Aromatherapy is a powerful tool that has been known to human kind for thousands of years. Records regarding the use of Aromatherapy have been found in ancient Greece, Arabia and old Indian civilizations. The earliest records showing the use of aromatherapy in a therapeutic way have been found as far back as 4500BC in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians, at the time, a very advanced civilization, used aromatherapy in many other aspects as well. Aromatherapy was used in religious ceremonies such as embalming and in cooking. Aromatherapy was also believed to enhance someone’s beauty. Cleopatra had the sails of her boats soaked in rose oil so that her people would inhale the beautifying aroma of roses as she traveled up the Nile.

There are many different aspects to aromatherapy. Many people today use aromatherapy in many different ways. In professional aromatherapy there are two main aspects. One of which is medical due to the essential oil’s chemical constituents, the oils hold very powerful therapeutic properties. Essential oils can be applied for many physical ailments and diseases. They can assist in wound healing, fever reduction, skin problems, varicose veins, hay fever, menstrual pains, digestive problems, muscle aches and pains and many more.

Another aspect being that which we call holistic. Holistic aromatherapy focuses not only on the physical body of a patient, but it takes into consideration the patient’s mind and spirit as well. It is this way of looking at a disorder that makes aromatherapy even more powerful. Any problem is addressed from various different angles. Like most natural therapies, aromatherapy acknowledges that a problem can only be truly dissolved if the delicate balance between body, mind, and spirit is intact.

An aromatherapy treatment usually involves a thorough consultation with a client. The expectations and needs of every client are assessed holistically and this will then determine the path of treatment. Mostly, an aromatherapy treatment contains a massage. The full body massage is a preferred way of applying the essential oils to the body. It also takes in to consideration the holistic understanding of touch being a basic human need.

One further important aspect of holistic aromatherapy is the therapist – client relationship. It is crucial that the client feels comfortable with the therapist in a trusting way.

A person’s olfactory system is our sense of smell. It is interesting that the olfactory contains the only receptor nerve endings in the human body that are in direct contact with the outside world. The olfactory system has a powerful influence on the central nervous system. Smelling aromas has a direct impact on our mood, emotions and physical body. For example the smell of food can make our mouth water and disliked smells make our stomachs tighten.

In conclusion considering all the aspects mentioned above, holistic aromatherapy can be a powerful tool to assist us in many ways to improve ones life. Not only professionals, but everybody should include aromatherapy in to their life.