Aromatherapy is just as the name suggests, Aroma - smell, Therapy - to treat. So Aromatherapy is the use of Aromas or smells to elicit a mental or chemical change which can aid in the well being of an individual. This kind of ‘ treatment ‘ has been in use since before the time of the Egyptians.

Most of us appreciate the smell of Joss Sticks, and that smell can change the way we feel, I. e making us feel happier or relaxed or even full of the joys of spring. In much the same way our brain links smell to different memories, and, upon smelling that same smell our memory is reactivated. For example; during visits to my granny Jackson her house always used to smell of strong Columbian Coffee. Now, although my granny Jackson has been dead several years, every time I smell strong Columbian Coffee, Pleasant memories of days gone by sitting in grannies back garden drinking coffee with the sun beating down, the chatter of wild birds and the movement of bees and butterflies, instantly spring to mind with such clarity that it could have happened only yesterday. Because of that memory I feel relaxed and content, my heart beats slower and in fact my entire body slows down and relaxes.

Therefore smells can and do effect change within the mind and body of a person. Not only joss sticks can perform this task; but virtually anything that produces a smell can do the same thing. Aromatherapy uses specific smells to elicit specific responses and thus can aid recovery by allowing the body to react a certain way, maybe to produce Endorphins - the bodies own Natural pain killers, or to make the body / mind more relaxed for self healing to take place.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils burned in an oil burner to create its effects. { just a quick note: Over the Counter essential oils should be looked at very carefully. Some are labelled as ‘ orange essence oils ‘ and not essential oils. Essences are Man Made and DO NOT have the same evoking power as essential oils which are derived from plants and are far, far stronger } ( see essential oils on information page ) .