Neurologists will tell you the sense of smell is more strongly related to your memories than any of your other senses. Accordingly, practitioners of aromatherapy swear by the use of the aromas from essential oils for both brain and body-based health benefits.
This is one alternative medical practice which is starting to be accepted by the traditional medical community.
Hospitals and health care providers in the UK and the United States routinely use aromatherapy diffusers and essential oils in emergency rooms and for rehabilitation protocols.
Another practice that has been around for thousands of years, aromatherapy uses the essence of plants, shrubs, herbs, trees and flowers to create an aroma that produces certain healing properties.
In most cases, a diffuser combines a few drops of essential oil with water or a carrier oil to infuse your atmosphere with a healing aroma.
Aromatherapy Improves Brain Function and Physical Illness
Aromatherapy oils are effective tools for healing, and specific aromas can lead to physical and mental health and wellness.
Inhaling the aromas can improve brain function, which includes memory improvement and recall, plus they are used externally too to hasten healing of physical illness and injuries.
Aromatherapy Health Benefits
There are many benefits to using aromatherapy.
For example, it has been proven effective for improving the health of your skin and hair, soothing PMS symptoms, menstruation, inflammation, and other health conditions such as stress, fatigue, anxiety, and insomnia. These are just a few conditions that respond favorably to aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy Essential Oils
There are over 90 essential oils that are used for practicing aromatherapy. Popular essential oils include lavender, lemongrass, rosemary and chamomile. These are just 4 popular oils! There are many others in the dozens available that people would want to add to as their own favorites.
There are several ways to implement the use of these oils into one’s lifestyle, the main two being direct inhalation or topical usage.
For example, these oils can be dispersed into the surrounding air via reed and mist diffusers and lamp scent rings. Steam inhalation is also quite effective in helping with colds and influenza.
Essential oils can also be used as lotions for massages and baths, as soaps, shower gels, perfumes, facial toners, shampoos, and other natural products to promote skincare.
As essential oils are highly concentrated, a little goes a long way. You can add a few drops to a carrier oil, such as almond oil. This is especially recommended if applying to the skin.
These products can additionally be used in various household items, such as trash cans, laundry machines, sink drains and vacuum bags, as well as clothing drawers to freshen them up a bit and give the house an overall calm feeling. Some essential oils are also excellent insect repellents and pesticides.
Unlike some other forms of alternative medicine, aromatherapy has been gaining momentum in the traditional medical community. It has been embraced by some traditional doctors as a way to treat symptoms of “small” illnesses, such as colds and acne.
Today more people are looking for alternative treatment methods and aromatherapy is an easy one to learn about and use. As lifestyles are much more stressful and hectic than ever before, usage often starts with using aromatherapy – lavender essential oils in particular – as a stress-reliever.
Aromatherapy is a natural healing approach that is hundreds of years old, yet still has relevancy in our modern world.
