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