Do you believe in alternative medicines? Can the oils of a plant really
help to relax, rejuvenate, and revitalize your physical and mental
aura? If you’re sick or feeling down would you ever grab lemon oil,
thyme, tea tree, bergamot, anise, cinnamon, clove, henna, juniper,
oregano, sassafras, or sage? An aromatherapist would. While many of aromatherapy’s benefits are unproven, many people do
believe in the physical and mental benefits of aromatherapy. It has
been around for 1000s of years. Aromatherapy has three main applications – cosmetic products, massage,
and olfactory. All three types utilize the essential oils of a plant to
trigger the amygdala or hippocampus areas of the brain. When these
areas are affected it can positively change the way the body functions. Can you name an essential oil and what health benefit it holds?
Peppermint is used for headaches, muscle aches, and indigestion.
Eucalyptus helps respiratory issues, coughs, colds, and asthma. Clary
sage is used as a painkiller. Tea tree oil has anti-fungal properties.
Lavender heals wounds and promotes skin care. Lemon is uplifting.
Geranium balances hormones. Roman chamomile eases sleeplessness and
anxiety. These are all natural cures to balance and promote health. An aromatherapist must be an expert at the different essential oils and
how they are applied to help body, mind, and spirit. About 700 plants
contain these essential oils. The oil is extracted from the roots,
fruits, leaves, flowers, seeds, resin, bark, and wood. It can take
about 100 pounds of plant to produce a single pound of oil. The quality
of oil in a plant varies based on where and how a plant is grown. The
purer the oil; the higher the quality. Aromatherapists steer towards
oils that are therapeutic grade. The
grade verifies the percentage of pure oil and guarantees that carrier
oils do not water down the product. If aromatherapy sounds like an interesting approach to a healthy
lifestyle, it’s time you learn more about its potential. Visit health
food stores, talk with aromatherapists, contact aromatherapy
organizations, or find an aromatherapist that will take you under her
wing and show you the ropes. Learn what each oil does and how it can
potentially heal.