What is Aromatherapy?
August 18, 2010 by Aroma Focus
Filed under aromatherapist
Aromatherapy is a practice that promotes psychological and physical well being through the use of volatile plant oils. Volatile plant oils include the commonly named essential oils. These oils can be used in diffusers to infuse a room with scent, placed into products for use on the body, and into candles.
There are scents and combinations of scents that can provide many different psychological and physical benefits. Scent receptors in the brain are triggered by aromatherapy scents to react in a certain way. Whether that reaction is one of energy or relaxation depends upon the formula used.
Essential oils are considered the purest essence of the plant that when used correctly has been shown to be beneficial in both the psychological and physical areas. The process of creating aromatherapy products involves infusing the scents into other natural ingredients to make the scent usable. By purchasing readymade aromatherapy products from a reputable seller people are able to reap the benefits of aromatherapy without worrying about mixing and diluting the oils personally.
Some of the materials used to create aromatherapy products are cold pressed vegetable oils, hydrosols, herbs, milk powder, sea salt, sugar, clay and mud, and jojoba. Using these ingredients makes it possible to create aromatherapy candles, aromatherapy body scrubs, aromatherapy skin treatments and many other ways of placing the aromatic volatile plant oil scents in areas where a person can absorb them.
Essential oils are highly concentrated and must be used with care to avoid irritation and even illness from touching or inhaling pure essential oils. True aromatherapy products use only holistic methods and do not include perfume or fragrance oils. This is because fragrance oils are usually synthetic or lab created and do not provide the same therapeutic benefits as essential oils.
When a person inhales the aroma of real essential oils the scent triggers the brain and lungs. Different scents produce different benefits; some common aromatherapy essential oils include lavender, vanilla and eucalyptus. Aromatherapy can be used in the home, in the workplace, when showering and in massage.
The scents and benefits of natural essential oils can leave a person feeling rejuvenated and relaxed, can clean sinus problems, can help ease pain and stress and help create positive moods. The results depend on the formula used. Aromatherapy is an ancient practice using natural methods to improve many health problems and create moods. Natural holistic aromatherapy will allow a person to reap the benefits of essential oils in many different forms and for many different reasons.
