Aromatherapy

Fragrances can have a positive influence on our lives. They have a direct effect on our current mood and well-being. Find out more about what aromatherapy and essential oils are and how the plants in essential oils affect your body.

What is aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy with essential oils
Effects of essential oils
Aromatherapy: uses and areas of application
Articles on aromatherapy

Aromatherapy

What is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy has been an established tradition in naturopathy as part of phytotherapy (herbal medicine) for centuries. Naturally pure essential oils are used for therapeutic purposes in various forms. They are ingested directly, inhaled or applied to the skin. When used correctly, essential oils alleviate illnesses and increase well-being.

Find out more about the history of aromatherapy

Essential oils

Aromatherapy with essential oils

Essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile plant essences that are mainly extracted from plants by steam distillation. Genuine essential oils are 100% natural. Their purity is what makes essential oils so precious. Depending on the plant, large quantities are required for a single bottle of oil. It is therefore important to handle the oils with care. Essential oils can be extracted from almost any plant, and each has its own individual effect.

More about essential oils

On the use and effect of essential oils

10 most important plants with essential oils

What are essential oils?

The effect

Effects of essential oils

Essential oils affect our bodies unconsciously and with varying degrees of intensity. When the oils are inhaled, they reach the brain via the sense of smell and activate neurotransmitters such as endorphins or serotonin. As a result, essential oils can have calming, mood-enhancing, anti-inflammatory or relaxing effects, depending on the oil used. Essential oils can therefore influence our well-being and our emotions.

More about the effects of essential oils

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Natural stimulants: essential oils for fatigue

Effect of essential oils on the body

Effects of plants with essential oils

Certain plants with essential oils are known to have beneficial and health-promoting effects. In the table below you can see which plants have what effect and what they can help you with.

Plant*	Effect*	Helps with*
Bergamot	mood-enhancing, motivating, soothing, relaxing	anxiety, stress, depression
Eucalyptus	cleansing, motivating,refreshing, stimulating	poor concentration, lethargy
Jasmine	soothing, sensual, aphrodisiac, elicits euphoria	inhibitions, inability to express or display feelings, nurtures women’s health
Camomile	balancing, relaxing, protective, soothing, anti-pruritic, anti-inflammatory	anxiety, irritability, processing of emotions
Lavender	relaxing, motivating, mood-enhancing	restlessness, insomnia, overstimulation, emotional blocks
Peppermint	clarifying, stimulating, grounding, improves concentration	exhaustion, fatigue, difficulties focusing and concentrating
Rosemary	invigorating, improves concentration, warming, strengthening, improves circulation	grouchiness in the mornings, clarity, sluggishness, energy blockages
Sandalwood	mood-enhancing, centring, inspiring, aphrodisiac, good for the skin	anxiety, dissatisfaction, overstimulationg
Tea tree	strengthening, reviving, clarifying, improves concentration	lethargy, insecurity, listlessness, anxiety
Lemon	mood-enhancing, improves concentration, invigorating, clarifying, vitalising	fatigue, listlessness, headache and difficulty concentrating

*Source: aromalife.ch

Areas of application

Aromatherapy: applications and areas of use

The use of essential oils in aromatherapy is very diverse. You can inhale them, rub them onto your skin or add them to a bath. Regardless of how you use the essential oils, you should always follow the application recommendations and dosage. Aroma diffusers offer an easy way to use essential oils. You can simply add a few drops of the oil to the water and the aroma diffuser takes care of the rest.

Aromatherapy is used in many different areas. For example, essential oils are known to promote healthy sleep and are used to treat sleep disorders. Some essential oils have a mood-enhancing effect and can be used to treat depressive symptoms.

More about essential oils and emotions