Aromatherapy Oils and Their Uses

by: Kathryn Caywood

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from various kinds of plants to heal the body, relieve physical pain, and to stable a person's mood. The essential oils that are used are concentrated extracts from the different parts of the plant. The concentrated oil can come from the roots, the bark, the leaves, seeds, and even the flowers. Aromatherapy using these oils can be applied through a massage, facial, bath, or complete body treatment. But there is not just one oil used in an aromatherapy massage.

A massage therapist will typically use about five oils combined into a mixture. The different oils that are used will depend on what the person seeking the treatment is looking to achieve from the massage. Someone who is struggling with sore muscles will probably be given an oil mixture that contains eucalyptus and peppermint. Someone else who simply wants a relaxing massage may get bergamot or lavender in the oil mix. When someone comes in for an aromatherapy massage, what he or she is trying to achieve or get relief from will be discussed. It is then that the various oils placed into the mix will be decided upon.

Even though some people may not fully know the benefits that come from aromatherapy uses, they will once they give it one chance. It takes just a few moments with the oils to see and feel a difference. And aromatherapy oils are not to be confused with perfumes. Perfumes contain chemicals where aromatherapy oils are natural oils from plants. This is not to say though that all of the various oils are non-toxin. There are a lot of them that are not for human consumption but there are a couple that can be as they have some dietary benefits to them.

The best thing to do is to not use any in your foods unless you have been clearly instructed to do so by a professional. It is also important to make sure that you are purchasing only high quality aromatherapy oils. If you are purchasing weak oils then you are not going to get all of the benefits that you want. You will also find that you are wasting your money so make sure that the oils you get are not watered down.

When you are looking for a place to buy your oils from, make sure that it is a company that focuses on the types of products that you need. These are the companies that know what they are doing and will be able to assist you with any questions should any come up. The oils from the drug stores or the department stores are the oils that you want to avoid. They are cheap and if you have questions, there is not going to be anyone there suitable to answer your concerns. In order to make sure that you are not wasting your time or money, make sure that you are doing business with a company that you can trust such as a company that takes their line of work seriously.