Guide to Aromatherapy
It’s okay to inhale.
Of the five senses, smell is the only one that links directly to the brain’s centre of memory, arousal, and emotion. Aromatherapy draws on this connection to boost your spirits, improve your focus, or simply help you relax. Read on for:
- Basics of essential oils and carrier oils and how they work
- Properties and applications of the most common aromatherapy blends
- A guide to using essential oils for skin care, mood enhancement, and more
What Is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the practice of enhancing health, mood, and appearance through the use of concentrated plant extracts called essential oils. Some essential oils, such as chamomile and lavender, calm the nervous system, whereas others, such as peppermint and rosemary, have stimulating properties. Applied topically or inhaled, essential oils can ease physiological and emotional symptoms. They can also be diffused through your home’s ventilation system to provide a gentle, pleasant fragrance.
How Is Aromatherapy Used?
Aromatherapy is used for a wide variety of applications:
- Essential oils can be added to unscented shampoos, conditioners, cleansers, creams, masks, and scrubs.
- Oils such as chamomile, geranium, lavender, and tea tree can relieve pain from insect bites and cuts.
- Adding an essential oil such as eucalyptus, lemon, or peppermint to unscented liquid cleansers, room sprays, dryer sheets, or vacuum bags makes a house more fragrant.
- Diffusing a mild citrus scent through your ventilation system at work can add a pleasant, calming touch to the office.
How Does Aromatherapy Work?
When an essential oil is inhaled, its molecules travel up through the nose to the limbic system, the part of the brain that is the centre of memory, arousal, and emotion. Sniffing a pleasing scent is one of the fastest means of receiving agreeable psychological or physiological effects: of the five senses, smell is the only one in which messages travel directly to the limbic system, bypassing the cerebral cortex, the “thinking” part of the brain.
Treatments
Essential oils are individually blended for you. Typically for aromatherapy massage we use sweet almond oil as a carrier then add your essential oils. If you have dry skin or particular needs we may blend other carrier oils with the sweet almond oil e.g avocado, carrot, evening primrose .
We also use essential oils in facial treatments and reflexology, depending on the clients needs and wishes.