Aromatherapy is practiced in many cultures and is becoming very popular in modern society. People are looking for a more natural way to heal and soothe our bodies, and aromatherapy is an easy place to start. Certain scents can relax, de-stress, and invigorate us. This is the basic concept behind the practice of aromatherapy.
History
The use of aromatherapy dates all the way back to the ancient Egyptians, nearly 6,000 years ago. The more modern practice of aromatherapy started to gain popularity in the early 1900s with the french chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse. Gattefosse noticed how well the essential oils of lavender healed a burn on his hand, and began to explore the uses of other essential oils and their healing properties.
Clinical Studies
The effects of aromatherapy have been studied by various researchers. The University of Maryland reports that studies have shown the scent of lavender, a common aromatherapy oil, can help patients with sleep disorders fall asleep more quickly, and have better quality sleep. Unfortunately, a number of reports suggest that the effectiveness of aromatherapy can neither be proven or dis-proven, so it's important to investigate any treatment thoroughly before beginning.
How Does Aromatherapy Work?
The human nose can detect thousands of different scents and odors, says a report by the Social Issues Research Center. These different smells trigger activity in the part of our brain called the limbic center, the source of your moods and emotions. The scents of different essential oils used in aromatherapy react with this part of the brain to influence your emotional state of being. In essence, inhaling the scent of lavender can help you relax, the smell of citrus can energize you and jasmine promotes a sense of well being.
Common Essential Oils
Even if your are unfamiliar with types of essential oils used in aromatherapy, you may recognize a few of the following oils. Many of these common ingredients are used in soaps, shampoos, and perfumes to enhance your mood.
Examples include: lavender, which promotes relaxation and sleep through inhaling the scent or using the essential oil for massage; vanilla, which calms anxiety and promotes a sense of well-being; lemon balm, which is an effective insect repellent; basil, which is used in tea to lessen cold/flu symptoms and ease muscle aches; patchouli, which, when inhaled, can decreases stress and lessens fatigue; and tea tree oil, which, when rubbed on your scalp, helps rid the hair of lice. Tree tree oil is also used as an anti-fungal for candida yeast and ringworm.
These oils, according to Aroma Web, and countless others have many health benefits when used properly.
Safety
It's important to keep in mind that just because aromatherapy and the use of herbs is considered a "natural" healing practice, there is still danger involved. Some oils and herbs can be poisonous if you use them in large amounts, and many aromatherapy practices are for adult use only. It's strongly suggested that you seek the advice of a medical professional before attempting to use any type of alternative medicine, including the use of aromatherapy.
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