Incense and Herbal Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy bases itself around the use of essential oils for the treatment and / or prevention of disease and is a gentle, healing art. Evolving over thousands of years, aromatherapy is a recognised form of medicine, reaching as far back as biblical times. It can be a supplementary, complementary or the sole treatment, treating the actual problem rather than covering it up as more conventional methods of treatment tend to do.

Aromatherapy as a medicine is great it doesn’t come with the unavoidable side effects that are associated with other treatments.

Aromatherapy is the systematic use of essential oils, known also as volatile plant oils, consisting of aromatic molecules, which are easily absorbed into the skin. Incense is a popular adjunct amongst aroma therapists.

Basic and herbal are the two types of Aromatherapy. The major difference between the two is that herbal is based more on the use of herbs than on essential oils. The limbic system and emotional centre of the brain are activated by the use of herbs, which also kills microbes and fungi. Incense is also be used for this but results vary.

There is a multitude of herbs that are used in herbal aromatherapy, these include clove, fir, gardenia, ginger, basil, lemon grass, lime, pine, rose, marjoram, sage, sassafras, spearmint, thyme, ylang ylang, rosemary, sandalwood, patchouli, birch, mandarin, jojoba, lavender, jasmine, grapefruit, nutmeg, citronella, and cajeput, all of which are available in the form of incense as well.

Of all of the herbs used in aromatherapy the most commonly used is Chamomile, and with its distinctive smell of apple it helps to soothe tired muscles and improves sleep. It also encourages calmness and emotional peace within. Fears and mood swings are eased with the use of Geranium, which also refreshes and relaxes the body.

Lavender is used in herbal aromatherapy, helping enhance self-expression and sensitivity, particularly for the introverted. It helps in the treatment of a variety of ailments and illnesses, arthritis, aches in the joints and chest, to the common cold and flu to name but a few.

One of the major benefits of aromatherapy is that it helps to treat the actual problem rather than just cover up the symptoms associated with it. This form of aromatherapy is popular throughout the world. This means that recipients will experience more long-term effects rather than short-term satisfaction.

Aromatherapy is used as an alternative to conventional medicine, now even some doctors recommend aromatherapy to their patients, as this form of treatment has no side effects or symptoms. The burning of incense in their surgery is a sure fire way of identifying these doctors.

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