Aroma Wellness Therapy in Colorado
Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils to contribute to a person’s healing. Typically, aromatherapy is used to heal the mind, body, and spirit. For people who are struggling with addiction or another mental health condition, aromatherapy can be incredibly helpful.
Using aromatherapy as a part of a holistic approach to treatment for drug and alcohol abuse can aid in delivering other therapies. When people start their recovery journey in treatment, a calming environment is essential. Aromatherapy has many soothing and grounding benefits that help support people recovering from substance abuse.
At Healing Pines Recovery, we use aromatherapy as a tool to enhance the therapeutic setting for people undergoing substance abuse treatment. We embrace the holistic approach to treatment and provide a wide variety of treatment options to clients.
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy uses organic compounds to improve your mood, mental state, emotional state, and overall health. These essential oils are created from various parts of plants, such as roots, seeds, leaves, and blossoms. In some cases, two or more different essential oils are combined to create various combinations with specific effects.
Aromatherapy is the practice of healing people through scents: Each essential oil is thought to have different benefits. Some can contribute to decreased anxiety, while others are thought to alleviate symptoms of depression. There are even quite a few which are specifically geared toward individuals recovering from addiction.
There are many forms of aromatherapy, including diffusion, room sprays, and baths. Some also add essential oil to their massage oil and skin and hair products.
While aromatherapy can help to decrease symptoms, it should not be substituted for basic forms of care, including psychotherapy and pharmaceutical medication: This is solely meant to be a complementary treatment plan and has not been proven to be beneficial clinically, although many rave about how much better they feel after engaging in this form of therapy.
Aromatherapy has actually been around for thousands of years: It was popular in ancient Egypt, China, and India when people placed components of plants into their resins and balms. During that time, these were used for religious and medical purposes.
It is widely believed that Persians diluted essential oils during the 10th century, though that is still debated. It’s quite possible that distillation could have occurred much sooner, but no one is certain. Even during the 19th century, physicians believed in the power of essential oils to treat various diseases, and they remain quite popular to this day.
Benefits of Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can have many benefits when used appropriately. Using aromatherapy in a therapeutic setting can be very beneficial to mental and behavioral health. Different essential oils and scents can help people remain focused and at ease while participating in treatment.
Different essential oils are known to evoke specific responses from the body. This can help people feel more grounded during therapy sessions. Certain scents can also lend themselves to a serene and calm setting – which is ideal for addiction treatment settings.
Holistic treatment, such as aromatherapy, is beneficial for treating the whole person. People who are struggling with a substance use disorder need the proper support to recover and lead a healthy lifestyle. There are many benefits to the holistic approach to addiction treatment. If one is suffering from an addiction, this can be extremely helpful.
Here are some examples of essential oils often used in aromatherapy:
- Lavender
- Sandalwood
- Ylang-Ylang
- Clary Sage
- Basil
- Bergamot
- Rose
- Geranium
- Neroli
- Petitgrain
- Chamomile
While the Federal Drug Administration does not actively regulate essential oils, there is no evidence that they pose any risk to the user. Essential oils have the potential to elevate the mind, body, and spirit. The soothing properties of essential oils can positively impact the mindset of someone going through early recovery stages.
The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy should not be used as a substitute for evidence-based treatments like psychotherapy and medications. However, aromatherapy is a great addition to holistic healing for substance use disorder. Essential oils can be used to enhance the experience during dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
During therapy, some people who struggle with healthy coping skills may need additional help with grounding. Essential oils help participants feel more relaxed and grounded during their sessions. Aromatherapy is an important part of the holistic healing process when recovering from addiction.
How Essential Oils Help Mental and Behavioral Health
For people who are recovering from substance abuse, aromatherapy is a great addition to a treatment plan. Different scents have different properties. Therefore, each essential oil affects the mind and body differently.
Our team of treatment professionals can help determine which essential oils would work best for the needs of each client. At Healing Pines, we aim to ensure that each client receives individualized care – including aromatherapy suggestions.
Start Your Recovery with Healing Pines
Healing Pines Recovery provides comprehensive treatment to men struggling with a substance use disorder. We offer a variety of holistic treatment options, including aromatherapy. Our team of treatment professionals is committed to supporting all of our clients as they start building their foundation of recovery.
Our holistic treatment center in Colorado provides clients with various treatment options to meet their unique needs. Healing Pines has a proven track record of helping people achieve long-term sobriety. We understand that the road to recovery from addiction is not always easy and requires a robust support system. At Healing Pines, we treat the whole person, not just the symptoms of addiction. Our treatment program teaches clients healthy coping skills and alternative therapies to avoid addictive substances.
Please contact us for more information about our program offerings and how we can help.