Aromatherapy, what is it and how can it help you? Aromatherapy, sometimes referred to as essential oil therapy is a holistic treatment that uses natural herbs and extracts to treat the body and mind.
The cells of plant matter that produce scents are called the essence of the plant. The essence of herbs and plants are carefully extracted then become what we call essential oils, pure and undiluted.
While aromatherapy is NOT a replacement for traditional medical care it can be used to complement it.
When inhaled the essential oils activate different parts of your brain, causing positive chemical reactions.
The autonomic nervous system is what is impacted by the scent of essential oils. There are two parts to this system: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for stimulating your organs and large muscle groups. The “get up and go” response if you will. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for calming down the body. The way that the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems work together means that you can manifest both physical and emotional reactions in response to the use of essential oils.
Article written by Christina Mahagan, Aromatherapy Contributor for Embrace Candles.
Photo by Madeleine Steinbach from istockphoto