Aromatherapy for Weight Loss

Many people are surprised to hear that there is an aromatherapy and weight loss connection. After all, what could your sense of smell have to do with the amount of fat your body will lose? How is it that you could start seeing a smaller number on the bathroom scale just because you added the right essential oils to your diffuser?

The truth of the matter is that many people do find that aromatherapy and weight loss go hand in hand. This is not to say that you’ll simply smell some essential oils and find yourself fitting into a smaller pair of jeans. However, it can help to support the efforts you’re making on your own behalf.

What to Expect from Aromatherapy for Weight Loss

Aromatherapy, like many other things you may have heard of, is not a magical way to lose weight. There is no such magic bullet that will change everything, allowing you to drop pounds and lose inches without doing anything else.

The truth is that cutting calories, eating the right foods, and exercise are the only tried and true methods for real and lasting weight loss results. However, aromatherapy can help you out a little, which may be what you need to give you a boost and help you succeed.

Typically speaking the types of aromatherapy for weight loss benefits you can expect include:

• Appetite control
• Energy enhancement
• Calming/relaxation

How Do These Benefits Help You Drop the Pounds?

Appetite control is likely the most obvious benefit in terms of how it can help. After all, if you’re not quite as hungry (and you choose the right foods) then you won’t overeat, and you’ll lose weight more easily. No mystery there.

Energy enhancement isn’t as obvious but is still not difficult to understand. Aromatherapy for weight loss including energy boosting helps you to combat fatigue that can happen as a result of eating fewer calories (therefore giving your body less energy). Energy is vital to keeping up your motivation and giving your workouts your best performance. This helps to explain why some of the top diet pills are energy boosters.

Calming and relaxation is likely the least obvious benefit to aromatherapy for weight loss. The reason is that many people forget the vital importance of great sleep and stress control when it comes to their weight management. If you’re not getting the rest you need or are suffering from high stress levels, you’ll find it substantially harder to lose weight. The right scents can help you to control those challenges and keep up your weight loss strategy more effectively.

Which Essential Oils are Great for Weight Loss Aromatherapy?

There are different types of oils that help with different aspects of aromatherapy for weight loss. As you know, hunger and cravings are a big reason why people tend to fall off of their diet. You should deal with the emotional reasons why you may overeat. You can try something like vanilla oil, which may help curb cravings for sweets. Patchouli oil may help with appetite suppression, and so will a warm bath each night in bergamot infused water.

There are oils that can help lift the spirit. Weight loss attempts can be thwarted by depression, occasional sadness, and/or indifference. If you find oils that will help with these things, you may have a better chance at success. There are many of these, and you can choose the ones that help you with depression and may work for relaxation as well. A few choices are lemongrass, sage, jasmine, bergamot, Ylang Ylang and geranium.

There are many different aromatherapy oils that you can try, but also some considerations to keep in mind. Essential oils are pure, and you need to have the right tools for storage, use, and longevity. Typically, aromatherapy oils are best dispersed through diffusers, however some are just exposed to air, and others can go in your bath. Do not apply essential oils directly to your skin, unless the product recommends this as they may cause irritation. Learn about the essential oils you are interested in before you begin so that you are sure you are using them in the correct way to have the most benefit for you and your weight loss needs.

Talk to Your Doctor!

Before starting aromatherapy and weight loss, see your doctor. Many people skip this step, but it is actually one of the most important. Your doctor is the best person to advise you on what type of diet may work the best for you, what foods you should eat, and how much exercise you should have when you first start. There may be some medical conditions or mental issues that need to be addressed to ensure your weight loss success. Don't skip this important step, even if you think it is not necessary.