| Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils | | | | flu, Athlete's foot and dandruff. Its uses are vast and |
| extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots | | | | its healing power is quick. |
| or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological | | | | 3. In the 1920s, French chemist Rene Maurice |
| and physical well-being. There are a wide number of | | | | Gattefosse coined the term "aromatherapy." The |
| essential oils available, each with its own healing | | | | story goes that during an experiment, Gattefosse |
| properties. | | | | burned his hand and had nothing nearby to soak it in |
| Here are five things you may not know about | | | | except lavender. Apparently the lavender quickly |
| essential oils: | | | | healed the burn, spurring him to begin research on |
| 1. Neroli oil, or "orange blossom," is one of the most | | | | the science behind essential oils. |
| expensive essential oils on the market. It takes 1,000 | | | | 4. Our sense of smell is the only sense directly tied |
| lbs. of orange blossoms to make one pound of Neroli | | | | to the limbic area of the brain, which is considered |
| oil. This semi-precious oil is used to ease anxiety, | | | | the emotional control center. This means that when |
| depression, insomnia, and given its wonderful aroma, | | | | essential oils are inhaled, they go directly to the brain. |
| it can be considered an aphrodisiac. | | | | Our other four senses -- taste, sight, touch and |
| 2. Captain James Cook first mentioned tea tree oil in | | | | hearing -- are first routed through the thalamus |
| 1772 during his voyage to Botany Bay, Australia. He | | | | before reaching designated areas of the brain. |
| and his crew made a tea from the leaves to prevent | | | | 5. Essential oils are beneficial healers because they |
| scurvy. Tea tree oil's healing properties are abundant. | | | | transport oxygen to the cells, which trigger great |
| Not only is it a natural immune booster, but it also | | | | healing effects. It is safe to say that all of them are |
| fights all three kinds of infection. It works to heal skin | | | | anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-infectious, |
| conditions, burns and cuts, and also works as an | | | | anti-tumoral, anti-parasitic, and antiseptic on some |
| insecticide. In addition, it helps to soothe and treat | | | | level. |
| cold sores, respiratory conditions, muscle aches, the | | | | |