The Sacred Art of Aromatherapy

Just like hearing a certain old song can take you hurtling back to another space and time in your mind, so too, can a certain smell. Have you ever gotten a whiff of a vanilla candle to instantly remind you of the time you were 6 years old, baking sugar cookies with your mom in the kitchen of your childhood home. You know, the one with the olive green appliances and a phone attached to the wall with a 15 ft. coiled cord dangling from it.
Maybe that quick little trip makes you feel happy or maybe it makes you sad. But, most likely, it makes you feel something. It can bring about a shift in you entire demeanor; the very foundation of aromatherapy. When your state of mind is changed, the body usually follows.
This practice of using aromas to benefit both body and mind has been around since ancient times. The cultures of Ancient Egypt, Greece and India all used the practice. And, from the looks of all the historical documentation, it must have worked out very well for them because it was taken very seriously by pharaohs, priests and community leaders, as well as the general population.

An ancient papyrus, dating back approximately 3,500 years, referred to as the Ebers Papyrus, is a 110-page scroll that documents the frequent use of aromatics in the ancient Egyptian culture, both externally and internally!
Even the Egyptian city of Heliopolis burned resins in the morning, myrrh in the afternoon and kyphi at night. It was called the city of the sun and they burned these aromatics to honor their sun god Ra. The aromas would fill the city to help the population connect with their god. They fully believed the fragrant smoke from some plants and resins could help them commune with the supernatural!
Today, aromatherapy is still used and is more than just burning scented candles or setting out some potpourri. It is a sacred art that when used properly has the power to transform your state of mind and help protect your well-being.
My favorite way to get the benefit is from using essential oils in a diffuser. The scent of the perfect oil working together with the properties of the plant it comes from can work wonders! Just give eucalyptus a try for that congestion! And come on, we both know you want to try one of those ones that connect you to the supernatural! That would be Frankincense. You're welcome.