Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is an ancient practice that has been used for centuries to improve health and state of mind. Aromatherapy products work by extracting the essential oils and nutrients from aromatic plants, then using them as relaxants and mood-enhancers. Like massage and oral supplements, aromatherapy is a staple of homeopathic care.

The oils used are widely considered the "life force" of the plants from which they're extracted. This means synthetic oils, which use additives, never have the exact same properties as all-natural extracts. This, in turn, means their health benefits are more suspect, since different manufacturers use different additives and in varying measures.

Forms of Aromatherapy

The benefits of aroma therapy are available not only through massage, but through compresses, perfumes, and baths as well. Whether the scents are distilled from spices, woods, herbs, or flowers, they should be diluted with a carrier oil before worked into the skin. Only 3% of the essential oil is necessary for a soothing mixture, and oftentimes using more can detract from the overall experience.

Aromatherapy is also used at oxygen bars for a cumulative effect of relaxation and invigoration. Chill out to the aroma of sandalwood or peppermint at the same time that you breathe life-infusing oxygen for a powerful combination. The scents can make you feel energized, soothed, or even aroused, depending on the effects you're after.