What Is Aromatherapy?

I am sure you have heard of Aromatherapy, but do you really know what it is?

Aromatherapy has been around for a looooooong time, and you could also call it, "Essential Oils Therapy", because that is basically what it is.

Here are some other quick facts about it:

• Aromatherapy helps develop an equilibrium of physical and mental health.

• Essential oils are highly concentrated essences known for their healing effects.

Essential oils produce an aroma from a flower, leaves, twig, bark, fruit rind and other plant parts. The extraction process can be time-consuming and complex, making pure essential oils quite special. The great things about essential oils is that you only need a drop or two most times to get the desired effect.

Essential oils work by stimulating the olfactory system and the brain or limbic system. (Like the picture above shows) The fragrance, properties, and effects of the oil determine how the body systems and their parts are stimulated. For instance, during a massage, the oils are inhaled and absorbed by the body at the same time, penetrating the skin and eventually reaching the organs and body systems.

I love using aromatherapy in two major ways. The first way is using my diffuser. I drop several drops of a few of my favorite oils in it, and it diffuses them beautifully into the air. In a moment or two, the room is smelling amazing and those oils are starting to work beautifully in my body. The other way I use aromatherapy is by adding a couple drops of coconut oil into the palm of my hands, sprinkling a few drops of my favorite essential oil like lemon, stress away or frankincense, and then bringing my hands up to my nose and taking some deep breaths. Heavenly!

What are your favorite oils to use for aromatherapy?

To learn more about essential oils, check out: how to safely use essential oils and my favorite oils.