Everything You Need to Know About Aromatherapy

The power of smell and fragrance works in myriad ways on a person's mind and body. Our nature can truly aid us to maintain our mental as well as physical well-being. But this is just an aspect of our highly mundane and mechanical lives; we have lost touch with our spiritual and cognitive side as well. If you are looking for a trusted, all-natural savior for your overall well being the answer is aromatherapy.

People commonly relate aromatherapy to anything that smells good, such as perfumes, potpourri or scented candles, etc. Its therapeutic treatment includes the application of essential plant oils by qualified individuals.

The term aromatherapy is derived from two words "aroma" which means fragrance or sweet smell with a subtle, pervasive quality. It is the fragrance in plants, spices, leaves, barks of trees etc. Hence aromatherapy means healing through the sense of smell where we use essential oils derived from a plant's leaves, flowers, stalks, bark, rind or roots which contain the prana or life force of the plant to benefit our body and mind.

Essential oils are our nature's best-kept secret and are also referred to as "essences". These oils are the botanical extracts of various plant materials such as flowers, herbs, roots, leaves, etc. Each contains its own mix of active ingredients, which determines what purpose the oil is used for.

These Oils tend to alter moods with their aromas. They work on our emotions, memories, hormones and are used to promote the beauty, health and well being of a person in three ways:

• Mind - Here the oils deal with memory and psychological issues related to our mind such as depression, calming anxiety, dealing with high blood pressure, improving memory and hypertension etc.
  
  
• Cosmetic Use - The oils work with the sense of smell for cosmetic purposes whereby they are used in a lot of spas and beauty salons to treat dark circles, falling hair, wrinkles, acne, rejuvenate skin, reduce pigmentation, etc.
  
  
• Stress-Related Ailments - The third and most important use of essential oils is for treating stress-related ailments such as diabetes, arthritis, hormonal disorders, aches and pains, etc where they are used as a complementary form of care.

Aromatherapy works through us, through our sense of smell. Our sense of smell transcends the conscious level to reach the subconscious level and is linked to our mind. At a deeper level within us, it triggers latent feelings.

While some oils are used to promote physical healing such as to treat swelling or fungal infections others are used for their emotional value which may enhance relaxation or make a room smell pleasant.

Everyone should add the essence of aromatherapy to their life in some or another way. Be it your home, office or any special occasion of your life. Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic has a collection of essential oils that will help to relax, rebalance your body, mind and soul. Inhaling the aroma of these essential oils can stimulate areas of the limbic system, which is a part of the brain that plays a role in emotions, behaviour, sense of smell and long-term memory. These limbic systems also help to control many physiological functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. The essential oils need to be diluted in carrier oil and massaged as per the directions for better absorption. They can also be used in a diffuser, potpourri or can mix 4-5 drops of essential oil in bathwater.