| What is Aromatherapy? | | | | bottle and adding a light fragrance to the room. |
| Aromatherapy is an alternative medicine that uses | | | | Putting some essential oil onto your pillow or a |
| aromatic plant extracts mainly in the form of | | | | tissue under your pillow to promote better sleep. |
| essential oil with the intent to enhance a person's | | | | Before using any essential oils always check your skin |
| mood and health. The recorded use of aromatherapy | | | | for sensitivity by doing a patch test. Put a few drops |
| has been documented down through history in many | | | | on your skin on the inside of your elbow and wait for |
| different cultures. The first use of aromatherapy was | | | | at least 24 hours to see if you have any reaction. |
| thought to be approximately 3000 years BC by the | | | | Essential oils vary in strength and as a result different |
| Egyptians. Much controversy surrounds the practice | | | | amounts are required for each individual oil, so please |
| of aromatherapy as not many scientific studies have | | | | always follow the directions accompanying the oil. |
| been conducted on the subject. | | | | What Essential Oils promote better sleep? |
| Even with this fact in mind many people worldwide | | | | Lavender is one of the most used and safest of oils |
| still believe and use aromatherapy on a regular basis. | | | | and is excellent for reducing stress and relaxing the |
| Aromatherapy is also used in a wide range of | | | | mind. It is therefore a great oil to use if you can't |
| traditional therapies. The practice of aromatherapy | | | | sleep due to stress. |
| covers a whole range of applications. Some of these | | | | Chamomile is more commonly known for its qualities |
| include: | | | | as a herbal tea, but it is also used as a very calming |
| Topical application using either pure essential oils | | | | and relaxing oil. |
| or in cream form | | | | Clary Sage has a very calming effect. |
| Topical application as massage oil used in | | | | Marjoram has many sedative qualities; these include |
| combination with a carrier oil such as almond, grape | | | | easing still joints and muscle spasms. |
| seed or apricot. | | | | I have covered a few of the many essential oils here |
| Using an oil burner - an oil burner uses a low heat | | | | that can help promote sleep. They can be used on |
| to burn off the oil and send the fragrance into the air. | | | | their own or in combination depending on what suits |
| Putting some essential oil into a bowl of hot | | | | you the best. I personally find that a few drops of |
| water and inhaling the steam with a towel over your | | | | lavender oil on a tissue under my pillow works |
| head. | | | | wonders for me. Using aromatherapy is a very |
| Putting a few drops of oil onto a light bulb - | | | | personal thing, what one person loves another |
| gives the same effect as a traditional oil burner (not | | | | person can't stand. So a certain amount of |
| to be used with halogen lights) | | | | experimentation is required in order to find out what |
| In a bath - putting the recommended dose into a | | | | suits you best. Even though essential oil can help you |
| warm bath and soaking for at least 10 minutes. | | | | sleep better, when dealing with insomnia it is always |
| In a footbath - essential oils make a lovely | | | | better to find out what the reason for your insomnia |
| relaxing way to have a footbath. | | | | is and then treat it. |
| Putting some essential oil into a water spray | | | | |