| Aromatherapy, as the name implies, is therapy which | | | | certain smells affect our moods. I believe we are |
| uses certain aromas or smells to bring about certain | | | | attracted to certain smells at certain times, according |
| therapies or healings. Aromatic ingredients from | | | | to what we need. For a long period of time I just |
| specific plants are used to produce essential oils. | | | | couldn't get enough of the citrus smell, especially lime. |
| These oils are also known as herbal essential oils. | | | | But orange and grapefruit essential oils were also |
| Often aromatherapy is thought of in combination | | | | among my favorites. After a period of time, although |
| with other alternative medical uses and sometimes | | | | I still liked that citrus smell, I wasn't as drawn to it as |
| with spiritual healing. Essential aromatic oils can be | | | | I had been before. |
| used in the form of massage oils, lotions, hand and | | | | Our bodies seem to know what we need. If a |
| liquid soap, and candles. Aromatherapy might include | | | | certain smell is especially attractive to you, it might |
| the following: Diffusion Inhalation Topical applications | | | | just be because that is what you need. That |
| Diffusion can be air fresheners, candles, scented oil | | | | particular smell might cause a particular reaction in |
| sticks. These products come in a wide variety of | | | | your brain, which will put you in a better state of |
| scents, from flowers to spices to the scent of fresh | | | | mind. Some smells evoke certain feelings and possibly |
| laundry hanging on the line in a warm breeze. Direct | | | | also certain healings. Some of these are: |
| inhalation is usually used for respiratory infection or | | | | Relaxation-Lavender and Lemon Oil Antibacterial |
| decongestion. Herbs that are especially helpful in this | | | | -Rosemary, Cinnamon, Lime, Tea Tree Oil, Clove |
| area are eucalyptus, spearmint, peppermint, and | | | | Sharpening concentration, lessening depression and |
| mullein. Topical applications, like diffusions, come in | | | | headaches-Basil |
| many scents for many reasons. | | | | Respiratory Congestion-Eucalyptus and Peppermint |
| Technically aromatherapy is the treatment of disease | | | | Psoriasis |
| or affliction by the use of essential oils. Today | | | | Rosacea-Sea Buckthorn |
| aromatherapy is often thought of as just a pleasant | | | | Aroma definitely has an impact on our limbic system, |
| smell that produces a pleasant feeling. But then who | | | | which supports a variety of brain functions including |
| can say but what this brings about the desired relief | | | | emotion, long-term memory, behavior, and our sense |
| from an ailment? Since our sense of smell is one of | | | | of smell. Since emotion and olfaction are effected at |
| our keenest senses and evokes the most poignant | | | | the same area of our brains, it is not surprising that |
| memories, being surrounded with pleasant aromas | | | | aromatherapy can have an influence on our feelings. |
| can help keep us alert and happy. Our brains are | | | | Since our stress level is tired directly to our emotions, |
| definitely affected by our sense of smell. Research | | | | and since stress magnifies our physical ailments; it is |
| has been done to show the correlation between | | | | not surprising that aromatherapy can be beneficial to |
| health and certain smells. But even without the | | | | us in many ways. |
| research we know from personal experience how | | | | |