Feb 09

Aromatherapy benefits abound and, even if you know nothing about the subject, you have undoubtedly felt the effects. Aromas can trigger emotions and memories but, actually, they can do much more.

Most of us think of aromatherapy as incense and candles. Nice, romantic even, but not therapy. But these scents and more, particularly in the form of essential uses are a real therapy. And this therapy has been used for hundreds of years for everything from the physical to the emotional.

As with so many natural therapies, aromatherapy has been in existence for a long time and, throughout that time, the theory behind it has developed. Descriptions of this therapy can be found in written documentation in the West as early as the first century.

We still do no know for sure how aromatherapy works. It may affect the brain directly and, therefore, the body as well. Or, the affects may be due to the pharmacological effects of the plants themselves. While many cultures do not take this therapy seriously, there are others that treat it as a form of medicine. There are oils that must be prescribed by a doctor in France, for example.

To date, there is not much hard scientific research regarding aromatherapy benefits. Use and efficacy is largely historical and anecdotal. On the other hand, that can also be said for therapies such as acupuncture. Though more research has been done on that modality, the claims are still unproven in the scientific mind. However, there is no denying that the evidence supporting it has been collected for thousands of years.

There can, however, be some negative effects from aromatherapy. You should take caution when taking oils internally if you are on prescription drugs as some of the oils may have contradictory or complementary effects. For example, if you are already taking blood thinners and you ingest an essential oil that also has that effect, the result can be too much. Additionally, some oils are extremely toxic when ingested so you may want to consult an expert if you wish to use them in that way. In some cases, allergies can be aggravated. And, the skin can be irritated if one puts undiluted essential oils directly on it.

In most cases, however, you can experience aromatherapy benefits without experiencing any negative side effects. Make sure first that the aromatherapy products you are purchasing are of the best quality. And then begin to experience a therapy that is not just effective but will make affect your senses on many levels.

The author enjoys writing about home improvement, marketing, and health topics. Pay a visit to his newest web site where he discusses heavy duty office chairs and Office Star chairs and more.

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written by Margaret Prell \\ tags: , ,


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