Understanding how to use essential oils for holistic treatments
In the holistic health world, aromatherapy is a term used to describe using essential oils and other aromatic plants for therapeutic purposes. Aromatherapists believe that scents affect moods and feelings in powerful ways. There are multiple ways to use them and sometimes therapists even use essential oil blends for energy. Here is a guide about how holistic therapists might use essential oils in their treatments.
How do therapists use essential oils?
The therapists can apply the oils directly onto their skin in a number of different ways, including massaging them into muscles or joints. They also place drops on tissues so they can inhale deeply while resting, put one drop of oil mixed with two to four tablespoons of carrier oil (like grapeseed) and work it over the chest area with gentle circular movements for 20 minutes, or make steam to clear nasal passages by boiling water and adding several drops of essential oil like eucalyptus. Therapists may use diffusers that release an aroma into a room as well as candles; however, these should be used sparingly because some people don’t have positive reactions to scents.
The therapists also use the oils for emotional support by diffusing it in a room to create an environment that is relaxing and calming or apply headspace techniques like grounding (connecting back into oneself) which may involve adding peppermint essential oil to bath water before bedtime. The therapist might even do this one time per week during PMS days because women tend to experience mood swings due hormonal fluctuations at around two weeks out from their menstrual cycle.
Essential oils are used not only by holistic therapists but also aromatherapists, naturopaths, massage therapists, and Ayurvedic practitioners. Essential oils are a great way for people to help themselves without relying on drugs that have side effects or simply go about their day with an attitude of gratitude while taking deep breaths.
Where do essential oils come from?
Essential oils are derived from various parts of a plant such as flowers, leaves, bark, roots, or fruit peelings. The majority come from plants that are native to Africa like lavender and lemongrass; however, there are also some more unusual items on the list like carrot seed oil or patchouli leaf oil. Essential oils have been known for centuries to help heal wounds and fight disease because they contain strong antibacterial properties which is why they work so well with holistic therapy.
What kind of essential oils are usually used to suit different situations?
-There are many different types of essential oils out here – one, in particular, being Lavender – how therapists use essential oils in aromatherapy varies depending on what type it is but typically you’ll see them used at the beginning of a session to help relax the person, and at the end as well.
-Essential oils have been known for centuries to heal wounds and fight disease because they contain strong antibacterial properties which is why they work so well with holistic therapy – it’s all about calming people down first before anything else can happen in order to get them into a more relaxed state rather than panicking when you’re trying to do something like give massages or other treatments.
The therapist will introduce essential oils into their treatment by using scents that are considered grounding such as lavender, chamomile, or sweet marjoram. These smells typically promote relaxation on both emotional levels but also physically too — ultimately helping clients feel grounded again after a tense moment.
-The aromatherapist might use some other more exotic ingredients like peppermint oil in order to stimulate and invigorate their patients — for example, someone who is feeling tired or sluggish may be given a quick massage with peppermint before they’re sent off home with instructions to drink lots of water and sleep better at night.
Emergency intervention
-If all else fails an aromatherapist might decide it’s time for an emergency intervention – this would be most likely when someone is feeling really tense and their muscles are clenched; the therapist may recommend a hot stone massage to help soothe these knots in a person’s body before anything else can happen. Lastly, there will often be instructions given out with home care aftercare suggestions such as drinking lots of water and sleeping better at night since peppermint oil was used in order to stimulate and invigorate them earlier (possibly at the beginning of a session to help them relax).
Essential oils aren’t just for aromatherapy, many of them have been shown to be quite effective as anti-inflammatory agents. For example, lavender oil can help with pain relief for those who suffer from multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
Source: Aliza Zulfiqar
