Aromatherapy – Find Your Scent
Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that has gained popularity in recent years. Aromatic compounds such as essential oils are known to help improve mood, memory, cognitive function and overall physical and psychological wellbeing. These natural oils are extracted from flowers, leaves, bark, stems, roots and other parts of various plants. Using essential oils during massage allows you to not only inhale the aroma of the oils but also absorb their healing properties through your skin.
Aromatherapy can help with relaxation, pain reduction, anxiety reduction, energy enhancement and memory enhancement, among other things. There are two explanations as to the effects of the essential oils on mind and body: the influence of aroma on the brain, and the direct pharmacological effects of the essential oils. While aromatherapy will not cure you of a condition, it can help the body improve its immune response and find a natural way to cure itself.
Some popular aromatherapy scents include:
- Lemon – enhances of mental clarity and mood; reduces of stress and depression
- Peppermint – relieves mental fatigue; enhances of alertness and memory
- Lavender – induces relaxation and uplifting of mood; eases tension headaches and helps erase negative thoughts about traumatic or stressful events; helps you to get restful sleep; helps relax aching muscles.
- Eucalyptus – opens the sinuses and bronchial passages; relieves headaches and mental fatigue
- Rosemary – stimulates the brain and improves mental performance; improves circulation; relieves stress and induces a feeling of contentment.
- Vanilla – helps battle depression; improves mood; relieves stress; induces calm and relaxation.
- Jasmine – reduces stress, anxiety and depression
- Sandalwood – calms anxiety and stress, improves mood and induces relaxation; eases pain of aching muscles
- Thyme – improves memory and concentration; reduces stress