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How Scented Aromatherapy Oils Can be Helpful to Your Health

Aromatherapy brings together the medicinal properties that are known to exist in plants with traditional healing massage with oil. Over the centuries many cultures have used herbal oils to treat illness and encourage well-being and beauty. The first use was by infusing herbs in olive or Castor oil but by AD 1000 a Persian philosopher and physician developed the process of distillation, as we now know it.

Essential oils are extracted from the flowers, leaves, roots and stalks of plants and some trees. It is preferred that essential oils are derived from organically grown plants, thus avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.

Plant oils can be broken down into chemicals for example ketones, phenols and alcohols, which are believed the have healing properties and a key part of an aromatherapists training will be to understand the effects of these elements, as if used incorrectly they can be toxic.

Essential oils are absorbed into the body either by inhalation through the nose or through the pores of the skin during massage and molecules within the oils are thought to enter the bloodstream and into the nervous system to influence physical and emotional well-being. These oils are usually used diluted. A normal dilution is ten drops of essential oil to 20ml of carrier oil, though less essential oil would be used in cases of sensitive skin or if pregnant. Now let us discover some essential oils and how they may be helpful to your health.

Lavender is antidepressant, antispasmodic, antiseptic and sedative. It is useful for nervous tension, digestive disorders and skin conditions.

Peppermint is carminative, decongestant and antispasmodic. It is useful for respiratory infection and digestive disorders. Peppermint should always be used in a low dilution, not used on children under twelve and not used together with homeopathic remedies.

Tea tree is antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungal. It is useful for respiratory problems, skin conditions and gynecological problems.

German chamomile is sedative, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic and antispasmodic. It is useful in conditions associated with allergies, nervous tension, digestive disorders and skin conditions. It should be noted that this essential oil should not be used during pregnancy and in some cases may cause dermatitis.

Rosemary is decongestant, analgesic and stimulant and is useful for respiratory and circulatory problems, digestive disorders and nervous tension.

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