Wellness Voice

Aromatherapy is a practice of using essential oils taken either from plants, flowers, roots, seeds and many other sources to treat and prevent illness. Essential oils may vary from its fragrance, degree of complexity and volatility.

There are some 400 essential oils extracted from plants all over the world today. Ancient texts describe to us how essential oils are used to heal the body, alter moods, stir memories, arouse sexual desire and generally improve quality of life.

The term aromatherapy may lead one to assume that this is all about smells. This isn’t necessarily true. These essential oils may be used on the skin, inhaled, or mixed into bathwater. Specific oils, or combinations of oils, are employed to give specific effects such as calming, pain relief, or energizing.

A popular method of using essential oils is by “vaporizing” in an oil-burner or vaporisers. However essential oils are far more effective when they come into contact with the body, through direct application, massage, spritzer, bathing, gargle and inhalation.

Nowadays, aromatherapy is one of the leading complementary therapies because of its effectiveness in treating both acute and chronic illness and disease. At the same time, regular use of aromatherapy treatments and home-use products can help to strengthen the immune system, thereby establishing a preventative approach to overall health.

Although some doctors doubt the efficiency of Aromatherapy, medical researches have scientifically proved that Aromatherapy may produce both psychological and physiological effects. Aromatherapy benefits includes stress and headache relief, sleep improvement, mood boosting, hormones’ regulation, muscles’ relaxation, immune system’s stimulation, blood circulation, skin diseases’ healing.

Some of the most common essential oils used are as follows:

• Bergamot is one of the most popular oils in perfumery. Bergamot stimulates the pancreas and the liver in some people, has shown anti-microbial effects in some studies, especially on the bronchi, and may offer support in cases of slow digestion and hypertension. As a natural skin toner and detoxifier it may prevent premature aging of skin and may have excellent effects on oily skin conditions and acne for some individuals. It is an excellent insect repellent and may be helpful for both the urinary tract and for the digestive tract.

• Eucalyptus oil is often used in combination with peppermint to provide relief for the airways in case of cold or flu.

• Lavender oil is used as an antiseptic, to soothe minor cuts and burns, to calm and relax, and to soothe headaches and migraines. Lavender can be a profoundly effective home remedy.

• Rose oil is a gentle tonic for the heart, with the key to Rose’s psychological properties being its effect on the centre of emotional being. Rose calms and supports the heart, helping to nourish ‘heart-yin’ and restore a sense of well-being. The flower has been considered great in its ability to heal emotional wounds by bringing warmth to the soul.

• Aniseed (Anise Seed) aids muscle aches, bronchitis, indigestion, and antispasmodic for nerves and muscles. Added to perfumes for a rich, sweet fragrance and used in mouth washes and deodorants. Anise essential oil is also energizing and toning.

• Basil invigorates the body and spirit and helps to refresh the mind. It’s a wonderful nerve tonic after a stressful day, and is said to help increase concentration and memory. Basil essential oil’s traditional uses include deodorant, soothing agent, and muscle relaxant. Aromatherapy class: soothing, energizing, and toning.

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So what can you do to celebrate this Valentine’s Day? With the right intention, a few simple ingredients and a little effort, you will be richly rewarded as you express your true devotion to the one you love. I have been working with Aromatherapy Essential Oils for many years, so I’m very familiar with creating the right romantic setting that will make that magical space in your own home a rewarding experience.

To get the right ambiance, start by lighting some candles in your favourite room and play some relaxing music that you both like. The setting is not complete without the subtle effect of aroma. The sense of smell is one of the subtlest and oldest ways of communicating that we possess, the mechanism of which still remains a mystery today. Creating the desired mood with essential oils has been around for centuries. In fact, the Ancient Egyptians made aromatherapy a way of life with the use of perfumed oils, scented barks and resins being recorded as far back as 4500BC. Perfumes were used by lovers to heighten the forces of attraction that existed between them. According to history, Cleopatra wooed Antony by ordering that her bedroom be carpeted an inch deep in rose petals. Imagine that!!

Now to create your romantic ritual…. Place either a single essential oil or blend in your aromatherapy burner with a tea light beneath. (I prefer to use an essential oil burner with a deep bowl so that it takes longer to diffuse without overheating and drying out).

For a ‘sensual interlude’ add 1 drop of orange, 2 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil and 3 drops frankincense to your burner. Around 5 to 6 drops is enough. Orange is a joyful and playful scent that blends well with the sweet, heady fragrance of ylang ylang. With the added connection that frankincense gives to heighten your senses you will be well on your way to enjoying a sensually euphoric evening!!

For the true romantic, rose helps us feel more deeply. It is a gentle aphrodisiac with a spiritual quality that you may use on its own or in a blend. Or if you’re feeling a little more bold try Jasmine essential oil, a wonderful oil that brings with it the rare qualities of strength and softness, yin and yang , making it a powerful aphrodisiac!

So this Valentine’s Day open your heart to love and romance by embracing the gentle art of Aromatherapy and add some essential oils into your life!

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Aromatherapy is a Greek word, aroma means fragrance and therapy means treatment and the term “aromatherapie” was created by French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse in about 1928.

The history of aromatherapy dates back to about 4500 BC and there is evidence in the Bible of the use of essential oils for therapeutic and religious purposes (Frankincense, Ravensara and Spikenard).

There are historical evidences to prove that essential oils were used by Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Persians. In ancient Egypt the essential oils were used for mummification and for embalming the dead bodies and the plant oils were also used for mental relaxation and therapeutic use.

Hippocrates, referred to as the father of medicine, used and experimented with herb oils to relieve pain and some ailments. He promoted the beneficial effects of herb oils by advocating oil baths, oil massages and cosmetics prepared from essential oils. There is a consensus that the use of herbal oils first originated in Egypt where they used the herb oil for mummification and embalming the dead. Thereafter, it was borrowed by Greeks and from which the Romans learnt it to treat wounded gladiators.

The Romans were good chemists and they knew the art of extracting oils from plants and flowers. They made new composition of oils by importing raw material from east India and Arabia. The most important discovery made in Persian civilization was steam distillation of plants which produced true essential oils.

Earlier methods used only produced herbal water. Ibn Sina was the man who invented a pipe in which the plants were steam distilled to create a medicine. He was also the first one to distill alcohol and perfume.

There is evidence in an old Chinese medical book about the use herbs for the treatment of various ailments. The uses of herbal medicines by the Chinese were of the same period as the Egyptians.

In the nineteenth century many industries were set up which produced essential oils and they were marketed as perfumes and cosmetics.

The history of aromatherapy can be noted in India in the form of treatment called ayurveda, which is about three thousand years old. Even today this form of medicine is very popular. Kerela, a state of India is very famous for producing medicinal plants and essential oils. The medicinal qualities of these herbs are well known and attract people from all over the world for treatments of various diseases.

Aromatherapy is a natural alternative therapy using essential oils, also known as aromatherapy oils. As you can see this practice has been used for thousands of years and is still extremely popular in today’s society.

essential oils

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Aromatherapy is presently one of the most popular ways of relaxing after a long tiring day. It asserts that it can maintain harmony among body, soul and mind with the help of the right kind of essential oils, used in this technique. The essential oils are used in this way of treatment, as these are non-invasive mode and extracted from plants, herbs, seeds, roots and many more. It is lighter, yet very effective alternate mode of healing, which makes it favourite of a large number of patients. There are more than one ways to give your life this holistic turn. You can either visit some professional therapist, spa or if you are the adventurous sorts, then you can probably experiment on your own, but on certain conditions. Here, you will find a list of the most common essential oils that you must have.

Eucalyptus – This oil is just for you, if your sinus is bothering you more than anything else. The Eucalyptus is world wide used in treating patients with cold, asthma, a number of respiratory troubles and even for malaria patients. It strengthens the immune system and alleviates the muscle pain. All in all, it caters you with a wonderful relaxing experience.

Lavender – The light, fresh and soothing aroma of the lavender oil makes it ideal for de-stressing. You can make use of this essential oil to treat skin burns or wounds. In addition to this, it nourishes the skin by working as a wonderful conditioner.

Roman Chamomile – This essential oil works very effectively on migraines, tooth aches and many more pains. It is an excellent pain reliever and is also used to cure inflammatory conditions.

Clary Sage – This one is a perfect essential oil for people, who cannot sleep properly. The sweet fragrance leaves a relaxing effect on the person. People suffering from hormonal imbalances or any such disorders can also recover soon with this essential oil. It heals, as well as cures pains and muscle aches.

Geranium – If you are often a victim of mood swings, then Geranium essential oil is just for you. The strong floral smell works effectively on the anxious and depressed people. It caters you with a feel good factor, offers a positive outlook towards life. Moreover, it improves your appearance by treating problems like acne, eczema, and dermatitis.

Apart from all this, you should avoid using aromatherapy essential oils, if you are allergic to something. It should be kept away from the reach of pregnant women, children and pets.

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In recent years, aromatherapy has become quite mainstream in popular thinking. However, the image that generally comes to mind relates entirely to its fragrance, used for relaxation or to cover odors.

What most people don’t realize, however, is that the essential oils used in aromatherapy have a potential that extends far beyond this. They were, in fact, mankind’s first medicine. Through their combined influences of fragrance, aromatic molecules and frequency, essential oils can affect you emotionally, mentally and physically.

Aromatherapy is, after all, much more than just the smell.

What aromatherapy can do for you:

The benefits of aromatherapy are just too extensive to fully cover here. However, essential oils have powerful anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties that make them ideal for many different uses. They can be used to support the body’s organs and glands, as well as to boost immunity. They can be relaxing or invigorating, and soothing to sore muscles. Some oils are great at relieving pain.

Their fragrant influence can lift your mood, quiet and sooth the heart, clear the mind and help with mental function. It can also be emotionally balancing, stimulate the release of hormones and neurotransmitters and detoxify the whole body. Diffused into a room, they oxygenate and purify the air, neutralizing indoor air pollutants. They’re also great for getting rid of spiders and mice.

Ways to use essential oils effectively:

The three primary ways of experiencing aromatherapy are aromatically, topically and through ingestion.

Aromatically: The first, and simplest, way to use essential oils is through inhalation. There are a few ways you can do this:

1. Inhaling the fragrance directly from the bottle;

2. Diffusing the oil with a cold-air diffuser.

3. Wearing the oil as a perfume, and letting your body’s warmth diffuse the oil,

4. Putting a few drops of oil on your pillow at night to create a therapeutic – or romantic – effect.

What you never want to do is diffuse the oil with a heat source, like a candle or light bulb. The heat will fracture the delicate chemistry of the oil. You should also avoid using an electrical current to diffuse the oil. Wall outlet diffusers disrupt the oil’s frequency. Both effectively destroy the oil’s therapeutic effect

Topically: Everyone knows about massage, but there are other ways to topically apply essential oils that are very effective.

1. RainDrop Technique: Simply stated, this is a method of dropping the oils along the spine from about six inches up, and then massaging in the oils, using feather-like strokes.

2. Vita Flex Technique: This is something like reflexology, except that the oils are applied with essentially no finger pressure.

3. “Neat” application: Many of the oils can be applied, without dilution, almost anywhere on the body with great effect.

Ingestion: Essential oils also make great supplements. Diluted in honey or agave nectar, or diluted with vegetable oil and placed in capsules, ingesting aromatics can have a powerful effect on your health, boosting immunity and supporting various body systems.

Essential oil quality: The key to effective aromatherapy

But, whichever method you choose for your aromatherapy application, you must use a quality oil for it to be safe and effective. About 98% of the oils produced in the world today are not made for aromatherapy – although they are sold for aromatherapy. When purchasing your essential oils, make sure they are truly therapeutic-grade.

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Aromatherapy is far more than just the smell. While most people’s concept of aromatherapy is something more akin to recreational fragrancing, essential oils can have a powerful effect on your health – emotionally, mentally and physically.

In the following discussion, I will break down the benefits of aromatherapy in terms the fragrance, chemistry and frequency of an essential oil.

Aromatic influences of essential oils:

The fragrance of an essential oil comes from its chemistry. Even a relatively simple essential oil is an intricate mosaic of many chemical constituents, each providing important contributions to the whole. And, this fragrance can directly affect every aspect of your life, from your emotional state to your lifespan.

When you breathe in the fragrance of an oil, its aromatic molecules travel up the nose and are gathered in the olfactory membranes. These are lined with the olfactory epithelium, consisting of hundreds of millions of nerve cells. Each molecule of an essential oil fits like a key in a lock in specific receptor cell sites located in this olfactory epithelium, and when specific aromatic molecules stimulate these receptor cells, electrical impulses are stimulated and pass to the olfactory bulb, located in the base of the brain. These impulses are then transmitted to the limbic system, which includes:

– The hypothalamus, the hormone control center, governing the production of growth hormones, sex hormones, thyroid hormones and neurotransmitters,

– The amygdala, where emotional memories are stored,

and other parts of the limbic system that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels and hormone balance.

Because of this “hot wire” connection, simply breathing in the fragrance of an essential oil can trigger an immediate response – from relaxing away stress and anxiety, lifting your mood or releasing emotional trauma, to calming the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, releasing specific hormones or neurotransmitters, or making you feel alert, invigorated and mentally sharp.

In this way, the fragrance of essential oils can have a profound effect on every part of your well-being.

The chemistry of essential oils:

As noted above, even a simple oil is not simple. It may contain anywhere from 80 to several hundred chemical constituents. Some 2,000 of these aromatic substances have been identified, along with their therapeutic actions.

Some of these aromatic molecules are highly anti-viral, anti-bacterial or anti-fungal. Others are powerful cancer-fighting agents. Some have hormone-like properties; others are highly anti-inflammatory. Whether used “neat” or diluted in massage oils, lotions or salves, for virtually any therapeutic action needed, there are aromatic molecules that can provide it. Essential oils were, in fact, mankind’s first medicine.

But, what makes aromatherapy superior to other health modalities is the chemical complexity of the oils. Any one oil may contain several “conflicting” therapeutic properties; meaning that an oil like lavender, for example, can be both relaxing and stimulating. Because of this chemical balance within the oil, the oils tend to have powerful balancing effects on the body.

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You can find many different types of aromatherapy essential oils in the market nowadays and each has their own known quality. It has grown to become very popular with many varieties that are bought into the country. The suitability of each essential oil hinges on your mood and personality and as there are so many, hence it is quite a task to choose the right one for unwinding or health purposes.

The right kind of essential oil will be comforting, loosens you up as well as providing a pleasing scent for your home or office. Certain essential oils are beneficial to health providing more reasons why people are drawn to the scent.

With a vast collection of essential oils that you can opt from and at reasonable price, it can be purchased online or at your nearest stores that market them. For those that can afford the luxury, you can get some high quality oil burner, candles and certainly expensive essential oils to indulge yourself. The choice is certainly yours and it also depends on how regular you need to inhale for specific health or just basic requirements.

Since retail stores typically have a broad range of aromatherapy products that might be the ideal place to shop if you are still testing out the kind of scent you like. In addition, you can get many varieties of other product such as candles, oil burners, diffuser and air fresheners. If you are looking for certain brand, shop only at your preferred store.

There are many sales opportunity to get discount for the types of oils that you desire. Wait for the special offer so that you can save and lots of them are overstock or scents that has discontinued production but equally well. Getting them online might be the ideal place to secure all the best deals.

For online retailer of aromatherapy oils, you can shop as and when you like and the time to look at broader range as well as dissimilar brands. Online provide the opportunity to research prices, contrasting various essential oils but you require paying by credit card and shipping in addition to have to wait for the oils to reach you. Whether it is online or at nearest retail stores select one that you are comfortable.

Setting up the essential oil to burn in the burner is a straightforward task and essential oils nowadays are created with certain quality so there is little worry of damaging the aromatherapy accessories with any types of oils that you use while burning. Although it is fundamentally safe, some lower cost essential oil might possess corrosive chemicals that can damage the expensive brand of aromatherapy device.

The right type of aromatherapy essential oils will depend on your own requirements and the final decision is entirely yours.

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Arguably, everyone in the whole world is under stress of some description.

Whatever causes your stress – work, family, or other worries – when the pressure gets too much we need to unwind and relax. Inhaling the essential oils can help to alleviate the inevitable stress, and attain an emotional balance, which are damaged in case of distress. A balanced emotional state in turn can have a therapeutic effect on physical problems, particularly those that are stress-related.

The therapeutic use of essential oils – aromatherapy — is a widely acknowledged, effective way to reduce stress, and the use of appropriate essential oils has been shown by research to have immediate stress relief effects, raising mood, reducing anxiety and aiding focus and concentration.

Essential oils stimulate the powerful sense of smell and the part of the brain that affects our emotions.
The shape of an essential oil molecule is like a key that opens lock-like structure in the olfactory nerve receptors in the nostrils. The smells enter through cilia (the hairs lining the nose) to the limbic system. Stimulated limbic system releases chemicals that affect the central nervous system – the part of the brain.
In the brain, the oils can have many effects: promote memories or encourage feelings of relaxation, calmness, love, and excitement. These properties of essential oils make them so well suited to the treatment of stress-related conditions.

Aromatherapy massage is widely used treatment for stressed people. The natural and extremely small molecules of essential oils penetrate the dermis and get to work with their purity immediately. This massage works very well on the mind, as the person smells the oils during the treatment, so the effect of relaxation or alternatively, stimulation, can be enhanced.

Apart the massage, essential oils can be put into hot baths, candles or burners to diffuse scents throughout a room.

To treat stress, anxiety, tension, or mental fatigue, try any one or a combination of the following: basil, bergamot, Bomeo camphor, cinnamon, clove, cypress, eucalyptus, garlic, geranium, ginger, hyssop, lavender, lemon, marjoram, meroli, nutmeg, onion, peppermint, pine, rose, rosemary, thyme.

Take Action:

1. Choose the oils according to your needs.

2.Prepare hot bath — ad some drops of chosen essential aromatherapy oils.

3. Put some relaxing music. Enjoy!!!

Make yourself a priority. You are your most precious asset.

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Beginning ‘bona fide’ aromatherapy, beyond burning a scented candle or soaking with a pleasing pre-packaged bath salt blend, can be a little daunting to many people. All those little bottles of pricey liquids, electric contraptions, and fancy-sounding blends – how does one actually use essential oils to improve their health, happiness and well-being? It’s easier than one might think – getting started can open a whole new world of fun and effective natural remedies that can lift your mood, calm your nerves, and support healing of a great many common ailments.

The basics of aromatherapy are simple, once a few fundamental concepts are understood. Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils – the aromatic compounds of plants, extracted through steam distillation or other methods. The oils act as the chemical messengers and protectors of the plant kingdom. Each essential oil can contain hundreds of different ‘volatile’ (easily evaporated) compounds, most of which are very compatible with the physiology of the human body. What’s so wonderful is they can also do for us what they do for plants – act as chemical messengers through affecting our smell sense and limbic system, and defending the body against foreign invaders by their anti-bacterial and anti-viral actions. In this article, we’ll focus on the mental and emotional effects of aromatherapy, and address the physiological aspects at another time.

Essential oils are best used in one of two simple ways: through inhalation, where the oils can directly affect certain areas of the brain, and through topical application, where the oils are easily absorbed into the bloodstream. (Note: Oral ingestion can be an option, but only under experienced medical supervision – further, SOME OILS CAN BE TOXIC, and other even seemingly harmless oils should not be used under certain conditions. If you are pregnant, or have specific medical needs, consult a knowledgeable practitioner before continuing!)

Inhalation of Essential Oils

Essential oils when inhaled directly effect our limbic system, the brain’s emotional centers. Many oils have been found to sharpen concentration, reduce tension and anxiety, and even reduce depression. How can we reap these magnificent benefits? There are a few simple, cost-effective ways to prepare essential oils for inhalation – and experience these wonderful effects: the ‘handkerchief method’, making your own ’smelling salts’, and making your own aromatherapy ‘mister’.

The handkerchief method is pretty straightforward – put a drop or two of an oil or blend on a tissue and inhale (careful with some oils though – peppermint, for example, can burn the sensitive skin around your nostrils if put in direct contact). You can even leave the tissue (or ‘handkerchief, or piece of cloth, or cotton, or whatever) in a room or your workspace and the oil will continue to evaporate and have its effects.

Making your own ’smelling salts’ is similar, though your preparation will last a while longer. To make the salts, fill a small vial (dark glass with a good cap is best) with natural sea salt and drop essential oils into the salt. The amount of oil is not too critical – enough that there is detectable aroma, and not so much that the salt gets completely wet. Just unscrew the cap and inhale from the bottle whenever you need a lift, or, like the handkerchief, leave the vial open in your space, letting the aroma slowly fill the area.

A ‘mister’ can be used infuse a room with aroma – just add essential oils to water in a small spray bottle, shake (before each use) and spray!

Here are a few easy recipes for the inhalation method (Note: in all recipes, the number of drops of oil and/or amount of carrier can be used as a ratio, which you can increase or decrease as you need):

For uplifting the mood and brightening the mind – 4 drops of Rosemary Cineol, 3 drops of Lavender, 2 drops of Lemon and 1 drop of Peppermint, OR 3 drops Clary Sage, 2 drops Bergamot and 1 drop Sweet Orange.

For calming anxiety – equal parts of Roman Chamomile, Bergamot and Orange, OR 3 drops Lavender, 2 drops Neroli and 1 drop Bergamot.

For creating a harmonious atmosphere – 3 drops Jasmine, 1 drop Ylang Ylang and 1 drop Sandalwood, OR equal parts Geranium, Patchouli and Bergamot.

Aromatherapy Massage

Now for the topical application method. Usually this is described as aromatherapy massage – ideally, this is done with a partner, but self-massage will work as well. Creating your own massage oil is a straightforward process – just dilute 10 – 20 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. There are a variety of carrier oils available, though Sweet Almond is a great all-around oil and is recommended for general aromatherapy massage. As for the massage, itself, any technique will do – let your intuition be your guide. When you wish to get a little more advanced, do a little further research to create synergy with certain essential oils and certain acupressure points.

The same blends for inhalation can be used for massage, though here are a few more fun recipes:

For a sensual massage, per ounce of carrier oil, add – 8 drops Sandalwood, 6 drops Rose, 4 drops Lavender and 2 drops Ylang Ylang.

For opening the heart, try 4 drops Spikenard, 4 drops Lavender and 2 drops of Rose.

Finally, for sheer relaxation, use 6 drops Lavender, 4 drops Neroli and 2 drops Bergamot.

Don’t be afraid to create your own blends! You will certainly find particular oils that you enjoy – and aromatherapy is like that. It is the oils you find most enjoyable that are likely those that are most effective for you. My only recommendation is to change the ratios of oils you are blending very slowly. Start with one drop of each oil in a small vial, mixing them and allowing a few minutes for them to blend before adding more oil 1 drop at a time. In general, citrus oils ( Orange, Bergamot, Lemon, Lime) tend to bring alertness while calming at the same time. Herb oils (Peppermint, Rosemary) tend to be invigorating, while floral oils tend to be relaxing (Lavender, Chamomile, Jasmine, Neroli). This is only a guideline – many oils have complex properties and will affect individuals differently – use your nose as a guide.

Conclusion

Getting started with aromatherapy is easy, and with these simple ideas, you will be able to create essential oil preparations tailored to your needs and enjoyment. This can lead to a lifelong appreciation of these wonderful gifts from nature.

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Aromatherapy has been around for some time now, manifesting itself in different forms in different civilizations. The Chinese and Indians used it as incense in temples while Egyptians used oils for embalming and other rituals. However, it was in the past few years that aromatherapy has started being seen as a science, and ancient art.

Most people are of the impression that aromatherapy is the therapy from aromas. However, there is more to this than just that. In aromatherapy, essential oils from plant parts like flowers, leaves, roots, stems and rinds of fruits are used. Though these oils are not ‘oily’ to touch, they are miscible in oil, to produce their oily nature.

As they are very volatile, they emit a strong aroma with many chemical compounds.
There are many uses and benefits of aromatherapy ranging from mental to physical ailments. It is most often used to control stress where lavender oil is usually used. There are some essential oils that are antibacterial and antifungal in nature, and are used on the skin.

Such a form of oil is tea tree oil. How essential oils really affects the body is not known, but it should be related to the complex chemical structure of its essential oils. The body is capable of absorbing these oils through inhalation or massage.
Aromatherapy is utilized through direct inhalation, in personal products like soaps and creams, steam inhalation with the help of a vaporizer and in a clay pot diffuser.

It is also effectively used through massage with carrier oil and a lamp ring diffuser. You can also find many aromatherapy candles in the market that release essential oils when burned; thus acting similarly to a diffuser. Essential oils are also used while bathing where a few drops of essential oil are added to bath water to be mixed vigorously. While bathing, the skin both inhales the aromas and absorbs its compounds through the skin.

Though aromatherapy can be easily stuck to, it does not necessarily mean that it is safe. As essential oils have powerful and toxic ingredients, they have to be used with care. This is why most of the essential oils should not be used directly on the skin; it has to be diluted else it irritates the skin. Moreover, under no circumstances should a majority of the essential oils be swallowed.

So when handling essential oils, remember that less of it is more than enough. Only a few drops are sufficient; for more drops may increase the strength of the essential oil and at the same time produce deleterious effects. You also end up only wasting these beautiful, expensive essential oils.

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