Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Sometimes it's called essential oil therapy. Aromatherapy uses aromatic essential oils medicinally to improve the health of the body, mind, and spirit. It enhances both physical and emotional health.
What is aromatherapy used for? Aromatherapy may promote relaxation and help relieve stress. It has also been used to help treat a wide range of physical and mental conditions, including burns, infections, depression, insomnia, and high blood pressure.
Aromatherapy is normally used through inhalation or as a topical application. Inhalation: the oils evaporate into the air using a diffuser container, spray, or oil droplets, or breathed in, for example, in a steam bath.
During an aromatherapy massage, you inhale these essential oil molecules or absorb them through your skin. They are thought to promote beneficial changes in your mind and body by affecting the limbic system, a region of the brain known to be involved in emotion.
As you can see, there are safety concerns associated with improper use of essential oils. In general, however, essential oils are safe when used externally (not ingested) in low concentrations. For skin applications, that usually means concentrations no higher than 5%.
Put a total of 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil (or a combination of 1-3 essential oils) and one ounce of water into a spray bottle and shake. Spray liberally in your bedroom, bathroom or wherever you desire. You can also mist it lightly on your sheets or pillowcase
Young children and the elderly may be more sensitive to essential oils. So you may need to dilute them more. And you should totally avoid some oils, like birch and wintergreen. In even small amounts, those may cause serious problems in kids 6 or younger because they contain a chemical called methyl salicylate.
Research on the effectiveness of aromatherapy — the therapeutic use of essential oils extracted from plants — is effective. However, some studies have shown that aromatherapy have health benefits, including Relief from anxiety and depression
People find that aromatherapy with certain essential oils can help promote relaxation and relieve stress and anxiety.
Aromatherapy benefits: Improve sleep quality, reduce stress, agitation, and anxiety. soothe sore joints. treat headaches and migraines
