What is Aromatherapy?

Incorporate Aromatherapy into your lifestyle and enjoy the physical and emotional benefits.

Not a day goes by where I don’t come in contact with essential oils. Whether it’s with a bath, my skin and body care products or within the candles and oil burners that scent my home I truly love the joy of using aromatherapy to help create a mood.

Aromatherapy is a true holistic approach to healing in that it uses oils extracted from plants and flowers to treat the physical, mental and spiritual body. The essential oils stimulate receptors in the nose which relay messages to the limbic system, the part of the brain that regulates emotions.

Essential Oils are Good for You

Essential oils are made up of very small molecules that are able to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, and into our bloodstream. The use of essential oils is nothing new, dating back thousands of years. Makes you think that there must be some efficacy to it, doesn’t it?!

Research has shown that essential oils have the ability to improve circulation, moisturise dry skin, reduce oiliness, rejuvenate stressed skin and assist the healing of damaged skin. Long term use of essential oils will contribute to the health of skin and help to keep skin supple by helping with the cellular renewal process. These interesting facts and many many more are detailed in the internationally acclaimed textbook, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy by Salvatore Battaglia, my favourite resource for information regarding essential oils.

Incorporate Essential Oils into your Daily Routine

The most beneficial part of aromatherapy, in my opinion, is that it can be incorporated into daily life via creams, massage oils, bath oils, compresses and for burning in an oil burner; and that blends can be tailor made to suit your requirements (to uplift and invigorate; to ease anxiety and stress, to help promote calmness and sleep and as a gentle aphrodisiac). Essential oils also add a sense of luxury when used as there is a heavenly scent that appeals to each and everyone.

In the morning I add a few drops of invigorating oils – Peppermint, Lemon, Eucalyptus and Rosmary – to the shower and my morning cleanse is transformed into an uplifting experience to help wake me up.

My bathroom cupboard ALWAYS has a couple of little bottles of Tea Tree and Lavender essential oils. I could write a book on the benefits and uses for these two oils!

If I ever have a stressful day, I’ll jump straight in to the bath and add a few drops of Neroli and Rose Otto (a great way to earn extra Springday Relaxation points), and if I’m finding it difficult to unwind and quieten my mind before bedtime I’ll add a few drops of Lavender, Roman Chamomile and Sandalwood to the oil burner.

I could keep going on and on and on.

If aromatherapy sparks a particular interest with you, I highly recommend heading to your local health food or book store to pick up a book that outlines the many different essential oils and their benefits or book an appointment with an aromatherapist.

 Written by Sam Sample, Springday Relaxation Expert.

Back to Relaxation

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