Aromatherapy
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is a healing art. It is a holistic treatment of caring for the body using scents, associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Aromatherapy is the practice of using fluid plant oils, including essential oils, and other aromatic compounds for mental and physical well-being.
Long ago, Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, Romans and Chinese used to burn scented flowers, herbs and benefit much from aromatic bath, skin care and massage for therapeutic and aesthetic purposes. Aromatherapy works best when the mind and body function at the same time.
Aromatherapy is one of the fastest growing fields in alternative and holistic medicine. It is often used in home, clinics and hospitals for management of pain relief, lighten tension and fatigue, ease labor pain, alleviate pain caused by chemotherapeutic side-effects, and for the treatment of cardiac patients.
Botanical oils include rose, lemon, lavender and peppermint while essential oils are aromatic essential extracted from grasses, bark, fruits, trees, flowers and plants with distinctive psychological, physiological and therapeutic properties known to restore health and prevent diseases. There are around 150 essential oils available worldwide. Most of these have antiviral, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antidepressant and pain killer property. For maximum benefits, essential oils must not be artificially produced but rather taken from natural and pure raw materials.
How aromatherapy works?
Essential oils work through stimulation of the human sense of smell. As a person, we are capable in distinguishing 10,000 different odors which have a substantial impact on how we feel. Research has found out that life without fragrance can lead to psychiatric problems such as depression and anxiety. When we smell, the air enters through our nose going to the limbic system, the part of the brain which is responsible for our emotions, moods, learning and memory.
Essential oils also contain chemical ingredients that have a significant effect on the mind and body. These chemicals include aldehydes, alcohol, ester, ketones and terpenes.
What are the benefits of aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is substantially effective for stress relief, anxiety, muscular and rheumatic pains, GI disorders and postnatal depression. Other benefits have been known and are further discussed below:
- Aromatherapy can enhance male sexual response. It was noted that upon intake of doughnut with black licorice or lavender with pumpkin pie, circulation in the male reproductive organ improved significantly. Men are considered the most active in terms of sex, responds best with lavender, cola, and oriental spice while older male favor vanilla fragrance. Thus, aromatherapy can definitely cure male impotency.
- Aromatherapy can relieve stress. One study conducted in US has shown that patient exposed to vanilla aroma and undergoing MRI simultaneously reported 60% less claustrophobic. Patients’ heart rate remained the same. Apparently, the aroma reduced the anxiety by pleasant memories induced by vanilla aroma or other psychological response.
- Aromatherapy can also cure colds, aid postpartum discomfort, promote sleep, facilitate wound healing, improved skin tone, kill fungal and bacterial infection, reduced inflammation, relieve tension headache, boost the immune system and regulate hormones.
What way can Aromatherapy be used?
- Lamp Ring Diffuser
- Massage with carrier oil
- Electric diffuser (nebulizing)
- Clay pot diffuser
- In personal-care products
- Stem inhalation/vaporizer
- Direct inhalation
Be careful not to take the following oils if the following health conditions are present as it can result to severe complications and even death.
* Abdominal pain—clove
* Asthma—marjoram, oregano, rosemary, yarrow
* Breast cancer—angelica, anise, caraway, cypress, fennel, sage
* Epilepsy—anise, fennel, hyssop, nutmeg, parsley, sage
* Glaucoma—cypress, hyssop, lemon balm, tarragon, thyme
* Hemorrhaging—lavender if taking an anticoagulant
* High blood pressure—hyssop, lemon
* Hypothyroidism—fennel
* Insomnia—peppermint, pine
* Menstrual complaints—angelica, anise, caraway, cypress, sage
* Prostate cancer—angelica, cypress, hyssop, Thymus serpyllum
* Tumors—anise, caraway, fennel
* Urinary tract infection—eucalyptus, juniper
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