Man's ability to smell is one of the most enduring of all our senses. It has the ability to change our emotions, and heal our bodies. The practice in which we allow scents and aromas to soothe and heal our bodies is called aromatherapy. It began with the Egyptians, when they began extracting oils from different aromatic plants for cosmetic and medicinal purposes.
Aromatherapy is a branch of alternative medicine that is based on scents that come from essential oils. Essential oils are called such not only because they are important, but because they are full of essence, or their own distinctive scent. They are usually named after the plant from which they were taken from, such as "oil of clove" or "oil of cedar wood".
Curious interest in this type of oils has been resurrected in recent decades with the popularity of aromatherapy. Practitioners or aromatherapy believe that the specific aromas carried by essential oils have healing effects on those who can smell their fragrance.
The medicinal value of aromatherapy has been widely debated over the ages. It has come to a point that the practice is regulated in some parts of the world, and its prevalence will most likely remain vague in the near future.
Medicinal applications implied by those who procure and sell this type of oils can range from treating skin disorders to remedies for cancer, and are often based on the historical use of these oils for these purposes. Many would even attest that aromatherapy had cured them of their illness, despite the disinclination and reluctance of medical professionals.
Cosmetic uses of this type of oils include perfumes, cosmetics, soap and aromatherapy spa products, for flavoring food and drink, and even for scenting incense. People would place scented candles infused with essential oils in their homes in order to give it that feeling of peace and tranquility, while others use them for meditation.
