Treat Arthritis With Aromatherapy

Inflammation, pain and swelling of the joints are some of the symptoms of a disease called arthritis. It affects normal joint movement, which restricts motion. The sufferer may also feel feverish or fatigued. Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. It limits physical activity and in extreme cases it can cause deformity.

There is no known cure for arthritis but a treatment called aromatherapy may help patients feel better. Aroma means scent and therapy means treatment. It is an alternative approach to mental and physical health problems. Aromatherapy uses pure essential oils to help heal imbalances in your body. Essential oils are fine liquids that are extracted from plants, trees, flowers and bushes. Each pure oil is made up of numerous separate compounds. These compounds need to be in the final oil for it to be of the maximum aroma-therapeutic value. Hydorsols and phytols are blended in with the essential oils for treating arthritis. Hydorsol is the condensed water that is left over after an essential oil is produced from water distillation. The flavor and aroma are saturated in the water from the distilled material. Phytols are a remedy prepared by soaking plant material in vegetable oil or water.

When you visit an aromatherapist for the first time, they will take an assessment of your lifestyle. Some questions might include your diet, stress level and medical history. They will than select the oils and make a personalized blend that is right for you. A massage will follow resulting in relaxation. Treatments will alter depending on your symptoms at the time.

There are several things you can do, if you would rather treat yourself at home. One way that has been successful in easing the pain of arthritis is the application of hot compresses. Put hot water into a bowl. Make sure it is not too hot. Add three to six drops of an essential oil to the water. Make sure you use an oil with pain relieving properties such as chamomile, lavender or cinnamon. Put a sterile cotton cloth into the water. Wring out some excess water and place the cloth onto the bothersome area. Let the cloth cool down to your body temperature. Repeat these steps several times. Use a warm towel or other material to wrap the region that you treated.

You can also rub the essential oils onto painful areas during the day. The oils are absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. Always make sure the oils are diluted when applied to the skin. They need to be mixed with a carrier lotion or vegetable oil. Aromatic baths are another way to ease your pain. Add the essential oils to hot water for a relaxing combination. Pour the oils under running water and always make sure it is mixed well. Use 5-7 drops of essential oils to 1 ounce carrier oil. Lemon, Eucalyptus and Camphor are some other oils appropriate for treating arthritis symptoms. Aromatherapy has no negative side effects and can help you to feel more comfortable.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Aromatherapy Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Also royal harems and guest houses used many aromatic oils very profusely to satisfy many important guests. Aromatherapy has its roots in the most ancient healing and therapeutic practices. Medicinal plants are used to cure many ailments and used in many sacred rituals to evoke different states of consciousness.

Elaborate religious ceremonies were performed in Egyptian temples, where the dead King was mummified and surrounded with exotic essential oils. Egyptians believed very firmly that essential oils have an unusual preserving property when added with other spices.

Embalming was one of the principal uses of aromatherapy, preserving the tissue of the bodies for thousands of years. The oils and resins used were so potent, that in the 17th century mummies were sold in Europe and doctors distilled them for use in their medicines.
Aromatherapy truly emerged from the smoky temples of Egypt 6,000 years ago. Egypt was the birthplace of medicine, pharmaceutics, cosmetics and perfumery. Trading was flourishing and traders arrived for trade from all over the world by land and sea to deliver flowers, herbs and plants.
Priestesses and priests strictly supervised the delicate preparations in the temples and palaces, reading formulas & chanting incantations and hymns, as substances were measured & combined with ultimate precision. Purification processes went on for months until the right, perfect subtle blend was achieved.
The use of aromatherapy spread from Egypt to Israel, China, India and the Mediterranean. Every culture, from the most backward to the most modern, developed own set of practices. Greek physicians and military surgeons were employed by the Romans every where in the empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the science spread to the Arab countries, where medicine men devoted them to the ancient art of alchemy, perfecting the art of distillation and extraction.

For many centuries essential oils were the only remedies for epidemic diseases and conditions. During the dreaded Black Plague, very few became ill, who in fact were associated with perfumeries and glove industries where these oils were in profuse use.

During the 19th century, with the development of modern science, all forms of herbal medicine disappeared until the 1920s, when French chemist Gatefosse revived the art, giving it the name Aromatherapy. India was one of the few countries where the tradition was never lost, Avurveda being the most ancient medical practice in the world today. Aromatherapy is now used in hospitals, offices, clinics and homes all over the world.

Aromatherapy acts as a bridge between the new and old; most of the industries use these oils for various blends and concoctions, which provide cure and relief for a number of complications.