Aromatherapy: Using Your Nose to Improve Your Health

Aromatherapy is the art of using the scent of a natural essence from certain fragrant plants to calm you down, raise your spirits, or lower your blood pressure. These oils can also be applied to the skin to heal cuts, burns, and other skin problems. Certain oils can also be taken internally. Some oils when taken by mouth are highly toxic so before you go this route consult a trained aroma therapist.

Aromatherapy oils are easy to buy and easy to use. Most natural health food stores and bath shops carry them, or you can buy them on line. Prices vary depending on the scent and where you buy them. You only need to use a few drops at a time so a bottle usually lasts for months.

Just as there are many different fragrances to chose from, there are also many different ways to use aromatherapy oils.

If you are in a small room, simply fill a bowl with hot water and add a few drops of oil. Or you can fill a small plant misting bottle with water and add your oil. Then spray the air around you or spray some on your skin.

To spread the fragrance in a larger room, invest in an aromatherapy diffuser. This works well if you are using aromatherapy to relieve the symptoms of a cold, the flu, or asthma.

Since the oils are absorbed through the skin, they can be used in a nice hot bath.

Oils can also be made into hot or cold compresses to ease minor aches or pains or used as massage oils.

If you are applying the oil directly to your skin, do a skin test first to see if you are allergic to it. Put a small amount on the inner part of your wrist or elbow and leave it there for twenty-four hours without washing the area. If there is no redness or rash after twenty-four hours, it's safe for you to use.

Pregnant women should always consult their doctors before using aromatherapy. Certain oils can cause a miscarriage if taken internally. Some doctors don't want their pregnant patients using aromatherapy in any form.

Some of the most common oils used are: rosemary, sandalwood, spearmint, peppermint, black pepper, eucalyptus, and lavender.

Rosemary used on the skin improves the quality of your skin; sandalwood is used as an antiseptic; spearmint energizes your mind; peppermint can provide relief from colds, flu, or sinus congestion; black pepper increases your energy; eucalyptus clears congestion; and lavender lifts your spirits and helps heal minor injuries like cuts, bruises, and insect bites.

A licensed aroma therapist can tell you exactly what oils you need to help you and can tell you how to use them to get the most out of a treatment.

Some people swear by aromatherapy, some say it's a lot of bull. However, if you are looking for an alternative remedy for your health problems, it's worth the time to consult with an aroma therapist.