Aromatherapy uses aroma or smells to heal and invoke a certain mood. What makes the smell is something called essential oils. These oils are actually oils that are extracted from plants and they have been used for centuries in all kinds of natural healing including aromatherapy.

Your sense of smell is quite strong, and different scents have different effects on your body. While smelling might seem very simple, when you breathe in a smell, there's truly a lot going on inside of your body. The scent travels across the olfactory nerves in the nose, then triggers a reaction in the part of the brain known as the Limbic system, which controls memory, mood, and even learning ability. Have you ever noticed that a particular smell may take you backwards in time to a memory of where you smelled that same scent? That is how strong it is. Different scents also will make the brain release endorphins, which help to make you feel good.

Essential oils are very strong and are typically inhaled for their healing scent although they can be rubbed on the skin as well. However, one must be careful to dilute the essential oil before applying topically.

There are many different aromatherapy techniques that you can do at home. With a wide variety of oils you can buy your own oils or you can mix different types of oils together. Thanks to aromatherapy, you can now relieve stress and relax at the privacy of your own home.

You can use aromatherapy in conjunction with or as an alternative to prescription medicine - just be sure you get your doctors OK first. Most of them are safe, although if you are allergic to a certain type of plant you will probably be allergic to it's essential oils too. When using them remember they are very potent so you must dilute them before using on your skin.

Aromatherapy essential oils work at treating minor problems and may be good for improving one's immune system too. They may help to relieve everything from menstrual cramps to joint pain and may even improve one's skin tone. Use them to help make circulation better, reduce dandruff, eliminate headaches, and even sleep better.

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