Aromatherapy Essential Oils

For those that have heard of aromatherapy essential oils but really do not know what they are, Webster’s Dictionary has come to the rescue.  Aromatherapy essential oils are mainly used to treat any ailments or conditions and can be found in skin care as well as home products.  Aromatherapy is the use of pure extracts found in plants, herbs, flowers, even bark, to provide therapeutic results through various forms, such as aromatherapy oils (insert hyperlink), aromatherapy massage, even by purchasing aromatherapy candles or aromatherapy diffusers to place in your home. Aromatherapy oils are used in aromatherapy products in its purest form, heated in water to produce a steam that is then condensed and collected as it is distilled from the water.  This is the only way pure essential oils can be collected; otherwise, what you are purchasing is not an aromatherapy essential oil, but a fragrance oil. For centuries, many cultures, including the Japanese and Egyptians, have used aromatherapy essential oils to aid in improving emotions, cleansing or detoxing the body, and to give energy or uplift the spirit. Each essential oil has its own remedy and healing properties and many individuals can see the benefits by using aromatherapy essential oils in skincare products, bath oils or salts or even at their local day spa through aromatherapy massage. Here are examples of widely used aromatherapy essential oils and their healing properties:

Relaxation/Stress Reliever: By far the most popular is lavender aromatherapy, but tangerine, chamomile, geranium, bergamot, sandalwood, jasmine are also used to help relieve stress.

Uplifting:  Ylang ylang, clary sage, rose, neroli, lemongrass, basil, cedarwood, lime, mandarin can all be used to lift the spirit and provide alertness.

Energizing: Rosemary, peppermint, lemongrass, basil, cedarwood, lime, mandarin and ginger can assist in boosting energy or assisting in stomach pain, nausea or menstrual cramps.

Cleansing:  Rosemary, orange, bergamot, patchouli provide a cleansing of the body as part of a detox method.

Decongesting:  Eucalyptus, pine, tea tree, thyme, cinnamon, cove can also assist in detox or decongesting the body.

When you take any of these aromatherapy essential oils, meaning oils that have been extracted from fruits, plants, herbs or flowers, you are benefiting from the remedies they produce when your skin comes into contact with them, allowing the oils to penetrate to your bloodstream and instantly change your overall well-being.  This can be through an aromatherapy bath soak or bath salts, aromatherapy soaps or aromatherapy candles, aromatherapy massage oil, even an aromatherapy diffuser to be released throughout your home.  No matter the product, as long as it pure essential oils, you are benefiting from Mother Earth.