Essential Oils | Aromatherapy | Jan Kusmirek

Exciting news....we warmly welcome Jan Kusmirek to be KellyEngland.com's Aromatherapy expert! Jan Kusmirek is simply THE man to speak to if you have a question on aromatherapy or essential oils. Jan travels the world helping the biggest beauty brands and has had a huge hand in Origins and Elemis amoungst many others.

He is also a pivotal part of the Organic movement and helped the highly repected Soil Association introduce the Certified Organic Scheme to the cosmetics industry.

Jan now has his own brands including Fragrant Earth, Aroma Therapeutics and Osciem.

So if you have a question on how essential oils can help you to be more beautiful, healthy, relaxed or stimulated then drop us a message below now!

Dear Jan, I have just moved to Hong Kong (from Holland) and have also just found out that I am pregnant. I would really like some advice on what essential oils I can use to ease my hormone affected skin and to make me feel less sick in the morning. Thank you! Gwendolyn

There are concerns about the use of essential oils during pregnancy. So your concentration should be upon smelling oils rather than application. Can a smell alone adjust or affect hormones or have physiological responses? Most certainly. A good Geranium is your best bet preferably a variety from N.Africa such as Egypt. The best comes from Madagascar these days. The fragrance from such sources is less coarse than the cheaper Chinese varieties. Geranium is an 'adaptogen' and mimic meaning it goes to need, it adapts rather than forcing or dominating the person like a drug.

A useful method for morning sickness is to breathe gently into a paper bag with one drop of essential oil in the bottom. Don't hold it completely over the face but close to the face. Breathe slowly. This technique is also useful for people who suffer from panic attacks.

Of course you can be massaged with appropriate essential oils diluted in vegetable oils for all manner of associated troubles with pregnancy during the trimesters but seek advice from a qualified aromatherapist. Lower back pain can be assisted as well as cramps, fluid retention, haemorrhoids and faintness but the key is to find a good aromatherapist.

Other essential oils that you might find useful to keep at home for 'smell' therapy are Tangerine/Mandarin for its cheery fresh aroma or Ylang where worry becomes problematic.

A good book to get is Aromatherapy for Mother and baby by Allison England.

I get regular headaches and I dont like taking tablets all the time. Are there any essential oils that can help me?

Headaches have many causes. Some come from tension and these home in on the back of the neck, others strike at the temples and forehead especially those originating from fatigue or eye strain and then there are those caused by sinus infections.

Luckily two essential oils fit most problems; Lavender and Peppermint. A drop of Lavender can be rubbed neat on the temples (keep well away from eyes) or a drop or two can be put onto a flannel and used like a cold compress to the back of the neck or forehead. Peppermint can be used in the same way except for on the temples (it is too strong and will make your eyes water). Oddly these two essential oils are opposites, Lavender is sedative and Peppermint stimulating but both have the knack of relieving painful headaches.

You can of course combine the two , say four drops of Lavender to one of Peppermint. This is an ideal mix for an inhalation where nasal or sinus congestion are the cause of the pain. Just drop the five drop mixture into a bowl of steaming water and placing a towel over the head breathe in the vapour.

Too much work given you a headache? Then keep Rosemary handy! Just a sniff from the bottle clears the mind. Rosemary has been used since Roman times for just this job as well as being a memory aid for students.

Do you have a question for Jan on essential oils? If you are lucky, you will win a free beauty treatment or product!

Comments to date: 5. This is page 1 of 1.


SR Hong Kong	Posted at 4:00pm on Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Which blend of essential oils can treat eczema or psoriasis?
Gwendolyn Hong Kong	Posted at 2:50pm on Wednesday, February 11th, 2009
Dear Jan, I have just moved to Hong Kong (from Holland) and have also just found out that I am pregnant. I would really like some advice on what essential oils I can use to ease my hormone affected skin and to make me feel less sick in the morning. Thank you! Gwendolyn
lavender baby Win Lok Street	Posted at 11:42am on Friday, January 23rd, 2009
I would never have put peppermint and lavender together,so different - thanks for the tip:)
Jemma	Posted at 8:35am on Thursday, December 18th, 2008
What brands does he recommend? There are so many now and all are different prices.
Elton Midlevels	Posted at 4:22pm on Monday, December 8th, 2008
I never know how many drops of oils to mix together as I always throw away the packet and it is never printed on the bottle. Can beauty companies please fix this. Thanks!