Aromatherapy - Essential Oils for Physical and Psychological Well-being

What is Aromatherapy?hygiene, mental and beauty. To apply essential oils to
It is the practice of using volatile plant oils (andthe skin carrier oils (pure vegetable oils) are used to
essential oils) for physical and psychological well-being.dilute the essential oils and carry them to the skin.
Before I get started take note that fragrance oilsExamples of carrier oils include (but are not limited
(fragrances) are not essential oils. This is becauseto): apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil and grapeseed
they contain unnatural chemicals and do not provideoil.
therapeutic benefits like essential oils.Inhaling essential oils is believed to offer both physical
Essential oils are the pure "essence" of a plant andand psychological benefits. The aroma of a natural
when used properly will provide both psychologicalessential oil stimulate's the brain to trigger a reaction.
and physical benefits. There are many essential oils.The naturally occurring chemicals in essential oil are
Absolutes, CO2s and hydrosols are also commonlydrawn into the lungs and can supply a physical
utilized in aromatherapy. CO2s and absolutes arebenefit, as well. Be careful. It is easy to use essential
often defined as part of the term "essential oil".oils in a dangerous way.
Essential oils are very powerful and concentrated andOils can be blended together to provide a specific
should never be applied to the skin in their undilutedtherapeutic action, or pleasing aroma. Synergistically
form. When applied to the skin essential oils areblending oils in proper proportions is considered to
believed to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Thehave a further reaching effect than that of each oil
components of the various oils are believed to aid inworking alone. This is what the art of essential oil
a variety of physical conditions including: health,blends is all about.