Aromatherapy is a therapeutic discipline based on surrounding ourselves with a pleasant sensation of harmony and happiness to strengthen ourselves mentally and awaken the inner energy necessary for healing.
If you want to choose an alternative to traditional spas or massage centers, you might be interested in this type of natural treatment that has so many benefits for mental and physical health. Below, we tell you more in detail what aromatherapy is, what it consists of, and what its benefits are.
What is aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a therapeutic technique that uses aromatic oils from various plants, woods, and flowers of nature to help heal or reduce symptoms of certain diseases or health problems such as anxiety or depression. It mainly consists of promote relaxation through the aroma released by essential oils which have a direct effect on the mind and body.
Several scientific studies have demonstrated the power of essential oils to change the perception of pain, reduce anxiety levels or to relieve bodily and mental discomfort. That is why more and more countries, like Japan or the USA, are introducing this technique in different areas of life such as hospitals to help patients improve their mood or in offices to create a more pleasant work environment.
Likewise, this therapy focuses on the sense of smell, since the area of the brain associated with this sense is the same where memory is located. Hence the famous term known as "olfactory memory" which we talk about in more depth in the post. That is why people respond to smells emotionally much better than with other senses. Sometimes a smell is the best way to awaken memories we thought were forgotten.
Benefits of aromatherapy
- For anxiety and stress: Thanks to the relaxing properties of aromatic oils from plants and flowers, aromatherapy is very popular for its ability to combat anxiety and depression.
- Aromatherapy for sleeping: in the same way, it is a technique that will help you combat insomnia and to fall asleep.
- Gastrointestinal discomfort: helps regulate intestinal flora.
- Respiratory infections and other diseases: aromatherapy is also used as a complement to medicine to treat and relieve symptoms of some diseases or health problems such as bronchitis, arthritis, colds, dermatitis, skin eczema, cramps, circulatory problems, or even hangovers.
- Improves quality of life: aromatherapy is a technique that everyone can practice, as it promotes relaxation and surrounds you with a feeling of complete mental peace. It helps improve concentration, to be in touch with your “inner self” and generally to improve quality of life.
How is this treatment applied?
There are different ways to apply this treatment and enjoy all its benefits and properties. The two most popular are these:
- Airway or respiratory route: the best technique for direct inhalation is to boil water along with pure essential oils, so that the aroma concentrated in the water vapor is inhaled through the respiratory system.
- Through the skin: it is also very common for essential oils to be absorbed through the skin, as through the skin the aromatic molecules quickly reach the circulatory system. For proper absorption, the best is to perform a massage in the area where they are applied. For this, creams, bath salts, or essential oils diluted in other vegetable oils are used. You can also try with a aromatic bath with aromatic essences for a full sensation of relaxation and well-being.
Oils used in aromatherapy
The essential oils of plants and flowers are the undisputed protagonists of aromatherapy. Already in ancient times, in civilizations such as China or Egypt, were used to embalm bodies in their funeral rituals or for other medicinal purposes. On the other hand, in the medieval period and the Renaissance it was also very common for doctors to use them to combat the symptoms of certain diseases thanks to their properties.
As for which oils are most used in aromatherapy. The lavender, rosemary, ylang ylang, tea tree or bergamot oil, are some of the most popular in this technique thanks to their multiple properties. Depending on the oils used, aromatherapy will have different health benefits. By the way! We recommend you take a look at our post about the best essential oils for perfumes with very pleasant and exquisite aromas.
As you can see, aromatherapy is a natural technique full of benefits that will undoubtedly improve your life. If you haven't tried it yet, what are you waiting for?
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