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How Aromatherapy Benefits Your Health

By Anna Stenning

Going for a massage or experiencing a luxurious aromatherapy bath is something most people enjoy, because of their natural healing effects and great smelling fragrances. 

Aromatherapy oils have been around for over 3,000 years, with perfumed water and fragrant wax being the first kinds of early perfumes. These have also been believed to have had healing powers and properties for minor ailments and health conditions.

Aromatherapy itself has been around for approximately 6,000 years or more, dating back to the ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans. Imhotep, an Egyptian physician had used aromatherapy oils and fragrance waters for bathing and healing purposes. The oils were also used for embalming dead bodies.

The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, had used aromatherapy fragrances and oils to rid Athens from the plague, through aromatherapy fumigation in the air. He would also often recommend herbal baths and aromatherapy treatments to heal the sick and promote general cleanliness. 

The Romans would use the oils and aromatherapy fragrances for their public bathhouses. Often the rich and wealthy were privileged enough to use these fragrances to keep the body perfumed well.

Aromatherapy, unlike essential oils were seen as a luxury and used for cosmetic purposes. Essential oils were used mainly for health and medicinal purposes. However, aromatherapy has also played a very important part in improving the health, which essential oils are always used for aromatherapy.

The French chemist in 1920, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, first coined this term. In the incident whereby he had, accidently caught his arm on fire; he had reacted by immersing it very quickly into a vat of cold lavender oil.

To his surprise his arm had healed very quickly without any residual scars, thus his decision to practise aromatherapy to treat gangrene during the First World War had begun. Over the years this became more widely appreciated and many more people adopted the aromatherapy healing techniques.

Aromatherapy oils are commonly used for use in massage and treating small ailments. The word 'aromatherapy' derives from the words 'aroma' meaning smell and 'therapy' meaning healing or treating. Aromatherapy now is used more in spa treatment and beauty products.

Many sceptics have disputed the use of aromatherapy oils and its healing properties. What many are unaware of is that these were the first known uses of medicine, when antibiotics and prescription drugs were not created.

These were the only method of treating minor and serious illnesses, often these consisted of continual use to feel the effects of its healing properties. Some essential oils have proven to work well with certain skin and hair conditions, in which many cosmetic and beauty products use them for its affective results.

Herbal remedies such as Lavender oil, Chamomile, Peppermint, and Almond Oils have been commonly added to various products. Eucalyptus, Fennel and Peppermint are still in wide use for relieving common colds and flues. 

These are also good properties for treating stomach discomfort and headaches. Fragranced oils are still available for use of perfuming the body; however, these have developed into water and alcohol based perfumes, which are extremely popular amongst famous designers.

Many street brand products have also accommodated the natural benefits of using aromatherapy oils for skin care and general well-being. 

The idea that the smell of a fragrant herb or flower is good for health and relaxation has continued to stay strong in the consumer product industry and is evident in many celebrity endorsed products. This is something that will continue to live on as a basic healing component and play a strong part in health well-being.

Anna Stenning is an expert on aromatherapy oils as she believes that these simple and basic herbs work well for improving health.

Article source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/129074/how-aromatherapy-benefits-your-health.htm



 Aromatherapy Benefits

Submitted by Sona Tandon

There are many aromatherapy benefits and the use of scent for healing body, mind and sprit goes back to ancient times. Some of us may remember the smell of camphor that filled the room, as Grandma's remedy to protect us against winter colds, or the smell of mustard used in the paste that heated our bodies and chased congestion from our chest.

Aromatherapy has the ability to address treatment on more than one level. It is used to relieve the symptoms of an ailment, and is used as a catalyst to spur on the body's own natural defences. An Aromatherapy massage, either as a self treatment or working with the partner, is a simple, extremely effective way to unwind at the end of the day.

The techniques are very safe and easy to use. They are mainly long,smooth, stroking movements, done with the flat palms, fingers, thumbs,and sometimes the forearms, working on bare skin. This technique combines the senses of touch and smell to give a relaxing, calming treatment.

Aromatherapy is applied through two ways. Inhalation and External Application. In Inhalation therapy, methods used are oil diffusers, potpourri cookers and incense burners. External Application is accomplished through the use of perfumed oils and waters,through fragrant baths or in combination with massage therapy.

Essential oils used in aromatherapy benefits is manufactured from the oil contained within a plant or flower, the essence of the entity. There are five different methods employed to extract the essential oil. These are enfleurage, maceration, evaporation, expression, and distillation.

-Aromatherapy stimulates the natural immune system,strengthens the resistance to infections and alleviate the pain and suffering of the ailment.

-It helps in digestion, by releiving constipation and abdominal disorders.

-It helps in improving the respiratory system, helps in coughs, colds, tonsilitis and sinusitis.

-By improving the blood circulation, it helps to eliminate cellulite and toxins from the body and reduces inflammation.

-Aromatherapy massage eases the muscular pains and aches and helps in relaxing muscles.

-Aromatherapy lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, improves sleep and help in combating stress relating disorders. It also helps in releiving tension headaches, anxiety and mild depression.

-Some essential oils are very good skin care agents, they are used in healing athlete's foot, cold sores, ringworms, scabies, and also improves skin tones.

-Some oils are used in hair and scalp massage to improve the circulation in scalp. thus preventing dandruff and promote healthy looking hair and hair growth.

-It is also used to regulate hormones, and is very helpfull in women's problems- it releives menstrual cramps, Pms , and menopausal distress.

-It helps to restore balance in the body and induce feeling of deep relaxation in the body.

-It helps in headaches, migraines , toothaches etc.

Essential oils used have a wide range of effects and aromatherapy benefits. Some essential oils and their aromatherapy benefits are-

Amber- General wellness, physical maintenance

Apple- Stimulant, general well being, tonic, helps allay hypochondria

Bay- Tonic, stimulant ,disinfectant

Bergamot(irritant oil)- Aids digestion, anti spasmodic,carminative, stimulant, anti depressant, antiseptic, sedative, expectorant, vulnerary.

Camphor(irritant oil)- Analgesic, antidepressant, antiseptic, antospasmodic, carminative, diuretic, hypertensive,laxative, sedative,vulnerary. Camphor also has some application as a stimulant- to kick start the digestive and respiratory systems and pick up the heart rate.

Cinnamon- General tonic, aphoradisiac

Civet- To remedy frigidity and female sexual disorders.

Cyclamen- Used for treatment of nervous disordersas well as to expel excess fluid from the system.May be used to dry congestion or releiving bloating. It is a blood purifier and also releif insomnia, migraine, headaches, coughs, and bronchitis.

Elderberry- General well being, stimulant, blood purifier.

Jasmine- Antidepressant, ap-hrodisiac, insomnia.

Lilac- Sedative, lessens anxiety.

Mirrh(irritant oil)- Menstruation, earinfections, general health.

Patchouli- Antidepressant, antiseptic, sedative, tonic, may also be useful in the clearing and healing of skin disorders.

Rose- Calming

Vanilla- Releives melancholy, insecurity

Violet- A calmimg , opening effect; may be used to aid extreme introverts.

Vetivert- Reduces anxiety, helps to releive obsessions, mild sedative effect

Wintergreen(irritant oil)- Used to releive muscle pain and as a catalyst for general mental and physical wellness.

As you can see, there quite a few aromatherapy benefits that are worth exploring.


Sona Tandon provides aromatherapy benefits information for healing at home. For alternative medicine solutions, visit Alternative-Medicine-at-Home.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com/health/alternative/discover-the-various-aromatherapy-benefits.html

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