Aromatherapy uses fragrant extracts of plant flowers, seeds, leaves, roots, bark, needles, rinds and fruits to improve your mood, relax you, reduce anxiety and help you sleep better. You can inhale the scents or put them on your skin.
Some oils can irritate your breathing and skin, so it’s important to use them properly. Your massage therapist should be familiar with how to use them safely.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are fragrant plant extracts that can be used in aromatherapy. They are often added to a carrier oil and then applied to the skin or inhaled.
Essential oils can be extracted from a variety of parts of a plant, including the roots, leaves, seeds, blossoms, and bark. They contain a unique mix of chemicals that give them their distinct fragrance. The chemicals in an essential oil can interact with the scent receptors in your nose to affect your emotions and physical wellbeing.
The aromas of some essential oils can stimulate your limbic system, which plays a role in our sense of smell and emotions as well as unconscious physiological processes like breathing and blood pressure. Inhaling the aromas of certain essential oils may also help ease symptoms of chronic illnesses, such as pain, anxiety, depression, and stress.
How do I use essential oils?
Essential oils are used in a variety of ways. People use them to inhale them (often using a diffuser), or they can apply them directly to the skin, usually after diluting them first. A qualified aromatherapist can also provide a massage with lotion or oil that contains essential oils.
If you are interested in using essential oils, you should look for those that are pure and haven’t been mixed with anything else. Ideally, they should be in dark-colored glass bottles, as light can affect their purity over time.
Although research supports the benefits of essential oils, it’s important to note that they’re not right for everyone. Some people may experience allergic reactions to them. It’s also important to check with your healthcare professional before trying them, especially if you are pregnant or taking any medications. For example, studies suggest that frankincense oil can interact with blood thinners, and that lavender oil can affect hormones in some people.
What are the benefits of aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy involves inhaling the chemicals in plant oils. People also apply these oils to the skin (called dermal absorption). Some clinical trials have shown that aromatherapy may help with pain from rheumatoid arthritis and cancer, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and chemotherapy, insomnia, premenstrual syndrome and menopause symptoms, and stress and anxiety.
It isn’t clear how the scents of essential oils work to benefit the body and mind. Different research methods can make it hard to compare results. Also, the wide range of uses for plant aromatics blurs boundaries between cosmetic, hygienic, mood-enhancing and medicinal applications.
It’s important to use the right oils, at the right concentration, in safe ways. And, it’s best to use aromatherapy under the guidance of a trained professional and with the full knowledge of your doctor. These oils are volatile and flammable, and some can interact with medications or cause allergic reactions when used incorrectly. For example, eucalyptus can decrease the effectiveness of antidepressants and other drugs that treat depression or anxiety.
How can I start aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy uses extracts from plants to help relieve symptoms and boost well-being. It may help with anxiety, stress, insomnia and other health problems. You can use these extracts by inhaling them or rubbing them on your skin. Aromatherapy may also complement other treatment methods like psychotherapy and medication.
Talk to your provider before trying aromatherapy. The oils used in this treatment aren’t regulated by the FDA and may interfere with some medications and conditions like epilepsy or asthma. Also, some essential oil smells can cause allergic reactions or damage to the liver and kidneys.
Choose a private label third-party manufacturer that has experience producing and marketing essential oil products. Look for one that offers custom product formulations and designs. Also, make sure they have a track record of meeting quality and safety requirements. Then, develop an aromatherapy product line that meets the needs of your target market. Use online advertising and influencer marketing to spread product awareness.
