Aromatherapy: Comforting and Relaxing

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Aromatherapy

What Is Aromatherapy?

The term “aromatherapy” refers specifically to using scents derived from flowers, herbs, spices, resins, roots, barks, seeds, fruits, woods, trees, grasses, vegetables, seaweeds, mushrooms, gums, honey, waxes, fats, minerals, animal glands, bones, shells, feathers, stones, etc., to promote healing and wellness. The practice is based on ancient traditions dating back thousands of years.

How does Aromatherapy Works?

Aromatherapists use essential oils for their healing properties. These oils have been shown in studies to help reduce stress, boost immunity, ease pain, promote sleep, improve digestion, fight infections, relieve depression, and more. Essential oils have been used as medicines since ancient times. They were first discovered by accident when people noticed that certain plants had medicinal properties.

The scent of these oils can be soothing, energizing, uplifting, calming, relaxing, refreshing, stimulating, invigorating, grounding, balancing, warming, cooling, or any combination thereof. You choose which one you want!

What are essential oils?

The essential oils are a group of volatile compounds that occur naturally in plants. Essential oil is the term used for these natural substances when they’re extracted from plant material by steam distillation or other methods. The word “essential” means important; it refers to their importance as part of the whole organism. There are over 7,000 different types of essential oils, each with its own unique chemical composition.

How to use essential oils

It is recommended to use essential oils topically as well as internally.

1. Topical application

Topical application can be used to treat skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, sunburn, dry scalp/hair, etc., according to Essential Oil Safety Guide by The American Herbal Products Association.

Body Products

There are several body care products that contain aromatic ingredients. These include lotions, creams, shampoos, conditioners, etc., which all smell good when applied to your skin. Some of these products will actually help relieve stress by providing an aroma that helps relax muscles and ease tension. You might want to try using such products before going into stressful situations. They’re easy to apply, too!

Example:

Lavender Vanilla

Coconut Lime

Rosemary Mint

Peppermint Lemon

Pineapple Coconut

Massage Essential oils are another good way to add an aroma to your life without having to light anything.

Essential oil blends come in various forms including sprays, creams, balms, etc., and each type offer sits own unique set of benefits. Essential oils are often recommended for their ability to penetrate into the skin quickly, allowing them to work effectively within minutes. Some essential oils are said to help calm emotions, relieve pain, improve moods, and provide relaxation.

Example:

Calming: Chamomile, lavender, and geranium oil.

Decongesting: Eucalyptus, pine, and tea tree oil.

Energizing: Rosemary oil.

Uplifting: Ylang-ylang, clary sage, rose, and neroli oil.

2. Ingestion

Drinking essential oils through food or beverages isn’t recommended by most experts. It could cause stomach upset. However, some studies suggest ingesting certain types of essential oils might help treat specific conditions.

For instance, one study found drinking peppermint tea before bedtime helped relieve insomnia.

Another showed consuming eucalyptus oil improved symptoms associated with colds and flu. And yet another suggested inhaling cinnamon essential oil reduced cough severity.

Side effects

You should always follow the instructions given by your healthcare professional. If you take prescription medicine, check with your doctor before using this form of therapy.

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