Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile liquid plant materials. It is a holistic treatment of caring for the body with pleasant smelling botanical oils such as rose, lemon, lavender and peppermint. Essential oils are complex, highly fragrant and volatile substances, with varying degrees of complexity, fragrance, and volatility. Aromatherapy, as it is practiced today, began with the Egyptians, who used the method of infusion to extract the oils from aromatic plants which were used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes as well as embalming. Aromatherapy is one of the fastest growing fields in alternative medicine. It is widely used at home, clinics and hospitals for a variety of applications such as pain relief for women in labor pain, relieving pain caused by the side effects of the chemotherapy undergone by the cancer patients, and rehabilitation of cardiac patients. In Aromatherapy it is held that once extracted, the chemical constituents of a particular essential oil will determine its primary action. Generally, essential oils consist of chemical compounds which have hydrogen, carbon and oxygen in their building blocks Aromatherapy is a generic term that refers to any of the various traditions that make use of essential oils sometimes in combination with other alternative medical practices and spiritual beliefs.

Aromatherapy has also been used for many centuries in India. Aromatherapy has roots in antiquity with the use of aromatic oils. Aromas are used to identify the oils, to determine adulteration, and to stir the memory. Aromatherapy is already slowly getting into the mainstream. Nurses, doctors, massage therapists, osteopaths and trained aromatherapists are some of the people who practise aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is one of the most popular forms of complementary therapy and is widely used by people buying over-the-counter oils, and by health professionals in a range of settings. Various massage techniques may be used although Swedish massage is the most common. Aromatherapist will take a medical history and then determine which oil, or combination of oils, will be the most beneficial for you. Essential oils will be diluted in a carrier oil, such as almond or grape seed, and then massaged into your neck, shoulders and upper back, or given as a full body massage, or a facial. the oils should not be swallowed or otherwise taken internally, unless under expert medical supervision, as they may be toxic. Allergic reactions are also possible. It’s best to test for this by applying a small amount of diluted oil on the back of the wrist or ear lobe as test before using it fully.

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