What is Aromatherapy?

The use of essential oils for healing, altering the mood or cognitive function of an individual is called Aromatherapy. Essential oils are massaged on to the skin, inhaled or in rare cases taken by mouth. These oils are created using the “essence” of plants. This alternative medicine is gaining popularity, it has demonstrated anti bacterial effects and is able to fight bacterial or fungal infections however the efficiency of the therapy has not been clinically proved yet. There are many different sources of essential oils; they can be extracted from flowers, oily plant base, and aqueous extracts of plant material and organic compounds of a plant. Other than the essential oils, aromatherapy also encourages the use of natural products like jojoba, clays and mud.

Most Commonly Used Aromatherapies

Cosmetic Aromatherapy

Cosmetic aromatherapy involves using skin, hair and body products with essential oil. There are other ways in which these oils can be applied; through facials or shower. However the type of essential oil that is used depends on factors like the skin or hair type. Usually people with oily skin use products with cedar wood whereas people with dry skin use products with lavender. The only problem is true essential oils are usually expensive hence people often use fragrance oils as a substitute. These fragrance oils do not have the healing properties of essential oils.

Medical Aromatherapy

In this type of aromatherapy, essential oils are prescribed to patients with diagnosed medical conditions, which are both physical and mental; these individuals ingest essential oils in capsules. Doctors prescribe essential oils for diseases like bacterial infection. This type of therapy is more famous in France; it is not commonly used in United States. However make sure you never ingest essential oil without a proper prescription from a doctor.

Olfactory Aromatherapy

In this type of aromatherapy the essential oil is inhaled directly or indirectly. This type of therapy is strictly mental; it helps to sooth or relaxes an individual. The powerful scent of the oils helps to release stress by promoting harmony inside the body. Hence this whole process helps to alter the mood of the individual.

Massage Aromatherapy

Massage aromatherapy involves using essence oil to boost the massage experience for an individual. A therapist can either warm essence oil in order to create an aroma in the room or they can use the various lotions and oils combined with essential oils in order to relax the muscles.