CONTEXT, HISTORY, RESEARCH
So you're probably here to find out as much as you can about Aromatherapy right?
You've heard it can do good things but you've still got a healthy degree of sceptism, after all it's just the latest 'fad' and there's no scientific evidence is there?
Well strictly speaking both of those are incorrect.
Aromatherapy (although not strictly as we know it as it was unlikely steam distilled) has been around for thousands of years.
Dating back to the Ancient Egyptians (what doesn't!) plant oils were used in a multitude of ways to ward of bad smells, infections and even .......
Almost 3000 years later the Ancient Greeks caught on and Hippocrates - the 'alledged Father of Medicine' used Essential Oils to .......
You probably would have heard of Frankincense and Myrhh? These 'holy' oils are actually powerful essential oils and it's unlikely to be coincidence that these were chosen as gifts, Not convinced? Well even Shakespeare referenced the powers of using Rosemary oil for concentration in his .......
Ok, so if it's been used for so long why isn't there any scientific evidence to back up it's claims?
Well I'm defintely not a medical doctor, but I do know that because Essential Oils are a natural product and therefore cannot be patented, there's no financial incentive for big pharma to prove that there's something better than their chemical pills - remember they treat DisEase, Aromatherapy deals with WellBeing!
However the clamour around Aromatherapy has definitely gotten louder, with more and more people turning to Aromatherapy as a Complementary and Alternative medicine. More studies and research is being done, with the latest studies showing that for most the use of Aromatherapy Essential Oils has some sort of physiological or emotional benefit whether short or medium term.
What I defintely know is that the mind plays a big part in everything, so if you think it will work, chances are it will!
For a more detailed look at the science, look out for our upcoming blog post - Scientific Studies that Suggest Aromatherapy is a powerful healer
WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY?
In a nutshell (or a flower petal?!) it's the use of the 'oils' that are extracted from the very essence of plants, flowers, leaves, stalks, twigs, wood.
HOW CAN AROMATHERAPY HELP ME?
Studies have shown that Aromatherapy can help to improve physiological conditions such as cuts, bruises and sprains as well as improving our emotional wellbeing such as depression, stress and anxiety.
HOW DO YOU DO AROMATHERAPY?
You can benefit from aromatherapy in a number of ways including inhalation, vaporisation or direct topical application. Essential oils are also present in many bath, skin and facecare products as well as candles and incense.
ARE THERE ANY DANGERS OR SIDE EFFECTS?
While safe for most, Essential Oils are a powerful substance and should be treated with caution. Some Essential Oil are toxic and some shouldn't be used if you are suffering from specific medical conditions.