| Aromatherapy is the use of essential | | | | essential oil has a calming scent and |
| oils and other natural aromatic | | | | helps in treating migraines, headaches, |
| compounds from plants to affect one's | | | | anxiety, depression, nervous tension and |
| mental or physical health. Essential | | | | emotional stress. Lavender aroma eases |
| oils, are known as hydrophobic i.e. | | | | nervous exhaustion and restlessness and |
| non-water mixing or volatile i.e. air | | | | increases mental activity. Lavender |
| mixing. Essential oils are sometimes | | | | essential oil induces sleep and is |
| referred to as an "oil of" a plant e.g. | | | | recommended for insomnia. Lavender |
| oil of lavender. Essential oils are | | | | essential oil helps ease pains caused by |
| referred to as "essential" because they | | | | sore muscles, tense muscles, muscular |
| are the perceived "essence" of a plant.. | | | | aches, rheumatism, sprains, backache and |
| Essential oils and other elements used | | | | lumbago. Massage with lavender oil helps |
| in aromatherapy are used for relieving a | | | | relieve pain in the joints. Lavender oil |
| variety of discomfort from indigestion | | | | helps in restoring hormonal balance and |
| to headaches. Aromatherapy is used to | | | | reduces inflammation of the urinary |
| alter mood, inspire confidence, ease | | | | bladder. Lavender oil is often helpful |
| depression, and increase energy. In many | | | | for respiratory problems including |
| cultures essential oils are used for | | | | throat infections, flu, cough, cold, |
| their antiseptic value to treat | | | | asthma, sinus congestion, bronchitis, |
| infection. In France, essential oils | | | | whooping cough, laryngitis, and |
| viewed and considered in a similar way | | | | tonsillitis. The oil is either used in |
| prescription drugs are in the United | | | | the form of vapor or applied on the skin |
| States. Essential oil treatments can be | | | | of neck, chest and back. It is also |
| delivered in many different ways- direct | | | | added in many vaporizers and inhalers |
| inhalation of vapors, inhalation of | | | | used for cold and coughs. |
| steam from a vaporizer, through massage, | | | | Lavender oil helps skin because of its |
| or through therapeutic baths. It is | | | | antiseptic and antifungal properties. |
| important to note, however, that | | | | Lavender oil is used for various skin |
| essential oils are diluted in carrier | | | | disorders e.g. acne, wrinkles, |
| oils (neutral, odorless oils) before | | | | psoriasis, wounds, cuts, burns, and |
| being used on skin. Essential oils can | | | | sunburn.. Lavender oil is added to |
| be used singly or in combinations with | | | | chamomile to treat eczema. Lavender |
| other essential oils. | | | | essential oil is useful on lice and lice |
| Other products used in Aromatherapy | | | | eggs or nits in hair. Lavender essential |
| besides essential oils include | | | | oil is also good for improving blood |
| absolutes, phytoncides, and infusions. | | | | circulation by lowering blood pressure |
| Absolutes are essentially purer forms of | | | | and hypertension. Lavender oil for |
| essential oils that have had their | | | | digestion increases the mobility of the |
| lighter, less dense components extracted | | | | intestines increases production of |
| with ethanol. Phytoncides are natural | | | | gastric juices and bile and so eases |
| antimicrobial liquids used by many | | | | indigestion, stomach pain, colic, |
| plants to protect themselves from | | | | flatulence, vomiting and diarrhea. |
| rotting or being eaten by insects and | | | | Lavender oil also helps improve the |
| animals. Infusions are oils or other | | | | immune system. Lavender can be used as |
| liquids that have been infused with | | | | an insect repellent for mosquitoes and |
| herbs, flowers, or berries. | | | | helps heal insect bites. As with many |
| One of the more popular and widely used | | | | other essential oils, pregnant and |
| aromas is lavender. Lavender grows well | | | | breast feeding women, people with |
| in rocky environments that have good | | | | diabetic concerns or people with |
| sunlight. Lavender has woody branches | | | | unusually sensitive skin should avoid |
| and green leaf-like shoots resembling | | | | using lavender essential oil. |
| rods. The grayish green leaves are | | | | The health benefits of aromatherapy has |
| oblong and in curled spiral patterns. | | | | been underestimated. Aromatherapy has |
| Lavender oil is taken from the flowers | | | | often been considered to be only a way |
| of the plant with steam distillation. | | | | to make "everything smell nice". The |
| Lavender oil blends well with many other | | | | health benefits of aromatherapy are much |
| essential oils including cedarwood, | | | | more powerful and effective than is |
| pine, clary sage, geranium, and nutmeg. | | | | commonly perceived or known by most |
| The flowers of lavender are fragrant in | | | | people. Aromatherapy is a deeply |
| nature and have been used for making | | | | beneficial natural healing modality for |
| potpourris. . Lavender's Latin name | | | | enhancing emotional balance and physical |
| Lavare, means "to wash". Lavender | | | | health. . |