Stress Management 101 tip for today: Aromatherapy

How many times have you walked into a room and felt a change in your demeanor just because of the smell in the air? Yes. Our moods and health are greatly influenced by certain scents or the aroma. Today's tip focuses on Aromatherapy and stress. Aromatherapy falls into the category of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. It is increasing in popularity as people become more aware of and are seeking options for health and healing, aside from pharmaceutical remedies. Aromatherapy is used by practitioners in a number of ways including massage therapy and as an addition to cancer treatment. Businesses use it to entice shoppers/clients to buy a service or product by putting them in a good mood. Aromatherapy is generally practiced through the use of essential oils or products containing essential oils including lotions, candles, bath products, herbal teas, and healing preparations such as creams or ointments. There are specific do's and don'ts that should be considered when using essential oils but for purposes of stress management candles and diffusers are good recommendations to get started. Some of the best oils for addressing stress are lavender, lemongrass, bergamot, and jasmine. They aid in calming the body and the mind. Adding a few drops to bath water, on a light bulb in a lamp or to a carrier oil such as grapeseed, sweet almond, olive or sunflower to make a body/massage oil gets you started on the road relieving stress and total relaxation. You can also put a few drops of an essential oil in an oil burner and let the fragrance fill the room! One thing: be very careful with essential oils because they are very potent and should be diluted to avoid damage to skin, furniture, etc. It is a wonderful feeling to walk into a room that is filled with the natural scents of lavender, lemongrass, peppermint or sandalwood. Not only will your stress levels go south, but your relaxation and positive energy levels will increase. Give it a try and let me know what you think!