Naturally Available Essential Oils for Aromatherapy

Abstract

Aromatherapy is an art of using essential oils for healing our mind and body. The meaning of aromatherapy is not so clear; the term ‘aroma’ means fragrance (sweet smell) and the term ‘therapy’ means to cure or to heal. Aroma and massage therapy are the practice of using essential oils for psychological and physical well-being via inhalation or massage. Essential oil is the volatile portion extracted from herbs, flowers, barks, stem, leaves, roots, fruits and other parts of the plantby the process of distillation, to treat various diseases. Essential oils are natural, complex, multi-component systems composed mainly of terpenes in addition to some other non-terpene components. The meaning of the word aromatherapy is misinterpreted as, only massaging the essential oils into the skin and curing the patients’ disease, although volatility- the main property of a fragrance, is responsible for the treatment. Essential oil is indeed an extract but not the aroma present in it. This paper discusses the therapeutic property of aroma available in naturally available essential oils, its composition and how it heals our mind, body and uplifts our soul.