Aromatherapy is increasingly now looked upon as part of a holistic approach to healing which is even being acknowledged by many practitioners of conventional medicine, particularly when used in adjunct with mainstream medicine.

Simply put, Aromatherapy is the treatment or prevention of disease by use of the human olfactory sense. Volatile plant oils, including essential oils, are used for psychological and physical well-being within this discipline and the impact can be through inhalation as well as through application.

Aromatherapy is thought to have a twofold benefit upon human beings: firstly the agreeable smells positively impact the brain particularly the limbic system (which supports a variety of functions including emotion, behavior, long term memory, and smell) through our sense of smell. The oils can be invigorating and anxiolytic, promoting good health and well being.

Secondly the essential oils used in Aromatherapy are themselves thought to have a therapeutic effect on the body in topical application, since they are thought to have antiseptic, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antibacterial properties which can help control infections. There are also antioxidant properties of aromatherapy oils which can promote good health.

While essentially concerned with the use of aromatic oils, Aromatherapy also concerns itself with finding solutions for promoting good health using cold pressed vegetable oils, jojoba (a liquid wax), hydrosols, herbs, milk powders, sea salts, sugars (used as exfoliants), clays and varieties of beneficial muds.

It is important to differentiate between perfume or fragrance oils and the essential oils that are employed for holistic healing as envisaged by aromatherapy.

While the former typically would have additives of an artificial, chemical nature, they would be unable to provide the same healing benefits as the latter.

There is much skepticism with regard to aroma therapy, with conventional medical practitioners being doubtful or even dismissive of the healing properties of the therapy, questioning its scientific basis.

Even for those that question the efficacy of aromatherapy as a procedure to aid the process of healing, there is one undeniable positive, and that is the lack of side effects.

There are generally no side effects of aromatherapy, and with the possible exception of certain people with specific health problems who may be advised to avoid certain oils, this is true for most practices.

So while accepting the limitations of aromatherapy, this is a branch of alternative medicine that does not aim to replace standard medical care; but rather to complement it.

Aromatherapy: How Does It Work

Aromatherapy can be used to treat ailments, ease anxiety and depression, sooth nerves, and eliminate insomnia. Also, this therapy is used to treat acne and is a great non toxic way to treat mild acne on your face and body.

Various essential oils have wonderful acne treatment properties. Each time you apply the essential oil on your skin, it should be diluted with any of the carrier oils such as apricot kernel oil or vegetable oil.

Essential oils are very powerful and are in use for thousands of years to cure various physical and mental conditions. When the essential oils are applied to the problem area, they improve circulation and also remove the waste matter.

These oils have wonderful antibacterial properties. They cleanse your skin deeply and help skin return to normal condition by balancing the secretions of sebaceous glands.

Different types of essential oils used in aromatherapy for acne cure:

Look for oils that have anti-inflammatory, astringent and balancing properties for acne cure.

1. Tea tree oil: This oil is a natural organic cosmetic, so there are no side effects with this kind of treatment. This oil is extracted from Melaleuca tree that usually grows in Australia. This oil has anti-fungal and anti-septic properties.

It should only be applied on your skin and not taken internally. Mix 5% of tea tree oil in 95% of Aloe Vera gel. Apply this blend to clean your skin.

2. Lavender oil: This oil has antiseptic properties. Dilute this oil with witch hazel and apply on to the affected areas.

3. Jasmine essential oil: This warming and soothing oil has anti-bacterial properties that revitalizes and stimulates your skin. This oil can also be used in perfumes because of its wonderful aroma.

4. Myrrh essential oil: This oil is extracted from Commiphora myrrha. It has warm and slightly musty smell and is pale yellow to amber in color. This oil has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and sedative properties. It is non-irritant and non-sensitizing, but when applied in high doses acts as uterine stimulant, which is dangerous during pregnancy.

5. Sandalwood essential oil: This oil is extensively used for dry, cracked and chapped skin and effectively reduces acne and rashes and is also used in various skincare products. Sandalwood has antimicrobial properties making it a popular herbal antiseptic for treating minor skin abrasions. Also, it cleanses and conditions the skin leaving it moisturized, free of germs and protected from the harmful rays of the sun.

6. Ylang ylang essential oil: It is beneficial for any type of skin, but is more beneficial for oily skin. This oil balances the production of oil and decreases excessive oiliness. This oil has anti-bacterial properties that help to control acne and blemishes. It smoothes and softens the skin and stimulates new cell growth.

Some other oils for aromatherapy for acne cure:

In addition to the above oils, other oils containing following properties can also be used in aromatherapy for acne cure:

Oils with anti-inflammatory properties: Ex. Roman and German chamomile, helichrysum, frankincense, and patchouli. Oils with these properties reduce painful irritation and swelling around the acne region.

Oils with astringent properties: Ex. frankincense, juniper, neroli, rosewood, palmarosa, geranium, and cedarwood. These oils control oiliness of the skin.

Oils with balanced properties: Ex. helichrysum, palmarosa, geranium, and rosemary. These oils normalize oil production and improve the skin condition.

Oils with antiseptic properties: Ex. petitgrain, patchouli, niaouli and palmarosa.

Aromatherapy for Acne – Cure Acne with Essential Oils

If you have ever had a particular smell evoke and erotic memory, or had a perfume transport you to another time and place altogether, then you know the power of aroma to make you feel things, to alter your mood, bring up forgotten memories and do a whole lot besides.

In the process of human civilization and evolution, much of our instinctive reaction to smell has been diluted so that we no longer react to our sense of smell the way we were programmed by nature.

However, it is still a fact that our olfactory sense can be stimulated to produce certain responses and the way that sex pheromones work is evidence of this fact.

Using aroma therapy as a natural aphrodisiac first requires a rising of the body temperature since the warmth that this generates, causes the fragrance of the therapeutic oils to start working. Some of the essential oils that you may find work really well for the libido are –

Jasmine – this is one truly sensual floral fragrance and in places such as India the fragrance has long been used as natural perfume for the body and hair as well. The tradition of applying jasmine scented oil to the hair has been a tradition for ages and continues to this day.

Rose – If there is one smell or one flower that is quite simply the essence of romance, it would have to be roses. There are reasons why the rose scented bath is the epitome of sensual luxury and the rose petal strewn bed is a call to eroticism. Cleopatra was known to bathe in milk and Rose petals even thousands of years ago.

Vanilla – The beautiful but subtle smell of vanilla can stimulate the senses and start to make you feel in the mood so to speak. Though vanilla is erroneously sometimes, thought of as a bland spice, it can be very effective in stroking latent fires.

Ylang Ylang – This is a sweet floral smell that is best used in conjunction with other fragrances since its very sweetness can be cloying for some. However it blends very well with other fragrances to produce the desired results.

Ginger – This is known to raise the temperature of the body and while it is known to greatly enhance the flavor of any number of dishes, it is also known to be an addition to salves and unction’s that are used to apply to the skin.

Aromatherapy As A Natural Aphrodisiac