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