Man has employed the use of aromatherapy for therapeutic purposes for centuries. The ancient Egyptians used Aroma Oils for cosmetic purposes and their immense knowledge of aromatherapy is seen in the embalming methods they used, which was an intrinsic part of Egyptian culture. The Greeks and Romans used Aroma Oils in their places of worship and bathhouses and their physicians advocated the use of Aroma Oils for many ailments.

In today's world aromatherapy has become a very popular and complementary means to promote health, healing and stress relief. Aromatherapy is a complete and holistic system of providing treatment as it takes the physical, mental and emotional aspects of an individual into account.

The benefits of aromatherapy are numerous. Aromatherapy oils:

• Reduce stress levels and promote relaxation
• Improve & enhance an individual's mood by encouraging a feeling of well-being
• Aid and improve blood and lymphatic circulation through therapeutic massages
• Reduce pain, discomfort or inflammations in muscles and bring about muscle relaxation
• Stimulate and boost the immune system by killing bacterial and fungal infections
• Promote restful sleep

There are various ways in which aromatherapy can be used. The most common and effective methods are explained below.

Aroma Oil Inhalation
There any various ways of using Aroma Oils. The first is when the Aroma Oil is added to hot water in the prescribed quantity and inhaled directly. Alternatively it can be added to bath water. A diffuser can also be used to disperse the Aroma Oil fragrance throughout the room. The same principle applies when an Aroma Oil is used in a perfume.

The advantage of inhalation is that the fragrance of the Aroma Oils enters our body through our olfactory system which then in turn stimulates the part of our brain which supports a number of functions such as emotion, behavior and long term memory. This means that an aroma can transport a person to another place, change his or her frame of mind and mood. Therefore Aroma Oils are very effective in relaxing, energizing and calming the body and mind.

Aroma Oils in Moisturizers and Creams
When using Aroma Oils with moisturizers and creams, the skin absorbs the Aroma Oils directly into the blood stream. This provides an effective way to bring about stress relief, which in turn soothes the mind and body.

Added to this, the nourishing properties of Aroma Oils bring about many benefits to the skin such as improving the skin tone and providing relief for people with dry skin, eczema, etc. The best time to apply Aroma Oils to the skin is after a bath as at that point the skin is soft and damp and the Aroma Oil is absorbed better into the skin.

Aroma Oils are very powerful in their concentrated form and should never be applied to the skin directly. They have to be diluted with a cream base or carrier oils such as almond oil, grape seed oil, etc.

Aroma Oils in Massage Oils
Using Aroma Oils in massage oils is one of the oldest and most effective ways to ensure that an individual benefits from the therapeutic advantages of aromatherapy. Aroma Oils are absorbed better into the skin due to the friction and heat that is caused by the palm strokes.

Some very effective Aroma Oils are listed below together with their advantages:

• Sesame Oil – For stretch marks
• Lavender Oil – For relieving anxiety and depression
• Sandalwood Oil – For balancing the mind and spirit
• Cypress Oil - For cellulite
• Neem Oil – For healthy skin and nails
• Aloe Vera – For healing burns and scars

Whatever the need may be, Aroma Oils can be extremely beneficial when used in a correct and proper manner. Using Aroma Oils is cost effective and also an easy procedure, making it a very simple solution for many people all over the world.