AROMATHERAPY for relaxation

ESSENTIAL oils are pure and concentrated natural oils that come from a variety of plants. These oils are extracted from the plants seeds, flowers and roots. Often the plants are distilled to extract their oils.

Aromatherapy essential oils have a beneficial effect on the body in numerous ways. These oils have been used for centuries in human society to treat everything from depression to broken bones.

Essential oils have an immediate effect on our sense of smell, and the scent of these oils stimulates receptor cells, which transmits corresponding impulses to the brain’s limbic system to control emotions, memory, blood circulation, and endocrine functions.

If you get a massage with these oils, their beneficial properties are also absorbed into your skin and your body.

There are three main categories of aromatherapy essential oils. Each category has a different rate of evaporation.

Top note oils are the most stimulating category.

These oils have strong scents, with perfume qualities that last from three to 20 hours. Basil, peppermint, coriander, eucalyptus, and thyme are all topnote oils.

Middle note oils have scents that last about two to three days,

and directly impact the metabolic functions of the body. These scents are not as strong as top note oils, and include chamomile, juniper, lavender and rosemary.

Base note oils are the slowest to evaporate and their scents can last up to a week.

These oils comfort and relax the body, and include ginger, jasmine, rose and cedarwood. The best perfumes use a combination of all three notes.

Organically grown pure essential oils are four to five times the price of a standard processed bottle of Lavender oil.

There are also just as many ways to use the oil. One popular way is by using a reed diffuser. A reed diffuser is a bottle filled with essential oils along with long, thin and hollow reeds. The scents of the oils travel through the reeds and diffuse into the air, creating a wonderful scent.

Other ways of using essential oils are ring diffusers. A simple metal ring is filled with oil and plac on a light bulb. When the heat of the light bulb reacts with the oil, it produces a distinct scent.

Diffusers that use heat to activate the oil are more pungent than diffusers that do not use heat. When using a heated diffuser, remember to only use a few drops of oil. Overfilling can be dangerous as essential oils are highly flammable. They are also concentrated, and using too much will create an overpowering scent.

However they are used, essential oils are a great way to make your house or office smell wonderful.