Aromatherapy Is So Relaxing!

Don't you just love aromatherapy, smelling great scents that make you feel better? They just seem to give you a sense of peace, calm you down in the midst of turmoil, and lift you out of a depressed mood. Isn't it amazing that your sense of smell can do that?

Fabulous scents are all around you. The sweet scent of a vanilla candle burning in the evening, cinnamon potpourri or pine fragrance at Christmastime, the soft smell of jasmine in your bath, lavender in your body lotion.....and the list of wonderful aromas goes on and on.

If you would like to learn more about how scent affects you, I found a wonderful site, a great resource for all of your questions about the benefits of scent.

The science and study of scent and essential oils are often used by massage therapists when giving a massage or other treatment to intensify the healing value of the massage. The sense of smell is a powerful one. Certain smells can take me back in time to particular moments in my life that I can recall with great detail. How about you? What about the smell of an apple pie or sugar cookies baking in the oven?

Aromatherapy uses essential oils which are concentrated portions of fragrant plants that have been distilled from the plants. Essential oils have been used in aromatherapy almost since the beginning of time for their healing and restoring powers.

Some are known to:

Calm the mind, emotions and nervous system

Bring comfort from grief

Take away feelings of depression

Fight sleeplessness

Aid in mental clarity and concentration

Combat indecisiveness

Give a more positive outlook

Ease pain in muscles and joints

Take away frustration and irritability

Block out worries

Relieve headaches

Relieve nausea and motion sickness

Ease anger

Ease stress

Give a feeling of well-being

Some of the more popular essential oils are:

Rose

Lavender

Vanilla

Chamomile

Clary Sage

Sandalwood

Lemon

Peppermint

Rosemary

Eucalyptus

Juniper

Tangerine

Geranium

Ylang-ylang

Vetiver

Each of these essential oils acts in a different manner to bring restoration.

To learn more about aromatherapy scents, please check out Best Aromatherapy Scents.

These wonderful scents can be used in:

Lubricants during a massage

Lotions for the body and hands

Soaps and shampoos

Bath salts and oils

Candles

Potpourri

Heating units

Room diffusing units such as light bulb rings

There are many imitation essential oils on the market. Stay away from them. They can cause allergies and do not have the healing properties that real essential oils have. They cost less but do not work like the real thing!

Warning--Please make sure to read the label on every bottle of essential oil. Some are not to be used with certain medical conditions like a seizure disorder or dermatitis. Others are not to be used by pregnant women. Some may irritate fairskin or cause a sensitivity to skin in sunlight.

Do not use essential oils directly on the skin. It is best to dilute essential oil in a carrier oil such as a vegetable oil, almond oil or herbal oil. The essential oils can even be mixed with distilled water to make a spritzer or air freshener.

The therapist can have a candle burning or have a room diffuser plugged in with a calming essential oil during a chair or table massage. If giving a table massage, a few drops of essential oil that the client enjoys can be mixed with the cream or oil lubricant.

The use of aromatherapy can calm and soothe your client and change his/her mood during the massage and he/she will not even realize and will think the therapist is a bit of a miracle worker!

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