The use of pure essential oils from plants has been around hundreds of years, and the health-promoting essences are commonly used for treating and relieving many conditions.

Although the label of 'Aromatherapy' is a relatively new one, ancient physicians were skilled in the use of essential oils and understood the volatile and potent effects individual oils had on the human body and mind. Ancient physicians were paid to keep their clients healthy, so they used essential oils on a daily basis to help promote the beneficial effects in daily life, and often helped to reduce or eliminate an ailment before it could become a problem.

Aromatherapy is a very gentle form of treatment, therefore ordinary people can gain greatly from the health-promoting use of essential oils at home without the worry of visiting a specialist. However, for more specific conditions such as fibromyalgia, it is advisable to consult a trained Aromatherapist who can apply their professional skills on a regular basis to relieve the condition. Backing up this professional treatment at home with soothing and relaxing essential oils can only help the fibromyalgia sufferer to manage their symptoms.

The fabulous combination of massage and essential oils is very relaxing in itself, but you are also taking in the healing and balancing scents through your nose as you breath, resulting in a restorative balance to your body and mind. This can often result in better digestion, healthier skin, and an overall improvement in your general well-being.

Regular use of the correct essential oils can go a long way to help support and strengthen your immune system. Something as simple as applying a few drops of oil to a handkerchief and carrying it with you can help to calm you down, sooth your stress, and generally give you a bit of support and resolve to get through whatever stressful situation you may find yourself facing.

Fibromyalgia is believed to be stress-related, so you can help keep the atmosphere calm at work or at home by placing around your office or home a dish of essential oil scented wooden balls.

The use of a vaporiser or oil burner can be very beneficial, and can fill the air with a greater injection of soothing and calming essential oils than using scented wooden balls alone. Care must be taken when using an oil burner because of the obvious fire risks associated with the use of candles.

At the end of a stressful day, taking a relaxing bath with the addition of essential oils can go a long way to help relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia, calming you down and preparing your body and mind for a restful night's sleep.

Our Neglected Sense of Smell

Our modern world is highly dominated by audio and visual stimuli, so we don't rely nearly as much on our sense of smell as we used to.

When a baby is born, it senses it's mother and the security she offers by smell, and as a baby doesn't have fully developed eyesight, smell is its main and keenest of its senses.

We know not to eat a particular fruit, vegetable or other piece of food that doesn't smell quite right even if it looks ok, and it's that 'off' smell that creates a reaction in us, making us feel sick, or giving us a headache.

In the same way, inhaling a potent aromatherapy oil can invoke a reaction of pleasure, calming relaxation, stimulating vigour, or thought provoking clarity.

With fibromyalgia sufferers who by nature are often anxious, or easily stressed, the best sort of essential oils to use are soothing and calming ones that can help ease stress, and in some cases prevent an attack coming on, or lessening the effects.

Easing stress and tension with the following essential oils is recommended, and you can safely use these oils in massage, oil burners or vaporisers, and in your bath at home:
Basil, bergamot, chamomile, clary sage, geranium, lavender, neroli, sweet orange, rose, and ylang ylang.

A suggested blend of relaxing oils for use in an oil burner would be the following:
4 drops of neroli, 3 drops of sweet orange and 3 drops of ylang ylang.

When you seek out a therapist, make sure you check they are professionally trained and qualified to treat your specific needs. You should feel comfortable with your therapist and be able to establish a trusting relationship. Try out sessions with different therapists to find the one you are most happy with before committing to a course of aromatherapy massage treatments.