Aromatherapy is an alternative way to treat cognitive disorders, mental stress and general health problems. It involves the use of natural products from plants such as essential oils and hydrosols. These are volatile liquids obtained from plants and have various therapeutic benefits. We all use essential oils in our daily life in the form of perfumes, mouthwash and soaps. Aromatherapy is a holistic approach to cure your body from any kind of mental or physical problem by using an appropriate blend of essential oils.

Aromatherapy is not new to the world. It began with the Egyptians using it in the form of medicines and cosmetics. It is a growing field in today’s world, and is being practiced in the form of cosmetic remedies and in spas. It is also being practiced by doctors in their clinic for the rehabilitation of patients who have undergone severe pain, such as pain during chemotherapy in cancer patients, labor pain and heart attacks.  Massage therapists, osteopaths and trained aroma therapists are some of the people who practice aromatherapy in the main stream. They first try to understand the complete history of the patient’s problems, and then decide on the type of therapy, types of essential oils and their combination, to treat the patient’s condition.

The aroma of essential oils when inhaled, reaches directly to the limbic part of brain, which has control over all emotions. It also reaches different body organs when essential oils get absorbed through the skin during massage and bath. Apart from being used in treating physical and mental ailments, it is now also used as a replacement for beauty products or cosmetics because of its pureness and natural origin.  Aromatherapy is also being used for our pets; some essential oils are very good for their immune system.

The essential oils used for aromatherapy should never be used in concentrated form. A diluted mixture of essential oils along with almond or grape seed oil is an ideal combination for body massage. The other alternatives for aromatherapy apart from essential oils are natural ingredients such as cold pressed vegetable oils, jojoba (natural wax), milk, sea salt, and mud. Sometimes synthetic ingredients are used for holistic treatment but it is advisable not to use them.

Listed below are some uses and benefits of aromatherapy:
•Aromatherapy works directly on the mind and controls our emotions. Thus, it is very helpful as a mind booster and stress reliever during headaches, insomnia and depression.
•Aromatherapy boosts the immune system against viruses and bacteria, and has a pharmacological effect on the body.
•The aroma of essential oils help in curing diseases related to the respiratory system such as asthma, cough, and tonsillitis.
•Aromatherapy stimulates the brain to release important hormones essential for the body. Hence, diseases related to the digestive system such as irritable bowel syndrome and constipation can be treated by aromatherapy in conjunction with a good dietary regimen.
•Aromatherapy enhances blood circulation in the body and also flushes out toxins from the body.
•Because it has little or no side effects, it can be a good replacement for synthetic cosmetic products.