Aromatherapy for Stress

How Aromatherapy Works!

It is through your nervous system, the body's electrical pathways for sending and receiving signals or currents of energy, that consciousness of all your body parts, systems, functions, and patterns of movement is coordinated.

Communication within the body is conducted through your nervous system.

When wires are jammed or blocked transmission of signals is impaired. Essential oils are natural chemical messengers your body readily responds to for bringing it into harmony and balance.

Essential oils travel through the nervous system to the brain to nourish and balance both the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system, enhancing brain chemistry.

I. The Neuro-chemical delivery pathways for your Nervous and Hormonal systems - the Vapors from the essential oils enter through your nose and immediately stimulate your Olfactory nerves which then signal your Limbic system (the control mechanism in your brain for emotions and memory).

Through your Limbic system (emotional brain), the Amygdala (your emotional control center) and Hippocampus (center for Memory recall, Learning and Emotional control) are stimulated.

Your Limbic System also sends a neuro-chemical signal to your Cortex (center for contol of Intellectual processes) and your Hypothalamus gland, located at the base of your brain, the Reptilian or Old Brain (regulates many body functions, including appetite, thirst, temperature, sleep and mood).

The Hypothalamus is a KEY PLAYER as it orchestrates the interplay between your nervous and endocrine systems. It is thus at the juncture of your Hypothalmus that a signal is sent to your Pituitary gland (Master controller of your entire Endocrine system).

This neuro-chemical signal and response mechanism culminates at your Adrenal glands (your fight or flight, response to stress mechanism which controls aggression and sexual response).

II. The Neuro-chemical Delivery pathways for your Organs and other systems - the Vapors entering through your nose go immediately into your Lungs where they enter your Bloodstream.

Through your Bloodstream the oils are delivered to your Heart, as well as all your Body tissues and Organs, the Liver and Pancreas, your Reproductive organs, Skin, Kidney and Bladder. The oils then circulate back to your Lungs where they are excreted.

Research shows that through inhalation essential oils will remain for a longer period in your cell tissues ( 4-6 hours) than through any other means of application.

More and more case studies are being recorded, proving the effectiveness of aromatherapy for therapeutic use.

Virtually everything used today in modern drugs can be traced back to a botanical extract. Hippocrates said that there is a remedy for everything to be found in Nature.

To administer essential oils for inhalation simply dispense 1-3 drops of oil into the palm of your hand, rub your hands together vigorously, and then breathe in their aroma for 30-60 seconds.

Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils are highly concentrated, a drop or two can produce significant results. There are many cheap chemical copies of essential oils available, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use.

You may also make an aromatic mist using essential oils, or an aroma diffuser to dispense the lighter more fluid essential oils scent into a room. Essential oils, when diffused, provide a high quality air filtration system.

Surely we all prefer a natural, effective treatment that causes no added stress to our systems. For those who wish to be directly involved with their own self help, who prefer a remedy that treats the whole system rather than just the symptoms, aromatherapy provides a safe, natural treatment, one that can produce surprising results where other methods of treatment have failed.

Aromatherapy is a natural and holistic healing therapy proven effective and safe for improving your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

KG Stiles is a certified aromatherapist practicing in Ashland, OR USA PurePlant Essentials is her line of pure organic and ethically wild crafted essential oils. KG formulates aromatic oils for: colds and flu, insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, menopause, anti-aging, skin care and more. KG's DVD & book, "Your Aromatic Signature ~ How to Formulate Blends that Heal," are scheduled for release in 2006. To learn more visit: PurePlant Essentials You may contact KG through her website for a personal reply KGStiles.com. KG invites you to Subscribe to Health Mastery Ezine to WIN FREE Aromatherapy Products. To learn more visit: Subscribe To Win KG Stiles Springhill Wellness Center, 2520 Springhill Drive Ashland, OR USA (541) 941-7315 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=KG_Stiles

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What is aromatherapy?

The use of essential oils (extracts or essences) from flowers, herbs, and trees to promote health and well-being.
A system of caring for the body with botanical oils such as rose, lemon, lavender (used to soothe cuts, bruises and insect bites), and peppermint. These essential oils can be added to a bath, massaged through the skin, inhaled directly, used with teas, or scented in a room. This therapy is intended to relieve pain, care for the skin, and alleviate tension and fatigue.
The use of fragrant, natural, botanical essential oils from plants, leaves, bark, roots, seeds, resins and flowers as a healing art. Aromatherapy refreshes and relaxes the skin while soothing the mind by helping to induce a sense of well-being. Each individual essence is used to produce a specific beneficial effect. Used in massage and facials.
The use of essential oils from aromatic plants to restore and enhance health and beauty as defined by the American Aromatherapy Association. Aromatherapy uses as its basic ingredients essential oils, which represent the highest herbal energy. Essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile extracts retrieved from aromatic herbs, flowers, seeds and trees; they contain hormone-like properties, vitamins, minerals and natural antiseptics.