7 Essential Benefits of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a term that you are probably familiar with by now, especially with the many varieties of aromatherapy massage now popularly sold at leading salons and spas all over the world. However, what you may not have realized is that aromatherapy is an age-old practice that can be used at home to treat a number of common and even serious ailments.
Aromatherapy is a healing therapy that uses the essential oils of plants to soothe and treat countless illnesses. The first recorded use of essential oils was more than 6000 years ago as a staple of the Egyptian culture and healing system. Today, aromatherapy is becoming popular for providing the same benefits in our culture, with one of the most common uses being for relaxation and stress relief.
To get you started on your home aromatherapy treatment, here are the top seven benefits that you can expect from using aromatherapy:
1. Improved mood. Rosemary is an essential oil that has been proven to boost the mood and offer feelings of contentment. Even better, this essential oil provides a positive benefit in overall mood and performance by reducing the stress hormone cortisol in the body. At the very least, rosemary in aromatherapy can be used on a regular basis to relieve stress, induce relaxation, and prevent anxiety.
2. Get a better night's sleep! If you find yourself tossing and turning every night and even sleeping pills won't help you to relax, aromatherapy may be the answer that you have been looking for. Aromatherapy is quite helpful for treating sleep disorders, and it is one of the fastest growing alternative therapies in the Western world. The topical use of essential oils will stimulate the limbic system in the brain that controls emotion and mood, meaning that aromatherapy can effectively induce calm, relaxation, and a deep sleep so that you can wake up feeling refreshed.

3. Improve your complexion. Many aestheticians would agree that aromatherapy is a powerful tool to alleviate a number of skin conditions, especially dry and flaky skin. If dry and flaky skin is left untreated, it can cause premature wrinkling and signs of age. For this reason, aromatherapy is helpful to keep the skin youthful, moist, and balanced, and it will also improve even more serious conditions of the skin, like eczema and psoriasis. Many essential oils provide anti-inflammatory benefits to reduce dryness and irritation and calm red and rough skin.
4. Relieve chronic asthma. If you are having difficulty with constant wheezing and coughing caused by asthma, when used wisely and under professional care, aromatherapy can often free asthmatic lungs of irritation. Wheezing is caused by pushing air through swollen bronchial passages, which frequently results in an asthma attack. Professional aromatherapy treatment can provide asthma relief in between these attacks by rubbing anti-histamine and decongestant essential oils, like ginger and peppermint, directly on the chest.

5. Treat nausea and stomach problems. If you suffer with constant digestive issues, like stomach pain, intestinal gas, belching, and nausea, all of the above can be quickly relieved with aromatherapy. In fact, using essential oils for stomach issues in children is a helpful home remedy for any young kids who have difficulty swallowing medicine. Aromatherapy targets the first stage of digestion by signaling the brain that food is on the way to create the immediate response of flowing digestive juices to alleviate a number of stomach issues. Aromatherapy also provides the added benefit of relieving stress and anxiety overall, which is often the cause of nausea and a queasy stomach.
6. Reduce the symptoms of PMS. PMS is something that many women struggle with on a monthly basis, and it can often cause a series of emotional and physical problems. PMS symptoms vary individually from woman to woman, and if you have very severe symptoms around the time of your period, aromatherapy may be the perfect answer. It is helpful to take an aromatic bath or get a massage with essential oils to reduce symptoms like depression, mood swings, irritability, and even bloating and tenderness.
7. Get rid of a bladder infection. Bladder infections are more common than you may realize, especially in women. Fortunately, aromatherapy provides several essential oils to take care of this issue, such as sandalwood, chamomile, tea tree, and juniper berry. However, it is important to use trained aromatherapy techniques for this treatment because treating with too much juniper berry could cause irritation to the kidneys if administered incorrectly. A bladder infection can be quickly treated using aromatherapy by applying the essential oils in a compress over the bladder or taking an aromatherapy bath scented with essential oils.
As you can see, aromatherapy is a legitimate and effective alternative healing therapy. If you are struggling with any of the above issues and are sick of taking medications or using other forms of treatment, aromatherapy offers a gentle substitute that will alleviate numerous illnesses and concerns. Even more importantly, all of the benefits of using aromatherapy listed above are just the beginning since aromatherapy has been proven to treat countless physical and emotional issues!
It is highly important to have legitimate training for the use of aromatherapy since using some essential oils improperly could cause sickness or irritation. Perhaps the simplest way to benefit from aromatherapy is in the form of a massage or bath, which will also provide you with a multitude of relaxation benefits. If you are new to aromatherapy, you can first try out aromatherapy massage from a massage therapist, which will integrate specific essential oils to target any physical or emotional problems you may be struggling with. On top of that, you will receive the anti-stress benefits of massage to relax your muscles, improve circulation, and flush dangerous toxins from your body.
Aromatherapy is a versatile and user-friendly form of healing that offers a long list of home remedies to maintain your health without paying for expensive medications or doctor's visits! Additionally, aromatherapy will also give you the much needed stress relief that you have been looking for to relax and improve your health from the inside out.

By Bethany Ramos

The Benefits of Using Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy came from two words. The word aroma means fragrance or smell and therapy means treatment. It is thought that aromatherapy benefits include treatment and prevention of some diseases by using essential oils. Essential oils came from plants, flowers, leaves, bark or roots. These oils are typically mixed with other oils to create different recipes which suits different effects, and can be in the form of lotions, soaps, bath salts, soaks, perfumes and even candles.
There are three modes of aromatherapy application. First is aerial diffusion, which means environmental fragrance or simply using essential oils to fragrant the room. Second is direct inhalation, for respiratory disinfection and decongestion. Lastly is the topical application or using it as general massage, bath, or therapeutic skin care.
It is said that aromatherapy works by stimulating the smell receptors in the nose, which then sends impulses to the brain's limbic system, which is responsible in controlling emotions and memory. However, others say that Aromatherapy does not cure conditions, but helps the body to find a natural way to cure itself and improve immune response.
Some studies have shown that aromatherapy can relieve stress, depression, and anxiety. It also improves quality of life and promotes good sleep. Pregnant women use aromatherapy to normalize childbirth and to increase their satisfaction in their labor experiences.
Aromatherapy strengthens our body, increases blood circulation and even boosts the immune system. The essential oils can stimulate and calm our system. It is also widely used in baby baths. It purifies the atmosphere and helps teething problems, itchy skin, and sleep problems.
Rosemary and Lavender Aromatherapy are both associated with feelings of contentment. They promote good mood and also release calming and soothing effects. Peppermint aromatherapy can increase memory and alertness, which is perfect for stressed students and workaholics. Lavender oil is also great for headaches. You can apply some on your temples or to a warm bowl of water, then drape a towel over your head and inhale it for a few minutes.
Sinuses and colds can be cured by aromatic chemicals like eucalyptus and menthol. Using aromatic oils in massages are also helpful in physical pains such as body aches, sprains, muscle pains, and migraines. The oils are quickly absorbed by the skin, bringing recovery.
Aromatherapy is very beneficial in skin health. Essential oils are said to be anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti inflammatory. It also has healing properties. Jasmine, Lavender and Rose oils are helpful in fighting aging and moisturizes the skin. Olive oils and Tea Tree Oils are also good face-cleansers.
However, we should be careful in choosing essential oils to use in aromatherapy. Some essential oils are highly concentrated and can cause skin irritations. Some can't be used by pregnant and lactating women, while others can be toxic to domestic animals. It is still best to consult your doctor before doing an aromatherapy.
By Sheena Magdaraog