Aromatherapy in London

Have you ever been transported to your childhood by the smell of freshly baked cookies? Or held on to an item of a lost loved one so you could retain their scent? Our sense of smell is arguably our most potent sense and intimately connected to our emotional life. Aromatherapy harnesses the power of smell to assist the body’s natural ability to rest, restore, and heal from stress and illness. 

Using essential oils from plants, flowers, roots and herbs, the principals of aromatherapy have been around for thousands of years. At the therapy’s heart is the idea that our sense of smell and reaction to essential oils can heal a whole host of ailments. Contemporary uses of aromatherapy first emerged when French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé burnt his hand and plunged it into a vat of lavender oil. Although badly burnt, his hand healed quickly without scarring. 

Today, aromatherapy is one of the most popular forms of alternative and complementary therapy around and heralded for its ability to calm, relax, restore, and stimulate the senses, mind and body. 

Whether you’re looking to reduce your stress, calm painful headaches, or are just looking for an alternative way to achieve optimal health, browse our collection of aromatherapy practitioners near you today.

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What Are the Benefits of Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is an alternative and complementary therapy to help to boost the immune system, revive frazzled minds, and improve overall health and wellbeing. The medical community broadly recognises aromatherapy and doctors regularly prescribe the therapy as a part of palliative care alongside conventional treatment. 

Eases Stress 

Certain scents have a powerful ability to trigger relaxation responses in the brain and across the body. Aromatherapy eases you into a deep state of tranquillity and helps quell feelings of stress, by combining the soothing scents of essential oils, with the restorative touch of massage. The relaxing effect of aromatherapy also has positive effects on those suffering from anxiety and anxiety-related disorders. 

Improves Sleep 

Have you ever found yourself wide awake in the middle of the night feeling restless and unable to sleep? Do you regularly feel worn down and burnt out from lack of rest? Thousands of people suffer from sleep deprivation and insomnia and the effects can be life-limiting. Unlike sleeping pills, which can have serious side effects, aromatherapy is an easy and effective way to ease you into sleep. 

Reduces Symptoms of Dementia 

Dementia is an untreatable, degenerative disease that affects thousands of people across the world. But recent research suggests the scent of essential oils and aromatherapeutic practices can help to reduce the feelings of agitation of sufferers. Scents that stimulate the brain and memory can also help to slow down the pace of dementia. 

Soothes Chronic Pain 

Whether you suffer from a crick in your neck, muscle spasms or creaky joints, aromatherapy can help. By calming the mind and reviving the senses, aromatherapy rewires the way the brain processes feelings of pain. If you suffer from chronic pain, you may particularly benefit from an aromatherapy massage, which fuses the potent use of scent and the luxurious strokes of massage to ease muscle ache and calm the mind. 

What to Expect from an Aromatherapy Session? 

All aromatherapy sessions will begin with an initial consultation between you and your aromatherapist. Whether you’re looking to get more clarity and focus at work or to heal pain in your shoulder — this is your opportunity to highlight exactly what you want from your sessions. This consultation will also provide invaluable information about your lifestyle and general health to help your aromatherapist curate your treatment plan. 

Each aromatherapist will have a unique approach to personalised treatment, but most mix at-home remedies with aromatherapy massage sessions. But it’s important to remember that aromatherapy is a process so you can expect a series of treatments over roughly ten sessions, depending on your needs.

Home Treatments 

Home treatments will often include a prescription of essential oils that you need to smell at particular times of the day. The scents your practitioner prescribes will depend on your specific needs, lifestyle and overall health. 

Aromatherapy Massage 

Aromatherapy massages use a blend of essential oils and base oils to create a heady massage oil. Lasting between 60-90 minutes, it’s a deeply relaxing experience that incorporates the best part of aromatherapy and massage therapy. 

Browse our range of aromatherapy practitioners in London and stimulate your senses and calm your mind.