Aromatherapy for Relaxation and Stress Relief Free Essay Example

Therapy is the treatment of any physical or mental disorder by medical or physical means, usually excluding surgery. So we can say that Aromatherapy is therapeutic mentally and physical. Aroma derived from Latin and Therapy from the French work therapie how confusing is that.

False Assumption: * Aromatherapy implies that anything that is aromatic and smells good is considered healing or therapeutic Holistic Aromatherapy is the formal name and a serious field of study and practice which uses pure essential oils and other natural ingredients, that are safe when use correctly.

Your favorite designer fragrance can stir your emotions with spouse/romantic partner sense of smell and those you come in contact with and even your favorite fragrance candle. Heavily fragranced candle if made from paraffin wax is dispersing toxins in the air. These are temporary sense of calm. Aromatherapy uses only natural healing ingredients. * Aromatherapy implies that it uses essential oils solely for the particular aroma and emotional effect that they deliver.

Aromatherapy goes far beyond us of just inhaling even though inhaling does have a psychological and mood altering benefits.

But the practice also heavily emphasizes the safe us of essential oils in skin care, hair care, and wound care and in helping to prevent and help care for illnesses such as colds and flu. Example: Lavender Essential Oil – relaxes, ease stress, calms the mind, promote sleep, help combat headaches and dizziness, and can help speed the healing of burns. Aromatherapy uses volatile plant oils and herbs which includes essential oils, for psychological and physical well being.

Essential oils are the pure essence of a plant that can be both have psychological and physical benefits when used correctly and safely.

Essential oil is a blanket term to include all natural, aromatic, volatile and plant oils. Aromatherapy encourages the use of other complementary natural ingredients such as cold pressed vegetable oils, jojoba, hydrosois, herbs, milk powders, sea salt, clays and mud. Fragrance oils are not the same as essential oils. Fragrance oils and perfume oils contain synthetic chemicals and have temporary therapeutic benefits and are not harmful. The United States does not regulate the use of the word aromatherapy on packaging. You must look at the ingredient label when buying true aromatherapy products.

Because a product states that it is made with Essential Oils or made with Natural Ingredients may have synthetic fragrance oils and little essential oil. By exploring the Web you can learn how to safely buy and use essential oils. You could also learn how to make your own aromatherapy products. Safety Information Essential oils should never be used undiluted on the skin. Lavender and tea tree are oils that can be use undiluted (neat), but a trained aromatherapy practitioner should be consulted. Always do skin patch test on small areas of the skin, some oils can cause sensitization or allergic reactions in some individuals.

Some oils should be avoided during pregnancy or by those with asthma, epilepsy, or with other health conditions. A seek qualified aromatherapy practitioner in your area for guidance. Less is more, if one drop will get the job done, for example , do not use two drops. Oils not suitable for use in aromatherapy are wormwood, pennyroyal, onion, camphor, horseradish, wintergreen, rue, bitter almond and sassafras should only be use by a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Essential oils should be kept away from children, unless adult is presence and is knowledgeable about use.

Essential oils should not be taken internally and are flammable Just a reminder that if not use correctly and safely, essential oils can have a severe consequences. The Benefits: Inhaling Essential Oils Inhaling the oils can have psychological and physical benefits. Its can stimulates natural occurring chemicals in the brain that trigger a reaction of a therapeutic benefit. A prominent example is eucalyptus essential oil helps to ease congestion. Physical Application When diluted and applied to the skin essentials oils are absorbed into the bloodstream, which can aid in your health, beauty and hygiene conditions.

Other Benefits Other applications essential oils can be use are household (air freshener), laundry cleaner, insect repellent and pesticide. Essential oil blended together for a specific therapeutic purpose in mind is call essential oil syngery. When purchasing aromatherapy products, remember that not all are pure and natural. The artificial aromatherapy ingredients provide only a fraction of the benefit of natural and again are not harmful. You must read the ingredients on the label to make sure that the product does not contain fragrance oils or impure (chemicals).

History of Aromatherapy The first culture to use aromatic plants for well-being was the Chinese, which practice burning incense to help create harmony and balance. Then Egyptians invented a machine that allowed for the crude extraction of cedar wood oil. They used oils of cedar wood, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and myrrh to embalm the dead. When Egyptian tombs was open in the early 20th century traces of herbs were discovered and the faint scent of oils. Oil and herbs were also use for spiritual, medicinal, fragrant and cosmetic. Egyptians may have coined the term perfume, from Latin which means through the smoke.

The Egyptian men would place a solid cone of perfume on their heads, which gradually melt and would cover their body in fragrance. The Greeks learned from the Egyptians. According to the Greeks the gift and knowledge of perfumes came from the gods. The father of medicine (Hippocrates) fumigated both aromatic and medicinal. A perfume (Medallion) was created by a Greek with myrrh for its aroma, anti inflammatory properties toward skin and it also heal wounds During the Roman Empire a book was published that described the properties of approximately 500 plants.

Up to this point distillers used a straight cooling pipe, extracting aromatic floral waters and essential oils. During the 11th century the coiled cooling pipe was invented by a Persian. Between the 12th and 20th century: * Lavender was discovered for it medicinal properties * Herbs and some perfumers fought off the Black Death * Women had special bottles made to hold their perfume A French chemist burned his arm rather badly. He plunged his arm into the closest liquid a large container of lavender essential oil. The burn healed quickly and left no scar. This lead to his ongoing study of essential oils.

There has been discussion of the name of Aromatherapy to be renamed. But would it be? Since Aromatherapy is use so loosely using the phrase holistic aromatherapy is use by those who are intimately familiar with the history and intended definition of the term aromatherapy. As you see men have been involved with Aromatherapy for centuries. There are aromatherapy Products just for men, Colognes and after shaves that just don’t leave them smelling good the right oils can also improve their skin. Some men like to take baths also, if they are more of a shower man then let the shower water get hot, sprinkle 2-3 drops on the sides of the shower.

Men also enjoy massages, burning incense and candles. Education There are many ways of educating one’s self: Self Study, Local Classes, Seminars Apprentice Work Aromatherapy Books, Comprehensive Aromatherapy Programs and via Distance Learning and Networking Aromatherapy Emotional Well-Being Aromatherapy should not be a miracle cure for serious emotional issues. Essential oils may assist, with particular emotional issues and emotional states. Proper use of essentials oils may enhance your emotional outlook, provide support and help balance your emotions during the day.

When you think of aromatherapy you think of essential oils for emotional well-being. Essential oils evaporate quickly, their molecules are easily inhaled, and the sense of smell triggers the chemicals to the brain. These triggers effect our emotions also provide physical benefit which may work together for our emotional state. Orange Oil smell provides emotional balance and positive outlook. Winter blues occur in the colder, grayer times of the year, sweet orange oil alone or blended is wonderful to use. The orange oil is and inexpensive essential oils that blend nicely with many oils, it is also one of the safer essential oils to use.