What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the use of fragrance to enhance or promote a therapeutic benefit. The fragrances are most often concentrated plant based or “essential” oils. Essential oils are made by steaming or pressing various parts of a plant (flowers, bark, leaves, fruit) to capture the compounds that produce fragrance. Common fragrances include jasmine, rosemary, and lavender.
Essential Oils and Your Health
Scent is a powerful tool and can influence your body or emotional state in different ways. However there are lots of exaggerated claims that aromatherapy can cure an alarming number of ailments, from hair loss to short-term memory. I’m quite on board with all those claims, but there is real science and true medicinal benefits of this therapy.
It is true that essential oils have been found to have antimicrobial activity. They are also believed to have antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant properties, and results of lab studies have shown promise. One study performed at Johns Hopkins found that essential oils could kill a specific type of Lyme bacteria better than antibiotics. However, results in human clinical trials are mixed. There’s simply not enough research to determine their effectiveness in physical human health.
However, research clearly shows that aromatherapy can help promote relaxation, relieve anxiety and help the body with many emotional challenges.
I love aromatherapy, and highly suggest adding it to your self care routine. Just be cautious when selecting oils, look for a quality product and never apply directly to your skin without proper dilution. If you need help selecting oils or finding dilution ratios please contact me! I love helping people find the right blends and combinations for what ails them.
Methods of Aromatherapy Used in My Practice
- Simple Inhalation: Sometimes it’s just as simple as opening the bottle and taking a few deep breaths
- Diffuser: I love sharing my favorite diffuser blends. Please ask me at your next appointment.
- Topical Application: Properly diluted oils are applied to specific acupoints or meridians.
