Alternative Medicine

An Introduction to Aromatherapy – Various Techniques

Posted by Alternative Medicine on September 6, 2011 in Aromatherapy with No Comments


The science of aromatherapy is very old, as people used essential oils from ancient times to treat their health problems and improve their appearance. Still, the term was only introduced in the 20th Century, when this science was officially recognized as extremely efficient in promoting the psychical and physical well-being.

Thus, an introduction to aromatherapy should start with the ancient times, when Chinese and Egyptians used plants extracts for cosmetic purposes but also for balancing their mind. The first perfumes were made of essential oils mixed with different vegetal extracts and lots of ancient civilizations used these products for embalming the dead people.

Nowadays, aromatherapy is mainly used for treating various health problems and relaxing the body and mind. The main forms of practicing this science are through inhalation and topical application. While in the first technique the patient doesn’t have a direct contact with the oil in the second practice the product is applied on the skin, being quickly absorbed and starting to exert its effect inside the body as well.

Regardless of the chosen method, it’s important for the used oils to be perfectly pure and undiluted, as through this process their properties may be affected. However, for financial reasons, lots of producers mix the essential oils with different chemicals, making them less efficient.

An introduction to Aromatherapy techniques

  • Inhalation involves smelling the oils directly from the bottle or mixing them with hot water and putting the liquid in an opened bowl in the aromatherapy room.

Another technique involves lowering your face over the bowl, covering your head with a bowel and maintaining this posture for few minutes. During the procedure you have to breathe deeply in order for the oil to do its action.

Then, you can use a device for dispersing the oil into the air or you can opt for a humidifier, which should be used together with a tissue on which you sprinkled a few drops of essential oil.

  • Topical application in aromatherapy involves applying the oil directly on certain areas of the body, such as the neck, upper back, on the crown of the head, temples or abdomen. Also, the essential oils can be applied on ankles and over the vital organs, depending on the purpose for which aromatherapy is used.

Usually, 2-3 drops of natural oil are place in the palm of the practitioner and then applied through circular motions on the skin. Rubbing and other massage techniques are also efficient in speeding up the absorption of the oil into the skin.

The particularity of this technique is that the oil has to be diluted and never applied in its concentrated form, as it passes into the bloodstream very fast and may lead to an allergic reaction. Although most essential aromatherapy oils are safe, this problem is quite common among uninformed users.

Then, essential oils applied locally make the skin absorb the ultraviolet rays faster than normal and this also causes various problems, among which sunburn is the most common. This side effect is called photo toxicity and can be easily avoided by diluting the oil before applying it on the skin.

Welcome to the home of the best aromatherapy oils you’ll ever need!

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