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What is aromatherapy?
According to the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, taken from their website-
Aromatherapy, also referred to as Essential Oil therapy, can be defined as the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit. It seeks to unify physiological, psychological and spiritual processes to enhance an individual’s innate healing process.
What are the essential oils used for aromatherapy?
Essential oils are the fragrant essence and natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant. They are highly concentrated liquid oils and are the foundation upon which aromatherapy is built.
Aromatherapy is based upon the belief that essential oils have medicinal and healing properties. Different types of oils can effect and enhance our moods, help us to de-stress and relax, they can energize and uplift us, and plenty in between.
Essential oils have many beneficial uses, lets find out more about how they can specifically help us through aromatherapy. One of my favorite ways to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy is through use of an essential oil diffuser. Diffusion is the process of dispersing essential oils so that their aroma fills a room or an area with the natural fragrance. This also means that when you inhale the scents from the oil you are getting the benefit of aromatherapy via your olfactory (nasal) system.
Benefits of Aromatherapy:
Relaxation and Sleep
Some essential oils are great for helping you to unwind and de-stress. They are wonderful to use after a long day at work when you want to relax and be calm. They also are great for promoting sleep when you are restless or simply want a little help falling asleep. Some of the best oils to promote sleep and relaxation are- lavender, chamomile, ylang-ylang, vetiver root, sandalwood, and clary sage.
Mood Elevating
Create and energized and uplifting atmosphere using essential oils and aromatherapy. If you need a little boost in the morning to get moving or throughout the day you can use oils like sweet orange, jasmine, grapefruit, bergamot, and geranium. These oils will help you feel awake and ready to take on the day.
Ward off Illness
Want to keep out the cold, flu, and other nasty bugs/illness? Use essential oils and aromatherapy through a diffuser to help keep unwanted germs at bay. Because certain essential oils have anti-microbial properties when they are introduced into the air in vapor form the organic compounds come in direct contact with airborne pathogens and take them down before they can get you and your loved sick. The best oils to ward off illness are tea tree, eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon, thmye, and peppermint.
Improve Cognitive Function
Essential oils can help improve focus, thinking, concentration, memory, and overall cognitive functioning. They are a highly effective way to super-charge your over-stimulated and over worked brain cells. Use oils like peppermint, frankincense, rosemary, thyme, hinoki, and lavender.
Repel Insects
Don't want mosquitoes, house flies, moths, or fruit flies crashing the party? Essential oils can help with that as well. Put a few drops of any of these oils in your diffuser to keep these unwanted guests at bay, try cedarwood, tea tree, rosemary, or lemon grass. Going for a hike and want to repel ticks and mosquitoes, use tea tree. Want to give your child some extra protection against lice at school, use a tea tree oil shampoo.
Above are just a few of the many ways you can benefit from essential oils and aromatherapy. We are currently doing a contest for April, if you come in for your appointment in March and pre-book your April appointment you can enter to win your own essential oil diffuser. If you are looking for quality essential oils we carry the 21 Drops essential oil line here at the spa, stop in and pick some up today. Also, we offer an aromatherapy upgrade for our massage appointments for an additional $5.00 To learn more about our massage offerings please go to our website here- http://brilliantbodywork.com/massage/types-of-massage