Calming Your Reactions
With
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for therapeutic purposes.
Essential oils are extracted from plants. Within these oils are chemical components that have various healing properties such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-depressant. Hence essential oils can relieve pain, ease cramping and muscle tension, fight infections and viruses, and ease depression and anxiety. Using a single oil can be helpful, but mixing oils enhances the healing power.
Though essential oils help the entire body in healing, they are most beneficial for the emotions; respiratory system; muscle, tendon and ligament injuries; and healing/nurturing the skin.
Being a therapist, I am most interested in using essential oils for calming reactions for emotionally charged issues. Because the olfactory nerve (smell) ties directly into the emotional brain(limbic system), the aroma of the essential oils influence how we feel and how we react. They can calm anxiousness and anger, uplift a depressed mood, sharpen focus, assist memory and learning, ease the angst when struggling with eating issues, and help us to downshift from a stressful pace to a peaceful slumber.
Some examples of the therapeutic benefits of essential oils:
- Lavender reduces anxiety and helps to control panic attacks
- Bergamot reduces insomnia
- Peppermint relaxes tense muscles (and gets rid of ants!)
Smell your way to better health! Call for a consultation.
Jayne M Acomb LCSW (585) 335-7030
jayneacomb.com