What is Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils (concentrated plant extracts) for enhanced healing, health maintenance and beauty.  Using essential oils  through inhalation, topical application or oral ingestion can benefit all of the body’s major physical system including: circulatory, lymphatic, eliminative, reproductive, endocrine, muscular and skeletal. It has also been proven effective in encouraging the balance of mental and emotional states.

How it Works

Inhalation

Most of us have smells that elicit certain memories both good and bad. The sense of smell acts mostly on the subconscious level of the brain but offers more information than the senses of sight, taste and touch combined.

When an essential oil or combination of essential oils are inhaled the order molecules travel up the nose and are trapped by olfactory membranes.  From there they are carried to the limbic system where they pass between the major glands of the brain. The limbic system is part of the regulatory system for many bodily functions such as digestion, respiration, hormone balance, heart rate, blood pressure, stress levels, pain reduction and memory.

Absorption Through Topical Application or Oral Ingestion

When you ingest essential oils or use them topically, they enter your blood stream and can provide healing properties to various organs and glands such as adrenals, kidneys, liver, lungs, intestines, stomach, bladder and salivary glands.

Beneficial Effects of Essential Oils

• analgesic: relieves pain
• antibacterial: destroys bacterial or inhibits its growth
• antidepressant: assists in relieving depression
• antifungal: inhibits growth of fungi
• anti-inflammatory: soothes inflammation
• antiseptic: destroys and prevents germ infection
• antispasmodic: calms nervous and muscular spasms
• antioxidant: prevents or delays cell deterioration caused by free radicals
• antiviral: inhibits viral growth
• cephalic: mental stimulant
• decongestant: reduces nasal congestion
• digestive: aids in digesting food
• diuretic: promotes urination and prevents fluid retention
• emmenagogue: stimulates the menstrual flow
• expectorant: stimulates removal of mucus from the lungs
• ebrifuge: reduces fever
• laxative: helps to relieve constipation

• sedative: calms the nervous system

• stimulant: quickens the internal functions of the body
• tonic: invigorating, refreshing and restorative
• vermifuge: expels or destroys parasites
• vulnerary: assists wound healing