What Is Aromatherapy and How Does It Work?

What Is Aromatherapy and How Does It Work?

Aromatherapy is a popular form of alternative medicine, or holistic healing. It is exactly as the name implies – the use of fragrance to remedy an ailment. While the term aromatherapy only dates back to the early 20th century, the practice of using plant extract as medicine comes from ancient Chinese, Indian, and Middle Eastern cultures. Aromatherapy cannot cure the advanced stages of disease, but rather, can work as an aid to relieve daily aches and pains, or as preventative medicine to deter serious illness.

An essential oil is an organic compound extracted from a botanical source through cold pressing or through a steam process. There are thousands of different essential oils – just about as many oils as there are plants on the earth. This botanical nectar can be extracted from leaves, tree…