Aromatherapy is a type of alternative medicine that uses essential oils derived from plants for several health and medical benefits. Essential oils are extracted from plants and flowers by one of several methods. The resulting oil is then either mixed with other extracts or used by itself. Massage therapists, chiropractors, and increasingly doctors then use the oil for any number of benefits including mood enhancement, relaxation, pain management,and antibacterial effects. Essential oils can be applied several ways depending on the particular aromatherpeutic needs. Popular herbs used for aromatherapy include lavender, rose, peppermint, geranium, and bergamot.

Aromatherapy uses the byproducts of plants and flowers for health and other benefits. There are several types of materials extracted from plants in addition to essential oils including absolutes, phytoncides, herbal distillates, infusions, and carrier oils. Essential oils are usually extracted by the process of steam distillation although can describe oils resulting from solvent extraction. Absolutes describes oils extracted from fragrant flowers by solvent extraction. Phytoncides are volatile compounds that are used for their ability to kill microbes. Herbal distillates are watery by products of the distillation process such as rose water. Infusions is the term describing aqueous extracts of organic plant matter. Carrier oils are additives used to dilute the concentration of essential oils for topical use.

Aromatherapy has several uses. It has long been used by machine therapists and chiropractors as a means to aid relaxation. Recently there has been more interest in the medical uses of aromatherapy. Medical professionals, particularly in Asia and France, are having success with essential oils in clinical settings. France especially, where many medicinal aromatherapeutic findings have been pioneered, has made extensive use of the treatment. There is clinical evidence for effectiveness in several area including as an antibacterial, antiviral, anti fungal, anti inflammatory, and antispasmodic. There are a few methods for application of herbal oils for effective use; aerial diffusion, direct inhalation, and topical.

There are thousands of different plants and herbs that can be used for different aromatherapeutic treatments. Some popular plants used for essential oil extraction are lavender, rose, peppermint, and jasmine. Oils can range in price depending the method by with they are produced and their purity. Essential oils are often cut with other compounds diluting the concentration. There are different classifications for oil quality; food grade and therapeutic grade. Therapeutic grade are made of organic compounds and should be used for aroma therapy.

Aromatherapy is becoming popular around the world as an alternative medicine option. It is gaining acceptance in mainstream medicine in addition to its traditional uses for relaxation and massage. As more research is done more is being discovered about the many plants with beneficial essential oils and their potential uses.

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