What is Aromatherapy and Does it Work?

Posted: Jan 14, 2011 |Comments: 0 |

Smell is the ability for us to perceive odors within our environment. An odor can revive a memory, give us a feeling, remind us of a person, place or thing, or even enhance our mood. This is why aromatherapy has been introduced as an alternative medicine to be used with or without other modalities to enhance both psychological and physical benefits to the body. Aromatherapy uses naturally extracted aromatic essences or oils from plants such as flowers, bark, stems, and leaves to improve physical and emotional health, and to restore balance to the whole person. Essential oils can benefit the mind, mood, cognitive function and overall health.

Aromatherapy has been around for thousands of years dating back to antiquity. Then dried plant materials were infused into fatty oil, heated and then filtered. In addition to the potent odor, these oils were thought to have medicinal healing properties. This is not entirely inaccurate especially since some of the essential oils used today have antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties. During the time of the Crusades essential oils were being distilled and used as medicine. The Crusades are what is thought to have moved essential oils from India, China and Egypt westward. In the 16th and 17th centuries aromatherapy became popular with European herbalists. In 1907 Scientists and doctors began studying the components of essential oils and determining the individual plant chemistry.  By 1937 a French book was written on aromatherapy and by World War II Dr Jean Valnet used essential oils as an antiseptic to treat wounded soldiers. By 1950 Marguerite Maury an Austrian beauty therapist introduced essential oils into her massage therapy practice. She went on to establish the first aromatherapy clinics in Britain, France, and Switzerland.

Aromatherapy is a natural, non-invasive therapy designed to affect the whole body and person. The art and science of aromatherapy involves not only the aroma of specific plant oils to treat the mind and body, but by applying the essential oils directly to the skin, the oil can be absorbed into the bloodstream to alter the body chemistry, support the body systems, and improve moods and emotion. Therefore aromatherapy does not just treat a symptom or disease, it assists the body in its natural ability to balance, regulate, health and maintain itself.  Overall aromatherapy promotes the health of the body, mind and spirit.

Aromatherapy can be used in three different modes- aerial diffusion, direct inhalation and topical application. When used in conjunction with other modalities the therapeutic potential increases. Aerial diffusion enhances ones environmental fragrance while disinfecting the air as well. Direct inhalation works to disinfect the respiratory system by decreasing congestion, enabling expectoration in addition to psychologically enhancing ones mood, energy and mind. The benefits of direct inhalation include stimulating brain function, uplifting, stimulating the immune system, relaxation and mood enhancement. Topical application can be done through massage, baths, compresses, and therapeutic skin care. Through this method a patient can see a reduction in tension, and pain, while promoting healthy circulation and restoring balance.

Although the efficacy of aromatherapy has not scientifically been proven herbalists, aroma therapists and massage therapists have long used it on their patients. The benefits that patients have demonstrated include pain relief, anxiety reduction, enhanced energy, increased short-term memory, relaxation, hair loss prevention, reduced itching, clarity of mind and mood enhancement. Aromatherapy benefits the person as a whole rather than treating a symptom or illness. The mechanism behind aromatherapy is not fully understood however; the influence of aromas on the brain especially in the limbic system through the olfactory system is thought to produce the desired benefits. Additionally the essential oil constituents (naturally occurring chemicals) have positive effects upon the body. When used correctly aromatherapy is subtle but effective.

Questions and Answers

Ask
200 Characters left
Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    Print
    Re-Publish
    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/what-is-aromatherapy-and-does-it-work-4039543.html

    Article Tags:

    aromatherapy

    ,

    essential oil

    ,

    essential oils

    ,

    aromatherapy products

    ,

    aromatherapy oils

    ,

    aromatherapy benefits

    ,

    aromatherapy oil

    ,

    aromatherapy scents

    ,

    what is aromatherapy

    ,

    aromatherapy essential oil

    ,

    history of aromatherapy

    ,

    aromatherapy essential oils

    Calamus Pure Therapeutic Essential oils is used for nervous complaints, vertigo, headaches, and dysentery. This essential oil is much used in herbal medicine as an aromatic bitter.

    By: essential oil exportersl Beauty> Cosmeticsl Jul 15, 2011
    Joe Cinova

    Today, people understand the benefits of aromatherapy for health and wellness reasons more than ever. For years these were specialty products found in very few places outside of a health and beauty store. Now they are found everywhere with people gaining more knowledge and uses for the products on a daily basis.

    By: Joe Cinoval Health> Wellnessl Dec 14, 2009

    Aromatherapy is the alternative field of medicine to prevent or treat diseases. Many medicinal herbs are employed in the aromatherapy such as Citrus bergamia, Citronella, Boswellia carteri, Juniperus communis etc. Aromatherapy is used to treat various diseasea like bronchitis, fatigue, migraines, cystitis, cold and flu and encourages emotional peace and calm with a gently calming effect on mind and body.

    By: Sonia Singh l Health> Alternative Medicinel Sep 18, 2008 lViews: 461

    Advantage of soy aromatherapy candles and their health benefit.

    By: Jennifer Kaysl Healthl Nov 26, 2007

    Learn all about Clary and Dalmation Sage essential oil! They have similarities but differ chemically and aromatically. Discover their origin, healthful benefits and variety of uses! Learn the other essential oils that blend well with sage oil! This is, especially, important when making your own homemade skin, hair and scalp formulations! There are warnings to heed when using sage oil and other essential oils, in general!

    By: Susan Katchurl Health> Wellnessl Jul 27, 2011
    Sarah Labdar

    Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years as medicines with healing properties. However, now a days we know a lot more about the different types of essential oils and how they can be used to improve physical and emotional health and restore balance to the whole body. Aromatherapy is an alternative medicine that is categorized under herbal medicine. Unlike herbal medicine, aromatherapy herbs are not taken internally; rather essential oils are inhaled or applied to the skin.

    By: Sarah Labdarl Health> Alternative Medicinel Jan 14, 2011

    In Neuro-scientific medicine, applied studies more popularly generally known as translational research. It aims to supply plausible diagnostic, preventive or treatment strategies. This research practice is anticipated to create technologies, drugs and methods aimed at prevention and treatments for diseases

    By: Terry Dancerl Health> Alternative Medicinel May 26, 2012
    Jonathan Berns, DC

    Sports tape, elastic therapeutic tape or athletic tape is a strip of cotton with acrylic adhesive used for treating injuries related to sports, athletics as well as other physical disorders. It is porous, non-elastic and lightweight but it also has a high tensile strength which makes it ideal for giving compression and firm support for the body.

    By: Jonathan Berns, DCl Health> Alternative Medicinel May 25, 2012
    codeblackincense

    Every time I stroll through a herbal or scented garden, I'm entranced by the way it calms my stress and relaxes my anxious mind. It's almost as if Nature laid the plants out especially for me. Parks and gardens are as old as civilization itself. In fact, even Adam and Eve are said to have had their own garden to explore.

    By: codeblackincensel Health> Alternative Medicinel May 23, 2012

    Ma Huang is also known as ephedra. The acrid, slightly bitter and warm herb has been used in TCM to promote urination and sweating, and rid of cold, sooth wheezing asthma, etc. as it calms dyspnea, asthma, cough, etc., by enhancing the functions of lung and bladder channels.

    By: Kyle J. Nortonl Health> Alternative Medicinel May 22, 2012

    Melatonin with valerian is considered to be a top notch pill which can surely assist a lot in getting rid of various sleep disorders and it is primarily utilized for better sleep when you are going through insomnia. Sleep is very important and one should get a proper sleep every night in order to stay perfectly alright in all perspectives. Life can surely excel in a better way if a good and healthy sleep is attained every day though people who are unable to get it on regular basis have to go thr

    By: dollerman32l Health> Alternative Medicinel May 22, 2012
    Sarah Labdar

    Millions of people are affected by allergies a year. Everyone who has allergies experiences different symptoms congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sniffling, coughing, red, itchy eyes, and swelling. Depending upon your symptoms will determine your treatment plan. There are several types of treatments available, alternative, home remedies, over the counter medicines and prescription medications. Not every treatment will work for everyone.

    By: Sarah Labdarl Health> Medicinel May 20, 2012
    Sarah Labdar

    Beautify your skin from the inside and the outside. Anti aging is best fought on two fronts, the outside through our skin and the inside on a cellular level. Aging occurs due to free radicals which damage our cells and cause fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, dark spots, and broken veins. Free radicals are caused by exercise, smoke, stress or even the metabolism of our food into energy. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals preventing damage to all the cells in the body including our skin.

    By: Sarah Labdarl Health> Anti Agingl May 08, 2012
    Sarah Labdar

    Split ends can be a girl's worst nightmare. Split ends can be caused by a normal everyday hair care routine that includes blow drying, flat ironing, or curling ironing hair, but coloring, perming, or professionally treating your hair can also cause them. Even the weather can cause hair to frizz up allowing hair to split at the ends. Split ends describe the feathering, splitting or fraying of the hair shaft due to excessive heat or mechanical stress.

    By: Sarah Labdarl Beauty> Hairl May 07, 2012
    Sarah Labdar

    As we get older the signs of aging creep up on our face with sagging jowls, forehead wrinkles, crows feet, brow lines, sagging eyelids, etc. Do you want to erase these signs of aging? Some cover up the wrinkles with makeup tricks, others pay big bucks to remove these lines professionally, and still more use crease smoothing at home tips. Whatever you choose as your anti aging solution know the products and how to use them.

    By: Sarah Labdarl Beauty> Skin Carel May 07, 2012
    Sarah Labdar

    Stress is one of the leading factors, which leads to health related problems in the 21st century. The economy, your job, family, finances, and even your health can cause one to have stress. When we encounter stress our bodies release chemical hormones, which flood our blood stream causing chemical reactions to determine how we react next. When these hormones overload our bodies because they are continuing to be released due to high stress situations they can have a negative effect on the body.

    By: Sarah Labdarl Health> Wellnessl May 01, 2012

    Discuss this Article

    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    Quantcast