Honey has been used as a food preservative, alternative medicine and beauty aid for thousands of years. In fact, when you were young, you may have been given a spoonful of honey to sooth a sore throat or to quiet a cough. But you may not be familiar with the use of honey in aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a term that became popular in the 1980s, but the practice has a history dating back to ancient times. People of ancient Egypt and China used essential oils for bathing, healing, cosmetics and fragrance. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, or NAHA, defines aromatherapy as "the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit." To this end, the therapy appears to work by positively simulating the parts of your brain that control emotions. However, science does not know the exact mechanism by which it seems to be effective.
Honey Absolute
Honey absolute is the oil that results from the extraction of honey's fragrance. Although you might see references to "100% essential honey oil," there is, technically, no such thing. An absolute is similar to an essential oil, except that the extraction process differs. Essential oils are normally the products of steam extractions, but sometimes the source of the fragrance is too fragile for the steam distillation process. Instead, chemical solvents are used to extract the fragrance for an absolute. Absolutes are more concentrated and fragrant, and can be used in perfumery as well, but they are also more expensive than essential oils. One reputable retailer that sells honey absolute can be found in Resources, at the end of this article.
Honey in Aromatherapy
To gain the benefits of honey aromatherapy, honey absolute can be warmed in an essential oil warmer, a few drops can be added to a warm bath or it can be stirred into unscented hand creams to produce an aromatic skin softener. If you would rather not have to deal with the honey absolute oil, which can be rather expensive, the website for the National Honey Board includes many recipes for beauty products containing regular, edible honey that you can find in your grocery store. Several of these, such as bath products and skin lotions, can also provide a pleasant aromatic experience. Finally, don't forget to check with your local spas; they may offer aromatherapy treatments using honey-scented products.
Safety
Check with your doctor before trying any kind of aromatherapy, especially if you are pregnant. While generally safe, some may be sensitive to the aromas produced by honey absolute, or be allergic to the chemical compounds used to extract it. Pure honey absolute, like most 100% essential oils, should not be put directly on the skin. Once diluted by water, lotion, or "carrier" oils like jojoba, they are less likely to cause a skin reaction.
Warning
This article is about aromatherapy using honey essential oil, or honey absolute. You may hear of a similar-sounding product called "honey oil" -- sometimes called "hash oil" -- but rest assured that it has nothing to do with aromatherapy or the subject of this article. Honey oil is an extract from the cannabis plant, more commonly known as marijuana, and it is illegal to produce, sell or purchase.
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