Aromatherapy through the years

Aromatherapy is something that is used in spas all over the world. It is something that is used to help relax the body and mind, reduce pain and anxiety, and improve one’s own body energy and is something that is very popular today.

It is a complementary therapy, using essential oil blends across a variety of applications and is said to offer the benefits of increased well-being to those who partake of its effects.

Aromatherapy can be as simple as using essential oils in a massage or during a bath or steam. Oils are applied topically or put into water in the case of a bath, and then go to work releasing their aromas and helping you relax.

While going to the spa for a beauty day may be relatively new, aromatherapy has been around for centuries. In fact, ancient civilizations including the Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Indians used essential oils in their practices. They knew the benefits of these oils and used them in the preparation of their medicines, perfumes and cosmetics. Additionally, they realized that certain oils helped in certain situations, while others were better used in other ways, and all of that has seeped into modern aromatherapy thinking today. Of course, we now use essential oils in many different ways than our ancestors did, but the idea is the same.

Essential oils and aromatherapy have also been used in the medical community. During World War II, for example, the French doctor Jean Valnet began using oils as antiseptics to help the wounded soldiers he treated.

Today, those plant-based oils and aromatic scents can be used in aerial diffusion where the entire space is scented, they can be used in direct inhalation to help with respiratory infections, or as a decongestant. We use these essential oils topically as part of a massage or compress, as some oils are known to soften and aid in skin care. You may have your favorite oil, or you may need a specific oil for a specific reason, but the end result will probably be the same. Adding oils and aromatherapy makes people relax, makes them happy and soothes the soul. They are great for helping to calm you down and psychologically they just make you feel better.

So the next time you have a spa day, check out aromatherapy, you’ll be glad you did!