What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is derived from two words: “Aroma”, which means fragrance, and “Therapy” meaning treatment. It has been used by China, Egypt and India since 6,000 years ago.
Aromatherapy is the inhalation and application of volatile essential oils from aromatic plants to promote and enhance health, beauty and well-being. Aromatherapy, by its basic intention, is to bring together the scientific achievements of man with his intuitive understanding for the treatment of illness with the most effective and useful natural essential oils. A basic principle of Aromatherapy is to strengthen the self-healing processes by indirect stimulation of the immune system. The field of activity is ranging from deep and penetrating therapeutic actions to the extreme subtlety of unique fragrance. Simply put, essential oils can be used to enhance health as well as the quality of life. Aromatherapy is an ancient yet timely and stunningly modern approach to total well-being that is in tune with nature.
Aromatherapy is a holistic therapy, which takes into account the beneficial effect it has on the body, mind and spirit. The idea behind aromatherapy is, first, to find scents which are unique for each individual, that evoke positive sensory feelings and emotions, and then introduce these scents into our everyday life to enhance holistic well-being.
Although aromatherapy should not be considered a miracle cure for serious emotional issues, the use of essential oils may assist, sometimes greatly, with particular emotion issues.
Why Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is a way to improve the physical, emotional and spiritual level towards a better quality of life.
The study of aromatherapy may best be considered in these four areas of application:
Aesthetic – the essential oil’s effects on the beauty of skin and hair.
Psycho – the aromatic effects on our moods and feeling; also known as aromachology.
Holistic – the integration of the divine into the body, mind and spirit.
Medical – the effects essential oils have in enhancing and maintaining a state of homeostasis.
Natural scents keep us connected to the earth, sparking pleasant memories and emotions. Their purposes encompass both the physical aspects such as relaxation of muscles through massage to the emotional aspects of uplifting moods. On a spiritual level, essential oils are beneficial for meditation and general feeling of well-being.
Benefits of Aromatherapy
It is known to help depression, frustration, grief, hysteria, anxiety, insomnia and even poor memory. Its medical benefits include alleviating fatigue, respiratory conditions including colds, flus, sore throat, asthma and bronchitis. More importantly, aromatherapy purifies the air, improving air quality.
The essential oils enter into our body via the respiratory system and circulation system. These oils will then trigger our body self-healing mechanism and immunity system to strengthen itself both physically and mentally.
-Clearing the pollutants of air: carbon monoxide, fungi, mite, second-hand smoke. As we know, prolonged exposure to toxic in polluted air causes illness.
-Bearing oxygen, sterilizing, deodorizing, increasing immune system and promoting metabolism.
-Mental stress produces free radicals in the body which cause disease and affect our health. Aromatherapy enabling you to enjoy a stress-free environment at your home or office.
The Practice of Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses pure essential oils, extracted from many parts of the plant.
It is not about “nice fragrances” but rather it is a complete system of healing which, when properly used, helps to relax, re-establish “homeostasis”, or harmony, in the body and to achieve a state of equilibrium whilst promoting and maintaining good health and vitality.
The aroma of essential oil would trigger the release of neuro chemicals in the brain which may be relaxing, stimulating or euphoric in effect, depending on the properties of each essential oils.
