I once read a book about the therapeutic effects of the food in TCM. The author mentioned that for some spices, when taken too much, could lead to the opposite effects. Take nutmeg as an example. It can boost our appetite. However, when taken too much, it can curb our appetite.

I tried to relate what the book said about the application of essential oils. Essential oils are potent and packed with life force. A few drops may be able to achieve the result of curbing the appetite.

To test my theory, I became the first experimental subject. I first made an inhaler mainly with spice oils to see if inhaling it would lead to the curbing of my appetite. The ingredients were as follows:

1 drop of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)

1 drop of Clove Bud (Eugenia caryophyllata)

1 drop of Cinnamon leaf (Cinnamomum Verum)

7 drops of Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

5 drops of Laurel Leaf (Laurus nobilis)

Rationale: Nutmeg is a digestive aid which can stimulate the stomach and digestion. Clove bud is digestive oil which can also aid digestion. Cinnamon is warm and spicy. I chose its leaf instead of its bark because I could inhale the oil from the leaf. Since all these three oils could irritate the mucous membrane, only 3 drops in total were used   In addition, milder and more nourishing oils were combined to soothe and ease the harshness. Nutmeg, Clove Bud, and Cinnamon leaf were all digestive oils to aid digestion. But when they were combined, they could curb the appetite.

Frankincense is healing oil which can calm the respiratory issues such as asthma. As it is calming, soothing, and moisturizing, it can counter the harshness and irritating effects of the spice oil. Laurel Leaf, on the other hand, can move stuck energy in the body. If the spice oil combination gets stuck and becomes too heavy, Laurel leaf is a good choice to solve this dilemma.

Application: One hour before the meal, I started to inhale it every 15 minutes. When I had the meal, the stomach was actually quite full. Even when I took the meal, the portion was reduced.

My friend who wanted to lose weight asked me for help. I introduced this method to her. Since she had to work in the office, using the inhaler is a better way to help her eat less. She obtained the same results as mine – fuller stomach, and less portion of food.

It is strange that when spice oils are combined together, those digestive aids become appetite inhibitors. In fact, 3 drops of them are enough to achieve the desired result. Moisturizing, nourishing, and soothing oils are used to ease the harshness and irritation of the oils to the mucous membrane and respiratory system.

References:

The therapeutic properties are from Aromahead Institute’s Online Classes

Battaglia, S. (2003). The complete guide to aromatherapy. Australia: The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy.

「廚房裡的中醫師」，李思儀 著，商周出版

我近日完成了有關的課程，現在是Clinical Aromatherapist, 由Certified Aromatherapist至Clinical Aromatherapist真的很不容易啊！ 希望之後會有更多的進展。

Plant Therapy最近徵求香薰治療師，讓他們可以有refer 客人過去，我也申請了，希望成功！

我現在在進修一個關於善終服務的課程，希望香薰可以讓他們改善生活質素，讓他們有段愉快的最後時光。 在今年內還會安排上個教師課程，希望可以進行教學。

其實我的目標很明確的 －－ 寫作和教學，兩方面進行！

展望將來，又是一片憧景！！！

愛情本身已令人心醉，熱暖中的男女，幾時都有份charm去吸引人的。 最近看了本書，書中講及香薰如何能催情 －－ 單用玫瑰、依蘭依蘭、茉莉等香油，已教人心醉及沉迷！

若想沉醉於戀愛中，不妨在生活上用些香油來助愛情的魔力。 最近試了枝香水，是由香氛組成的 －－ 當中的主要香油是Rose Absolute, Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang, Lavender.

搽完椰子油在身上後，再塗些香油，份外的令人心神迷醉，又份外的令人醉生夢死。

有興趣的話不妨試試看！！！

有讀過聖經的人都知道，上帝愛聞香，不論是incense，還是羊羔；上帝還表明聞香是祂的專利來的。 我們暫且不討論這點。 為何祂那麼愛聞香呢？

有點肯定的是，祂是個懂得享受生活的神。 生活在現在，要聞香很易的，有聞過香的人都知道 －－ 聞香除能為我們增添生活情趣外，還有治療作用的。 有太陽光照真好，太陽「施而不受」，又愛與民同樂； 讓我們的世界不再是冷冰冰的。

聞香有什麼好，你們說呢？

我最近很忙，除了溫習功課外，便是練習按摩技巧；我的世界彷彿容不下香薰了。 原來要享受香薰的樂趣是要有閒情的 －－ 沒有了香薰，我便是個沒有了靈的人。 過著的是虛殻的生活，完全沒有半點樂趣可言。

猶幸，間中會有紀律的我，懂得自制，所以學習還是過得去的。

生活的枯燥乏味，令我重新思考，我缺少了什麼？ 原黎我缺少了生活上的調味品 －－ 我發現這個原因，是在我飲了加了玫瑰花水的iced tea後，淡淡的清幽，煥醒了我的靈。

沒有了香薰，原來我連生活的意義都沒有了。 今天，我重拾我的香氣世界，我頓時有「重生」的感覺。 其實，我真的只想沉迷在我的香薰世界，不理世事的！

聞香使我逃避，聞香使我回歸，聞香使我活出真我！！！

依個世界的人很複雜的，總是裝着光明的使者，實則是「偽君子」！ 在戀愛中有些人卻是經常遇人不淑的，因為對方總是不肯說實話啦嘛！ 到失戀時，其實也不過是「傷心只是一刻」，沒有甚麼大不了的。

用香薰治療失戀，卻是最好不過的了，尤其用花類的精油 －－ 這些都是對情緒有治療作用的精油來的。

“Flower touches your heart; flower heals your spirit”

其實個組合可以很多的，但你們可以在失戀的時候試試用這些精油，保證滿意。

前兩篇文章談到用spice oils可以令抑制食慾，令你有飽肚感。 眾所皆知，糖尿病者有三多：多食、多飲、多尿。 看來用香薰的spice oils起碼可以減少進食的份量，三多中有一多可以正常，若有一多正常的話，其他的情況應該會有改善。

看來香香薰在醫學上的應用範圍不應受到忽視呢！

用香薰油中的spice oils，一般為暖性的油來的，順便可以令到陽氣得以維持，從而令到患者生機之氣十足。 還有一點是，香薰還可以舒緩因長期患病而帶來的情緒病，如anxiety & depression.

所謂心病還需心藥醫，情緒好，心情好，求好的意志當然強，病癒的機會也隨之大增。 只是長期用上等的香薰油來治病，花費可不少啊！

上篇文章講及某些spice oils 可以令你食慾大減及有飽肚的感覺。 有些修道之人，時不時都會禁食的，用了這些油來作diffusing的話，肯定可以令禁食變得是樂事。 還有的是 ── 有些重病之人，連進食都有困難的，在這時候，若用上這種方法，可令他們容易渡過這些日子。

有些癌症病人，到了末期的時候便會出現進食困難，有了香薰，應該可以安樂死；且既人道，應該不會有爭論罷。