Since ages, aromatherapy has been used as an alternative medicine. Aromatherapy uses inhaling water vapours infused with essential oils. There are numerous health benefits of the therapy but before that let’s understand what essential oils actually are.
The oils which are extracted from plants and herbs are known as essential oils. These extracts contain the plant’s scent and flavour.
The unique chemical composition and aromatic compounds present in the essential oils give them their essence. Essential oils are obtained through distillation which uses steam. Another process is the mechanical method which uses the cold press method to extract essential oils from the compound.
After the essential oil has been extracted, they are combined with carrier oil to create the final product. Essential oils obtained through chemical process ae not considered pure essential oils.
But how do essential oils work? How they are used in different ways? Essential oils are significantly used in aromatherapy. In this field of alternative medicine, they are either inhaled or diluted then rubbed on the skin. However, essential oils are never meant to be swallowed.
The chemical compounds present in the essential oils interact with your body in different number of ways. However, research is still underway to determine the proper method of applying essential oils so that it may have the maximum effect on the body.
Inhaling the aromas from essential oils can stimulate areas of your limbic system, which is a part of your brain that plays a role in emotions, behaviours, sense of smell and long-term memory.
By inhaling the aromas of the essential oils one can stimulate the areas of your limbic system- the part of your brain which plays a role in emotions, behaviours, sense of smell and long-term memory. The limbic system also plays a part in forming memories. Sometimes you may trigger past memories after smelling some essence, this is due the limbic system which associates certain memories with smells.It is also responsible for functions like breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. It also has a physical effect on the body.
