Aromatherapy, one of the most popular alternative therapies today, makes use of a number of essential oils. Essentially, these essential oils are the essence of the plants from which they are derived and possess all the medicinal properties of those plants. Earlier, aromatherapy was limited to massages and vapor therapy only. In modern aromatherapy, several different techniques are used, and a number of aromatherapy products are available in the stores such as aromatherapy sprays, aromatherapy vaporizers, and aromatherapy oil burners, among many other such products. Aromatherapy oil burners are one of the most popularly used aromatherapy products as these are very easy to use and cost effective as well.
Aromatherapy oil burners are also referred to as essential oil burners. An aromatherapy burner is meant to diffuse the essential oil in the environment of your rooms. For this, the essential oil to be used is slowly burnt, which results in the spreading of the aroma of the oil in the room. The vapors spread in the atmosphere are inhaled by you while breathing, and you, thus, naturally get the advantages of the essential oil being used. There are a number of models of aromatherapy oil burners available in the market, and these come in various shapes and sizes. Some of the most popular types are mentioned hereunder:
- Terracotta earthen lamps: As the name suggests, these are made of terracotta in which a cotton wick is kept dipped in the oil and the outer end is lighted. In the lamp oil, a few drops of the essential oil which you need to use at a particular instance are added.
- Ceramic oil burners: These are also similar to terracotta lamps but are made of ceramic.
The essential oil or a blend of certain essential oils to be used depends on your specific requirements. Some of the most common uses are mentioned below:
- If you are mentally stressed and tired, add a few drops of sandalwood oil or lavender essential oil in the oil burner and relax. Within a few minutes, you will feel refreshed and relaxed.
- If you are under the influence of common cold and any other respiratory disorder such as chest congestion, burn a few drops of eucalyptus oil with the lamp oil. This will give you considerable relief from the ailment.
- For driving away insects, add five to six drops of lemon grass essential oil in the burner.
The disadvantage of aromatherapy oil burners, as compared to other aromatherapy products, is that some of the medicinal properties of the essential oils are lost due to burning. You should always consult your aroma therapist before using any essential oil.