AROMATHERAPY & PREGNANCY

Pregnancy is a time of great joy &, yet, can lead to a lot of unexpected discomforts for the would-be-mothers as the body is undergoing tremendous physiological changes during this period. How could these mothers-to-be helped to go through this period comfortably without resorting to chemicals or synthetic medications? Aromatherapy with its wide arsenal of essential oils & carrier oils would be a plausible alternative. However, there are a lot of negative misconceptions over the use of essential oils during pregnancy, which are being perpetuated in books & over the internet. I hope this article would put to rest some misgivings on the use of aromatherapy for pregnant women out there.

An internet search on the dangers of using essential oils during pregnancy yields information like “Avoid high doses of lavender oil during pregnancy because it is a uterine stimulant”. Apparently there is a high concern on the safe use of essential oils during pregnancy as essential oils have low molecular weight which allows their molecules to by-pass the blood-brain barrier, therefore, would have no problem in passing through to the developing fetus.

Particular risks that would apply to the first trimester are an increased risk of miscarriage & risk of fetal malformation. However, these risks do not go away after the first trimester, hence avoiding a reproductively toxic substance to the first trimester only makes sense if there is evidence to support this guideline.

There are certain classes of essential oils that are contraindicated for use during pregnancy, however those oils are generally not available to the public. Other essential oils that might be accorded a precautionary status are generally those that have varying camphor content or oils which are emmenagogues or menstrual stimulants. Bartram (1995) defines emmenagogues as “plant substitutes for hormones that stimulate the pituitary gland to produce more gonadotrophic hormones. Herbs that initiate & promote the menstrual flow. Most are uterine tonics & stimulants to restore normal function of the female reproductive system. Not used in pregnancy, except when a practitioner has good cause to do so in the first few weeks.”

In the case of Lavandula angustifolia (true lavender) which has a slight camphor component, various researchers have given it a “class 1” rating indicating it is generally safe to use, with no contraindication for pregnancy or breastfeeding. The Complete German Commission E Monograph also “approved” officially the use of L. angustifolia essential oil with no side effects & contraindications. This includes internal use of 1 – 4 drops (20-80mg) of the essential oil as a daily dose (Blumenthal et al 1998).

Although camphor is neither reproductively toxic or abortifacient except in almost fatal doses & a lethal human dose is approximately 200mg/kg. No adverse fetal effects were seen from feeding camphor to pregnant rats at 1000mg/kg/day, or pregnant rabbits at 681mg/kg/day (Leuschner 1997) & a person would have to ingest 24kg of essential oil to reach that level.

Hence, to use aromatherapy blends or even essential oils for inhalation purposes in the recommended dosage would not have any adverse effects on the fetal development under normal circumstances. However, proving safety in pregnancy is always a challenge, but all the indications have shown that essentials oils are generally safe to be used during pregnancy, provided the recommended dosage is adhered. While it pays to be careful but erring too heavily on the side of safety has a downside, that is, it creates fear, doubt & confusion.

Cedric Chow - Aromatherapy Principal Trainer
All about Aromatherapy
Pre & Post Natal Care

Makeup Styles & Trends

TOPICS WE WILL COVER:

ü  Spring 2012 Face & Lips

ü  Spring 2012 Eye shadow Technique

ü  Spring 2012 Eyeliner Technique

ü  Spring 2012 Lashes Style

2-hour workshop includes a demonstration and hands-on practice guided by our trainer.
Basic makeup materials will be provided for use.
Click here for the schedule

For more information, please email to: info@proacademy.com.sg

Love your dental visits, I do.

As a young child, I suffered from teeth overcrowding. I was afraid to visit the school dental nurses who were not gentle and I saw scheduled dental visits as sheer torture. I avoided dental braces as I was convinced that I should not let dentists inflict more torture than what I had received in school.

At age 23, I decided that my wisdom teeth (yes, all 4 of them!) were a nightmare to live with, and made the grand decision to have them removed. I needed to be brave to survive it. Thankfully, I found an ex-classmate who became a dentist and was gently persuaded that the experience would be most manageable. I have since removed my fear of dentists.

A year after the wisdom teeth were extracted,I was asked to consider dental braces as a solution for a 'bite' issue. After years of living with bad teeth, I decided to take the plunge and consulted an orthodontist in orchard road. 3 years later, I owned a perfect smile and have never been happier flaunting it.

I make regular dental visits annually and make sure that my two young daughters have healthy teeth and practise good oral hygiene. Good teeth last a lifetime.

Smile. Be happy.

Alicia - Head of Academy Board

P/S consult our Aromatherapy Principal Trainer Cedric Chow for tips on how to make your own mint mouth rinse or dental wash. He can also prescribe remedies for effective management of pain and fear.

THE POWER OF VOICE

Lately I have realized the unsatisfactory status of my life & it prompted me to look into what actually went wrong. Having done some soul-searching, I decided I wanted to make changes in my life to rectify the unsatisfying situation I am in. Initially I was seized with a deep sense of dread of what may happen to me, if I were to disturb the status quo; but to remain stationary would mean stagnation in my life. To move or not to move, I feel I am between a rock & a hard place psychologically.

Just as I feel myself sinking into psychological despair, I started to tone the vowel AH to release the ‘tension’ I felt in my heart. Initially I felt silly doing that in my room but as I continued to tone the vowel, I felt my heart expanding energetically. The more I tone, the more I feel positive & happy. 20 minutes of toning later, I emerged a happier person with a clearer vision of my direction. I know I am making the right decision.

Cedric Chow - Aromatherapy Principal Trainer

Understanding Crystals & Stones

Your hair needs nutrients too!

Hair is not something that we cannot live without, however when you lose it, the feeling of devastation might set in. Imagine me doing the signature scream from ‘Home Alone’ the movie, when a barber informed me I was balding while trimming my hair. It was then that I realized that hair is part of our identity; it is something that we can change (length, style, colour) to make us different from others. Losing hair usually also meant that our body is sick, either physically (under-nourishment) or mentally (stress).

Just like your skin, our hair needs to be well hydrated to stay strong and supple. Now there is one more reason for you to drink enough water a day. Other nutrients that your hair would need are proteins, iron, zinc & vitamin B and C. You can take supplements for these but if you are able to get these nutrients from your daily meals, why get supplements? Below are examples of food that are able to give you the nutrients needed for healthier hair.

• Whole grains. These contain zinc, iron and vitamin B and they digest slower which makes you feel full longer thus helping you to eat lesser as well.
• Red meat and poultry are good sources of protein, iron and vitamin B. (Avoid the fried ones though)
• Eggs are not only yummy but they are packed full of vitamin B and protein. When I say eggs, I mean the yolk as well because they contain high biotin content which is an important component for strengthening hair and nails.
• Nuts like almonds, cashews and walnuts contain healthy fats and hair-friendly minerals such as selenium and zinc. (As usual, avoid the fried and salted ones)
• Vitamin rich fruits like tomatoes, citrus fruits, carrots and mangoes are essential for healthy scalp.
• Many people dislike broccoli for various reasons. But there is a reason why this is often regarded as a super-food. It contains rich amount of vitamin C, folic acid, fiber, potassium and calcium. Health benefits of broccoli have been known to prevent colon cancer, diabetes, heart disease and calcium deficiencies.

It will definitely take a while for the foods you eat to affect your hair but it will definitely benefit you in the long run with not only healthier hair but better health too!

Food for the skin?

Lately I have tried a “medical-grade” skincare, a.k.a. pharmaceutical, which is said to be extremely effective as compared to the conventional skincare products we see in the market. One day after the product demonstration, I discovered that my skin has become extremely tight, dry & thin; my entire topmost layer of the epidermis has been stripped off! Repeat use of moisturisers simply does not make the skin feel any better. Finally I decided to turn to my trusty aromatic pals for help …. I used a tiny amount of Jojoba carrier oil for its emollient effects together with Frankincense & Lavender essential oils for their cell-renewal properties, to “slather” literally upon my entire face, allowing the rejuvenation oils to seep gradually into my “parched” skin. Immediately within 30 minutes, I could literally feel my entire face softening down. I used to wonder why we are not using natural products, such as, essential oils, etc., in the rejuvenation of our skin when it is an extremely economical way of providing our skin with all the necessary nutrients. While natural aromatherapy skincare products may not the “miracle skin product”, they are truly a viable alternative that we could look into as part of our skin care regime.

Cedric Chow - Aromatherapy Principal Trainer

All about Aromatherapy

DIY Aromatherapy

A healthier you is a happier you.

2011 had been a disaster as far as my health was concerned. I had experienced a prolonged and painful bleeding from anal fissures in the first half of the year, followed by a car accident in the second half of the year.

As you would have guessed, I spent a lot of time shuttling between doctors (general practitioners, TCM), specialists (colorectal surgeons, orthopaedics, chiropractors) and therapists (tuina, sports massage, physiotherapists, acupuncturist). Needless to say, I spent a tremendous amount of money and time to get myself 'cured'.

Blaming on poor health and being 'old' is a very convenient excuse, but I think stress is a major culprit. A lack of exercise, coupled with a bad diet, will definitely contribute to a state of poor health.

It is now 2012. I have stopped bleeding after I made a conscious effort to cut down the daily stresses of business and work. I'm consolidating my businesses and decided that the ambition of building my business empire should not be done at the expense of my health.

An optimist by nature, I am positive that 2012 will turn out good for me. While I do not expect it to be stress-free, I am ready to deal with life challenges when I FEEL healthy and well. Be happy!

Alicia - Head of Academic Board

Learn to fight stress. Attend our wellness & Aromatherapy workshops. Check out www.proacademy.com.sg for details.