Question by John: What is aromatherapy and how does it work?
Elderly family member is in nursing home and I’ve been told lately aromatherapy is been given her. How does it work?
Thank you oldtimekid2 and veggigirl7777 for answers so far.

Best answer:

Answer by oldtimekid2
Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile plant materials, known as essential oils, and other aromatic compounds for the purpose of altering a person’s mood, cognitive function or health. The effectiveness of aromatherapy is yet to be scientifically proven, however some evidence exists that essential oils may have therapeutic potential.

Since some essential oils such as tea tree have demonstrated anti-microbial effects, it has been suggested that they may be useful for the treatment of infectious diseases. The evidence base for the efficacy of aromatherapy used to treat medical conditions remains poor with a particular paucity of methodologically rigorous studies

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Ever since humans began moving indoors, capturing natural fragrances for use became increasingly important. Like sound, different essences evoke reactions of all kinds among individuals and groups. Certain fragrances (aromas) help induce relaxation, balance, and stimulation. Essential oils are a concentrated form of the natural plant or flower that produces the aroma. Burning essential oils has been ritualistic for thousands of years.
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Simple peppermint and lemon aromatherapy foot bath recipe for tired feet will lift depression, relieve stress and aid relaxation.

An aromatherapy foot bath is effective and easy to do at home – real DIY stress relief.

Here are our favourite ways of using a peppermint and lemon aromatherapy foot bath recipe with essential oils to ease and restore tired feet… And the benefits extend beyond just fresher feet!

Foot Bath Recipe 1

1 cup Epsom salt4 drops lemon and 4 drops peppermint

Directions

Add oil to the salts and keep in a sealed container.Use 1 tablespoon in warm foot bath, once a week. (Can use Dead Sea salts instead of Epsom salt. Or, skip the salt and just add the oils directly to the water. You can also use other oils.)

Foot Bath Recipe 2

1 tsp. sweet almond oil3 drops peppermint essential oil and 3 drops lemon essential oil

Directions

Fill a basin with warm water; and then add the almond oil, peppermint oil and lemon oil.Swish the water with your hands to mix the oil.Soak your feet in the water until your feet feel tingly and cool.Put pebbles or marbles in the bottom of the basin and rub your feet over them for a stimulating foot soak.

Tips for Aromatherapy Foot Baths

A good rule of thumb is 8 to 10 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons of water.Soak for at least 15 minutes.Listen to relaxing music to add to your relaxation.Use different blends of oils to suit your mood and needs.

* Benefits of adding lemon oil to your foot bath…

Eliminate toxins that cause arthritic pain.Lemon scent can lift your spirits, dispel sluggishness and relieve depression.Oil of lemon can also help dispel fear and apathy.

* Benefits of adding peppermint oil to your foot bath…

Helps alleviate digestive problems such as indigestion and nausea.Clears respiratory congestion and helps with sinusitis, colds and bronchial asthma.Helps to clear the mind and aids concentration.Use peppermint to assist with anger, guilt and apathy.

Aromatherapy is an excellent way to treat your feet…

Other Essential Oils that you can use for a foot bath and other treatments include:

?Lavender – soothing and relaxing.
?Rosemary – mild stimulant and good for rheumatic aches and pains.
?Eucalyptus – powerful bactericidal with anti-viral properties, good disinfectant.
?Tea Tree – disinfectant: use for blisters, fungal infections, athletes foot, insect bites.

Margo Bastos is passionate about holistic healing and natural stress-free living. Her abiding interest, continuing personal research and every-day philosophy is in alternative mind, body and spiritual modalities.

She has a real estate business in South Africa and her formal qualifications include a MA in Jewish Studies from the University of Cape Town.

Together with Alan Mounter, a practising holistic therapist, she has a website dealing with natural remedies for managing the negative effects of stress. Visit at http://www.diy-stress-relief.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margo_Bastos

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Smell is the ability for us to perceive odors within our environment. An odor can revive a memory, give us a feeling, remind us of a person, place or thing, or even enhance our mood. This is why aromatherapy has been introduced as an alternative medicine to be used with or without other modalities to enhance both psychological and physical benefits to the body. Aromatherapy uses naturally extracted aromatic essences or oils from plants such as flowers, bark, stems, and leaves to improve physical and emotional health, and to restore balance to the whole person. Essential oils can benefit the mind, mood, cognitive function and overall health.

Aromatherapy has been around for thousands of years dating back to antiquity. Then dried plant materials were infused into fatty oil, heated and then filtered. In addition to the potent odor, these oils were thought to have medicinal healing properties. This is not entirely inaccurate especially since some of the essential oils used today have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. During the time of the Crusades essential oils were being distilled and used as medicine. The Crusades are what is thought to have moved essential oils from India, China and Egypt westward. In the 16th and 17th centuries aromatherapy became popular with European herbalists. In 1907 Scientists and doctors began studying the components of essential oils and determining the individual plant chemistry. By 1937 a French book was written on aromatherapy and by World War II Dr Jean Valnet used essential oils as an antiseptic to treat wounded soldiers. By 1950 Marguerite Maury an Austrian beauty therapist introduced essential oils into massage therapy. She went on to establish the first aromatherapy clinics in Britain, France, and Switzerland.

Aromatherapy is a natural, non-invasive therapy designed to affect the whole body and person. The art and science of aromatherapy involves not only the aroma of specific plant oils to treat the mind and body, but by applying the essential oils directly to the skin, the oil can be absorbed into the bloodstream to alter the body chemistry, support the body systems, and improve moods and emotion. Therefore aromatherapy does not just treat a symptom or disease, it assists the body in its natural ability to balance, regulate, health and maintain itself. Overall aromatherapy promotes the health of the body, mind and spirit.

Aromatherapy can be used in three different modes- aerial diffusion, direct inhalation and topical application. When used in conjunction with other modalities the therapeutic potential increases. Aerial diffusion enhances ones environmental fragrance while disinfecting the air as well. Direct inhalation works to disinfect the respiratory system by decreasing congestion, enabling expectoration in addition to psychologically enhancing ones mood, energy and mind. The benefits of direct inhalation include stimulating brain function, uplifting, stimulating the immune system, relaxation and mood enhancement. Topical application can be done through massage, baths, compresses, and therapeutic skin care. Through this method a patient can see a reduction in tension, and pain, while promoting healthy circulation and restoring balance.

Although the efficacy of aromatherapy has not scientifically been proven herbalists, aroma therapists and massage therapists have long used it on their patients. The benefits that patients have demonstrated include pain relief, anxiety reduction, enhanced energy, increased short-term memory, relaxation, hair loss prevention, reduced itching, clarity of mind and mood enhancement. Aromatherapy benefits the person as a whole rather than treating a symptom or illness. The mechanism behind aromatherapy is not fully understood however; the influence of aromas on the brain especially in the limbic system through the olfactory system is thought to produce the desired benefits. Additionally the essential oil constituents (naturally occurring chemicals) have positive effects upon the body. When used correctly aromatherapy is subtle but effective.

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Turbulent times and hectic, sometimes overwhelming schedules take a real toll on our bodies and minds. Prolonged elevated stress levels can adversely affect organ and brain performance, depress mood and significantly reduce sleep – all of which can have devastating effects on a person’s general health over time. Traditionally, the essential oils in aromatherapy have been a true respite for many who are wary of today’s often over-prescribed antidepressants and anxiety medications.

Aromatherapy at its basis, like the word implies, works by stimulating nerves inside the nose to produce responses in the brain, primarily in the limbic system. Creating a calming effect in the limbic system is crucial because that area of the brain regulates emotion, motivation, and the release of chemicals and hormones. It also plays a large part in controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Scientists are not sure exactly how essential oils work to improve health, but they do say that aromatherapy ingredients are complementary modalities that likely trigger responses inside the body and brain to help the body heal itself.

Many essential oils have actual direct pharmacological effects when ingested or used as a part of a healthy meal plan.

A bit of caution is required when ingesting or cooking with essential oils however. Some oils, such as eucalyptus, hyssop, sage, lavender and others can be toxic when ingested or even applied to the skin in sufficiently large doses. Proper dilution of the ingredients can make them safe and beneficial however. Check labels or seek advice from a pharmacist or physician, or consult the many essential oil low calorie recipe books available.

Another organic compound is now being widely used with essential oils to create naturally sweet recipes that have tremendous health benefits, in addition to being great tasting. Xylitol, which is essentially sugar alcohol, is created by hydrogenating natural sugar, and the result is a sweetener with a third of sugar’s calories and a host of tremendous health benefits. Oral health issues, diabetes, infections, and bone health can all be improved with the ingestion of xylitol.

Foods incorporating xylitol and aromatherapy ingredients are really beginning to take hold. There are countless recipes incorporating essential oils, and products are springing up everywhere. Syrups that can be put on breads and pancakes or added to recipes make featuring essential oils in your diet easy. Cancer patients and survivors can especially benefit from the syrups because the xylitol actually reduces blood sugar levels and does not feed cancer cells like regular sugar.

Owen Walcher lives in Glenwood Springs, CO where Sophisticated Syrups were invented.

What makes Sophisticated Syrups unique is that they are sweetened with US grown organic xylitol from Birch trees, and they are flavored with therapeutic grade, ingestible aromatherapy essential essences. The syrups contain the aroma and effect of the aromatherapies they contain. All ingredients are of the highest quality obtainable and are bottled in glass. Currently there are 5 flavors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Owen_Walcher

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The foundations of aromatherapy date back thousands of years just like the origins of massage therapy. Egyptians were one of the first who started distilling different oils from various natural substances. Back then these scented oils were first and foremost used in embalming the dead, but they were also used in medicine and for cosmetic purposes. Since then the technologies of extracting and distilling essential oils have improved a great deal and nowadays there is a huge variety of different scents to choose from.

The choice of choosing an oil for the massage session should be done independently by the client. This is necessary because every oils has a different effect on the body and the mind – some give you more energy, others calm you down. When making the choice, always trust your intuition, as no two days are the same and you might not be in the exact same mood as last session. Do not be afraid of choosing something that you normally wouldn’t as you subconsciously know what is best for you at the moment.

In holistic aromatherapy, only naturally produced essential oils are used. These decrease the risk of allergies and also ensure that they have all the positive qualities and benefits promised. That’s why it is important to find out what kind of essential oils the masseuse uses or where to purchase your own. Essential oils can be either inhaled or applied directly to the skin. Both techniques have the same effects as the scents affect the central nervous system. This triggers the wished reaction in the brain and as a result you will feel more balanced emotionally.

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