Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Aromatherapy Essential Oils

By Lee Dobbins


Aromatherapy uses aroma or smells to heal and invoke a certain mood. What makes the smell is something called essential oils. These oils are actually oils that are extracted from plants and they have been used for centuries in all kinds of natural healing including aromatherapy.

The sense of smell can be one of the most interesting and odd effects on your body. Your sense of smell comes from olfactory nerves which are located on your nose forms a response to your brain which is called the Limbic system which control your memory. An example of how this works, when someone remembers a homemade meal that your mother have made, and now every time it is cooked you can remember the smell whether it is good or bad.

You can either inhale the essential oils used in aromatherapy, or apply them directly to the skin. They will be absorbed and can have health effects as well as perfuming your skin. Essential oils can also be used in massage oils, lotions, and other skin products.

There are many different aromatherapy techniques that you can do at home. With a wide variety of oils you can buy your own oils or you can mix different types of oils together. Thanks to aromatherapy, you can now relieve stress and relax at the privacy of your own home.

Aromatherapy can even be an alternative to prescription medicines when used along with your doctors permission. They are typically safe although if you are allergic to a certain plant you will probably be allergic to the essential oils from that plant. Also since essential oils are highly concentrated you want to dilute them before using them on your skin or you could have adverse side effects from too much being absorbed into your blood at once, conjunction with your doctors advice of course.

Aromatherapy essential oils work at treating minor problems and may be good for improving one's immune system too. They may help to relieve everything from menstrual cramps to joint pain and may even improve one's skin tone. Use them to help make circulation better, reduce dandruff, eliminate headaches, and even sleep better.

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