What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses scents to treat various ailments. It is believed that various essential oils and herbs have effective healing properties. There are few, if any, side effects and drug interactions caused by using aromatherapy treatments.

• Rene Maurice Gattefosse, a French cosmetic chemist, has been attributed with coining the term "aromatherapy". While working in his lab in the early 1900s, he burned himself on the arm. He used lavender oil to stop the burning and noticed how quickly the burn healed and with very little scarring. Gattefosse dedicated the rest of his life to studying the healing power of essential oils.




• Aromatherapy can be used for the relief of pain, to alleviate stress, for skin care and to energize the body. Essential oils can affect moods and promote relaxation. The olfactory nerves are stimulated through the nervous system and the brain when essential oils are inhaled.




• Essential oils can be added to a bath or massaged into the skin. They can also be inhaled directly or placed in a diffuser to scent an entire space.




• Lavender is used for burns and to treat depression and promote relaxation.




• Tea tree oil can be used on fungal infections, acne and dandruff.




• Lemon and eucalyptus can be used to invigorate the body and the mind.




• Rosemary is used for pain relief and for its calming properties.




• Essential oils and products made with these oils can be found in most drug and grocery stores.