Types of Aromatherapy You Should Know About
Did you believe aromatherapy was only one thing? The are a minimum of five different kinds of aromatherapy, using the essential oils in differing ways to improve your life.
The two most common uses of aromatherapy are Olfactory and Massage. Olfactory is the smelling of the essential oils either directly, in a steam, or from a misting bottle. The scents of the oils are used to relax your nerves, calm the senses, and give you a new area of focus. It can be a very relaxing way of using aromatherapy.
Massage therapy using the essential oils is very common, also. Mixing the essential oils with other carrier oils allows for a relaxing, soothing, massage which penetrates the skin, and stimulates the sense of smell at the same time. Using the aromatic oils for massage can give be very relaxing, stress relieving, and increases circulation. It is a great way to ease the pain of sore muscles, and to help balance your body energy.
Cosmetic aromatherapy takes the essential oils and uses them in cosmetics, baths, cleansing agents, and in other ways of beautifying and maintaining our bodies. Adding a little essential oil to the bath water, or buying lotions, creams, and makeup which include aromatherapy oils can all help in creating a more relaxing and pleasing way of living. If you prefer, you can use your normal lotions or creams and mix in a few drops of your favorite essential oils to give it a little added bonus. Using the essential oils in a hot steamy bath can help open your skin pores, give your nose a delicious treat, and soothe your senses.
Medical aromatherapy is not highly practiced, but you will find some Doctors who use forms of alternative medicine recommending the use of essential oils. There are some instances the essential oils are ingested, but never do this without instructions from your Doctor. Even in the cases where it is recommended the oils are highly diluted in purified water first. This is one area in the types of aromatherapy you should never venture into on your own.
Our final stop in types of aromatherapy are Psychoaromatherapy. Some therapists and psychologists have discovered using the essential oils for stimulating the senses can be beneficial in increasing the effectiveness of the psychological therapy. The scents may help to bring back memories, stimulate conversation, or give an added area of mental focus. By using a variety of scents the therapist can explore their patients reactions, and discuss their feelings, deepening communication, and enhancing treatment. Therapists are always seeking new ways to open doors to give them greater insights and provide more help to their clients. Aromatherapy can be an aid to these therapists.
As you explore aromatherapy further you may run across even more types of aromatherapy. Many times these other alternatives fall under one of these classifications, but do not be shocked if you find other new ways to gain benefits from aromatherapy. The power of essential oils and the scents of the plants around us are a powerful stimulant to improving human life.
