Healing With Aromatic
Herbs: Aromatherapy
You have probably heard a lot about Aromatherapy. Even
though the name of this ancient healing tradition is more or
less self-explanatory, there are still many things about
aromatherapy that many people don’t know about.
Aromatherapy is kind of natural healing tradition or
approach that involves the use of aromas for physical,
emotional, and mental healing. Aromatherapy uses essential oils
distilled from herbs and flowers to create soothing and healing
aromas.
How does Aromatherapy work?
Most people with little or no experience with herbal medicine
do not realize how volatile most essential oils actually are.
What do we mean by describing them as volatile? Volatile simply
means that their molecules will quickly evaporate into the
environment.
Every time that you inhale the aroma of an essential oil
molecule, the unique components that are active in the aroma
will mix and react with the olfactory membranes that are
present in your nose. These olfactory membranes in your nose
are directly connected to the limbic system and hypothalamus
that is located in your brain.
These two areas of your body both play a very crucial role
in how your mind, emotions and entire body are regulated.
Aromatherapy does not simply have to do with sniffing different
essential oils. Many essential oils can also be applied
directly onto the skin. Doing this is often doubly effective
because not only are you inhaling the scent of the essential
oil, it is also being absorbed into your bloodstream. Essential
oils may often vary in cost tremendously.
You can think of essential oils as fine wines--some are
finer than the others, and their cost will reflect this
difference. The cost of pure essential oils is usually a
reflection of their availability and the methods necessary in
order to procure and produce them.
For example, you can probably procure an ounce of pure
lavender oil for approximately five dollars or so because
lavender is a fairly common plant and it is easy to harvest.
However, you might pay $250 for half an ounce of rose oil,
depending on the kind of rose. However, investing in a good
supply of healing, therapeutic essential oils is an important
investment in your overall health.
An Interesting Herb Fact
First Aid Remedies with the Yarrow Plant
The Yarrow plant, Latin name Achillea millefolium, is one of the most highly valued plants for treating the common cold and influenza. The plant's Latin name is derived from the famous Greek hero Achilles. It is believed that the plant was used during the Trojan wars, where it was used to treat war wounds. Yarrow also has a curious folk name: "nosebleed." This folk nickname is a testimony to its traditional use as a first aid herb. Yarrow has been used in the past as an emergency styptic to...
In order to get the most out of Aromatherapy, most herbalists
and naturopathic doctors also recommend investing in a
diffuser. A diffuser is a special device that is used to
disperse essential oil into the air. Most diffusers are very
inexpensive. Atomizers will also work fine in most cases. You
an even purchase a special aromatherapy pottery ring that can
be fitted over a light bulb for a relatively small price.
What sort of health ailments can
Aromatherapy treat? Aromatherapy can be used to help
alleviate the symptoms of a variety of ailments, including:
Herbs can cure many ailments. If you have a
cold, Echinacea extracts in capsule form can
help.
A 5 ml tincture dose every 2-3 hours can
also be beneficial, but check with a
herbalist.
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Most essential oils are very potent, but they
are generally very safe to use, especially if you follow the
recommendations on the label. Most essential oils should not be
applied directly to the skin without first being somehow
diluted.
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