cleaning products. It is also the core of any perfume.

Different essential oils are used as a treatment for certain diseases and medical conditions, according to Grupo Mayan experts. These conditions and ailments range from skin diseases to cancer. The essential oil merchants claim that specific oils could cure a certain ailments but now countries are stricter to these claims and now regulations in most countries are getting tighter.
In the last years and with the prevalence of the aromatherapy, now they claim that the aroma of certain oil could cure some diseases. These oils are added with small percentage on carrier oils and sold as massage oil or to be burned over a candle to get the aroma out. Some also spray it into the air or burn it as incense.

There are different methods of fragrance extraction, according to the Grupo Mayan experts, and the most known methods are distillation, using a solvent or by expression. Also the result differs according to the method used in the extraction. The result may be a butter, concrete, absolute or essential oil.

Every method of the previous extraction methods has its own effect on the aroma of the oil and on its chemical composition so the best extraction method is the fractional distillation, say the Grupo Mayan experts. The most prominent example for that method is the extraction of lavender oil, peppermint and eucalyptus oil. The whole plant is put into the distillation apparatus where it is exposed to the hot vapor of boiling water. The hot steam would vaporize the oil from the plant parts. After that the vapor is condensed and collected in a special bottle.

Grupo Mayan experts say that the water used in the re-condensation is called the hydrosol or plant water essence. The manufacturers bottle it and it is sold as fragrant product in the market. The most known and used examples for these hydrolats are the lavender water, lemon balm and rose water.