Aromatherapy is not just what happens at the salon or the way the smell of fresh cinnamon buns cooking at the mall affects your stomach. It’s actually the ancient art of healing through scent.
By using smells derived from flowers, herbs, tree barks, and other natural sources, an aromatherapist can create a scent that some claim can make a big difference in the way you feel.
To use aromatherapy all you have to do is figure out which scents, in the form of an essential oil, you need to combat your problem; put the essential oil in a diffuser; or put a drop or two on a cotton ball or handkerchief. You can sniff your way to bliss.
If you’d like to try aromatherapy on your own, here are a few suggestions:
Stress and anxiety – We all know what it feels like to be stressed, and stress can leads to anxiety, high blood pressure, and even panic attacks. Instead of heading to the doctor’s office when you feel stressed out, aromatherapists suggest you try some essential oils associated with calm. Chamomile, marjoram, and sandlewood are scents that may combat insomnia. Geranium, lavender, jasmine, and basil are common scents to help you relax. And lemon, grapefruit, nutmeg, clary sage, and lavender can help pick you up emotionally if daily stress is making you feel blue. Even burning a vanilla scented candle can make you feel more relaxed.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Ravella)
Hair and skin – Chamomile is thought to be a good hair conditioner for light hair when mixed with other essential oils and lanolin. Rosemary does the same thing for darker hair. Patchouli essential oil mixed with a carrier oil like jojoba can help diminish the appearance of scar tissue, and some think that lemon oil mixed with jojoba can diminish cellulite.
Migraine headaches and other pain – Green apples have powerful healing properties when eaten, but Dr. Hirsch, M.D., neurologist at the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, says they’ve found that just smelling green apples reduces the pain of migraine headaches and may reduce joint pain. Other essential oils associated with pain relief include birch, chamomile, ginger, jasmine, lavender, and rosemary, among others. These can be added to a carrier oil like jojoba and rubbed into sore muscles as well as experienced through the nose.
You can experiment with lots of scents to see which ones you like, or consult a registered aromatherapist for more assistance.
Sara Vavra is a health and wellness advisor, massage thearpist and yoga teacher in Charlotte, NC. Contact her at saravavra@yahoo.com.
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