Aromatherapy
benefits arise from the essential oils in four distinct ways:
- Aerial diffusion: when diffused in the air, essential
oils provide environmental fragrance and aerial
disinfections.
- Direct inhalation: when inhaled, essential oils
provide respiratory disinfections and decongestion.
- Topical application: essential oils can be applied
by massage, used in baths or in compresses for therapeutic
skin care.
- Internal preparations: Internal (oral, vaginal or
rectal) preparations made from essential oil extracts
can be administered to treat infection, congestion
and parasites. In addition, internal preparations
of essential oils can be used as anointments and perfumery
for body fragrance.
The aroma of essential oils used in Aromatherapy
influence the brain through the olfactory system.
At the scent level, essential oils activate the limbic
system. The limbic system is the part of the brain
that regulates emotion, behavior, long-term memory,
attention span and various other autonomic functions
(heart rate, blood pressure etc.). This is the primary aromatherapy benefit to be gained through this method.
When essential oils are used for Aromatherapy massage,
they activate thermal receptors in the skin. In addition,
when essential oils are used topically in aromatherapy,
they kill harmful microorganisms and fungi. This topical use of essential oils represents the 2nd main aromatherapy benefit gained by users.
Aromatherapy also uses essential oils in preparations
that are made to be used internally. When essential
oil preparations are taken internally, they stimulate
the immune system and can be used to treat various
infections hence we have the 3rd major aromatherapy benefit.
Because essential oils used in aromatherapy are
highly concentrated, they can only be used safely
in small amounts. Essential oils used in Aromatherapy
are measured in drops and then diluted in a carrier
oil such as sweet almond oil, olive oil, hazelnut
oil or rose hip seed oil.
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