aromatherapy

Aromatherapy employs essential oils distilled from various plants to affect health, mood, and psychological states. Among the oldest known therapies, it is known to have been practiced in ancient Egypt in forms such as perfumes, salves and incense used in religious rites.

Its birth as a science came in 1920 when French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse noticed that lavender oil soothed and healed a burn on his arm, and went on to devote his career to the study of essential oils.

A very wide variety of oils have been found to have a beneficial affect on as wide a variety of conditions, but the primary use of aromatherapy is for mood enhancement or alteration; for example, lavender helps with relaxation and jasmine with alertness, while other oils affect appetite or sexuality.

Essential oils are used in a variety of ways, from inhaling to application as a component of massage oil to dilution in a bath. Some have adverse affects and should be used with caution. You may want to consult a trained aromatherapist before using essential oils for treating medical conditions.

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