What is Aromatherapy?

It has long been known that our sense of smell is powerfully linked to memory, mood, and emotional health. Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils and scents for their therapeutic purposes and potential. It is a form of alternative medicine that has been around since ancient times when people discovered the healing properties of aromatic oils and compounds.

Aromatherapy may use essential oils and fragrant compounds in various ways. Common essential oils used in aromatherapy are lemon, eucalyptus, thyme, lavender, and tea tree oils, though there are undoubtedly many, many more. The most popular methods of application include: aerial diffusion, where the oil is diffused,through candles or diffusers, or sprayed into the surrounding environment; direct inhalation, where the user breathes a fragrance or essential oil in; topical application, generally in the form of massage therapy, salves, and compresses; or through bath therapy, where oils and compounds can be added to a bath or spa.

Aromatherapy can be a powerful option for treating psychological, physical, and emotional symptoms. Some common psychological benefits linked to aromatherapy treatments involve reducing anxiety and depression as well as helping to improve short term memory. Essential oil therapies have been known to show significant improvements in physical maladies like hair loss, eczema and psoriasis, and headaches and pain syndromes. Aromatherapists also recommend using certain aromatic oils, like lemon oil, for energy enhancement, aiding in relaxation, improving clarity of mind, and mood lifting. The more we learn about the amazing properties of aromatherapy, the more it has to offer to our lives.