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October 19, 2004
How Aromatherapy Works On The Body
Aromatherapy, an ancient practice that uses essential oils extracted from plants, is used for relieving many modern day conditions such as stress, anxiety and fatigue.
Inhaled from a cotton ball or room diffuser, the evaporating oil goes through the olfactory bulb and hits the lower part of the brain, eliciting the desired physiological response. Mixed with a "carrier" oil and applied to the skin, the essential oil is absorbed into the blood stream and travels throughout the body as a drug would.
Although lavender and many other oils are safe, she says, some can elevate blood pressure or act on the central nervous system and should not be used by pregnant women or people with high blood pressure or seizure disorders.
Posted by linda at October 19, 2004 7:58 AM
