What You Should Know About Aromatherapy
Smells and aromas move us so deeply because the sense of smell is the most basic of our senses. Our behavior, mood, thoughts and even our wellbeing is influenced by what we smell. The practice of using natural oils, derived from plant parts, to improve physical and psychological well being is known as aromatherapy. It is considered a form of alternative medicine and is generally used for mood enhancement, relaxation and for improving cognitive function.
Aromatic substances have been used for therapeutic purposes for thousands of years. The art of making perfumes from essential oils was developed 5000 years ago by the Egyptians. Aromtherapy was also prevalent in the Roman, Greek, Japanese, Chinese and Persian cultures, their techniques mostly involved the use of essential oils or burning incense.
The centre of smell resides in the olfactory lobe and is connected to the reptilian brain which explains why the sense of smell is so primal. Depending on our mental associations we react differently to different aromas, familiar aromas make us feel safe and happy whereas those with negative connotations have the opposite effect. Do you remember the last time you treated yourself to a nice bubble bath with scented salts? Recall how you liked the restful effect of the pleasing smell and warm water.
Essential oils can be topically applied, inhaled or diffused aerially, each method has a specific use in aromatherapy. Topical application is suitable for massages, skin care and compresses, aerial diffusion is used to create a calm and relaxed atmosphere and direct inhalation is used for decongestion or disinfection of the respiratory tract etc.
The oils used in aromatherapy are mostly volatile organic compounds and are extracted from the plant parts through steam distillation. The extract is a super concentrate and is generally mixed with a base or carrier oil which is basically a vegetable oil. Undiluted oils are considered therapeutic grade but the definition varies from market to market. A synthetic derivative of the active ingredient is present in synthetic oils. Essentials oils are also known to have side effects and should be used with precaution.
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