Aroma therapy: an art of healing

Aroma therapy is one of the most ancient healing arts & traces its origin to 4500BC, when Egyptians used aromatic substances in medicines.The term Aromatherapy was coined by Prof. Gatte`Fosse, a French cosmetic chemist.Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of plants to enhance psychological and physical well-being.The inhaled aroma from "essential" oils is widely believed to stimulate brain function.Essential oils can also be absorbed through the skin, where they travel through bloodstream and can promote whole-body healing.Aromatherapy activates areas in nose called olfactory receptors, which send messages through nervous system to brain.The oils may activate certain areas of brain, like limbic system, which plays a role in controlling emotions.They could also have an impact on your hypothalamus, which may respond to the oil by creating a good feeling in brain.Its use ranges from pain relief, mood enhancement and increased cognitive function to treat asthma, insomnia, fatigue, depression, inflammation, alopecia, cancer, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, menstrual disorders, menopausal syndromes, etc.According to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, the most popular essential oils include fennel, geranium, lavender, lemongrass etc.