Aroma Therapy For Weight Loss

Aroma therapy is a method of alternative healing that uses the medicinal properties and scents associated with oils and plant extracts to promote healing effects within the body. Aromatherapy practitioners use certain essential oils to spur weight loss in patients, but it shouldn't be your sole treatment for eliminating excess body fat.

History

Aromatherapy has been around for centuries, dating back to ancient Egypt, India and China. It has been used to cure both physical and emotional complaints, making it a versatile form of alternative medicine. Some oils are applied directly to the skin to heal skin conditions or injuries. Other oils are simply inhaled, their scents believed to act on parts of the brain that promote healing and well-being. Inhaled oils may have the most benefit for weight loss.

Benefits

Bitter orange oil, or neroli, is used in diet products because of its ephedra-like effect on your body, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Citrus oils, rosemary and peppermint oils can make you feel more energized throughout your day and during your workouts, according to AromaWeb. Oils such as lavender and chamomile can help to ease stress and anxiety. When your body is calmer and more relaxed, you may feel less of a desire to overeat or stress eat.

Risks

Essential oils are considered generally safe for cosmetic use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but when used in a medical context, such as using them for weight loss, they require special FDA approval. Currently, no aromatherapy oils are approved by the FDA as safe and effective for treating weight loss. Essential oils can cause an allergic reaction in some users. Some oils cause skin irritation or are toxic when taken internally, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Misconceptions

Be mindful of what you're buying when you purchase aromatherapy weight loss aids. Products such as soaps, candles, fragrance oils and lotions may claim to offer aromatherapy benefits, but actually contain no active ingredients. Instead, they use artificial fragrances which do little more than smell good. Buy products from experienced natural healers or that state clearly on the label that they're made with real essential oils.

Potential

Aromatherapy isn't a magical weight loss solution. Certain essential oils have active ingredients that affect the brain or the body in ways that may help you lose weight, but aromatherapy itself will not cause weight loss. It must be used as a tool in combination with other lifestyle changes, such as increased exercise and dietary improvements.