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aromatherapy at your fingertips
July 24, 2001
Want
a more in-depth understanding of aromatherapy other than merely
knowing that you like the scents? We go sniffing in an aromatherapy
workshop.
By
Angelene Wong
(Click
on pictures for larger image)
Ok,
so you've heard about aromatherapy and its therapeutic and healing
effects on your body and mind.
Lavender for relaxation and calming your edgy nerves, tea-tree for
vanquishing those ugly pimples (you learned that from that nice
BodyShop assistant) and chamomile, uhmm…isn't that a kind of tea
which you drink, you ask.
Well,
did you know that lavender is the mother-of-oils, the most versatile
of all the essential oils in the market? Or that tea-tree can be
use for killing off that awful Athelete's Foot of yours when combined
with Lavender? And yes, Chamomile can be used to treat insect bites
other than to be consumed as tea.
If you didn't know all that, here's some good news.
 You
don't have to restrict your essential oils to burning in oil burners
just to scent up your room. A home aromatherapy workshop, as the
one taught by Mrs Doreen Cheah, a qualified aromatherapist cum nutritionist
(get this: she's the only one in the region to be dually qualified),
will teach you how to use oils effectively such as blending essential
oils for use in massages and facials, to promote a general sense
of well-being (relieve stress) and address common ailments such
as cold, migraine and sinus.
More
importantly, the workshop will impart the safety precautions to
take with different oils especially when it comes to people with
special needs (e.g pregnant or people with illnesses), which sales
promoters at scent shops sometimes fail to disseminate completely
to customers.
After
attending one session last weekend, I discovered there is so much
more I can do with that little bottle of my favourite lavender oil.
The same old bottle which has been lying forlornly at my dressing
table, waiting for its ignorant owner to release its powers.
Sniff,
sniff at the workshop 
An affable lady with a strict but caring demeanour, she had
the small class of 7 (the class is kept small to enable more intensive
guidance) participants working cheerfully and enjoying every minute
of their hands-on aromatherapy facial.
Before
the hands-on, the eager participants underwent a theoretical course
which includes the history of aromatherapy, a study of 12 common
essential oils, facial massages used in aromatherapy treatment and
a demonstration of oil blending. At the end of the first day, the
participants had already mastered the art of blending their own
oils according to their own skin types. And if you often suffer
from common ailments such as sinus, migraine and coughs, this workshop
will show you how aromatherapy can help ease the problems.
 Other
than learning oil-blending, they seemed to have blended in
well with their other classmates in such as a short time, judging
by the way they bonded together whenever Mrs Cheah came around to
inspect their newly acquired aromatherapy massage techniques.
 Taught
informally by Mrs Cheah who shares her health of knowledge
like a concerned parent, the workshop also saw participants from
various occupations coming together in the name of interest and
desire to know how they can apply aromatherapy at home.
And
if you often suffer from common ailments such as sinus, migraine
and coughs, this workshop will show you how to aromatherapy can
help ease the problems.
AGeraldine,
32, a herb-grower said, "I've been growing herbs for so long, so
I thought it's time to know more about essential oils." Her newfound
knowledge in oil blending would be used in fulfilling her dreams
of creating her own line of soap.
25
year-old secretary Lydia says, "I joined this workshop because I
am very interested in aromatherapy. I've learnt a lot especially
when it comes to knowing whether a person can take some oils or
is allergic to some oils. I think it's very important because many
of my colleagues have sensitive skin so it's wonderful as I now
know how to tell which oils to use on what skin types."
Fiona,
a lawyer says it best amongst busy working adults who lead rather
hectic lives, "I'm here for the anti-stress thing!"
But
Mrs Cheah cautions against taking this course as a means to an end.
"It is unrealistic and far-fetched to expect to say that you know
everything about aromatherapy after this 2 day course. The knowledge
that you bring away at the course is for you to practise on yourself
and on loved ones (hence the name home aromatherapy).
"It's not to set up shop," she emphasizes.
 So
what can participants take away with them? Says Mrs Cheah, "A lot
of them have improvements on their skin. They will learn how to
blend oils suitable for their daily skincare..
They
can also take care of facial treatments at home - they don't have
to spend lots of money at beauty salons. They can also take care
of common conditions such as cold, muscular aches and pain. The
course will teach them how to relax and stress management techniques
such as breathing."
Sounds good? Sniff it up now.
If
you missed last week's workshop, fear not. Another 2-day workshop
will be held on July 27 and 28 at the Pinetree Country Club. All
participants get to bring home their own oil blends and a burner,
receive vouchers for the same-day purchase of oils, door gifts and
a membership card which entitles them to receive a free one-way
car towing in Singapore and access to home, travel and medical assistance
24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Click
here for special promotional fees for PurpleLips surfers!
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Aromatherapy: Making sense of scents
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