9 Benefits of Aromatherapy

Before we get to our list of 9 benefits of aromatherapy, let’s first have a quick look at what it is. In our blog, About Us and why we created the Pure Aromatherapy shop, we wrote:

‘Aromatherapy centres itself around ideas of holistic medicine. It uses natural plant extracts to enhance health and wellbeing. Many massage therapists use aromatic essential oils in combination with their massage techniques to boost both their clients’ emotional and physical health.’

In simple terms then, this complementary therapy works by stimulating receptors in the nose that are responsible for smell. Via something called the limbic system, aromatherapy sends messages, using the olfactory cells as a carrier, to the part of your brain that controls survival drive, emotions and instinct.  Although scientists don’t yet have full understanding, they believe that the action of these nerve signals causes powerful mood changes in response to certain smells.

Robert Tisserand, one of the world’s leading aromatherapy experts, says of it:

‘Aromatherapy is a caring, hands-on therapy which seeks to induce relaxation, to increase energy, to reduce the effects of stress and to restore lost balance to mind, body and soul.’

The essential oils that this ancient therapy uses are, as a rule, extracted from various parts of plants and then distilled. Users can then inhale the resulting concentrated oils either directly or indirectly by applying them to the skin through massage, lotions or even bath salts.

Some experts believe that putting essential oils on your skin causes a response in your skin and other parts of your body, like your joints.

Examples of aromatherapy oils

Humans have used plant oils as therapy for thousand years. We make essential oils from essences taken from flowers, leaves, roots, peel, resin, seeds and the bark of varying plants.

Some common aromatherapy oils:

• Citrus oils like lemon and grapefruit
• Frankincense
• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Chamomile
• Tea tree

9 Benefits of aromatherapy

Research suggests that aromatherapy, with its stimulating and relaxing effects, can both boost and enhance your wellbeing.

Before we go any further, we must state that we don’t advise you to use aromatherapy instead of any regular medical treatment you’re undergoing. The clue is in the term complementary therapy – as in something that enhances or emphasizes the qualities of something else. That said, aromatherapy can offer benefits for some conditions.

Aromatherapy MAY:

1. Soothe feelings of stress, anxiety and depression
2. Boost your sense of relaxation
3. Improve your quality of sleep
4. Help to improve life quality for people with such long-term problems as dementia.
5. Offer relief from some types of pain. In particular pain from kidney stones and osteoarthritis of the knee. It can also be good for headaches and migraine.
6. When applied to the skin, essential oils may fight bacteria
7. Ease some of the side effects of cancer treatment – such things as nausea and pain
8. Improve your digestion
9. Boost your immunity

At the Pure Aromatherapy Shop we carry a wide range of carrier oils, massage oils and pure essential oils along with floral waters, body butters and more. Why not explore our shop and see for yourself our extensive selection?

And if you’ve got any questions about any of our products you’ll find our contact form here.