The Main Healing Benefits Offered by Aromatherapy
Image by Marina Pershina from Pixabay
Aromatherapy is a type of all-natural medicine that uses essential oils taken from roots, seeds, bark, stems, leaves, peels of various plants and flowers. When essential oils are breathed in, they offer benefits for individuals with an array of health problems.
The use of aromatherapy dates back to the time of ancient Greeks and Egyptians. The oils were used for medicinal and religious purposes. During WWI, French soldiers coming back from war were given aromatherapy to help treat wounds and reduce anxiety and cases of PTSD from battle. Today, essential oils are found everywhere, ranging from perfumes and candles to meditation classes and spa treatments. The oils can be used by inhaling, ingestion, or skin absorption. It is possible to find more details from AromaTech about this.
Keep reading to learn more about the essential oils and the health benefits they offer.
Reduce Stress
Stress is a normal part of life. It can affect everyone in unique ways. While it is almost impossible to avoid completely, a person can take steps to manage it.
One essential oil proven to help reduce stress is lavender oil. Lavender helps calm the nervous system, lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, and rewire brain waves to help the user reach a more relaxed state.
Along with lavender, some of the other essential oils that help with stress include chamomile, jasmine, geranium, lemongrass, and lavender.
Relieve Anxiety
According to a study from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, approximately 18.1% of adults in the U.S. have dealt with an anxiety disorder in the past 12 months. That equates to approximately 40 million people who are dealing with this condition. With so many people struggling to overcome anxiety, some are searching for a natural solution. One option that has grown in popularity is the use of essential oils.
The top essential oils to use for anxiety include chamomile, rose, bergamot, and lavender.
Energy Boost
Many people experience the dreaded afternoon slump. It typically occurs between 2 PM and 4 PM when the day’s coffee has finally worn off, and the fatigue sets in. Instead of reaching for another cup of Joe, consider a natural alternative.
Today, several essential oils will help invigorate the senses and provide that “pep” a person needs to get through these tough afternoon hours. All types of citrus oil, lemon especially, is filled with antioxidant terpenes like limonene. This provides a naturally energizing effect.
Another option is peppermint. This essential oil helps to boost exercise performance, reduce cases of exhaustion, and increase brain oxygen concentration. When someone is ready to get rid of fatigue and feel energized throughout the day, some of the essential oils to try include lemon and peppermint.
Improve Focus
When someone has trouble paying attention to the task they are working on, they may want to take steps to improve this. Attempting to improve cognitive performance, memory, and concentration can be challenging, but essential oils can be quite beneficial.
Improving overall brain function is one of the main reasons that so many people turn to essential oils, to begin with. Aromatherapy oils contain antioxidants that are effective at fighting free radicals. This means this treatment is beneficial for individuals who are dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and several other mental illnesses. Some of the top oils that will help with improving focus include sage, basil, and rosemary.
Physical Pain Reduction
Aromatherapy has a positive impact compared to control treatments and placebos when it comes to reducing pain. This is specifically related to obstetrical, postoperative, and gynecological pain. The best essential oils that for physical pain include ginger, thyme, chamomile, turmeric, and eucalyptus.
Improve Sleep
When it comes to effective sleep aids, essential oils are a popular option thanks to the natural, sedative property they have. In fact, lavender oil has been scientifically proven to help promote a restful night’s sleep.
Lavender oil can help to improve patient’s sleep quality in hospitals, including those who are in the coronary intensive care unit, according to a study published in Nursing Critical Care. Individuals who inhaled lavender oil for 15 days showed a significant improvement in sleep quality compared to the control group that did not receive the treatment or therapy. The top essential oils to help improve sleep include bergamot, ylang-ylang, and chamomile.
Aids in Digestion
If someone has an upset stomach or is suffering from indigestion or diarrhea essential oils may be beneficial for these conditions, too. The oils can help to support digestive health by stimulating the digestive enzymes, which will break down certain nutrients. To help reduce cases of gas and abdominal pain, try ginger oil. This has proven healing properties. For cases of IBS, try peppermint. Along with those two, other options to try out include juniper berry and fennel.
Strengthens the Immune System
Thanks to modern medicine, many people are resistant to modern day antibiotics, and this is becoming a problem for many. This is another situation where the use of essential oils can be beneficial. Thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties they offer, essential oils are beneficial when fighting an infection. One example of this would be oregano. It is well known for tis antibacterial and antiviral properties that help protect a person’s body against bacterial infections. Some of the other essential oils worth trying for a stronger immune system include frankincense, eucalyptus and myrrh.
Balance Hormones
When someone struggles with infertility or PCOS, they may find that essential oils like geranium and rose beneficial. These have been proven to help increase estrogen levels naturally.
When using essential oils for any health condition, one of the best things a person can do is to find a quality supplier. The quality of the oils used is going to impact the effects that are seen. If low-quality oils are purchased and used, an individual can expect to see low-quality results. Be sure to keep this in mind when using essential oils for the first time to find something that works well for the individual and their health concerns.