This is the fruit of the rose bush and can range from colors red to orange, though there are some that are colored dark purple to black. You will find rose hips on bloom in gardens in spring and will ripen in late summer or sometime in autumn.
The rose hip oils that are used in beauty products generally come from seeds of two kinds of roses, Rosa moschata and Rosa rubiginosa; that grow wildly in Southern Andes. The usage of the oil is myriad; you will find them in herbal teas, jam, jelly, wine and even marmalade. During World War II, population in Britain were encouraged to produce Vitamin C syrup for children from wildly grown as German submarines where making it impossible to import citrus fruits from the tropics. But the most use of this oil is perhaps in beauty products for a variety of reasons. Here are some reasons for why it is used.
Rehydrates Skin
Most often, you will find rose hip oil used as moisturizing agent in various creams and lotions. That is because it has very high dosage of Vitamin C which helps to form Collagen, the building block of skin. It also has Oleic acid, an omega fatty acid that makes the skin supple. Another such acid called Linoleic acid is also there which helps to maintain skin cell structure. All these makes oil very essential for aging skins when the production of collagen reduces and you lose Code Black Straight moisture from your skin. But regular application of products rich in this oil will replenish the moisture lost.
Has A Pleasant Aroma
Like its flowery counterpart, also have pleasant aroma but sometime, it can be quite overwhelming especially if the oil is pure rose hip oil. But in most cases, it does not smell like the roses! People, who use rose hip oil, usually add other ingredients or oils to make it smell fresh and captivating. This oil is used in making incense as well.
Reduces Scarring And Blemishes
As the oil from is rich in beta-carotene, it helps tremendously on aging skin. This anti-oxidant slows down the aging process and also helps to remove scars and blemishes. It also has a good dosage of Vitamin A which helps in skin regeneration. That is why even those with surgical scars and burn marks see improved skin when using products containing this oil. The polyunsaturated fats in the oil help in reducing stretch marks.
Comes Without Any Side Effects
The best part of using this essential oil is that it has no side effects. Even people, who can't use synthetic products due to extremely sensitive skin, can use rose hip oil without any rashes or skin burn or irritation.
Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of plant-derived, aromatic essential oils to promote physical and psychological well-being.
Aromatherapy offers diverse physical and psychological benefits, depending on the essential oil or combination of oils and the method of application used. Some common medicinal properties of essential oils used in aromatherapy include: analgesic, antimicrobial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, sedative, antispasmodic, expectorant, diuretic, and sedative.
Essential oils are used to treat a wide range of symptoms and conditions, including, but not limited to, gastrointestinal discomfort, skin conditions, menstrual pain and irregularities, stress-related conditions, mood disorders, circulatory problems, respiratory infections, and minor wounds.
A pleasing natural aroma can have a positive psychological effect on the body. EO's, which are the "pure" essence of a plant, have been found to provide both psychological and physical benefits when used correctly and safely. There are over 70 essential oils.
Perfume oils, known as fragrance oils or "fragrances" are not the same as essential oils. They contain unnatural chemicals and do not provide the therapeutic benefits of essential oils. The word "fragrance", was designated by the FDA to contain all of the 850+ ingredients that can be used to create a specific scent, so that the ingredient deck of any product in this category would not be overwhelming to the consumer.
EO's that are drawn into the body by the sense of smell are believed to offer psychological and physical benefits. Not only does the aroma stimulate the brain to trigger a positive effect, the natural components drawn into the lungs can also supply physical benefit as well.
Oils that are applied directly to the skin are believed to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This absorption aids in a variety of health, beauty and hygiene conditions. Because essential oils are so concentrated and powerful, they should never be applied to the skin in their undiluted form.
To apply essential oils directly to the skin surface, "carrier oils", which are pure vegetable oils, are used to dilute the essential oils and carry them to the skin. Common carrier oils include: sweet almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, apricot kernel oil, canola, avocado, jojoba, wheatgerm, and grape seed oil.
EO's also supply other benefits as well. Some oils, for instance, act as a natural repellent and pesticide. Citronella candles provide relief, with Citronella essential oil as the main property of these candles.
EO's are blended together to provide an especially pleasing fragrance. A synergistic essential oil blend of the correct oils in proper proportions is considered to be greater in total benefit, than each oil working independently. Allow blends time to age, a week or more, before adding to a carrier oil. Blends, like good wines, undergo transformation as they age.
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. They may provide no benefit at all. Check the ingredient deck of the products to be purchased, to see if they contain fragrance oils or impure chemicals. Be wary of these products.
EO's are very expensive to produce; some more than others, due to the labor intensive process and the quantity of the plant required to produce the oil. Approximately 800 lbs of Thyme would produce 2 lbs of the essential oil, 4400 lbs of rose petals to make 2 lbs of oil. 6 tons of orange blossoms to produce 2 lbs of Neroli and 4 million jasmine flowers to produce 2 lbs of jasmine absolute. Essential oils may be up to 75 to 100 times stronger than dried herbs.
HISTORY OF AROMATHERAPY
Aromatherapy is derived from two words. Aroma - meaning fragrance or smell and Therapy - meaning treatment. First used by the ancient civilizations, aromatherapy is reputed to be over 6000 years old.
It is believed that aromatherapy was first used in Egypt. A medical papyri, dated around 1555 BC contained remedies for all types of illnesses and the methods of application are similar to ones used in Aromatherapy and Herbal medicine today.
The Egyptians used a method known as Infusion, to extract the oils from aromatic plants and incense was probably one of the earliest ways to use aromatics. Frankincense was burned at sun rise as an offering to the god, Ra and Myrrh was offered to the moon. The Egyptians were experts at embalming using aromatics to help preserve the flesh. They are still around to this date. The Egyptians were used to massage and the use of fragrant oils after bathing.
The Greeks continued the use of aromatic oils and used them medicinally and cosmetically. A Greek physician, Dioscorides, wrote a book about herbal medicine and for at least 1200 years was used as the Western world's standard medical reference. Many of the remedies he mentioned are still in use today in the field of Aromatherapy.
The Romans took much of their medical knowledge from the Greeks and went on to use and improve the ability of aromatics, with Rome becoming the bathing capital of the world. After bathing, they would be massaged and oiled. The Romans opened up the world trade routes and started importing new aromatic products from East India and Arabia.
During the Crusades, the knowledge of aromatic oils and perfumes spread to the Far East and Arabia, and it was a physician known as Avicenna, who lived from A.D. 980 TO A.D. 1037 that is understood to, be the first to have used the process known as distillation to distill the essence of rose. It probably took many more years before it was perfected. The Arabs also discovered how to distill alcohol around the same time, making it possible to produce perfumes without a heavy oily base.
There is a strong possibility that ancient Chinese civilizations were using some form of aromatics at the same time as the Egyptians. Shen Nung's Herbal book is the oldest surviving medical book in China, which is dated about 27-- B.C. and contains information on over 300 plants. The Chinese used aromatic herbs and burned aromatic woods and incenses to show respect to God.
Traditional Indian medicine known as Ayurveda has been practiced for more then 3000 years and it incorporates aromatic massage as one of its main aspects. The invasions of South America by the Conquistadors brought the discovery of more medicinal plants and aromatic oils as the Aztecs were well known for their plant remedies. The Spanish were amazed at the wealth of medicinal plants found in Montezuma's botanical gardens.
The North American Indians also used aromatic oils and produced their own herbal remedies.
It wasn't until the 19th century that scientists in Europe and Great Britain began researching the effects of essential oils on bacteria in humans. A French chemist, Rene Gattefosse, began his research into the healing powers of essential oils after burning his hand in his laboratory. He quickly immersed it in Lavender oil and was impressed as to how fast the burn healed. In 1937 he published a book about the antimicrobial