Herbal medicine has a branch that uses vital oils from plants and herbs called aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a form of alternative treatment therapy. It dates back to ancient times and has been practiced by Egyptians, Italians, Chinese and Indians. Aromatherapy is widely practiced in Europe and North America in today’s times apart from China and India. It is a kind of holistic treatment that at times incorporates the usage of necessary oils along with massages, candles and other calming products.

Rene Gattefosse who was a French chemist named this treatment aromatherapy in 1937. He himself was truly amazed by how lavender oil healed burnt skin.

How does aromatherapy work? The unique effects of the essential oils that include antiviral, antibacterial, diuretic, vasodilator, tranquilizing and stimulating are believed to have an effect on practically every organ in our body. You can use the oils in one of 3 ways: oral consumption, topical application and inhalation.

Aromatherapy involves oral use of necessary oils that work towards infusing well being and health in the body. You must always remember an important point here that such oils should never be consumed orally without any medical supervision or guidance.

Aromatherapy through inhalation of essential oils is the fastest acting of all the methods. There has been extensive research conducted to show that the most acute sense, the sense of smell has a very powerful influence on the mind and body. The scent from the oil activates the olfactory nerve cells inside the nasal cavity, which sends impulses to the part of the brain which deals with memory and emotions.

Both, the physical and emotional aspects of the body get affected by aromatherapy. For instance you may have noted some time how the smell of peppermint or lemon invocates pleasant memories in your system and then you start feeling better on the emotional level. Aromatherapy works on the physical aspect by stimulating circulatory, nervous and immune systems of you body and gives you relief from stress.

The people who minister the aromatherapy treatments are called aromatherapists. They use only the purest, most natural forms of essential oils with true medicinal properties. Your perfumed bath oils and shampoos do not fall into this category.

Though rarely used as the major system of therapy, aromatherapy can be very effective when it is combined with other forms of treatments. Like herbalist treatments and massage therapy make use of various essential oils for their medical systems.

When you choose aromatherapy for healing you must inform your aromatherapist about your stress, medical history and any factor that affects your life. Proper explanation should be given as to the reason for your seeking aromatherapy. These details will help your therapist to have a better understanding of your problems and give treatment accordingly.

Some precautions to be adhered to are:

All essential oils need not be good for pregnant women.

The oil must always be tested first on a small spot of the skin to see if it causes any allergic reactions like a spot near the elbow. It will take 24 hours to know if it causes any allergies. After this you have to mix carrier oils, maybe sunflower oil with the concentrated oil and then apply on the skin. Lastly use a band-aid to tape it.

There are many reasons to use aromatherapy as a means to aid in the healing or uplifting one’s mood: http://www.aromatherapy2day.info .

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