What is aromatherapy and how does it work?
Aromatherapy is a holistic therapy that harnesses the natural fragrances of essential oils in aromatic plants to help enhance and balance your mind, body and overall wellbeing. Aromatherapy is not a new age phenomenom! Essential oils have been used since ancient times for their medicinal, cosmetic and lifestyle benefits. However, the term ‘aromatherapy’ is relatively modern and was only coined in the early 20th century by Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, who discovered the soothing properties of lavender oil after sinking his burned hand into a vat of it accidentally. Despite their age old uses, the practice of using a combination of essential oils and massage to elicit a physical or mental benefit has recently seen a resurgence in popularity. Aromatherapy is a simple and easy-to-use natural therapy to help improve and balance you both emotionally and physically, while helping you to be mindful and reconnect with yourself, even for a few precious moments.
How does aromatherapy work on the body and why is it effective?
The aromas of essential oils can elicit powerful physiological, mental and emotional responses. Your sense of smell is linked to the deepest parts of the brain governed by your basic instincts, thoughts and emotions. As a person inhales an essential oil, molecules attach to nerves which send the odour information to the olfactory bulb in the brain. The olfactory system communicates directly with the amygdala, our center for emotions, thus linking our sense of smell to our ability to learn emotionally. Once a scent has been registered, it travels faster to the brain than both sight and sound. This makes essential oils a powerful partner in creating and maintaining emotional health - triggering memories or feelings of calm, joy or clarity.
Physically, essential oils can help ease muscular aches, improve circulation, help clear sinus congestion and act as strong antioxidants. Essential oils can enter the blood stream and benefit the body by being applied to the skin (using sprays, baths, or massage) or they can be inhaled. There are many different kinds of application methods and aromatherapeutic massage is our favourite at Neu Oil because of all the additional benefits that come with massaging your children and spending that quality time with them.
