A

romatherapy refers to the use of essential oils that have been extracted from plants, shrubs and trees. These essential oils can be used to treat medical conditions or alleviate psychological ailments. Aromatherapy can also be used simply for pleasure, to help improve your mood or to reduce your stress. The essential oils of aromatherapy have the power to affect both your physical and mental state.

...aromas can often trigger memories...

Essential oils work powerfully at the psychological level. Aromas can often trigger memories of places or people. Aromas also remind us of some certain time of year or holiday. Some aromas just seem to make us feel good.

The power of aromas is due at least in part to the central role that smell plays among our senses. Smell can alert us to danger. What we smell can alter our mood. Someone's aroma (or odor) can attract or repel us. Smell even continues to play a part in sexual attraction.

Because of their intense aromas, essential oils can have a powerful effect on your mind. Just inhaling the aroma of essential oils can noticeably alter your mood. This is one reason why aromatherapy is useful in treating mood disorders like depression and anxiety.

Some essential oil aromas have a calming or sedative effect, while others have a stimulating, invigorating effect.

Different essential oil aromas have different effects. Some essential oil aromas have a calming or sedative effect, while others have a stimulating, invigorating effect. Some aromas can help you focus mentally. Still others can be an aid to meditating.

The mechanism of how essential oil aromas affect our moods is still a mystery. We do know that the brain releases certain neurochemicals like serotonin and endorphins in response to aromas. But it is not clear if this is related purely to the chemical composition of the essential oils or if some other intermediate mechanism is involved.

It is clear though, that finding and using appropriate essential oils can have a beneficial psychological effect.

Return to table of contents.

News items above may include material from Yahoo, Ezinearticles, Goarticles, Medworm, Digg and/or Google, and are copyright their respective owners.