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	<title>CasualWellness.com &#187; Home Spa</title>
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	<description>Yoga, Home Spa Treatment, Alternative Health, Aromatherapy and other Wellness News</description>
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		<title>Day Spas To Cleanse Your Mind</title>
		<link>http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/10/day-spas-to-cleanse-your-mind/</link>
		<comments>http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/10/day-spas-to-cleanse-your-mind/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jan 2007 21:21:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Spa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wellness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/10/day-spas-to-cleanse-your-mind/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[e a great place to go on a retreat for work or
just a fun place to go with a group of friends for a weekend.
It can be made into an elaborate event or even into something
that will be special and exciting for you to enjoy, let alone
having quality time with some people that you care [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>e a great place to go on a retreat for work or<br />
just a fun place to go with a group of friends for a weekend.<br />
It can be made into an elaborate event or even into something<br />
that will be special and exciting for you to enjoy, let alone<br />
having quality time with some people that you care about.  Many<br />
day spas will offer group packages that will include lodging so<br />
as to bring people in.  Take advantage of these and take your<br />
friends with you.  Not all spas are created the same.  Some are<br />
multifaceted creations which will provide something for<br />
everyone.  Many are attached to resorts which will provide<br />
entertainment and activities for both the women and men.  Some<br />
are attached to a golf course, while others are on a small lake<br />
to increase the attractiveness of the resort and spa. </p>
<p>There are however many benefits that can be taken advantage in<br />
regards to the day spa by itself.  There is of course the wide<br />
variety of massages that are offered at the place that can<br />
range from sports, to Swedish to deep tissue among others.<br />
These massages will help to ease the stress and aches that you<br />
brought with you on your retreat.  Many of these day spas will<br />
feature a pool for you to relax in as well.  Of course there is<br />
the sauna for you to relax in that will help to ease away the<br />
problems and issues that are in your body right now.  It will<br />
do this by cleaning out your pores and letting all of the<br />
impurities slip away.  There is the whirlpool that will help to<br />
ease the stress from your body and muscle aches by forcing<br />
streams of water against your body.  Many of the benefits and<br />
advantages of a day spa can be felt more in the course of a<br />
couple of days as opposed to feeling the pressures of trying to<br />
cram all of it into one day which would defeat the purpose of<br />
the going to the spa in the first place. </p>
<p>When looking into planning a retreat or going to day spas for a<br />
weekend of relaxation make sure you do your research.  Figure<br />
out which resort or spa will offer the most benefit to you and<br />
your friends.  Not all of the spas that you visit will offer<br />
the same benefits and privileges so look into what they have<br />
and what they can do for you.  Figure out what you are looking<br />
for and how well the facility will provide for it.  Look into<br />
the history of the facility and determine if it has a good<br />
enough history and reputation to receive your business.  Think<br />
of all of the benefits that you and your party can receive if<br />
you use this facility and if it will be worth their investment<br />
to go there before you make a final decision.  Consider all of<br />
the benefits and then make your decision on where to go based<br />
on which place best fills these.</p>
<p>About The Author: Chris Powell has worked for many years as a<br />
massage therapist, and has written amazing articles on massages<br />
that will educate you about what you absolutely need to know<br />
about giving a perfect massage. You can read more of Chris&rsquo;s<br />
articles about massages at  <a href='http://www.mood-indigo.net' title='http://www.mood-indigo.net'>http://www.mood-indigo.net</a> </p>
<p>Please use the HTML version of this article at:<br />
<a href='http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid#115853' title='http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid#115853'>http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid#115853</a><br />
################## </p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Explore the Spa in Kananaskis</title>
		<link>http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/10/explore-the-spa-in-kananaskis/</link>
		<comments>http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/10/explore-the-spa-in-kananaskis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jan 2007 03:13:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Spa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wellness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/10/explore-the-spa-in-kananaskis/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by: Travel Alberta
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>by: Travel Alberta<br />
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<p>Article Title:<br />
##############</p>
<p>Explore the Spa in Kananaskis</p>
<p>Article Description:<br />
####################</p>
<p>When people seek Brokeback Mountain, they discover that<br />
Oscar-winning director Ang Lee actually used various shots of<br />
different mountains in Alberta&#8217;s Kananaskis Country to create<br />
the movie&#8217;s pastoral centerpiece.</p>
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Distribution Date and Time: 2007-01-09 21:00:00</p>
<p>Written By:     Travel Alberta<br />
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<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;</p>
<p>Explore the Spa in Kananaskis<br />
Copyright (c) 2007 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved<br />
Written by: Travel Alberta<br />
<a href='http://www.travelalberta.com' title='http://www.travelalberta.com'>http://www.travelalberta.com</a></p>
<p>When people seek Brokeback Mountain, they discover that<br />
Oscar-winning director Ang Lee actually used various shots of<br />
different mountains in Alberta&#8217;s Kananaskis Country to create<br />
the movie&#8217;s pastoral centerpiece. There was no spa in the movie,<br />
but there is indeed a celebrated spa set like a jewel where<br />
Brokeback was filmed &#8211; the Summit Spa at the Delta Lodge at<br />
Kananaskis. You can enjoy it along with the magnificent<br />
countryside.</p>
<p>When actors Jake Gyllenhaal, Heather Ledger, Randy Quaid and the<br />
rest of the cast and crew of Brokeback Mountain began filming ,<br />
they didn&#8217;t have a lot of down time to explore.</p>
<p>&#8220;It was a nice escape for them, but mostly they were working and<br />
not having the time to enjoy all the activities here,&#8221; notes<br />
hotel general manager James Tingley. &#8220;These folks were busy all<br />
the time. Sometimes, they might eat at our restaurant but for the<br />
most part we left them alone, treating them with the same respect<br />
that we do to all of guests.</p>
<p>Discover Untouched Forests, Lakes and Rivers</p>
<p>You, on the other hand, are more fortunate. The actors, cast and<br />
crew who stayed in this pristine mountain hideaway for four days<br />
in 2004 (they also filmed in other parts of southern Alberta)<br />
have spoken highly of the experience &#8211; praising the untouched<br />
forests, wide open skies, alpine lakes, rivers and valleys.</p>
<p>In fact, Budget Travel Magazine listed Brokeback Mountain in its<br />
December/January 2005 issue as one of the top ten 2005 films that<br />
will inspire people to travel. While the movie is an adaptation<br />
of Annie Proulx&#8217;s 1997 short story set in Wyoming in Montana,<br />
director Ang Lee and his other filmmakers opted to bring the<br />
production north to capture the wild beauty of the southern<br />
Alberta Rockies.</p>
<p>The Guardian Online newspaper out of London in the UK, meanwhile,<br />
recently published an article about the region&#8217;s beauty, quoting<br />
the actors and crews as being literally floored by all it has to<br />
offer. The Guardian Online quoted actor Randy Quaid as saying: &#8220;I<br />
loved the mountains, and even the wind. It&#8217;s gorgeous big sky<br />
country.&#8221;</p>
<p>Try Brokeback Mountain Tour Packages</p>
<p>Visitors are expected to flock to the region to see what the<br />
movie portrayed. Tingley says the hotel has partnered with<br />
Brewster Tours, based in Banff, and a Taiwan tour company to<br />
develop package tours this summer. Interest from Taiwanese<br />
travelers is high, as that is Lee&#8217;s homeland.</p>
<p>Other packages in the works include guided hikes through<br />
Brokeback territory, plus combination rafting/horseback or<br />
rafting/hiking trips as well, says Tingley, who notes these trips<br />
will be operated with certified and experienced guides.</p>
<p>K-Country, as it is locally known, is a 4,250-sq-km (1,615<br />
sq.-mile) outdoor recreation area, easily accessible to the<br />
alpine communities of Canmore and Banff. There is an array of<br />
year-round activities including boating, rafting, fishing,<br />
golfing, wildlife watching and more. Had the Brokeback folks had<br />
more time on their hands at the resort &#8211; an easy hour&#8217;s drive<br />
west of Calgary, the international gateway to the Rockies &#8211; this<br />
is what we imagined they might have done explored.</p>
<p>Relax at the Summit Spa</p>
<p>Situated at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis near Olympic ski hill<br />
Nakiska and Fortress Mountain, Summit guests are often here to<br />
explore the multitude of outdoor activities in the four-season<br />
recreational playground known as Kananaskis Recreation Area.</p>
<p>This pretty Rocky Mountain resort offers spa packages &#8211; check out<br />
the jet-lag refresher massage or botanical wraps &#8211; and you kill<br />
time between appointments in the steamy indoor/outdoor hot pool.<br />
With sage-green d=C8cor and the best indoor/outdoor family swimming<br />
pool/games area in the Rocky Mountains, you can choose to be<br />
active or just soak up the sun.</p>
<p>While the Brokeback cast and crew &#8211; who numbered at times in the<br />
hundreds &#8211; didn&#8217;t get much opportunity to indulge in these<br />
wellness sessions, we&#8217;re pretty sure the movie&#8217;s storyline, had<br />
it not been set decades ago, would have been part of this<br />
acclaimed flick.</p>
<p>Many Activities Available</p>
<p>On foot, by bicycle or on horseback, you can get back to nature<br />
simply by stepping out your front door. Unlike the bustling<br />
mountain communities of Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise, there are<br />
few crowds in K-Country and most sights are near to the hotel.<br />
You can visit many of the spots captured on film, like the Upper<br />
Kananaskis Lakes and its campground and day-use area. Like the<br />
film&#8217;s characters, you can explore much or the region via<br />
horseback &#8211; contact the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis&#8217; tour desk to<br />
make arrangements. There are also hundreds of kilometres of<br />
trails within K-Country and nearby Peter Lougheed Provincial<br />
Park, plus a paved network of pathways in and around Kananaskis<br />
Village.</p>
<p>Golf Beneath Jagged Peaks</p>
<p>Kananaskis Country Golf Course, opened in 1983 at an estimated<br />
cost of close to $1 million per hole, has won praise year after<br />
year for its gorgeous viewpoints and challenging golf. It has two<br />
18-hole courses set in the Kananaskis River Valley with the<br />
jagged peaks of Mount Kidd and Mount Lorrette as a backdrop.</p>
<p>Nature at Your Doorstep</p>
<p>K-Country and neighbouring provincial parks are home to dozens of<br />
campgrounds, RV sites, backcountry huts and lakeside hideaways.<br />
You won&#8217;t find cottage country here, but you will find wildlife<br />
- deer, bighorn sheep, moose, bear, mountains goats and dozens of<br />
species of birds.</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<br />
Copyright (c) 2006 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved</p>
<p>Travel Alberta (<a href='http://www.travelalberta.com' title='http://www.travelalberta.com'>http://www.travelalberta.com</a>) is the destination<br />
marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the<br />
Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward<br />
for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For<br />
information about our organization, please visit our Travel<br />
Alberta industry web site at <a href='http://industry.travelalberta.com' title='http://industry.travelalberta.com'>http://industry.travelalberta.com</a></p>
<p>&#8212; </p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What Is A Day Spa</title>
		<link>http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/09/what-is-a-day-spa/</link>
		<comments>http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/09/what-is-a-day-spa/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jan 2007 21:12:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Spa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wellness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/09/what-is-a-day-spa/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[eat place where you can take the time to go
and pamper yourself.  These establishments can be found all
over the country and can offer many benefits to the user.  Many
of these places offer a wide variety of treatments and relief
from the everyday stresses of life.  They have a wide variety
of things that are [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>eat place where you can take the time to go<br />
and pamper yourself.  These establishments can be found all<br />
over the country and can offer many benefits to the user.  Many<br />
of these places offer a wide variety of treatments and relief<br />
from the everyday stresses of life.  They have a wide variety<br />
of things that are designed to make you feel special and<br />
pampered in getting you to that level of peace and happiness<br />
that you desire to make your body feel good and relieved.<br />
These day spas are located all over the place and some of them<br />
will have different themes and styles associated with them.<br />
Some of them will even be attached to a hotel or resort in<br />
order for you to fully appreciate all that they have to offer<br />
in an effort to give you a true feeling of relaxation and<br />
enjoyment. </p>
<p>Some of the benefits that are associated with a day spa are the<br />
various relaxation techniques that are implored.  One of the<br />
primary methods that are used by many day spas is that of the<br />
massage.  The spas will provide their own massage therapists<br />
which will in many cases be able to give you the massage that<br />
you desire in an effort to relieve the stress that you have<br />
brought with you to the spa.  You can receive a Swedish<br />
massage, deep tissue massage or even a head massage to relieve<br />
some of your tension.  Many spas will also have a sauna which<br />
will help you to flush away the impurities that you have in<br />
your system as well as providing you with the relief of the<br />
heat and relaxation that is provided by the sauna.  There is<br />
also the whirlpool which may be available which will give you<br />
the effect of an underwater massage to make you feel better and<br />
less stressed.  There are many other techniques and variables<br />
that may be available depending on the type of day spa that you<br />
are looking to go to and what the benefits of that day spa will<br />
bring to you.   </p>
<p>There are many different types of spas that are available and<br />
able to be used and it is up to you to decide which is the most<br />
beneficial for your needs.  Many of these spas can be found<br />
online for you to research and discover.  Look into them see<br />
what they have to offer and provide so you can make a better<br />
informed decision to treat yourself or to provide a treatment<br />
for someone.  There are many resources available to help you to<br />
determine the best spas out there and finding out how well they<br />
treat their guests.  You just need to be willing to look and<br />
research so you are able to meet your goals and needs in stress<br />
relief and tension alleviation.  Just be careful in what you<br />
choose and make sure it is what you want to do and a reliable<br />
establishment so as to be able to meet all of your needs.</p>
<p>About The Author: Chris Powell has worked for many years as a<br />
massage therapist, and has written amazing articles on massages<br />
that will educate you about what you absolutely need to know<br />
about giving a perfect massage. You can read more of Chriss<br />
articles about massages at  <a href='http://www.mood-indigo.net' title='http://www.mood-indigo.net'>http://www.mood-indigo.net</a> </p>
<p>Please use the HTML version of this article at:<br />
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================== </p>
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		<item>
		<title>The Many Health Benefits Of Sauna Bathing</title>
		<link>http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/07/the-many-health-benefits-of-sauna-bathing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/07/the-many-health-benefits-of-sauna-bathing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jan 2007 02:52:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Spa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wellness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/07/the-many-health-benefits-of-sauna-bathing/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[f regular sauna bathing have been known for
literally thousands of years.  By stimulating the immune
system, helping to flush toxins and waste products from the
body, and increasing body temperature and cardiovascular
function, sauna bathing is a pleasant full-body treatment that
is good for almost anyone.  There are also several chronic
health conditions that are particularly benefited by [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>f regular sauna bathing have been known for<br />
literally thousands of years.  By stimulating the immune<br />
system, helping to flush toxins and waste products from the<br />
body, and increasing body temperature and cardiovascular<br />
function, sauna bathing is a pleasant full-body treatment that<br />
is good for almost anyone.  There are also several chronic<br />
health conditions that are particularly benefited by sauna<br />
treatments. </p>
<p>Psoriasis, a chronic skin condition characterized by severe<br />
itching and disfiguring thickenings of the skin, is an<br />
uncomfortable and embarrassing condition.  By using the sauna<br />
to increase sweating, this skin condition can be minimized.<br />
The sweating helps to soften the skin and reduce rough patches,<br />
while the moisturizing steam helps make the skin more pliable<br />
and supple.  Also, the increased circulation and immune<br />
function helps wounds to heal faster with less scarring. </p>
<p>Another condition that can greatly benefit from sauna heat<br />
treatments is arthritis.  By reducing the inflammation and<br />
swelling in the affected joints, pain is decreased<br />
significantly.  The heat increases circulation to energize the<br />
body and promote healing, as well as helping to relax stiff,<br />
tight muscles and increase the ability of the arthritis<br />
sufferer to rest without pain.  Also, the detoxifying effects<br />
of sauna therapy help to flush the body of the byproducts of<br />
anti-inflammatory medications. </p>
<p>Fibromyalgia, a condition which causes fatigue, depression, and<br />
bone and muscle pain over the sufferer&rsquo;s entire body, can also<br />
be helped by sauna treatments.  The increased sweating helps to<br />
flush toxins and lactic acid from the body.  Lactic acid, the<br />
byproduct of muscle exertion, is the substance that causes<br />
muscle soreness.  People with fibromyalgia have difficulty in<br />
ridding the muscles of this substance.  By sweating it out,<br />
fibromyalgia sufferers will notice reduced muscle pain,<br />
stiffness, and less need for pain pills or muscle relaxing<br />
medications. </p>
<p>With so many wonderful healthful benefits steam and infrared<br />
saunas certainly deserve closer consideration by those<br />
suffering from chronic pain and other health problems.</p>
<p>About The Author: Catherine Cannon writes on a variety of<br />
subjects. To learn more about this topic Catherine recommends<br />
you visit <a href='http://luxsauna.com/' title='http://luxsauna.com/'>http://luxsauna.com/</a></p>
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		<title>Does Aromatherapy Really Work?</title>
		<link>http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/01/does-aromatherapy-really-work/</link>
		<comments>http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/01/does-aromatherapy-really-work/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jan 2007 15:48:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aromatherapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holistic Medicine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Remedies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Spa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wellness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.casualwellness.com/2007/01/01/does-aromatherapy-really-work/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Aromatherapy, commonly associated with complementary and
alternative medicine (CAM), is the use of volatile liquid plant
materials, known as essential oils (EOs), and other aromatic
compounds from plants to affect someone’s mood or health.
When aromatherapy is used for the treatment or prevention of
disease, a precise knowledge of the bioactivity and synergy of
the essential oils used, knowledge of the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Aromatherapy, commonly associated with complementary and<br />
alternative medicine (CAM), is the use of volatile liquid plant<br />
materials, known as essential oils (EOs), and other aromatic<br />
compounds from plants to affect someone’s mood or health.</p>
<p>When aromatherapy is used for the treatment or prevention of<br />
disease, a precise knowledge of the bioactivity and synergy of<br />
the essential oils used, knowledge of the dosage and duration<br />
of application, as well as, naturally, a medical diagnosis, are<br />
required. In the Anglo-Saxon world, even among “natural”<br />
practitioners like herbalists or naturopaths, aromatherapy is<br />
regarded more as an art form than a valid healing science. At<br />
best, it is viewed as a complementary and seldom the only<br />
treatment prescribed.</p>
<p>On the continent, especially in France, where it originated,<br />
aromatherapy is incorporated into mainstream medicine. There,<br />
the use of the anti-septic properties of oils in the control of<br />
infections is emphasized over the more “touchy feely” approaches<br />
familiar to English speakers. In France some essential oils are<br />
regulated as prescription drugs, and thus administered by a<br />
physician. In many countries they are included in the national<br />
pharmacopeia, but up to the present moment aromatherapy as<br />
science has never been recognized as a valid branch of medicine<br />
in the United States, Russia or Germany.</p>
<p>Essential oils, phytoncides and other natural VOCs work in<br />
different ways. At the scent level they activate the limbic<br />
system and emotional centers of the brain. When applied to the<br />
skin in the form of massage oils they activate thermal<br />
receptors, and kill microbes and fungi.</p>
<p>Internal application of essential oil preparations, mainly in<br />
pharmacological drugs, may stimulate the immune system, urine<br />
secretion, may have antiseptic activity etc. Different<br />
essential oils have very different activity.; they are studied<br />
in pharmacology and aromachology.</p>
<p>While the practice of aromatherapy is sometimes thought to be<br />
confined to inhalation, it may include various methods,<br />
including:</p>
<p>* Inhalation (directly or diffused into the air)</p>
<p>*Absorption through the skin (baths, massages, compresses)</p>
<p>* Absorption through the mucous membranes (oral rinses and<br />
gargles)</p>
<p>* Ingestion (occasionally prescribed, with caveats)</p>
<p>Skeptics argue that while pleasant scents can be relaxing,<br />
lowering stress and related effects, there is currently<br />
insufficient scientific proof of the effectiveness of<br />
aromatherapy. Like many alternative therapies, few controlled,<br />
double-blind studies have been carried out. A common<br />
explanation is that there is little incentive to do so if the<br />
results of the studies are not patentable.</p>
<p>There are some treatments generally accepted in Western<br />
medicine to give a form of relief for the airways in case of<br />
cold or flu, such as mint and eucalyptus essential oils.</p>
<p>Some skeptics acknowledge that aromatherapy has limited<br />
scientific support but argue that its claims go beyond the data<br />
or that the studies are not adequately controlled and peer<br />
reviewed.</p>
<p>The term “aromatherapy” has been applied to such a wide range<br />
of products that almost anything which contains essential oils<br />
is likely to be called an “aromatherapy product”, rendering the<br />
term somewhat meaningless in that context.</p>
<p>Some proponents of aromatherapy believe that the claimed effect<br />
of each type of oil is not caused by the chemicals in the oil<br />
interacting with the senses, but that the oil contains a<br />
distillation of the “life force” of the plant from which it is<br />
derived that will “balance the energies” of the body and<br />
promote healing or well-being by purging negative vibrations<br />
from the body’s energy field.</p>
<p>Arguing that there is little scientific evidence that healing<br />
can be achieved, or that the claimed “energies” even exist,<br />
many skeptics reject this form of aromatherapy as pseudoscience<br />
or even quackery.</p>
<p>Disclaimer: The information presented here should not be<br />
interpreted as or substituted for medical advice. Please talk<br />
to a qualified professional for more information about<br />
aromatherapy.</p>
<p>About The Author: Copyright ? 2006, Heather Colman. Find more<br />
aromatherapy resources at: <a title="http://www.aromatherapy-centre.info" href="http://www.aromatherapy-centre.info/">http://www.aromatherapy-centre.info</a></p>
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