Aromatherapy and why is it the right treatment for me

A lot of people think of smelly oil when the word aromatherapy is mentioned, and they would be right. The smell is taken from flowers, fruits, herbs, resin, wood, roots and seeds to create essential oils. They are extracted through a number of ways depending on what smell they want to get. The oils can mimic hormones or stimulate glands for the body to create more of a certain hormone. The oils can be used for stimulating and uplifting effect or a relaxing and soothing effect.

Essential oils can’t be used on their own they have to be mixed with a carrier oil to be used for massage. They help absorb the essential oils into the bloodstream. Carrier oils are derived from certain vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruit and flowers.

Some of the effects of aromatherapy is to:

• Aid digestion
• Its deeply relaxing
• Relieves muscular tension.

Essential oils can be used to help relieve common conditions such as colds, depression, hey fever, psoriasis and stress.

There are 3 different techniques used in aromatherapy:

• Swedish, this increases the blood supply and stimulates the lymphatic system.
• Neuromuscular, this stimulates nerve pathways, muscles, tendons and ligaments.
• Shiatsu, this relates to energy pathways in the body.

The energy pathways in the body are known as meridian lines and the energy that passes through them are known as Qi. In the body there are 12 meridian lines, and they link with the yin and yang balance in the body. There are pressure points along the meridian lines and its believe that the body has 365 points along the meridian lines.

Shiatsu works on the yin and yang principle, which is described as being the basis of all life and form the principles on which traditional Chinese medicine is based. Yin and yang are opposite energies and balance the body perfectly when in full health. When the body isn’t in full health the flow of qi may be blocked or disturbed.