Health Benefits of Aromatherapy

The limitations of medical science and the range of side effects most medications cause have always led people to look for alternative treatments. It is due to this human search for more effective and safer treatment methods that we have always had several different types of alternative and complementary therapies and medicine. Aromatherapy is one of them.

Aromatherapy is an ancient holistic treatment method that involves the use of natural plant extracts, called essential oils, to not only treat various diseases but also to promote overall health and wellbeing in various ways. Even though the treatment only started gaining widespread popularity in the late 20th century, the practice itself is thousands of years old and has been associated with several ancient cultures. These primarily include China, Egypt, Greece, and India. Read our post What is Aromatherapy and How Does It Work to learn more about this old practice

What Health Problems Aromatherapy Can Help With? 4 Amazing Health Benefits of Aromatherapy

Here are some of the amazing health benefits of aromatherapy has been known to offer:

1. Stress Relief

The modern-day fast-paced and highly competitive world that demands juggling multiple roles and keeps us on our toes, unfortunately, leaves most of us stressed out by the end of the day. While we cannot take the stress out of life, we can certainly (and should) find ways to manage it. 

Aromatherapy is a great stress buster. The therapy tends to have relaxing and calming effects when performed with certain types of essential oils. Lavender oil has even been scientifically proven to have stress-relieving effects. It calms down the nervous system and reduces heart rate and blood pressure. This, in turn, makes you feel more relaxed.

Best Essential Oils for Stress Relief – Lavender, Geranium, Lemongrass, Chamomile, and Jasmine.

2. Improved Sleep

Aromatherapy may not completely cure insomnia or other sleep issues or eliminate their root cause, but it can certainly help you deal with sleep issues temporarily. The use of certain essential oils before bedtime (an hour or so) can help you fall asleep as well as improve sleep quality, by inducing relaxation. 

Health Benefits of Aromatherapy can even help with restless leg syndrome and hot flashes during sleep.

Best Essential Oils for Sleep Issues – Lavender, Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver, Jasmine, Bergamot, and Marjoram.

3. Improved Ability to Fight-Off Infections

Several essential oils are known to have powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. They can help boost the immune system and help the body to fight off infections. 

This comes in really handy in today’s world where antibiotic resistance is increasingly becoming a huge health concern.

Best Essential Oils to Boost Immunity – Ginger, Oregano, and Myrrh. 

4. Improved Digestion

From indigestion to diarrhea to gas and bloating, aromatherapy can help treat a variety of digestive health issues. Oregano essential oil helps improve the breakdown of nutrients in the body by increasing digestive enzyme activity, ginger oil is known to improve digestion, treat constipation, and reduces abdominal pain and gas, and peppermint oil provides relief from IBS. 

In addition to digestive functioning, aromatherapy can also help improve gut health. 

Best Essential Oils for Digestion and Gut Health – Oregano, Ginger, Peppermint, Juniper Berry, Fennel, and Cardamom.

Conclusion

The benefits of Aromatherapy may not offer a cure for chronic diseases, but it can certainly help treat a wide range of physical and mental health issues. It is also considered an effective complementary therapy for various health conditions. The powerful healing properties of essential oils and a large amount of anecdotal evidence make aromatherapy worth giving a try. However, just like with any other form of treatment, make sure to consult a professional aromatherapist to determine the right types of essential oils for your problems and the right way(s) to use them.

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Photo by  Drew L on Unsplash