Aromatherapy is a complementary and alternative practice that involves using essential oils to treat various ailments and enhance a person’s well-being. It uses extracts from flowers, herbs and trees in a variety of ways — sniffing them through the nose or putting them on your skin (in a massage oil, for example).
The scents that give these oils their smell can stimulate certain brain regions and increase blood flow, which may help relieve pain, boost mood and reduce nausea, according to scientific studies. Some people also use aromatherapy to help them sleep better.
But before you try aromatherapy, speak to your doctor. There are some health concerns, including if the essential oils are too strong and could cause a skin reaction or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. The oils also shouldn’t be taken orally, which is risky as some can be toxic or even fatal if consumed in large quantities.
If you want to use aromatherapy spa Kuala Lumpur, make sure your therapist has training and is licensed or certified. You’ll want to choose a practitioner who takes your medical history and listens to your needs, as different oils have different effects. For instance, some can agitate your stomach or trigger anxiety in some people.
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts. It takes about 200 pounds of lavender flowers to make a single pound of lavender essential oil, for example. That’s why it’s important to buy your oils from a reputable source and to ensure they’re properly diluted before you apply them to your skin or inhale them. The best way to do that is by purchasing the products from a certified aromatherapist who follows good manufacturing practices.
Look for Urban Bliss Wellness Putrajaya practitioner who carries a wide selection of therapeutic and cosmetic oils and whose products are packaged in dark glass to keep them fresh. Make sure the practitioner does a skin patch test and doesn’t use too much oil, which can irritate your skin or cause a reaction. The oil should be well-diluted if you’re using it for a massage, and if you’re using it for skin care, make sure you’re choosing a noncomedogenic product that won’t clog pores.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is using aromatherapy as your only form of treatment for a physical or mental health issue. That’s because essential oils aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so they can’t be proven to work as claimed. In addition, some of these oils can be toxic if you take them orally and may trigger side effects, such as headache, dizziness, nausea or liver and kidney damage, when applied to the skin. Inhaling these oils can aggravate asthma and some people can be sensitive to them. Some should never be used on the skin, such as those with a high phenol content or those that are toxic to fetuses. These include cinnamon and peppermint oils. In addition, most should not be used if you have a sedative-hypnotic prescription or are taking antidepressants.
