Aromatherapy involves inhaling or applying essential oils to the skin. These oils come from flowers, herbs, and trees. They contain chemicals that can affect your mood and bodily functions.
Look for organic, undiluted essential oil, and avoid perfume or “fragrance” oils. These can irritate your skin or breathing passages.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a technique that helps you relax and change certain behaviors. It’s typically done by a health professional who’s trained in hypnosis and licensed to use it. Hypnosis isn’t a cure, but it can help reduce anxiety or ease pain. It can also boost the effects of psychotherapy.
During hypnosis, your therapist may make guided suggestions to help you achieve therapeutic goals. You’re more likely to listen and accept these suggestions during a hypnotic state. In one classic study, researchers asked participants to name the font color of written words (like “red” or “blue”). When they were hypnotized, participants were slower and made more mistakes in responding to these instructions than when they weren’t.
Researchers are just beginning to understand what’s happening in the brain during hypnosis. They’ve found that hypnosis increases activity in regions of the brain involved in attention and learning. In other studies, they’ve linked hypnotizability to persistence (the tendency to apply previously learned rules even when presented with new information that contradicts them). And they’ve found that people who are more hypnotizable have lower levels of perseveration.
Massage
Massage is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body (skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments) with pressure that can vary from light stroking to deep pressure. It is often used as a component of integrative medicine and is increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a variety of conditions and situations.
Aromatherapy in conjunction with massage can increase the benefits of this therapeutic treatment. Typically, essential oils are mixed with massage oil to provide aromatherapy through inhalation and skin absorption. This combines the therapeutic properties of the oils with their relaxing scent and can enhance the mood and experience of the patient.
For example, lavender oil is known for its calming and soothing properties while peppermint oil can energise the mind and reduce fatigue. During the massage, the therapist can apply the oils to their palms and gently stroke them over the entire body.
Studies have shown that massage reduces the body’s stress response, and can help with a wide range of health issues including anxiety, digestive problems, insomnia, headaches, joint pain and soft tissue strains. It can even improve the bond between mothers and their newborn babies, and has been shown to assist in the recovery of premature infants by increasing weight gain and decreasing hospital stay length.
Essential oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile plant extracts that contain the unique aroma and flavor of their source. They are usually distilled or mechanically pressed, but can also be obtained by cold pressing and solvent extraction. The chemical composition of individual essential oils varies, as does the oil’s absorption and effect on the body. Essential oil quality is important, so look for brands that list the country of origin and method of distillation on the bottle. Avoid “fragrance” oils, which are often diluted with chemicals and don’t offer the therapeutic benefits of pure oils.
Lemon essential oil boosts the immune system and helps ward off infections with its antiseptic, astringent and detoxifying properties. It soothes skin and reduces blemishes, especially those associated with oily skin. It also relieves headache, insomnia and menstrual cramps and eases tension with its antianxiety effects.
Research shows that certain essential oils may help with conditions such as insomnia, depression and indigestion, but more research is needed. As with any complementary therapy, talk to your healthcare professional before using aromatherapy as a treatment for serious health problems. It’s also important to note that essential oils are not regulated like drugs and can interact with medications, so it’s critical to be careful when using them in conjunction with any prescriptions or over-the-counter treatments.
