There are many reasons that someone may want to consider aromatherapy for treatment. Whether it is because you need to relax more, you are looking to combat sleep issues or if you suffer from anxiety, aromatherapy is very enjoyable and relaxing. Aromatherapy may help with your physical, mental and emotional well-being. But before you consider this treatment, you probably would like to know what it is exactly.
Aromatherapy (also called essential oil treatment) involves the usage of essential oils, and these essential oils are made from flower, herb or plant extracts and these oils are either placed onto your skin, or they are breathed in through your nose. There are specific cells in the plant that give it a fragrant smell, and these are called its “essence.” This essence is then extracted from the plant’s stems, flowers, bark, roots or other parts of the plant, and it then becomes an essential oil.
Essential oils require a great deal of flower, herb or plant product. For example, in order to make a pound of lavender essential oil, over 200 pounds of lavender flowers are required. In aromatherapy, the most popular essential oils that are used are lavender, lemon, chamomile, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, bergamot and cedarwood.
Aromatherapy is believed to be a relaxing treatment that might aid in stress relief. Other uses for aromatherapy include:
- Depression treatment
- Insomnia treatment
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduce inflammation
- Fight infections
There is not scientific evidence that proves that aromatherapy treats these ailments and these ailments should also be discussed with your primary care physician. Aromatherapy is also not a good treatment option for all people and if you have certain medical conditions, you should discuss aromatherapy with your doctor prior to getting treatment.
Aromatherapy is often used during a swedish massage and they are either placed under your nose to be inhaled, or they are placed onto your skin to be utilized during the massage. You can discuss your treatment goals with your aromatherapy technician and they will let you know which essential oils are going to be best for your specific treatment.