Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses aromatic materials, including essential oils, to promote health and well-being. It is most commonly used as a complementary therapy alongside standard treatments or as a form of alternative medicine. The most common way to take essential oils is to inhale them, but they can also be applied to the skin.
Aromatherapy has actually been used for centuries, with research showing that humans have been using essential oils for nearly 6000 years with the aim of improving their health.
Essential oils are basically compounds extracted from plants. As mentioned previously they are commonly used in aromatherapy to support health and well-being. The extracts are made by steaming or pressing different parts of a plant to capture its scent and flavor, also referred to as the plant's “essence”. Sometimes it can take several pounds of a plant to produce a single bottle of essential oil.
Once the chemicals have been extracted from the plant, they are combined with a special oil to create the finished product. The way essential oils are made is very important as oils made with additional chemical processes aren’t considered pure.
An important thing to note is that aromatherapy should not be used instead of regular prescribed medical treatments. However, research has shown that when used as a complementary treatment it can lead to various health benefits, depending on your condition. Although more research is needed, aromatherapy has been proven to help with:
Essential oils can be useful in many other situations as well, however it’s always advised to consult with a professional before deciding to use them as an alternative or complementary form of medication.
In most places essential oils aren’t regulated, which means that often labels might not even contain everything that’s inside the bottles you’re buying. The quality also varies greatly depending on where you buy them from. This is why essential oils shouldn’t be ingested.
There are however safe ways in which you can use essential oils. Aromatherapy accessories are one of the most common choices.You can take different types of necklaces and bracelets which are made with absorbent materials and apply essential oils to them and sniff them throughout your day. Another popular choice is body oil. A mix of essential oils and a carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil which can be massaged onto your skin. Last but not least, many people opt to get aroma sticks, which they can light up in their homes whenever they choose to.
If you’re curious about aromatherapy and want to learn more, why not sign up for an online course? TutorExtra offers lessons in over 1000 subjects, including aromatherapy. Browse through our website full of qualified tutors and choose the one that suits your needs the best.
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