Aromatherapy is not recognized as a legitimate form of treatment in most countries. It is largely frowned upon by medical communities because there is no formalization of the principles of Aromatherapy. Anyone can create their own essential oils or blends different oils. They can experiment with the effects of the oils and it is mainly a practical form of treatment. It is also quite commercialized to the extent that everyone has some kind of scent that they can diffuse throughout the house or a massage oil that they can use on themselves or friends. Most high street chemists or pharmacies sell aromatherapy products like candles or scented oils off the shelf. This has diluted the potency of aromatherapy to some extent. However despite the term aromatherapy being relatively new, the ideas of using aromas to treat ailments or change a person's spirit is not a new discovery. It has existed and been used by mankind for hundreds if not thousands of years. This article will discuss three benefits of aromatherapy



Antiseptic Properties of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy uses essential oils to treat cuts and bruises. The term aromatherapy was first coined in France in the 1920's by the French chemist Rene Gattefosse. He was burned in an experiment and found that lavender oil eased the pain. This prompted him to study more oils, the affects they had on the body and develop techniques to extract the essential oils out of flowers and plants. Through his studies and those of others it was found that many essential oils have antiseptic and antiviral properties and can be used to treat burns, cuts and scratches. They prevent or kill germs from infecting the damaged area and making it worse.

Aromatherapy As An Expectorant

A well known treatment for breathing difficulties, coughs and chest congestion are to use an expectorant. This form of treatment was used by people long before the term aromatherapy was created but the principle is the same as aromatherapy. Essential oils like camphor, eucalyptus or menthol are rubbed on the chest or added to steaming water and breathed in. This clears the breathing and helps bring relief from coughs and colds. Vicks vaporub is a common product that many households have that uses the principles of aromatherapy to treat ailments in this manner.

Aromatherapy for Relaxation

Most people are familiar with burning scents to change their mood or state of mind. Meditation is often accompanied by scented candles or incense sticks to help relax the mind and prepare it for a deeper meditation. Nowadays scent diffusers are popular for creating a scent. A diffuser can be a device that burns essential oils or it could even be a product that plugs into the wall using electricity to heat the essential oils. Different scents create different responses but most people are looking for something that helps to calm or relax them.

Aromatherapy can also be applied to bath oils. Again, it works on the same principle, except that the hot water heats up the essential oils and this creates a scent that relaxes the mind and can have benefits to the body as it is in contact with the body.