Aromatherapy is believed to help improve mood, so as to improve physical and mental health. Apart from burning, there are various ways to use aromatherapy to get maximum benefits.

What is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is a recovery therapy using essential oils to improve health and psychological conditions. Because it uses essential oils, this therapy is often also referred to as essential oil therapy.

Essential oils can come from herbal plants or flower plants. Parts of plants that are processed into oil also vary, such as roots, bark, and flower crowns. It takes a lot of plant material to make pure essential oils.

How Aromatherapy Works

Aromatherapy works by stimulating the nerves of the nose and brain. When we breathe in essential oil vapor, the aroma will enter the nasal cavity and then stimulate the nervous system in the brain that plays a role in regulating emotions.

The aroma of essential oils will divert the hypothalamus area in the brain to produce the hormone serotonin which can improve mood. Not only that, but aromatherapy is also able to activate the nervous system given the heart rate, blood pressure, response to stress, and breathing.

If used by applying it, molecules of essential oils can have certain effects, such as anti-itch on the skin or pain relief in the joints. But sometimes, the effects are negative, for example, irritation or inflammation.

Benefits of Aromatherapy

There are various benefits that you can feel when using aromatherapy. This benefit has also been proven by several studies. These benefits include:

  1. Relaxing the body and mind.
  2. Improve sleep quality and help relieve insomnia.
  3. Help reduce stress.
  4. Relieve nausea.

How to Use Aromatherapy

To be able to feel the benefits of aromatherapy, there are several ways to use aromatherapy that you can try to choose, such as:

1. Inhale aromatherapy vapors

Mix 1-2 drops of aromatherapy oil into a basin of warm water, then lower your head to the basin and cover with a towel. Inhale out of warm water, for 5-10 minutes.

2. Using a diffuser

Aromatherapy diffuser is a device used to convert aromatherapy oil into steam and spread it throughout the room. There are various types of diffuser, both of ceramics (furnaces) with wax, or that use electric power.

Make sure this aromatherapy diffuser is not used for long periods at home, especially if one of the occupants of the house is pregnant or has certain medical conditions.

In addition to the above method, you also mix essential oils and solvent oil solutions into bath soap, body lotion, and warm and cold compresses.