Aromatherapy is applied in alternative medicine through the use of essential oils in order to improve physical health, mental health or both together.
Essential oils were used for therapeutic purposes hundreds of years ago by countless cultures. The Greeks, the Romans, the Egyptians, the Hindus, the Chinese…
but it was the French chemist René-Maurice Gattefosé who first used this term in 1928, when after suffering a severe burn on his hand while in his laboratory he immersed it in lavender essential oil and found that the pain decreased. In addition, the wound healed quickly without any sign of infection.
Little by little the use of essential oils was developed thanks to the contribution of different specialists to what it is today.
Functioning of aromatherapy:
Who does not enjoy or remember that walk where the flowers give us their sweet aroma, where the rain just fallen is absorbed into the earth and gives off that aroma that comforts us? Through smell we receive infinite sensations.
Smell is one of the most important senses since it is always active and never rests. When we inhale any aroma, the brain region in charge of emotions, memory and behavior is stimulated.
Aromatherapy seeks, through olfactory stimulation, to help alleviate the ailments of our body. On the other hand, the skin absorbs the active principles of the essential oils and takes them quickly to the bloodstream.
Let us remember that most of them must be diluted and, as they are not soluble in water, we can dilute them in vegetable oils, gels, clays or alcohol. This combination of smell and skin transports us to a particularly comforting experience.
Applications of aromatherapy
We can benefit from the use of aromatherapy with its different forms of application. Here are some of them so that you can check out the fantastic results of the use of essential oils:
Diffusers:
With the
Put water and a few drops of essential oil in the bowl and light the candle. The heat will disperse the molecules in the air and then we will begin to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy.
Among the essential oils most commonly used to purify the environment are eucalyptus essential oil, tea tree essential oil, lemon essential oil, sandalwood essential oil…
Inhalations:
Inhalations of essential oils are very beneficial for the respiratory system in cases such as colds or bronchitis.
We fill a container with water and when it boils we remove it from the fire. We wait about a minute and add between 3 and 6 drops of essential oil. Cover the head with a towel and inhale the vapour closing your eyes, breathing slowly and deeply for 10-15 minutes.
The essential oils specially indicated for inhalation will depend on the ailment to be treated:
- To treat bronchial infections : 3 drops of lemon essential oil + 3 drops of tea tree essential oil.
- To treat colds : thyme essential oil, rosemary essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil.
- To treat nervousness and anxiety: essential oil of geranium, essential oil of lavender, essential oil of jasmine, essential oil of hypericum, essential oil of lemon balm…
Massages:
One of the applications of aromatherapy most used and pleasant is through massage. Receiving a massage relaxes and also relieves pain and improves mood.
Massages with essential oils benefit us thanks to their active principles as they penetrate slowly through the skin.
When we have chosen the most suitable essential oil, we will dilute it in a vegetable oil that does not have smell, so we will also take advantage of the effects by inhalation of the essential oil chosen while the massage lasts. Hazelnut oil is a good choice as it has a neutral smell.
Mix 100 ml of vegetable oil with 1 ml of chosen essential oil (about 20 drops).
- For a relaxing massage: rosemary essential oil is stimulating and relieves muscular pains.
- For a relaxing massage: we recommend a massage with essential oil of lavender, chamomile or sandalwood. Or a formulation of massage oils for the well-being.
Although any essential oil you like will be perfect for a massage! Slow down, find the moment and enjoy a
Compresses:
The compresses are a very useful method to palliate sprains, muscular pains, wounds… It is a question of throwing from 8 to 10 drops of essential oil in 1 liter of water (hot or cold according to the ailment).
- For ankle sprains, for example, use cold compresses with a mixture of eucalyptus, rosemary and/or lavender essential oil.
- For menstrual cramps it is better to use hot compresses and we can use essential oil of geranium, cypress and/or lavender.
We drop a piece of cloth on the surface of the water to absorb the oils (without submerging it). We drain it a little and apply it where necessary for about 20 minutes.
