Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that utilizes natural plant extracts, predominantly essential oils, to promote health and well-being. Used for thousands of years, these essential oils are derived from flowers, herbs, and other botanicals, known for their aromatic and therapeutic properties. Aromatherapy works through the sense of smell and skin absorption using products such as diffusers, aromatic spritzers, inhalers, bathing salts, body oils, creams, or lotions for massage. The practice is believed to help improve both physical and emotional health by stimulating the olfactory system, the part of the brain connected to smell. As the molecules from the essential oils interact with receptors in the nose, they send messages to the limbic system, a brain region involved in controlling emotions and influencing the nervous system.
Aromatherapy is widely used for mood enhancement, pain relief, and improved cognitive function, among other benefits. Different oils have different healing properties; for example, lavender is often used for relaxation, while peppermint is used to boost energy and aid in digestion. In a therapeutic massage setting, essential oils are often added to massage oils to enhance the massage’s effectiveness by adding an additional level of relaxation and healing. Aromatherapy is considered both an art and a science, increasingly recognized for its role in integrative medicine, providing a complementary approach to improving quality of life and promoting a balanced, healthy lifestyle.