Aromatherapy Treatment

Aromatherapy treatment is a form of alternative medicine, using plant derived essential oils and other aromatic compounds to treat a person’s mood or health. The essential oils are extracted from various parts of the plant using a process known as steam distillation. A typical distillation process would destroy the scent, so steam is introduced to allow simple separation. It was a French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, who coined the term “aromatherapy” to describe the process of using a plant therapeutically. Through this, the concept of modern aromatherapy treatment was born.

Aromatherapy treatment varies greatly depending on the circumstances of its use. A number of theories support the belief that aromatherapy treatments work both physically and physiologically, improving mental health. Scent has been proven to trigger the limbic system, the portion of the brain which controls emotion and stores memories. This is the basis for aromatherapy treatment, and is likely why essential oils have proven to be so useful. The other aspect of aromatherapy treatment says that the oils themselves have medicinal properties which are beneficial when they are absorbed into the body. This method is much more effective when the oils are absorbed directly into the skin, such as during a massage.

Aromatherapy treatments can be used for a variety of disorders, including but not limited to anxiety, stress, insomnia, muscular aches, headaches, asthma, eczema, digestive problems, and menstrual or menopausal related problems. With these complaints you have the option of seeing a licensed aromatherapist, or trying to treat the issue yourself. Aromatherapy treatments can be sold over the counter at pharmacies, health stores, and some department stores. Almost all aromatherapy treatments are available for home use.

There are several different ways to use essential oils in an aromatherapy treatment. They can be added to a bath, inhaled by using hot water, incense, or diffusers, or used in a massage. There are also several products which now contain essential oils, many of which claim to boost well-being or possess healing properties. It is a great boost to the aromatherapy community that aromatherapy treatments have recently been found effective in certain studies and in new discoveries. There have been several studies recently examining the effects of aromatherapy on groups of people, which included the use of a placebo in place of an aromatherapy treatment. These trials have consistently shown that aromatherapy treatments are among the best options out there, especially for your overall well-being.