What is Aromatherapy ?

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile plant material

s, such as flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant, know
n as essential oils, the pure essence of a plant, and other aromatic compounds
for the purpose of altering a personâ s mind, mood, cognitive function or health.
Aromatherapy has known since thousands year ago. The ancient people used the a
romatherapy in their life. They used aromatherapy products to stimulate the powe
rful sense of smell. It is known that odors we smell have a significant impact o
n how we feel. It is believed that smells enter through cilia (the fine hairs li
ning the nose) to the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls our moo
ds, emotions, memory and learning. The doctors have found that a life without fr
agrance can lead to high incidence of psychiatric problems such as anxiety and d
epression.
The effects of aromatherapy product depends on its material. Studies with brain
wave frequency has shown that smelling lavender increases alpha waves in the bac
k of the head, which are associated with relaxation. Aromatherapy of Jasmine inc
reases beta waves in the front of the head, which are associated with a more ale
rt state
Scientific studies show that aromatherapy or essential oils contain chemical com
ponents that can exert specific effects on the mind and body. Their chemistry is
complex, but generally includes alcohols, esters, ketones, aldehydes, and terpe
nes.
There are many kinds of aromatherapy product for many purposes. Some of them are
produced directly from the plants such as essential oils, absolutes, COs extrac
t, carrier oils, macerated oils, butters, hydrosols, resins and can be used dire
ctly for aromatherapy purposes. They are also used as materials for another arom
atherapy products such as medicine, soap, bath bomb, lotion, cream, insect repel
lent, detergent, cleaner etc.
Aromatherapy product is ussually used for the relief of pain, care for the skin,
alleviate tension and fatigue and invigorate the entire body. Aromatherapy prod
uct can affect the mood, alleviate fatigue, reduce anxiety and promote relaxatio
n. When inhaled, it works on the brain and nervous system through stimulation of
the olfactory nerves.
Aromatherapy product are also helpful in other applications. It can act as a nat
ural insect repellent and pesticide. Some of the essential oils can be used as
disinfectant. And of course, aromatherapy can be used as room fragrance.
As an alternative medicine, aromatherapy product is gaining momentum. It is used
for a variety of applications, including pain relief, rehabilitation of health,
mood enhancement and increased cognitive function.
Whether inhaled or applied on the skin, aromatherapy has been suggested that it
may be useful as an alternative treatment for infections, stress, and other hea
lth problems.
However, in most cases scientific evidence for the efficacy of aromatherapy in t
reating medical conditions is still lacking and the research remains poor.
Aromatherapy works the best when it works on the mind and body simultaneously.