Basics of Aromatherapy

Many people seek alternative treatments for certain ailments that western medicine can’t seem to fix. It can be in the form of acupuncture, massage, or even aromatherapy. But many people don’t understand what aromatherapy is, or even does. So let’s go over the basics of this alternative treatment, so you can become more familiar with it.

Many people use aromatherapy without even realizing it—lighting a candle, using body spray or perfume, or sinking into a warm scented bath. Scientists have discovered that our mood and how we feel is almost directly linked by what we are smelling. A scent can take us back in time to a good memory, or even a bad one. So preferences for smell differ from person to person.

Aromatherapy practitioners use essential oils to stimulate the olfactory nerve (sense of smell). Essential oils are used in more than one way, by smell and by absorption when massaged into the skin they are brought into the body and all of the body’s organs.

When you first begin with aromatherapy, most practitioners suggest six basic oils to begin with. These are readily available, versatile and inexpensive. They include: citrus oils, floral oils, lavender, peppermint, rosemary and tea tree.

These oils can be added to humidifiers, vaporizers, candle wax, diffusers, spray bottles of water, baths, light bulb rings, inhaled directly from the bottle, or applied directly to the skin in massage oils or body lotions.

As always please consult your physician before you attempt aromatherapy with essential oils, as some medications may react with the oils.

Our school’s apothecary sells high quality essential oils. Please come visit any time.