Aromatherapy- Oils and their applications

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for therapeutic effects. Essential oils have been revered for their fragrance and their restorative effects on the body, mind and spirit for thousands of years. Oils are used in baths, massage, compresses, air diffusion, and inhalation. They are also used as a comforting ritual to reduce stress, enhance relaxation, and relieve anxiety. Aromatherapy may improve your well being, relieve psychosomatic symptoms, and alleviate some emotionally related disorders.

Aromatherapy Treatments

Genuine treatments rely on the use of highly concentrated essential oils extracted from various healing herbs. Although you can pursue treatments under supervision of a certified aromatherapist, many people use the oils as a form of home remedy. Here is a list of a few of the most common aromatherapy treatments:

* Inhalation: For problems with respiration, try adding six to 12 drops of essential oil to a bowl of steaming water. Place a towel over your head, and deeply breathe the scented vapors.
* Diffusion: Aromatherapists often suggest spraying oil-containing compounds into the air. This technique is said to calm the nerves, enhance a feeling of well being, and even to improve respiratory conditions. Add 10 drops of an essence to seven tablespoons of water. Shake the mixture and fill the sprayer.
* Massage: Rubbing aromatic oil into the skin may either be calming or stimulating, depending on the type of oil used. It may be used for muscle sprains or strains and soreness. Most contain five drops of essential oil blended with light base oil.
* Bathing: Use no more than eight drops in a bath. Add the oil to a tub full of water.
* Hot and Cold Compress: For muscle aches or pains, bruises or headaches, add five to 10 drops of oil to approximately four ounces of water. Soak a cloth in the solution and apply to the sore area.

Common Essential Oils and Their Claims

* Lavender: Heals burns and cuts, destroys bacteria, helps alleviate depression, inflammation, spasms, headaches, respiratory allergies, muscle aches, nausea, menstrual cramps, soothes bug bites, and lowers blood pressure.
* Peppermint: Alleviates digestive problems, cleans wounds, decongests the chest, relieves headache, neuralgia, and muscle pain, and is useful for motion sickness.
* Eucalyptus: Lowers fever, clears sinuses, has antibacterial and antiviral properties, and relieves coughs, and is useful for boils and pimples.
* Tea Tree: Fights fungal, yeast and bacterial infections, useful for skin conditions such as acne, insect bites, and burns, helps clear vaginitis, bladder infections and thrush.
* Rosemary: Relieves pain, increases circulation, decongests the chest, relieves pain, indigestion, gas and liver problems, lessens swelling, fights infection, and helps alleviate depression.
* Chamomile: Reduces swelling, treats allergic symptoms, helps relieve stress, insomnia, and depression, and is useful in treating digestive problems.
* Thyme: Lessens laryngitis and coughs, fights bladder and skin infections and pain in the joints.
* Tarragon: Stimulates digestion, calms neural and digestive tracts, and relieves menstrual symptoms and stress.
* Everlasting: Heals scars, reduces swelling after injuries, relieves sunburn, fights infections such as bronchitis and flu, treats pain from arthritis, muscle injuries, and sprains, strains, and tendonitis.

source:nwhealth.edu