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Article #385: The Healing Power of Common Scents

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Aromatherapy has become one of the most illumination while bathing. The scent
popular healing traditions used in many will also permeate your consciousness and
cultures around the world. Its can prove to be very soothing. There
all-natural elements have been passed are, in fact, several relaxation
down from one generation to the next so techniques that use candles.
the traditions will continue to carry on Here, almost any candle will work,
over time. Because it is considered whether it is made of paraffin or
safer, it is often preferred over other beeswax. You can use candles that are
methods of healing. Various scents have unscented, but scented ones will further
been used over time to help rid the body promote relaxation, so they are actually
of a number of ailments and conditions, preferable. The particular scent or
therefore, making aromatherapy a scents you choose will depend on your
desirable alternative to certain aspects likes and dislikes. Scents that relax
of modern medicine. some people make others want to run for
Aromatherapy has also been shown to higher ground, so when choosing, choose
relieve stress, a factor that is very carefully.
important in today's society where many You may also decide to use candles
people seemingly never stop moving. throughout your home to give it that
There are many scents that have proven to fresh, clean scent. One user's
be quite relaxing at the end of a long, testimonial stated by using candles, both
hard day. Whether acquired through oil tasks can be accomplished at once. I use
added to a bath, used during a massage, candles as air fresheners throughout my
or experienced by a scented candle, home, but have also found the scents I
aromatherapy is everywhere, making the have chosen to be very relaxing. I place
possibilities both endless and enticing. them in different rooms for different
The beauty of aromatherapy is that it is effects, and they really do work.
organic. The essential oils used in Incense provides another form of
baths and for massage purposes are taken fragrance and relaxation. It is widely
from plants and herbs, and are able to used in many cultures to serve an array
perform their magic without the additives of purposes. In the Buddhist, Hindu, and
many synthetic products contain. They Christian burning incense can be a way to
are often preferred over such products make offerings of gratitude through
because they are more concentrated. Use scents. For the Buddhist and Hindu
a certain oil for a specific symptom or practitioner, offering scent to everyone
condition, or combine them to treat is a way to purify karma and release the
several at once. tendency to grasp one's ego by simply
Essential oils are often used in a bath giving away a beautiful scent that will
for relaxation purposes, as well as treat serve for the welfare and pleasure of
ailments. For example, jasmine is often all. While this tradition still exists,
used to have a calming effect, and is many people have now chosen to burn
recommended for use at the end of a very incense simply to enjoy the aroma.
long day. One user shared her comments Still, scent through incense is said to
about its stress-relieving qualities. I be a way of bringing back good memories,
always use jasmine in a bath at the end or cultivating good thoughts or feelings
of a long day. It both sooths and calms in the present. It is very powerful, and
me, and I can think of nothing better or is still widely used for a wide variety
more appropriate. of purposes and to meet many needs. Burn
There are many oils that are useful while your favorite incense to relax after a
in the bath. Certain scents are designed long, hard day, or when you need to make
to evoke certain moods and are also used an important decision and need to get
for different purposes. In fact, the into a specific mode to do it. One user
pure aromas of natural oils are said to shared her feelings on this. When I need
promote a sense of well-being by to think carefully about something, I
centering, harmonizing, and energizing. always burn incense. The scent and just
On another site that sells these the ritual alone makes it easier for me
products, a user commented, I am just to concentrate, and I always feel more at
starting out using essential oils and peace after doing it.
love their therapeutic value. No matter how you acquire and use your
Another visitor said she used scent, whether though essential oils in a
frankincense and lavender in a bath to bath, oils diffused throughout a room,
help calm her baby. After following the burning candles, or using incense, there
directions, the effects were very are four main modes of action. While
positive. After mixing these two oils this pertains mainly to the use of
together as instructed, I found them to essential oils, it can work in other
be very satisfying and pleasant. situations as well.
If you do not wish to use essential oils The four modes of action help the oils
in a bath, but would still like to reap penetrate and interact with your body in
the benefits of their fragrant aroma, order to promote positive results.
consider using a diffuser to vaporize First, there are chemical changes that
them into a single room. One of the most take place whenever an essential oil
popular ways to do this is through a enters the bloodstream. Here, it reacts
pottery diffuser. Here, a basin is with hormones, enzymes, and other
filled with water, and a few drops of chemicals to help reach the desired
your favorite essential oil is used. A result. The next mode is the way an
tea-light is lit at the base, which essential oil affects the bodily systems.
allows the aroma to be vaporized This will determine whether you are
throughout the room. sedated or stimulated, which depends on
You may also want to combine various oils the particular oil you choose.
in order to achieve a desired effect. There is also a psychological effect that
For example, use Geranium, Juniper, and evokes the response to the use of that
Basil at the end of a long day to help particular essential oil. This is very
alleviate stress. Geranium will help individual, and can depend greatly on
balance, while basil is used to mood. The last mode is the body's
strengthen the mind. The overall effect overall response to the essential oil.
will prove both calming and relaxing. This includes, but is not limited to the
There are many scents that can be used responses listed above. Though there are
for a variety of purposes, from many scents that are used to evoke a
relaxation to concentration, promoting specific mood or mode, they may not work
sleep to lifting your mood. It can even on everyone. They may also differ from
help to place a diffuser in each room of one person to another. What relaxes your
your house, though you may not want to neighbor may make you jumpy, and so
use them all at the same time, as mixing forth. The trick is to find what works
all the scents could have an undesirable for you in evoking various moods and
effect. states of being, and go with that. After
Candles are another way of enjoying all, that is why it is called
various scents. Use them in your home to aromatherapy.
replace unwanted odors, or for






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