What is aroma therapy?
I am pretty sure that you have come across the term Aroma therapy.It is a combination of the Latin word “aroma” and french word “therapie”.You may be fooled to think that you don’t have to put much thought into the meaning of the term because “aroma” and “therapy” are the words we use on daily basis.But, to be honest,the meaning is not that straightforward and there are many misconceptions also surrounding Aroma therapy.Aroma therapy must be understood as a holistic healing of the physical body and spirit with the help of aroma and touch through body massage.

The implication that anything that what smells good has therapeutic benefits is a false assumption. Yes,it is true that the designer fragrance that you wear can stir emotions in someone special to you.The same applies to scented candles that you light on that romantic dinner.However,these products contain synthetic fragrance oils and other synthetic ingredients that may release toxins into the air negating the very purpose of aromatherapy to bring healing in a natural way.

What are essential oils?
Essential Oils can be defined as organic compounds that are extracted from parts of plants such as roots,stems,flowers,bark,fruits and leaves.Examples of plants that contain oils with therapeutic benefits include rose,rosemary,oregano,ginger,eucalyptus and much more.Essential oils help plants cope with harsh climatic conditions and also protect them from animals and insects.Extracting these essential oils can be linked to harnessing the plant’s protective and healing power.

Essential oils are comprised of tiny molecules that can penetrate the semipermeable membrane of your cells.I hope I’m not losing you here.A semipermeable membrane is a membrane surrounding a cell that allows certain molecules to pass through it while preventing others at the same time.Essential oils can be contrasted with the fatty oils, the oils found in nuts,vegetables, and other sources.Fatty oils have large molecules that cannot penetrate the cell membrane.Therefore,they cannot bring therapeutic benefits like essential oils.

The common method of extracting essential oils from plants is through distillation.The process is carried out by steaming and helps separate oils and water based compounds found in plants.The result is usually oils that are highly concentrated and with a strong scent or aroma.That is why a single drop of essential oils possesses tremendous healing properties.

The history of Aroma therapy:
The recent surge of the use of aroma therapy can make you not believe that the use of essential oils for therapeutic benefits stems back to more than 5,000 years ago.Researchers have found that the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, Chinese and Indians were the first people to use them in perfumes,cosmetics and drugs.During these ancient times,essential oils were mainly used for therapeutic,spiritual,ritualistic and hygienic purposes.

How Aroma Therapy works:

According to aroma therapy practitioners,once the aroma gets into your system,signal are sent to the part of the brain that controls your emotions and retrieves memories.The brain then triggers the release of chemicals in your body that ultimately make you feel calm,relaxed and stimulated.The practice of Aroma therapy primarily involves inhaling. However,the progression in the field has seen the use of other methods.Another common Aroma therapy practice is the application of essential oils onto the skin through baths,massage and therapeutic skin care.

                 Practitioners explain that the essential oils activate thermal receptors and also become absorbed into the blood stream. When in the blood,the constituents of essential oils then supply your body with therapeutic benefits.Remember that essential oils are extremely powerful and highly concentrated,As such,you should never apply them on your skin in their undiluted form.They are usually diluted with a carrier oil such as grape seed oil,almond oil and apricot oil.

What are its effects on health and wellness?

There is a debate on how Aroma therapy impacts on health and wellness.The debate is justified by the scanty scientific evidence of its benefits.And that has led some people to claim that the treatment is a mere wishful thinking.However,the scientific evidence of its therapeutic benefits is emerging slowly thanks to the recent studies that have been conducted.This explains why lots of people are resorting to it as an alternative medicine.

Below are some of the benefits of Aroma therapy that are backed by research:

1) Promotes relaxation:Certain essential oils used by aromatherapy practitioners have been proven to help tranquilize those who are feeling anxious and stressed.For instance,it is believed that lavender aroma has a calming effect that helps lower the activation of the sympathetic nervous system that triggers fight or flight response. If you suffer feeling of anxiety, stress and being moody, Aroma therapy can be of great help.You can start your treatment by adding a few drops of essential oils for treating anxiety to your warm bath.

2) Helps treat respiratory issues: Respiratory problems such as congestion and sneezing are caused by bacterial,mold and fungus in the air we breathe.Studies show that certain essential oils have antiseptic properties that can purify the air. Apart from cleansing the air,these essential oils can also help you overcome allergies,cold or coughs. That include myrrh,rosemary,eucalyptus,frankincense,lemon,oregano,peppermint and tea tree. To get the benefits of these oils,you can diffuse them in your home by using a diffusers. Alternatively you can inhale them directly from the bottle or even rub some on your neck.

3) Improves sleep quality: That insomnia can be as a result of anxiety and stress.You can try diffusing essential oils such as lavender,rose,chamomile and ylang-ylang in your bedroom before your time of sleep. Diffusing these oils releases subtle particles in the air and when you inhale them, they trigger responses from your nervous system that bring sedative effect enabling you to have a good night’s sleep.

4) Improves skin health: When rubbed onto the skin,essential oils have been proved to be an effective treatment for acne,itching,cellulitis,dandruff,toe fungus,rashes and inflammation from bites. They also help improve the healing of wounds on the skin. The most effective oil in treating skin problems is tea tree oil.

5) Eases pain and inflammation: Achy Joints,tight muscles,headaches,migraines and inflamed tissue injuries can bring you untold pain. In this case,taking pills is not a permanent solution to the problem. That is where alternative treatment in the name of aroma therapy comes in handy. You can alleviate the pain by inhaling or applying essential oils on the painful part of your body. The examples of essential oils that are known to help relieve pain include orange,myrrh,turmeric,peppermint,frankincense,rosemary and spearmint.

6) Reduces fatigue and raises alertness: Lavender and rosemary oils have been found to be effective in helping people with depressed moods and mental fatigue. Lavender is considered to be a relaxing aroma while rosemary is a stimulating aroma.

So go ahead and try these amazing essential oils to improve your life. If you are from India, then you can use the below mentioned links to try some oils for yourself now.

These are some of the must try essential oils that everyone should try-

Click on the oil names below to open their links:

Soulflower Lavender Pure Aroma Essential oil, 15ml

Aroma Treasures Tea Tree Pure Essential Oil, 10ml

soulflower essential oil Peppermint 15ml

Soulflower Rosemary Pure Aroma Essential Oil, 15ml

You can also see a list of all products listed on amazon in essential oils by clicking here

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