Aromatherapy for Health - Uses and Benefits

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile liquid plant materials. It is a holistic treatment of caring for the body with pleasant smelling botanical oils such as rose, lemon, lavender and peppermint. Essential oils are complex, highly fragrant and volatile substances, with varying degrees of complexity, fragrance, and volatility. Aromatherapy, as it is practiced today, began with the Egyptians, who used the method of infusion to extract the oils from aromatic plants which were used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes as well as embalming. Aromatherapy is one of the fastest growing fields in alternative medicine. It is widely used at home, clinics and hospitals for a variety of applications such as pain relief for women in labor pain, relieving pain caused by the side effects of the chemotherapy undergone by the cancer patients, and rehabilitation of cardiac patients. In Aromatherapy it is held that once extracted, the chemical constituents of a particular essential oil will determine its primary action. Generally, essential oils consist of chemical compounds which have hydrogen, carbon and oxygen in their building blocks Aromatherapy is a generic term that refers to any of the various traditions that make use of essential oils sometimes in combination with other alternative medical practices and spiritual beliefs.

Aromatherapy has also been used for many centuries in India. Aromatherapy has roots in antiquity with the use of aromatic oils. Aromas are used to identify the oils, to determine adulteration, and to stir the memory. Aromatherapy is already slowly getting into the mainstream. Nurses, doctors, massage therapists, osteopaths and trained aromatherapists are some of the people who practise aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is one of the most popular forms of complementary therapy and is widely used by people buying over-the-counter oils, and by health professionals in a range of settings. Various massage techniques may be used although Swedish massage is the most common. Aromatherapist will take a medical history and then determine which oil, or combination of oils, will be the most beneficial for you. Essential oils will be diluted in a carrier oil, such as almond or grape seed, and then massaged into your neck, shoulders and upper back, or given as a full body massage, or a facial. the oils should not be swallowed or otherwise taken internally, unless under expert medical supervision, as they may be toxic. Allergic reactions are also possible. It's best to test for this by applying a small amount of diluted oil on the back of the wrist or ear lobe as test before using it fully.

Aromatherapy Uses and Benefits

1.Aromatherapy can be used to relax and soothe the mind and body, to energize or even to arouse.

2.Aromatherapy derived from the use of essential oils to solicit specific emotions.

3.Essential oils can be used in Aromatherapy, to scent potpourri, lotions, cosmetics, perfumes, food flavorings and medicinally.

4.Essential oils can also be used via the bath, diffusion, massage, or compress. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use.

5.Essential oils can be mixed in a cream essential oil combinations are applied directly to the skin for beauty care or treatment of sores or irritations. By using different essential oils, you can control the nature of those benefits.

6.Essential oils come from plants while fragrance oils are artificially created and often contain synthetic chemicals.

7.Essential oils are taken from a plant's flowers, leaves, stalks, bark, rind, or roots. The yield of essential oil differs with individual plant species-ranging in most cases from about 0.2 to 2.0%. That's why literally tons of plant material are required for just a few hundred pounds of oil.

8.Anxiety and stress seem to be the most prevalent benefits of aromatherapy oils.

9.Aromatherapy oils are used in different ways such as being made into candles and incense and burned, used as massage oil or placed in diffusers or burners to heat the oils in order to disperse the aroma throughout an area.

10.Aromatherapy is the use of pure essential oils to benefit your daily life and encourage a holistic lifestyle.

11.Bath-4-8 drops added to a full bath and swirl the water around. Try Twinkle pure essential oil blend, or the healing benefits of our Mineral Spa Bath Salts.

12.Inhalation-1-2 drops on a cotton ball or handkerchief, or 1-2 drops on a cotton ball on the underside of your pillow (avoiding eye contact). See Lavender pure essential oil blend.

13.Humidifier-2-10 drops in a humidifier for a sick room.

14.Sauna or Steam Shower-1-2 drops. See Breathe Easy, or Mystic pure essential oil blends.

15.Hot Tub-8-10 drops in the hot tub after entering and turning on the pump. See pure essential oil blends.

Juliet Cohen writes articles on aromatherapy nebulizer and beauty tips.

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