Benefits of Aromatherapy
What Does Aromatherapy Benefit?
There are many benefits of using aromatherapy. Aromatherapy may benefit health, emotions, mood, and environment. And, it's fun to discover new aromatherapy benefits and uses for essential oils for yourself.
Benefits of Aromatherapy & Sense of Smell
As the word “aromatherapy” implies, essential oils usually are quite fragrant. There are several ways to use essential oils, and in many cases it is not even necessary to smell an essential oil to receive its benefits. Despite this, the fact that essential oils are aromatic does give aromatherapy an added therapeutic dimension, due to the way humans perceive and process scents.
Aromas are sensed and analyzed in the reticular system of the brain stem. In this system, emotions, memories, and attention are connected. Herein lies one of the powerful benefits of aromatherapy – it can not only help to heal some physical imbalances of the body, but also affect emotions and memory.
Certain aromas can stimulate the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls the endocrine system and many body functions. The hypothalamus may then activate the pituitary gland, which produces hormones that can affect both the physical body and the emotions. Hormones influence emotions and behavior as well as regulate the activities of organs or specific groups of cells in the body. There is also evidence of a link between scent and immune system function.
Related Article: Aromatherapy for Emotional Health »
The human sense of smell is vastly more sensitive than the other senses. We can detect many hundreds of different scents, and in some cases we can detect the presence of only a few molecules of a particular fragrance. Aromatherapy has the potential to tap into a person’s state of health in a way that is both unique and powerful.
Use Safely to Get Aromatherapy Benefits
Aromatherapy offers many benefits. But even though essential oils come from natural sources, they are very potent substances and can cause adverse effects in some situations. If there is any type of medical condition, or any history of any medical condition, it is wise to consult an authoritative resource or an experienced Aromatherapist before using any essential oil or hydrosol.
Related Info: Essential Oil Safety Tips >>
It also is very important that the essences used are completely natural and pure. But, remember that in some cases, even a “natural” substance is not necessarily a safe one. Bee venom is a natural substance, but for some who are allergic to bee venom, a bee sting can cause an extreme reaction and even death. Even the essential oils that are considered relatively safe, and that rarely cause adverse reactions, should be used only in very small quantities and usually diluted in a carrier oil. Essential oils are extremely concentrated substances, and should be used by the drop for most uses.
