Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy. The alternative line of treatment, that works on the brain through the sense of smell. Smell causes a powerful reaction in the body. Smell immediately brings in memories associated with it - either positive or negative.
How are aromatherapy products made?
Plants produce certain strong aromatic oils to aid in their pollination, or as a protection from fungal and bacterial infection. These oils are extracted from the plants. Aromatherapy products are plant products, extracted from its roots, leaves, flowers or stems.
Aromatherapy invokes the sense of smell either by external application, or a massage, or as a fragrance for the whole room by using it in oil burners. It is also internally consumed in food.
Application of aromatherapy
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy seek pain relief in aromatherapy. Aromatherapy application of high altitude French lavender and blue tansy is useful in pain relief.
Aromatherapy also works fine when used in a massage. Being a pain reliever it reduces muscular pain, arthritis, and rheumatism. The patients when massaged with aromatic oils did not experience an increase in their blood pressure; on the other hand the massage with aromatic oils made them feel comfortable and relieved their pain.
Aromatherapy is found beneficial to women experiencing the PMS or those suffering the pangs of labor pain, for it is an effective pain reliever.
Even patients suffering from HIV or AIDS can look to aromatherapy for relief. In absence of help from any specialist they can use the essential oils for self-application, massage or inhale the fragrance.
Surrounding the patients with the wonderful smell of scented oils definitely has a great impact on the body and mind and uplifts the spirit.
Aromatherapy is very useful for relieving stress, strain and depression. These scented aromatic products help elevate the mood.
Experiments performed using aromatherapy
Sleeping people when exposed to aromatic smells slept better. There was a marked change in their brain waves. Though the people were not aware of it the sense of smell had its impact on the brain.
Aromatherapy is used to work on the mind and reduce stress levels. This was experimented upon some tensed up patients undergoing the MRI scan. When their room was filled with the fragrance of vanilla they immediately soothed down. This could be due to the factor that vanilla being the basic smell of ice cream brought to mind pleasant memories.
Animals were also experimented upon. Mice when exposed to the smell of thymol and orange turpine became irritable. These substances were found in their blood even after an hour.
Efficacy of aromatherapy
Aromatherapy does not have any scientific backing. Medical science explains that the skin works as an effective barrier and does not absorb oils.
Aromatherapy can be widely used as an alternative treatment of medicine. It should only be a supplementary cure and not the only form of treatment.
Historical fact
History offers many interesting examples that prove the effectiveness of aromatherapy. Medical cure using the extracts of plants is as old as humanity itself; it would definitely be wise to tap on these ancient sources of wisdom and build upon it.