|
Aromatherapy: Why Scents Makes Sense as an Alternative Therapy
The word “scented” appears on everything from perfumes to household cleaning products. Increasingly, people are aware of the benefits that can be achieved through our sense of smell and are incorporating aromatherapy into their beauty and holistic health care regimens.
Aromatherapy is a completely natural form of therapy that promotes relaxation, relieves symptoms of certain ailments and promotes mental and physical well-being. In its practice, essential oils are inhaled, massaged into the skin or added to a hot bath. According to many aroma therapists and holistic health practitioners, the fragrances of the essential oils, which are highly concentrated plant extracts, have a soothing effect on the brain’s limbic system, the part of your mind involved in memory, emotion and control of hormones. Many experts believe that aromatherapy relaxes the muscles and quiets the brain when applied correctly.
Aromatherapy, though, is not a new concept. Ancient civilizations used plant extracts and fragrances for anointment in religious ceremonies, as healing ointments, and to boost the overall mood of citizens. We have plenty of archaeological data regarding Egyptian culture, which used resins and plant extracts in their ceremonies and medical practices. Western medicine, however, discarded the evident health benefits during the 1800’s, which generally rejected holistic medical practices in favor of their newer scientific discoveries.
Then, in 1928, Rene Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist, applied lavender oil to a burn on his hand, easing his pain and minimizing the scar. This led him to continue to research this lost art of healing, and he soon coined the word “aromatherapy,” citing the many positive benefits that aromatic oils had on the human body.
What makes aromatherapy make sense as an alternative treatment? While it is rarely thought of as a cure or used as the sole treatment for any ailment, aromatherapy achieves positive health benefits for the body on both the physical and mental levels. The fragrance is carried to the brain through the body's sensory receptors. The brain, in turn, reacts to the fragrance. When the fragrance hits the brain, the effects can be calming, invigorating, relaxing or stimulating depending upon the fragrance used. The oils can also be carried into the body through the skin via massage or submersion in a bath, carrying the healthful properties into the body through the pores. Each essential oil, highly concentrated and carefully produced for purity, either calms or stimulates the skin when applied.
The right fragrances can trigger an emotional reaction, called the “nose-brain connection.” According to scientists, olfactory nerves that connect to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland pick up odor molecules as they travel through the nose. Our limbic system creates a response to the smell, either in the form of a thought or a memory. This causes a response in our thought processes and mood, thus releasing into the body the chemicals that soothe and relax, or that invigorate and stimulate us.
This response is the reason holistic practitioners have been adding aromatherapy to their health care regimes, as have massage therapists and other health professionals. Combining the positive benefits of touch with the enhancement of essential oils and aromatherapy, massage therapists have been very successful in providing their clients with the release of tension inside the muscle tissues and the calming of the mind at the same time. Clients report that aromatherapy added to their massage sessions go deeper and last longer than without the addition of aromatherapy.
If you are interested in aromatherapy, some of these tips might help. Pour a few drops of essential oils into the palm of your hand, and then deeply inhale the fragrance. You could also pour 10-20 drops of an essential oil into hot bathwater before soaking. Infusers, oil warmers and diffusers are also effective tools in dispensing the aromas of essential oils. Remember, these oils are highly concentrated, and a few might be toxic, so never ingest an essential oil. Also, because of the high concentration—a few drops of an essential can contain the extract of an entire plant—it’s also important to dilute the oil in a carrier-oil before applying it directly to the skin. When used alone, aromatherapy is a powerful tool to promote wellness and healing. See how it can change your sense of well being.
Health News:
MSN
Live Search: aromatherapy site:msnbc.msn.com
Search results
Aromatherapy is no cure for what ails you - Skin and beauty- msnbc.com
One of the most rigorous studies of aromatherapy showed no significant change in heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones or immune function after sniffing two top scents.
Delivering aromatherapy via the Web - Gadgets- msnbc.com
People play games, go shopping and meet dates on the Internet. So why not use the Web to download the perfect mood-enhancing fragrance?
Delivering aromatherapy via the Web - Gadgets - MSNBC.com
People play games, go shopping and meet dates on the Internet. So why not use the Web to download the perfect mood-enhancing fragrance? ... Selling smells via the Internet Japanese ...
Healing herbs: Nature?s medicine (and perfume!) - GreenDAY - MSNBC ...
The pure essences of plants or herbs, essential oils are the backbone of aromatherapy, a healing modality that relies on the power of scent to promote healing.
Rest easy! 5 tips for a better night's sleep - Family and health ...
Aromatherapy Bath and Body Works is head and shoulders above everyone. I have looked into their quality specifications, their products, and what they are trying to do, and I really ...
Newsfeed display by CaRP
Google
aromatherapy - Google News
aromatherapy - Google News
Aromatherapy Bath Product: Great Blends and Ideas for the Optimal ... - Best ...
Best Syndication
Aromatherapy Bath Product: Great Blends and Ideas for the Optimal ...
Best Syndication, CA - Aug 18, 2008
You could go to a store and buy an aromatherapy bath product, or you could make your own at home. Herbal and aromatic baths are an ancient tradition, ...
Aromatherapy a sweet business - Arizona Daily Star
Aromatherapy a sweet business
Arizona Daily Star, AZ - Aug 16, 2008
By Jennifer Sterba Sonia Rodriguez didn't let a debilitating illness keep her from opening her own store and sharing her passion for aromatherapy with the ...
How to look fabulous when you fly - Mirror.co.uk
How to look fabulous when you fly
Mirror.co.uk, UK - 22 hours ago
Overcome jet-lag by rubbing the Tisser and Aromatherapy Travel Ease Roller ball, 4.50, from Waitrose, on your wrists. The aroma of its organic essential ...
Major Relief for Migraines and Other Common Ailments Introduced by ... - PR.c...
Major Relief for Migraines and Other Common Ailments Introduced by ...
PR.com (press release), NY - Aug 18, 2008
This unique Dry Personal AromaTherapy System can often bring relief in seconds from a single puff! ?While Aromatherapy has been used for centuries in ...
Study: Aromatherapy massage with music reduces anxiety in nurses - Chiropract...
Study: Aromatherapy massage with music reduces anxiety in nurses
Chiropractic Economics, FL - Aug 13, 2008
A study published in the September issue of Journal of Clinical Nursing says aromatherapy massage with music can help reduce anxiety levels in emergency ...
Newsfeed display by CaRP
Yahoo!
Yahoo! News Search Results for aromatherapy
Yahoo! News Search Results for aromatherapy
Major Relief for Migraines and Other Common Ailments Introduced by New York C...
New York College of Health Professions, a premier undergraduate and graduate College of Holistic Health, has developed and released a proprietary line of personal AromaTherapy products that has had a remarkable effect on many patients suffering from Migraine Headaches and other common ailments. [PR.com - August 18, 2008]
Beautorium Keeps Getting Greener and Greener (PR.com)
From anti-aging to pregnancy and baby, from body care to hair care, from aromatherapy to makeup, Beautorium is a luxury of ?green? solutions for modern skin care and beauty needs. The beauty doesn?t stop there. Get ready for three more cult beauty brands to join the mix: Afterglow Mineral Cosmetics, John Masters Organics and Weleda. Afterglow Mineral Cosmetics Hailing all the way from ...
Aromatherapy a sweet business (Arizona Daily Star)
Sonia Rodriguez didn't let a debilitating illness keep her from opening her own store and sharing her passion for aromatherapy with the community.
Want to Relax? Try Pure Lavender Essential Oil (Carteret County News-Times)
(ARA) - It seems that lavender, or the scent of it, is everywhere - candles, hand lotions, shampoo, bath gel, air freshener, even laundry detergent. It's the most widely used and best-selling essential oil. Why is lavender so popular?
Dogs get special treatment, training at Brother of the Wolf (Courier-Post)
Training canine companions may be a vocation for some, but it's an art form for Dawn Watson.
Newsfeed display by CaRP
|
