Aromatherapy is a holistic therapy that uses pure essential oils to positively influence the mind and body and to enhance emotional and physical
well-being.
Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts from the aromatic part of the plant. They are wholly natural molecular substances,
which when inhaled are transmitted to the part of the brain that controls memory and emotional response. When used topically, they are highly
effective due to their ability to penetrate the skin and stimulate the body’s ability to heal.
Essential oils carry the physical properties of flowers and plants in a highly concentrated form. They are the essence of the plant and
provide therapeutic benefits in very small amounts. The particles in essential oils, which come from various parts of the plant such as the
flowers, twigs, leaves and bark, can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin and their use can be traced back for thousands of years. For example,
essential oils were used in ancient Egyptian times, and were made by soaking plants in oil and then filtering the oil through a linen bag.
Many essential oils have physical and emotional effects depending on the oil, such as stimulation,
relaxation, pain relief and healing. The most common ways to use essential oils include:
- Aromatherapy
- Massaging them (blended with a carrier oil) into the skin
- Adding them to bathwater
- Using them in a compress
- Burning them in a diffuser
Aromatherapy can be done by a professional aromatherapist or it can be done at home. Certain essential oils, such as lavender (Lavendula angustifolia),
sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana), palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini), frankincense (Boswellia sacra), and rose geranium (Pelargonium roseum asperum),
are just a few of the oils commonly used in aromatherapy.
To use aromatherapy at home, place 5 or 6 drops of essential oil in a diffuser, an apparatus designed to diffuse the essentials into the air.
The scent will fill the room. As an alternative, you can add several drops of essential oil to your bath or on a cotton ball and place it
inside your pillow case.
In clinical research, aromatherapy has been found to help attenuate depression, anxiety, and addiction. It helps to reduce stress by
acting on free radicals related to inflammation, aging, and carcinogenesis.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Aromatherapy is a holistic therapy that uses pure essential oils to positively influence the mind and body and to enhance emotional and physical
well-being.
