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romatherapy uses essential oils to treat medical conditions, to alleviate psychological ailments, for cosmetic purposes, and to reduce stress. The essential oils of aromatherapy have the power to enhance both your physical and mental state.

the most popular aromatherapy treatment method

Essential oils can enter the body in three ways. Inhalation allows oil molecules to enter the bloodstream through capillaries in the lungs. Essential oils can also be absorbed through the skin. Essential oils can also be ingested, but this method is not recommended for anyone at home.

Massage is the most popular aromatherapy treatment method by far. Massage combines several beneficial effects at once. First, it allows for the absorption of essential oils through the skin. At the same time, physical massage stimulates the circulatory and lymphatic systems. Massage relaxes your muscles. The friction between hands and skin creates heat which further enhances the absorption of essential oil molecules through the skin. It also vaporizes oil molecules to allow for inhalation.

A wide variety of essential oils are perfectly safe for use at home. This will allow anyone to gain the benefits and pleasure of aromatherapy massage at home.

When used for massage, your chosen essential oil should be diluted in a base oil.

When used for massage, your chosen essential oil should be diluted in a base oil. Use a single essential oil, or combine it with one or two other harmonizing oils to achieve the desired effect.

Base oils you can use in aromatherapy massages include avocado oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, and wheatgerm oil. Each of these base oils have their own qualities that will determine which one you should choose for your particular situation. To ensure as much as possible that your base oil is pure and chemical-free, stick to cold-pressed organic oils.

A general rule of thumb is that you should dilute the essential oil to a concentration range of one to three percent--that is, your massage oil mixture should be no less than 97 percent base oil and three percent essential oil.

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