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Aromatherapy BenefitsWe are delighted to welcome Kerri Miller as a guest contributor with Aromatherapy Benefits to naturally-holistic.net. Kerri Miller is a Holistic Health Practitioner, coaching those seeking better health by integrating Nutritional Coaching, Energetic Healing, Aromatherapy and other natural therapies into customized, empowering wellness programs. You can read more about Kerri following her article. Aromatherapy Benefits What is aromatherapy? Before we can talk about aromatherapy benefits, let's learn some basics. Aromatherapy is the study and use of various volatile plant oils for physical and psychological well being. Does the smell of the morning cup of coffee raise your spirits? Have you noticed how you feel better before you even take a sip? And looking at the roses in bloom may make you happy, but actually smelling the roses probably brings on a feeling of elation! These reactions to aroma are no coincidence – different scents have a physical and psychological effect on us. Using aromatherapy is a great way to increase wellbeing, alleviate discomfort and protect ourselves from illness without exposing ourselves or the environment to unhealthy toxins. Aromatherapy uses essential oils, which are extracts of oils from the leaves, roots, flowers, bark, seeds, and grasses of the plants. Essential oils are believed to contain the life force or “soul” of the plant and are often equated to be the hormones of the plant. Each plant oil has a unique vibrational note. Essential oils are a pure and natural source of help and healing that promote wellness, balance and harmony within ourselves and nature Aromatherapy Benefits and the Difference between Aromatherapy and Fragrances It is important to note that pure plant essential oils are different from fragrances. I’m sure you could tell the difference between pine scented cleaner and the scent of walking through a pine forest! Fragrances are synthetic petroleum derivatives. Not only do they smell different, but they may create harmful side effects for some and do not create a physical and psychological shift as effectively as pure oils.
Aromatherapy Benefits
Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Aromatherapy uses essential oils, which are extracts of oils from the leaves, roots, flowers, bark, seeds, and grasses of the plants. Essential oils are believed to contain the life force or “soul” of the plant and are often equated to be the hormones of the plant. Each plant oil has a unique vibrational note. Essential oils are a pure and natural source of help and healing that promote wellness, balance and harmony within ourselves and nature It is important to note that pure plant essential oils are different from fragrances. I’m sure you could tell the difference between pine scented cleaner and the scent of walking through a pine forest! Fragrances are synthetic petroleum derivatives. Not only do they smell different, but they may create harmful side effects for some and do not create a physical and psychological shift as effectively as pure oils.
Aromatherapy Benefits The use of essential oils for medicinal practices is centuries old. There is historic evidence of aromatic use in India, China, Egypt, Greece and Rome and France. The oils were not just used for covering up body odor or embalming the dead, but were also used for cleaning, healing, protection from contagious diseases, treating manias and phobias, and other therapeutic uses. Modern scientific studies have confirmed that various essential oils have antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal qualities. Many oils alleviate pain, and encourage faster healing with their antiseptic, anti inflammatory, and antidepressant properties. They are truly mother nature’s medicine cabinet! Aromatherapy Benefits How it works Essential oils work on the body in two distinct ways. The first is through our sense of smell. Candles, room sprays and diffuser methods all disperse small aroma molecules from the essential oils into the air that we breathe in. The molecules stimulate receptor cells in the nose that signal the areas of the brain that control perception, emotion and memory. These impulses trigger the release of neurochemicals that have an immediate effect on the body, causing stimulation, sedation or perhaps euphoria. In this way aromatherapy is very beneficial for alleviating stress, exhaustion or depression. The tiny molecules from essential oils also penetrate the body through the skin. The oils are absorbed into the skin during an aromatherapy massage or an aromatherapy bath where they diffuse into the bloodstream and lymph. Once inside the body the chemical constituents of the oils are used for therapeutic uses such as pain relief or alleviating inflammation. The oils are easily excreted from the body with other wastes, through either sweating or urine without leaving behind any toxins or causing side effects like some medicinal drugs will do.
Aromatherapy Benefits
About Aromatherapy Author, Kerri Miller
Kerri is the founder of Holistic Living Resources, a company dedicated to creating awareness of the natural therapies available to support a healthy, balanced, and holistic lifestyle. Some holistic tools include Feng Shui, Nutrition, Herbs, Aromatherapy, and Reiki. Her mission is to inspire others to live an abundant, joyous and healthy life that is guided by one’s own inspiration and intuition. She maintains a company website, and publishes Holistic Living News, a free periodic e-zine for those that are interested in tools that encourage well-being. Kerri Miller is a graduate of the Natural Healing Institute in Encinitas, CA, where she studied Holistic Health, focusing on Nutrition, Herbalism, and Aromatherapy. She is also a graduate of the Western School of Feng Shui in San Diego, CA where she has studied both Form and Compass Feng Shui. Kerri has also trained as a Reiki Master, and continues to expand her abilities in all forms of energetic and intuitive healing. Aromatherapy Benefits and More! |
