| Arthritis had Mrs. Thompson grounded for years. She | | | | caused through contact with allergen, after a tiring |
| had seen several doctors with no permanent solution | | | | exercise session or through infection. An asthmatic |
| to the problem. As an alternative medicinal stream, | | | | person experiences shortness of breath, cough and |
| Mrs. Thomson agreed to use aromatherapy. Regular | | | | mucous production as a result of inflammation or |
| massage with the essential oils of lemon balm, rose, | | | | contraction of the bronchi. The condition can be |
| black spruce, tarragon and jasmine was | | | | treated through aromatherapy treatment. The oils of |
| recommended. She testifies to the positive effect | | | | clove bud and lemongrass have been recognised to |
| aromatherapy had on her condition. | | | | have anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious properties. |
| Many people like Mrs. Thompson have found relief in | | | | These oils along with the oils of lemon, clary sage, |
| aromatherapy treatment. The system of | | | | and angelica can be very useful for treating asthma. |
| aromatherapy treatment utilises aromas and scents | | | | Aromatherapy products are available in several |
| to heal the human being as a whole. Aromas and | | | | stores, referred to as aromatherapy stores. These |
| scents are derived from several plants and herbs. | | | | stock preparations made from herbs and plants |
| Research that has been undertaken on plants and | | | | sourced from different parts of the world; mostly, |
| herbs from the ancient times until now has helped | | | | the Indian subcontinent, Middle East and the Africas. |
| determine their therapeutic benefits. However, more | | | | However, the use of aromatherapy treatments must |
| than a science, aromatherapy is an art and involves a | | | | be strictly prescriptive. Toiletries, which use aromas |
| creative approach in making specific blends. | | | | and scents, use a very small amount of essential oils. |
| Essential oils have an important role to play in | | | | Therefore, they are not harmful. As said earlier, |
| aromatherapy treatment. An essential oil is the | | | | essential oils are highly concentrated. If a larger |
| essence of plants derived through a process | | | | dosage of it is taken, then can result in irritation or be |
| whereby plants are distilled through steam or water. | | | | poisonous, when used with food or drink. |
| What we get through the process is a concentrated | | | | Did you think essential oils being derived from plants |
| essential oil, of which a few drops are capable of | | | | are free from side effects? No, they are not. The |
| giving the desired effect. | | | | common side effects of essential oils are nausea, |
| One of the first known discoveries of the | | | | headaches etc. |
| therapeutic benefits of essential oils was made by | | | | Get help from an expert practitioner on the |
| French chemist René-Maurice | | | | appropriate treatment for ones condition. The person |
| Gattefossé. Gattefossé is also | | | | who practices aromatherapy treatment is known as |
| credited with coining the term aromatherapy. When | | | | aromatherapist. He either will massage the oil on the |
| he got a burn on his hand, he accidentally put his | | | | skin or would suggest the appropriate method of |
| hand in a jar full of lavender oil. He was surprised to | | | | use. Just as one would check the credentials of a |
| see that he got immediate relief and the burn left no | | | | doctor practising in contemporary medicine, it is |
| scars on his hand. Through further research, he | | | | important to know whether the aromatherapist has |
| established the healing powers of lavender oil. | | | | been trained in aromatherapy treatment. An |
| Some of the common ailments where aromatherapy | | | | aromatherapist proceeds in the same manner as a |
| treatment has been accepted as a potent solution | | | | common doctor. He will first get a detailed medical |
| are anxiety, stress or insomnia, muscular aches and | | | | history of the individual through a series of questions |
| pains, headaches, eczema, digestive problems, | | | | on diet, lifestyle, and health problems. This goes well |
| menstrual or menopausal problems, etc. Therefore, | | | | with the system of aromatherapy healing where the |
| aromatherapy treatments heal physically as well as | | | | whole rather than one particular ailment is considered |
| psychologically. | | | | for treatment. |
| A common respiratory disorder is asthma. This is | | | | |