What Is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy treatment guide

Aromatherapy is the art of using highly concentrated plant extracts on their own or in blended mixtures to enrich one's physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

There are over 90 aromatherapy oils and mixtures one can choose from.

Each is used in conjunction with other natural ingredients to make aromatherapy candles, smudges, sprays, lotions, aromatherapy massage oils and bath tonics. While the art is very popular and easy to enjoy, not everyone should be making their own products. There are many things one should know before jumping into making personal aromatherapy treatments at home.

Aromatherapy oils have been around for thousands of years having been used by the Egyptians and Chinese prior to their introduction to the western world. The Benefits When you inhale certain aromatherapy oils, they can trigger chemicals that help you breath, relax, or simply just feel better.

Even the smells in our daily life such as a burning fire, foods, and other odors, can affect the way we feel. Using aromatherapy oils on the skin offers direct and safe contact with the oils promoting absorption into the blood stream.

This allows the oils to be used by the body in order to treat the ailment they are being used for. Aromatherapy has other benefits that are not so widely known. Some oils make great natural pesticides without containing harmful chemicals.

There are also many other benefits that one can have both physically, emotionally, and spiritually when using aroma as a means of therapy.

What To Look For In Aromatherapy Oils

Not every aromatherapy product can be used therapeutically. Genuine therapeutic products are made with all pure essential oils and all natural ingredients. There are seldom chemicals or artificial fragrances in the mixture. Always make sure that you read the label carefully when you are buying essential oils or other aroma products as this will tell you if what you are getting is a therapeutically sound product or not.

Due to the volatile nature of aromatherapy essential oils, they will and should always come in a black colored glass bottle that is UV resistant. This helps to keep the oils fresh and from oxidizing too quickly. Be certain that the company has stored each bottle in a cool dry place as well.

Sitting on a store shelf in the blazing heat of florescent lighting is not the ideal situation for these essential oils. Most reputable sellers will have them in specially made wooden boxes on a display away from the intense lighting.

The last thing you need to look for is the instruction label on the aromatherapy essential oils or mixtures that you select. The reason is that most oils come highly concentrated and will need mixing with a "carrier oil" before they can be used for aromatherapy.

Find out more about aromatherapy here: Essential Oils, Aromatherapy Candles, Aromatherapy Soaps, Aromatherapy Books, Aromatherapy Recipes, Aromatherapy Shops, Essential Oils List (A-L), Essential Oils List (M-Z)

Read more about the various aromatherapy aspects here: Articles, Articles 2, Articles 3, Articles 4

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