According to "The Aromatherapy Book," aromatic oils have been used for inhalation and application since the times of ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece. Today, the meaning of aromatherapy extends to the holistic practice of using a plant's volatile essential oils to treat body, mind and spirit. Aromatherapists believe that aromatherapy assists healing through olfactory pathways, as well as through external and internal applications.
Uplifting the Spirit
According to aromatherapist Jeanne Rose, essential oils can be used to effectively uplift and stimulate your spirits. The direct application of odor inhalation is felt to affect the mind physiologically through the limbic system, a vital component to emotional health. Scents are highly individualistic. Some essential oils tend to have a general emotive label attached, but what may be soothing to one person may make another person irritable or melancholy. Each person should select scents that are personally uplifting or relaxing.
Seasonal Changes
Aromatherapists believe that essential oils can be beneficial during changes of season to aid in natural transition. Jeanne Rose recommends jasmine and rose essential oils for stimulation during winter, peppermint essential oil to cool the heat of summer, and lemon verbena to promote relaxation in the fall. Keep essential oils away from the eyes to prevent irritation.
An Alternative Path
Many people turn to holistic healing because they're frustrated with the limitations of conventional medicine. Using aromatherapy enables people to utilize a therapeutic modality that embraces the whole person and your well-being. Creating a healing environment becomes a lifestyle choice that allows you to take control of your health and well-being, which leads to empowerment and a positive effect. Aromatherapy is being recognized by clinical therapists and allopathic doctors for the therapeutic effects that holistic practitioners have been working with for centuries.
What is an Essentail Oil?
Essential oils are the volition substance of any plant. This substance isn't an oil, like butter or olive oil, and doesn't contain a fatty substance. Essential oil is released through a method of pushing steam or boiling water through the material of a plant to extract the volatile healing oils from the plant. Essential oils are not to be confused with the application of scents. Not all scents are pure therapeutic grade essential oils; the manmade scent of vanilla doesn't have the therapeutic benefit that vanilla essential oil has, even if it smells nice. Buy quality essential oils if you want to add authentic aromatherapy to your life.
Understanding Aromatherapy
Commercial marketing is quick to appeal to public demand but often uses deceptive labeling to save money. Labeling a product as aroma-therapeutic is often done to promote sales to people who don't understand what constitutes beneficial aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is more than just a smell infused into a bath soap or a candle. True essential oil contains volatile oils that have specific properties of healing. High-quality products list essential oils as ingredients if they contain them. Expect to pay more for quality essential oils; it takes many pounds of any given plant to produce tiny quantities of pure essential oil. Because of their highly concentrated nature, always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before use.
References
- "The Aromatherapy Book"; Jeanne Rose; 1992
- "Health & Wellness Handbook"; The SouthWestern Company; 2005
- "A Natural History of the Senses"; Diane Ackerman; 1990
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