Aromatherapy For Better Health
Aromatherapy, or the uses of scents from various natural plant extracts, has been used for centuries in meditation, healing, healthcare, beauty and relaxation. The essential oils are the fragrant essences derived from flowers, leaves, barks, roots and berries. Each essential oil has its own therapeutic properties. Nowadays, aromatherapists, who are individuals essentially trained in how to combine and administer these essential oils, have emerged as complementary healers to the more traditional forms of allopathic medicine.
The appeal of aromatherapy transcends cultures and continents, chiefly because it has proven to work. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used aromatherapy in a wide range of uses – from embalming the dead to treating military soldiers injured in battle. Aromatherapy can be used to treat a wide range of ailments including first aid, stress related diseases and skin problems. Oils can be placed in aromatic baths, used in compresses, or mixed in creams, lotions or waters to help with the health of the skin.
The various uses of aromatherapy in England and the US however, have been quite recent. Over the last decade, aromatherapy has become increasingly popular among the general public, used primarily in beauty and bath care for personal uses. Lavender, tea tree oil, clove, cinnamon, and other oils have been marketed for mass appeal for their healing and relaxation properties. These have been greatly diluted so that an individual will not become sensitive to an undiluted essence.
Self-treatment with aromatherapy, however, should be exercised with caution. Properly used, essential oils are safe, but some oils present hazards that anyone using them should be aware of. I have purchased a number of oils off the shelves, only to find after further reading that these are hazardous and toxic in significantly small doses. There are no warning labels on aromatherapy oils, and if a service provider decides to sell them, people are free to buy and use them as they see fit. Babies, pregnant mothers and older adults need to be especially careful if they come in contact with essential oils.
A properly trained aromatherapist will look beyond merely the application of essential oils, and will strive to treat the whole person to help achieve balance. As essential oils work on a subtle level, the multitude of healing properties they offer differ from synthetic drugs in this respect. They are not tailored to treat a specific symptom, but strive to rectify any imbalance in the body and promote better health and well-being. Aromatherapy has been likened to the Chinese idea of Yin and Yang- a harmonizing balance that exists with opposing energies. When balance is achieved, the person is in a state of health.
I have used aromatherapy for over ten years, and have found the positive effects noteworthy. Primarily I have used oils to treat fatigue, combat stress and promote relaxation. When I travel, I often seek out essential oils that have been distilled in the country I am visiting, for these are usually of a purer and less expensive nature than ones that have been imported into the West. In Morocco, I have bought pure oils of jasmine, rose and neroli, some of the most expensive oils known. In Madagascar, I have bought ylang-ylang, clove, cinnamon, and other local oils that have excellent anti-viral and anti-bacterial oils that are perfect during travelling. Buying, experimenting and learning about aromatherapy oils are part of the enjoyment, and discovering their numerous health benefits through use is part of the reward.
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[…] Aromatherapy has gained importance world over as the essential oils derived from the extracts of flowers, leaves, barks, roots, seeds and nuts, heal and treat wide range of ailments. To know more benefits of aromatherapy, read our article - “Aromatherapy For Better Health“. […]
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