Ten ways to beat stress

#1. Beat stress with an aromatic bath: Essential oils, like oils of rose, neroli, lemon or lavender, can also be added to rose water, to make a skin tonic. Add only five drops of an essential oil to 50ml rose water. Neroli added to rose water benefits dry and dehydrated skin. Lavender or Lemon oils help oily skin. Essential oils should not be used by themselves.

#2. Destress with a herbal head massage: Give yourself a light massage of the head, using only the finger tips and small rotary movements. Use oils containing brahmi and bhringaraj. Both these herbs reduce stress, bring about relaxation and nourish the nervous system.

#3. Lesson from empress Nurjehan: Nurjehan's rose petal bath (Empress Nur Jehan is credited with the discovery of rose oil). Take one cup of powdered milk, salt, rose petals, five drops essential oil of rose, two tablespoons almond oil. Add to your water for a tub bath.

#4. Light a candle to defuse stress: Use tea light diffusers or potpourri (dried flowers) to bring about relaxation. One or two drops of essential oil are put in the water of the diffuser, or on the potpourri. Neroli (orange oil) brings about a sense of well being. Rose oil also calms the mind. Lavender and Geranium oils reduce stress.

#5. Massage with aroma oils: Make a fragrant body massage oil based on aromatherapy. Add four drops of cinnamon essential oil to 50ml pure olive oil. Essential oils should never be used directly on the skin. They must be diluted with pressed oils. This works well, as cinnamon oil relieves fatigue and muscular tension, and also induces relaxation.

#6. Meditate with a candle: Aromatherapy candles are usually lit during meditation, but also have anti-stress benefits. When you go to buy aromatherapy candles, you can ask for particular scents. For example, lavender is said to induce relaxation, while jasmine heightens the senses and uplifts the mood. Rose calms and refreshes the mind, while cinnamon is said to relieve fatigue.

#7. Release muscular tension with rosemary oil: Rosemary oil helps in relieving muscular tension and fatigue and thus de-stresses both body and mind. Put a few drops of rosemary oil in a simmer pot or diffuser.

#8. Soak in a hot water bath: Take one cup of powdered milk, one cup bicarbonate of soda, and one tablespoon almond oil. Mix with hot water and add to your tub of water for a soak.

#9. Use rose water for a calming effect: The fragrance of rose has a calming effect on the mind. Chill some rose water in a bowl. Soak cotton wool pads in it and place over closed eyelids. Lie down and relax for 20 minutes.

#10. Use salts to wash away fatigue: Take one-and-a-half cups Epsom salts, three-fourth a cup of bicarbonate of soda, and dried rose petals. Tie in a bundle and put in your tub of water, or add directly to the water.