Aromatherapy uses aroma or smells to heal and invoke a certain mood. What makes the smell is something called essential oils. These oils are actually oils that are extracted from plants and they have been used for centuries in all kinds of natural healing including aromatherapy.
Smell is one of our strongest senses. Did you ever get a whiff of a scent that brought you back to an earlier time in your life? Perhaps the perfume of an old girlfriend or the cologne your father wore. In fact, scent forms a response in your brain and has a tight relationship with memory.
Essential oils are very strong and are typically inhaled for their healing scent although they can be rubbed on the skin as well. However, one must be careful to dilute the essential oil before applying topically.
You can enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy at home. Simply purchase a diffuser and some essential oils; there are many to choose from, and you can experiment with your own scents. Aromatherapy is healthy and will help you relax and ease daily tension.
Aromatherapy can even be an alternative to prescription medicines when used along with your doctors permission. They are typically safe although if you are allergic to a certain plant you will probably be allergic to the essential oils from that plant. Also since essential oils are highly concentrated you want to dilute them before using them on your skin or you could have adverse side effects from too much being absorbed into your blood at once, conjunction with your doctors advice of course.
Aromatherapy essential oils are great for boosting your immune system and relieving stress but can also be used to help with things like joint pain, skin tone and menstrual cramps. If you have trouble sleeping, there are certain aromas that will help you get a good nights sleep and aromatherapy can also be effective in relieving headaches too.