Aromatherapy is a term you are probably already familiar with, especially with the many varieties of aromatherapy massages now popularly sold in leading salons and spas around the world. However, you may not have realized that aromatherapy is an age-old practice that can be used at home to treat a number of common and even serious ailments.
Aromatherapy is a healing therapy that uses the essential oils of plants to soothe and treat countless illnesses. The first recorded use of essential oils was over 6,000 years ago as a staple of the Egyptian culture and healing system. Today aromatherapy is becoming popular for providing the same benefits in our culture, being one of the most common uses for relaxation and stress relief.
To get you started with your home aromatherapy treatment, here are the top seven benefits you can expect from using aromatherapy:
1. Improved mood. Rosemary is an essential oil that has been shown to improve mood and offer feelings of contentment. Even better, this essential oil provides a positive benefit on mood and overall performance by reducing the stress hormone cortisol in the body. At a minimum, rosemary in aromatherapy can be used regularly to relieve stress, induce relaxation, and prevent anxiety.
2. Sleep better! If you find yourself tossing and turning every night and even sleeping pills aren’t helping you relax, aromatherapy may be the answer you’ve been looking for. Aromatherapy is quite useful in treating sleep disorders and is one of the fastest growing alternative therapies in the western world. Topical use of essential oils will stimulate the limbic system in the brain that controls emotions and mood, meaning aromatherapy can effectively induce calm, relaxation and deep sleep so you can wake up feeling refreshed.
3. Improve your complexion. Many estheticians would agree that aromatherapy is a powerful tool for relieving a number of skin conditions, especially dry and flaky skin. If dry, flaky skin is left untreated, it can cause premature wrinkles and signs of aging. For this reason, aromatherapy is useful for keeping skin youthful, hydrated and balanced, and will also improve more serious skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Many essential oils provide anti-inflammatory benefits to reduce dryness and irritation and soothe red, rough skin.
4. Relieves chronic asthma. If you have difficulty with constant wheezing and coughing caused by asthma, when used judiciously and under professional care, aromatherapy can often rid asthmatic lungs of irritation. Wheezing is caused by pushing air through inflamed bronchial tubes, often triggering an asthma attack. Professional aromatherapy treatment can provide asthma relief between these attacks by rubbing antihistamine and decongestant essential oils, such as ginger and peppermint, directly on the chest.
5. Treats nausea and stomach problems. If you suffer from constant digestive problems, such as stomach pain, intestinal gas, burping and nausea, all of the above can be quickly relieved with aromatherapy. In fact, the use of essential oils for stomach problems in children is a useful home remedy for any young child who has difficulty swallowing medication. Aromatherapy targets the first stage of digestion by signaling to the brain that food is on its way to create the immediate response of flowing digestive juices to relieve a host of stomach issues. Aromatherapy also provides the added benefit of relieving general stress and anxiety, which is often the cause of nausea and an upset stomach.
6. Reduce PMS symptoms. PMS is something many women struggle with on a monthly basis, and it can often cause a number of emotional and physical problems. PMS symptoms vary individually from woman to woman, and if you have very severe symptoms at the time of your period, aromatherapy may be the perfect answer. Taking an aromatic bath or getting a massage with essential oils is helpful in reducing symptoms such as depression, mood swings, irritability, and even swelling and tenderness.
7. Get rid of a bladder infection. Bladder infections are more common than you think, especially in women. Fortunately, aromatherapy provides several essential oils to address this problem, including sandalwood, chamomile, tea tree, and juniper berry. However, it is important to use trained aromatherapy techniques for this treatment because dealing with too much juniper berry could cause kidney irritation if administered incorrectly. A bladder infection can be quickly treated with aromatherapy by applying essential oils in a compress to the bladder or by taking an aromatherapy bath scented with essential oils.
As you can see, aromatherapy is a legitimate and effective alternative healing therapy. If you are struggling with any of the above issues and are fed up with taking medication or using other forms of treatment, aromatherapy offers a gentle substitute that will alleviate many ailments and concerns. Even more importantly, all the benefits of using aromatherapy listed above are just the beginning, as aromatherapy has been shown to treat countless physical and emotional issues.
It is very important to have legitimate training in the use of aromatherapy, as improper use of some essential oils could cause illness or irritation. Perhaps the easiest way to benefit from aromatherapy is in the form of a massage or bath, which will also provide you with a multitude of relaxation benefits. If you’re new to aromatherapy, you might first try an aromatherapy massage from a masseuse, who will integrate specific essential oils to address any physical or emotional issues you may be struggling with. On top of that, you’ll receive the anti-stress benefits of massage to relax muscles, improve circulation, and remove dangerous toxins from your body.
Aromatherapy is a versatile and easy-to-use form of healing that offers a long list of home remedies to maintain your health without paying for expensive medications or doctor’s visits. Plus, aromatherapy will also give you the much-needed stress relief you’ve been looking for to relax and improve your health from the inside out.