Aromatherapy is a holistic form of healing that dates back to ancient Egypt. It involves the use of essential oils to invoke certain feelings or moods and to heal different types of mental problems or disorders, such as depression, stress or anxiety. Aromatherapy has many psychological, emotional and physical benefits.
History
In her book "Natural Beauty at Home," Janice Cox points out that aromatherapy was used to heal certain conditions and create specific types of moods by the ancient Greeks, Babylonians and Romans. The use of incense, oils and perfumes in aromatherapy dates back at least 5,000 years. René Maurice Gattefossé, a French chemist, coined the phrase aromatherapy in the early 1900s.
Function
Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils to invoke certain moods, such as happiness or calmness, and can promote feelings of relaxation or energy. Aromatherapy can also provide stress relief and assist with the alleviation of symptoms of depression and anxiety. A University of Maryland Medical Center article on aromatherapy discusses various ways in which aromatherapy can be helpful, including pain relief, mood elevation, and relief from insomnia and even constipation when essential oils are used in an abdominal massage.
Types
In her book "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy," Valerie Ann Worwood states that there are approximately 300 essential oils in use today but that the average household could fulfill its needs with about 10 oils. Different essential oils have different properties. For example, lavender is generally thought to have relaxing and anxiety-relieving properties whereas eucalyptus has anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties.
Uses
Many essential oils can be used in an oil diffuser, a massage oil or a bath. Certain essential oils that are used for the relief of muscle aches and pain, such as eucalyptus, or that can be used to relieve skin conditions like itching or poison ivy, such as sandalwood, can be mixed with a carrier oil like grapeseed or almond oil for direct application to the skin.
Warning
The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) advises consumer caution when using certain essential oils, specifically those that may cause skin irritation if applied in an undiluted, direct manner, including clove and cinnamon leaf oils. The NAHA suggests that a safe dilution ratio for most essential oils when applying to the skin is 2.5 percent, or approximately 50 drops in 100 ml of fixed oil, or 15 drops in 1 oz. of carrier oil.
References
- UMMC: Aromatherapy
- "Natural Beauty at Home"; Janice Cox; 2002
- "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy"; Valerie Ann Worwood; 1991
- National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy: Methods of Application
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