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Aromatherapy 101 -
By Susie Cortright |
Contemporary
healers, therapists, and marketing gurus are grabbing hold of a
phenomenon that insects and animals instinctively understand: the
power of aroma.
Scientists pursue aromachology (the study of scent and its ability to
change human behavior) for its role in everything from medicine to
marketing, migraines to memory loss, and relaxation to revitalization.
-->The ancestry of aromatherapy
The ancestry of aromatherapy goes back some 4,000 years. Ancient
Egyptians used aromatic botanicals for massage, embalming, medicine,
and cosmetics.
Hippocrates himself might have been aromatherapy's first spokesman
2,000 years ago, as he touted the benefits of aromatic massage for
physical and emotional well-being.
In the 10th century, the Arabian world invented the process of
distillation, which allowed more efficient extraction of essential
oils.
For centuries, cultures around the globe inhaled aromas, drank
potions, and wore aromatic amulets to protect them from harm.
In the early 1900s, France and England attempted to re-introduce these
ancient remedies and help them gain acceptance in the more traditional
medical community.
This trend continues in France today. Many French doctors prescribe
aromatic remedies, pharmacies stock essential oils, and insurance
companies pay for the treatment.
In the United States, aromatic healing is gaining ground.
-->Aromatherapy defined
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to treat ailments. These
conditions range from physical conditions to emotional problems. From
headaches to herpes. Dry skin to acne. Arthritis to asthma.
The essential oils of aromatherapy are extracted from aromatic plants
and herbs--from the flower, bark, root, twig, seed, berry, rhizome, or
leaves--generally through a process of steam distillation. These oils
may be inhaled or massaged into the skin, after combining with a
vegetable, nut or seed oil.
Massage with essential oils is most commonly used to alleviate skin
ailments and muscle pain or tension. Lavender, orange, marjoram, and
chamomile are particularly effective aromas in the use of massage.
Essential oils can be inhaled with the help of a vaporizer, an
electric diffuser or an aroma lamp.
-->How does it work?
Our sense of smell is more complex than you might think. Your nose
contain thousands of olfactory nerves.
While your tongue has the ability to taste sweet, sour, salt, and
bitter, it is your sense of smell that creates all the delightful
flavors you experience.
The olfactory bulb is part of your brain's limbic system, which is not
under conscious control. The limbic system controls digestion, libido,
and emotions.
So, it's not your imagination that scents evoke emotion. Aromas
actually trigger the release of chemicals in the brain that create a
feeling of well-being. Scientists say your body's response to an aroma
takes just four seconds.
-->Which Essential Oils are Right for You?
Essential oils are available in natural and synthetic forms.
Natural essential oils are not oils but non-oily, non-water-soluble
substances, which dissolve in alcohol and combine with true oils.
Pure, natural essential oils may be as much as 70 times more potent
than the plant source itself.
Some synthetics are derived from natural products. The exact
formulation of an essential oil is virtually impossible to reproduce
in the laboratory. Even the smallest variation can produce significant
changes in the oil's effect.
Some synthetic oils fall into the category of artificial fragrances,
entirely made of petroleum products. These products generally do not
produce the same therapeutic effects as essential oils.
Each essential oil is comprised of different hormones and vitamins,
which combine to create different effects. Furthermore, the effects of
each essential oil can vary depending on the botanical species and
where it is grown. The effects of particular aromas also vary among
cultures and individuals, so the results of aromatherapy are not
universal. Still, aromatherapists have developed a roster of scents
with relatively predictable effects:
Aphrodisiacs
Jasmine, ylang ylang, patchouli
Energizers
lemon, basil, bergamot, sweet orange, peppermint, eucalyptus,
tangerine
Hair Care
(dry hair) cedarwood
(normal hair) lavender, ylang ylang
(oily hair) rosemary, lemongrass
PMS
cedarwood, clary sage, fennel, geranium, nerali, Roman chamomile
Relaxation
lavender, myrrh, cardamom, cedarwood, German chamomile, clary sage,
frankincense
Skin Care
(all skin types) Lavender, geranium, ylang ylang
(dry skin) rosemary, rosewood, carrot seed, sandalwood, peppermint,
rosemary
(oily skin) basil, eucalyptus, cedarwood, cypress, lemongrass, ylang
ylang, sage
Susie Michelle Cortright is the author of several books for women and
founder of Momscape.com, a website designed to help busy women find
balance. Visit
http://www.momscape.com today and get Susie's free course-by-email
"6 Days to Less Stress," the free pdf, "Spa Recipes for All Seasons"
and a free subscription to Susie's Affordable Luxuries newsletter,
featuring special offers and coupon codes on the web's most wonderful
things. http://www.momscape.com
