Symptoms And Treatments Of Aroma Therapy

A wide range of treatments exists under the umbrella term of ‘complementary therapy’. Each treatment has its own unique theory and practice, which makes it difficult to offer a

Why does a certain scent boost your energy while another helps you to relax better? And why does inhaling essential oils have a positive effect? Why can aromatherapy be a solution for managing stress, reducing pain, and even healing certain maladies? Do natural oils really boost our overall well-being?

Aromatherapy is when one uses natural oils that are extracted from plants such as flowers, leaves, roots, stems and other various parts of plants. These essential oils are used by either inhaling the aroma from them or absorbing the essential oil through the skin into the blood system (The Balance & Harmony of Body and Mind). Aromatherapy is said to help the body in both psychological and physical aspects from increased cognitive development, pain relief, mood enhancement, and overall whole body healing (NAHA). Aromatherapy is a growing alternative medicine just like massage therapy.

We all have heard and experienced the benefits of Aromatherapy. We use variety of essential oils in this process which benefits our mind and body. However people still question Is aromatherapy safe?

Many people ask "how does an aromatherapy massage work" and "what makes it different from any other massage"? To answer these questions it is necessary to understand how essential oils interact with the body. There are well over 3000 identified essential oils in nature each with a unique set of properties many of which are therapeutic to our human biology. Essential oils are common elements of both Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. The use of oils to nourish the skin, mind, body and soul has centuries of use within many cultures as old as the Romans & Egyptians and even farther back.

For example, many say that massage therapy lowers the stress and blood pressure that contributes to heart disease. And in fact, decades of research agrees.

Heart rate is the most important part of an individual’s health. In this lab I am experimenting with different reactions of the heart. I am specifically looking at how the heart rate of an individual is affected by meditation and calming music. The purpose of this research is to determine if an individual with a higher heart rate, possible due to stress, could possibly lower their heart rate. Heart rate is very important and can be a major factor in other diseases or health issues.

The shifting paradigm of traditional medicine and CAM will continue to prevail over the next few years due to the increasingly culturally diverse United States and the growing interest of alternative medicine practices and religious and spiritual approaches to healing. An integration of traditional methods and alternative medicine can provide better treatment for patients due to the direct relationship between stress and neuroendocrine responses in the human body. The psycho-physiological aspect of stress as it relates to disease has become more and more popular for study in recent times. This understanding has shifted the focus of healing to a more integrated one of understanding emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and behavioral factors and how they directly affect health. As this understanding continues to shift, CAM and holistic medicine will become more and more popular and a definite shift will occur in our culture where CAM and Western Medicine are combined for a better health care

This method is believed to benefit both the mind and the body, and in fact, is a categorized branch of herbal medicine. Concentrated oils are taken from various parts of a plant for their healing and medical properties. (Plants included in this process are flowers, grasses, and roots. Even seeds are used to create and enhance the oils). With that being said, these oils are one-hundred percent organically produced. They’re widely known to be used to reduce stress, as well as to detoxify the body. “Proponents of aromatherapy argue that it works on the mind as well as the body. The body is affected directly, since the tiny molecular structure of the oils allows them to penetrate the skin and be absorbed into the bloodstream” (Sharon’s Essentials 3). There is much discussion on whether or not these oils truly affect the mind as well. Study has been found that the oil produces an internal effect that can be diuretic, antiviral or anti-inflammatory. Tests have been done to discover the mind affects that could occur, if any. In this experiment, mood changes were soon discovered from these oils, depending on the scent used. Realistically, it is known that these products work instantly due to their strong aroma and strength. According to Jen Jones, a

Aromatherapy, one type of alternative medicine, is the practice of using natural oils extracted from different areas of plants, such as the leaves, roots, stems, bark and flowers to promote well physical and psychological wellness. These natural oils, referred to essential oils are very concentrated and are widely believed to improve mood, relieve pain and increase the brains cognitive performance, among a host of other things. Aromatherapy, which has been around for at least six thousand years, is gaining in popularity as many people try to embrace practices and philosophies that are closer or perceived to be closer to nature and what is natural. In aromatherapy, essential oils (the main components of the practice), may be inhaled or applied to the skin via massages. There is myriad of essential oils available and each has its own beneficial and healing properties.

Have you ever smelt lavender and became relaxed? What about smelling an orange and instantly becoming happy? It is scientifically proven that scents are connected with the mind. Aromatherapy is the practice of using natural oils extracted from parts of a plant to promote the health of the body, mind and spirit. The inhalation of these essential oils is believed to stimulate brain function. Aromatherapy can be applied using many safe methods like baths, massages, vapor inhalation, and lotions. Not only can a scent change your mood, but it can also make you an overall healthier person with its many health benefits.

Lavender Essential Oil: Lavender oil has effective anti-inflammatory properties leading to better blood flow and fewer cramps. It is also effective in treating migraine pain, soothing anxiety, and helps alleviate painful menstruation. Additionally, lavender oil has a psychological effect on the moodiness associated with anxiety during your

Benefits of such therapy vary based on physiologic makeup of an individual as well as applications. Studies from the International Journal of Drug Development and Research suggest that inhaling essential oils not only stimulates the brain to trigger a reaction but also supply therapeutic benefits when natural constituents are inhaled into the lungs. (Shah, et al., 2011). These effects aid in respiratory disinfection, decongestion, expectoration and psychological effects. Topical application of diluted oils can progress directly to the spot that is being effected as they are absorbed into the skin and bloodstream, This journal article stresses the importance of aromatherapy in patients as helping in relaxation, mood, and clarity of mind more so than any actual physiological effects. However, sleep, relaxation, and other restorative feelings generated by these treatments can leave a person in overall better health, promoting

Patients with the cardiovascular disease tend to have a weak heart muscle. Wahlstrom and Colleagues (2017) explored the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) in patients with the cardiovascular disease. Generally, atrial fibrillation is provoked by stress and anxiety. They found that yoga practiced by their 80 participants for 12 weeks showed an improvement in the heart rate, decreasing the progression of arrhythmia and the remodeling of atria. By performing yoga regularly, these participants were able to maintain their stress level low by activating the parasympathetic system. After 12 weeks post study, the patients who performed yoga afterwards were found to have 24% decrease conducting atrial fibrillation than those who did not do yoga on regular basis. Their conduction of atrial fibrillation was only six percent. Yoga practice was shown to decrease blood pressure, improve endothelial function, and reduce inflammation (Lakkireddy, 2013).

The therapeutic value of applying oils and rubbing parts of the body to lessen pain and prevent illness was recognised amongst the ancient Mediterranean civilisations. In ancient times scented oils were almost always used when giving massages, creating an early form of aromatherapy massage.