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Like so many complementary therapies, aromatherapy dates back thousands of years. It was used first as a form of beauty treatment – until a succession of French physicians in the last century began to recognise its therapeutic effects.
There are about 70 essential oils, each with their own purpose, and they’re divided into five fragrance families. Choosing the oils, which are right for you, is as simple as smelling them and seeing which ‘family’ appeals most. It’s a bit like choosing a perfume, really; some people like a ‘green’ scent, others go for something more pungent.
The oils, which are made from the concentrated essence of the plants from which they’re extracted, need to be diluted with a suitable carrier oil, although many are now sold ready diluted in chemists. They can be added to the bath, mixed with hot water and inhaled, massaged into the skin, but the most relaxing way to use them is to have a professional aromatherapy treatment.
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