The word aromatherapy conjures up images of people magically alleviating their depression or insecurities with wonderful scents.  But aromatherapy is much more than that.  Incorporating aromatherapy into your life enhances you overall health, beauty and psychological well-being.  Aromatherapy can reduce stress, improve sleep and give you more energy.  It can improve your complexion, treat an annoying skin itch and eliminate a stomachache.

Perhaps the best thing about aromatherapy is that it is so easy and pleasurable to do.  Few people will complain about receiving a prescription to bathe with scented oils or apply fragrant body oil.

Essential oils give plants their characteristic odors. It’s why a rose smells like a rose and a lilac smells completely different.  It is because essential oils are aromatic that the therapy involving their use is called aromatherapy.

There are two main ways to use fragrance in healing.  One is through inhalation, which has its most significant impact on mood and emotion but can also produce physical reactions such as lowering blood pressure. The other route is the physical application of essential oil to the body. Any time you use essential oils you will be getting a benefit because you can’t help but inhale the aroma.

Useful Essential Oils:

Anger, Anxiety: Basil, Bergamot, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Hyssop, Jasmine, Juniper, Lavender, Marjoram, Melissa, Neroli, Ylang-Ylang

Depression: Basil, Clary Sage, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Lavender, Melissa, Neroli, Rose, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ylang-Ylang

Immunity: Bergamot, Black Pepper, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender, Rosemary, Tea Tree

Insomnia: Basil, Chamomile, Lavender, Mandarin, Marjoram, Melissa, Neroli, Petitgrain, Rose, Sandalwood, Thyme, Ylang-Ylang

Loss of Appetite: Bergamot, Caraway, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Coriander, Ginger, Hyssop

Nausea: Basil, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Chamomile, Clove, Lavender, Peppermint, Rose, Sandalwood

Nervous Exhaustion: Basil, Cinnamon, Citronella, Coriander, Ginger, Grapefruit, Hyssop, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon Grass, Peppermint, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Ylang-Ylang

Nervous Tension: Basil, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Marjoram, Melissa, Neroli, Palmarosa, Rosemary, Vetiver, Ylang-Ylang

Pain: Curry, Peppermint, Basil, Marjoram, Clove

Uplifting: Basil, Bergamot, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Melissa

To hear more about the benefits of aromatherapy you can listen to the recording of my internet radio show, Aunt Mel’s Herbs & Insights on VoiceAmercia Health & Wellness Channel.

http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1699

This entry was posted on Friday, March 26th, 2010 at 8:48 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.