Aromatherapy: Does it Really Work?

Just because that oil smells so good, can it help really you? Considering that the human nose is capable of distinguishing between 10,000 different smells, that’s right 10,000, why not use that ability to work in your favor? Having completed college courses online during an online MBA degree I needed to unwind after long days in front of the computer screen. I figured that aromatherapy would be the perfect choice. It's not expensive, the essentials are easy to find and I had certainly not tried it before, so what did I have to lose? You see, studying at one of the best accredited online schools does take its toll on a person.

The goal of aromatherapy is primarily to relieve stress and give the person an overall sense of well-being. Aromatherapy is also found to boost the immune system, improve blood circulation and enhance the respiratory system. Even minor aches and pains can be alleviated through this therapy. Ultimately aromatherapy is meant to enhance one's mood and bring about complete and total relaxation.

But does using aromatherapy mean that you are rejecting traditional medicine? Before you flush your medications down the toilet, realize that aromatherapy doesn't cure diseases but is meant to lessen the discomforts that come with disease. So ideally, aromatherapy must be used in conjunction with traditional medicine and must not be considered a standalone cure.

Although aromatherapy is considered alternative medicine, it is based on sound science.  The theory is that as a scent is experienced, it travels up through the olfactory system using the limbic system to produce a response. Those “feel-good” chemicals that have been in the news so much recently are released which have a calming effect. So smells can elicit a chemical response that can have therapeutic benefits.

The use of essential oils is the basic implement of aromatherapy. Essential oils when applied topically are able to reach the intended destination and cause quick relief. Essential oil massages are helpful in healing achy muscles and relax muscles. Other benefits range from improving one’s sleep to helping digestion. 

In the past, aromatherapy was considered mostly a woman's thing, you know with the scented candles, potpourri and the fancy-schmancy oils, but of late men have started to experiment with this approach. So the next time you have a hankering for an essential oil massage, drop him a line and maybe he will join you this time!