Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses the oils of plants. It is a holistic treatment of caring for the body by using pleasant botanical oils. Essential oils are complex and highly fragrant substances. Egyptians used the method of infusion to extract the oils from aromatic plants. They were used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes as well as embalming. Now it is a practice widely used at home, clinics and hospitals. Aromatherapy oils are used in different ways such as being made into candles and incense. They can also be used as massage oil, placed in diffusers or burners to heat the oils in order to disperse the aroma throughout an area.
Many traditions and religions make use of essential oils sometimes in combination with other alternative medical practices and spiritual beliefs. Hospitals and holistic practitioners use these oils for a variety of applications such as pain relief for women in labor pain, relieving the side effects of chemotherapy and in the rehabilitation of cardiac patients.
Generally, essential oils consist of chemical compounds, which have hydrogen, carbon and oxygen in their building blocks. Oils are made from plants containing high levels of Terpen, an odiferous molecule. The different smells and properties depend on the chemical structure of each plant.
The sense of smell is incredibly powerful. Receptors in your nose communicate with two structures that are located deep in your brain, the amygdala and hippocampus. These structures store memories and emotions. When essential oil molecules are inhaled, they affect these parts of the brain directly. Influencing your physical, emotional, and mental reactions.
Essential oils can also influence mood through several other methods. Aromatherapy massage produces benefits from absorbing the oils into the skin, from inhaling the oil's vapors, and from the physical therapy of the massage itself.
Warning:
Essential oils should be diluted in a carrier oil and should not be swallowed or taken internally, unless under expert medical supervision, as they may be toxic. Allergic reactions are also possible. It's best to test for allergic reactions by applying a small amount of diluted oil on the back of the wrist or ear lobe. Pregnant women should not use them in the first trimester of gestation and should consult a physician.
Tomorrow I will be listing different oils and their specific use in physical and mental health therapies.
