Aromatherapy: Scentsitive Healing
What
do you think of when you read the word aromatherapy? Luxury? Romance? Beauty?
A change of mood? Although many fragrance products are designed to enhance
mood — to relax or invigorate us, true aromatherapy delves much deeper and
has a broader healing scope. It can be used to treat a variety of ailments. In
The Hale Clinic Guide to Good Health (The Overlook Press, 1998), Teresa
Hale writes that at her London-based clinic, aromatherapy has proved
successful in treating flu, colds, asthma, bronchitis, digestive disorders,
chronic fatigue, migraines, depression, menopausal and menstrual complaints,
infertility, neck and back pain, rheumatic disorders, insomnia, anxiety, panic
attacks, and skin conditions. Ms. Hale reports that it is also very effective
for bacterial infections of the respiratory system and for immune deficiencies
such as Epstein Barr viral infection. In addition, although there have as yet
been no human trials, a recent American study found that a blend of essential
oils effectively killed pneumonia bacteria.
Worldwide, only about 700
plants are considered to be aromatic. At this time, some 400 are used
therapeutically. No two are alike. Each has its unique aroma and therapeutic
properties. Their subtle, volatile liquids are taken from flowers and
blossoms, fruits, rinds and peels, leaves, stems, seeds, roots, wood, bark,
balsams, and resins of plants. Very concentrated, the oils are often 50-100
times more potent than the original plant material. Although chemically
defined as oils, essential oils contain none of the fatty acids necessary for
health which are found in food oils.
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Keywords: Anxiety,
Aromatherapy, Arthritis, Bronchial health, Colds and flu, Essential oil, First
aid, Immunity, Scents, Shingles, Skin care, Smell
Topics: Scentific Specifics, Heal
Scentsibly, Hands On!, Skin Care, Bath - Therapy, Inhalation, Diffusion,
Personal Use and Gift Ideas, Be Scentsible About Quality
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