What is aromatherapy?
It’s is a healing art that treats physical (and emotional) problems with essential oils. The oils can be either inhaled or massaged into the skin. In addition, aromatherapy begins with the premise that a healthy body wants to stay in balance.
Aromatherapy is based on the usage of aromatic materials, including essential oils, and other aroma compounds, with claims for improving psychological or physical well-being.
Overview.
Aromatherapy is the use of organic compounds to improve your mood, mental state, or health. Those organic compounds are called essential oils. They’re made from various plant parts, such as roots, seeds, leaves, and blossoms. They can be used alone or blended to create different combinations.
The history.
The history of aromatherapy begins over 3500 years BC. Aromatics were at the time for religious purposes, perfume, and medicine. The actual term “aromatherapy” was invented by the French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse in 1935 after a burn incident, he claimed he treated it effectively with lavender essential oil.
The Egyptians and Greeks used essential oils for ritual and healing purposes, as did the Chinese and Indians. The effect of perfumes on the human body and early forms of aromatherapy were already known in Ancient Egypt.
The actual term “aromatherapy” was invented by the French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse in 1935 after a burn incident, he claimed he treated it effectively with lavender essential oil.
The usage.
The theory behind aromatherapy is that each essential oil has properties that give health benefits. Some essential oils are thought to: have an anti-inflammatory effect which may help with arthritis and muscular pain. help to fight off infection. help with sleeping problems and lessen anxiety.
Aromatherapy is normally used through inhalation or as a topical application. Inhalation: the oils evaporate into the air using a diffuser container, spray, or oil droplets, or breathed in, for example, in a steam bath.
Inhaling essential oils is one of the easiest ways to practice aromatherapy and it is the most popular way as well. Inhalation can include letting the oils evaporate in an oil diffuser, by spraying the oils, inhaling oil droplets of the oils, or even breathing them in through different ways such as a steam bath.
Once Aromas are registered, scent travels faster to the brain than both sight or sound. Aromas can trigger emotional and even physical responses and allow vivid memory recall of people and places. Think of a time a smell has reminded you of something… Maybe your favourite place, a loved one or even a childhood memory.
Aromatherapy benefits
- Manage pain.
- Improve sleep quality.
- Reduce stress, agitation, and anxiety.
- Soothe sore joints.
- Treat headaches and migraines.
- Alleviate side effects of chemotherapy.
- Ease discomforts of labor.
- Fight bacteria, virus, or fungus.
However, some studies have shown that aromatherapy might have health benefits, including: Relief from anxiety and depression. Improved quality of life, particularly for people with chronic health conditions. Improved sleep.
How to use essential oils for sleep
Inhaling.
The most common method of using essential oils is inhaling, which is usually done using a diffuser. …
Direct application to the skin.
When applied in this manner, the body can absorb the molecules as the permeate through the skin. …
Ingesting.
The conclusion.
Although research has shown that aromatherapy may help relieve anxiety, it’s no substitute for seeing a healthcare professional. If you have a stressful day at work or you’re anxious because you have an important appointment, an aromatherapy session or two might be just what you need.
Clinical aromatherapy is an alternative medicine therapy that can be beneficial in the inpatient or outpatient setting for symptom management for pain, nausea, general well-being, anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia. It is beneficial for preoperative anxiety, oncology, palliative care, hospice, and end of life.