Aromatherapy
The history of Aromatherapy:
It is generally agreed, Aromatherapy is an ancient practice, with origins approximately 6000 years old. Ancient Egyptians as well as the Greeks and the Romans, all used Aromatherapy oils. The Egyptians even bathed their dead in certain oils. Hippocrates of ancient Greece, considered by many to be the father of modern medicine, used Aromatherapy for bathing and massage. Ancient documents have been discovered detailing ancient Aromatherapy remedies for many illnesses. Many of the ancient remedies are similar in nature to currently used oils. An ancient book of internal medicine created by the Chinese and written nearly 3000 years before Christianity, contains information on more than 300 plants and their medicinal properties.
The French chemist Rene Gattefosse gave birth to modern Aromatherapy about 1930. In 1964, inspired by the work of Gattefosse, Jean Valnet published his own work titled “The Practice Of Aromatherapy”. This publication ignited an ongoing interest in the west, concerning the therapeutic value of Aromatherapy.
Presently, Aromatherapy is experiencing one of the most rapid growths of any of the prominent alternative medicine modalities. According to the National Association Of Holistic Aromatherapy, approximately $300 million in Aromatherapy business was created in 1998 and gross sales is projected to approach one billion in the year 2000.
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the process of treating various conditions by the inhalation of fragrances, as well as the bodily application of essential oils. These essential oils include fragrances from approximately 150 unique botanical plants. The essential oils can be added to bath water, massaged onto the skin, inhaled directly, and can be used as a scent for the entire room. The essential oils are extracted from various parts of a plant including: the flower, bark, leaf, seed, fruit, resins, and the rhizome.
The therapeutic effect derived from Aromatherapy is to enhance and strengthen the internal healing process. This action occurs through an indirect stimulation of an individual’s immune system. The actual results of Aromatherapy in terms of its success can vary between individuals. The actual therapeutic effectiveness on an individual is influenced by a number of variables including: their environment, the time of day, the weather conditions, the individuals mood, and the setting in which the therapeutic process is employed.
Most of the 150 plants yield essential oils containing therapeutic properties such as; antiviral, anti-inflammatory, pain relief, anti-depressive, as well as expectorant qualities. The essential oils also can stimulate, relax, enhance digestion, or can have a diuretic affect.
How does Aromatherapy work?
Aromatherapy relies on the sense of smell to be stimulated by the scent of an essential oil. It is the stimulation of the sense of smell that triggers the desired therapeutic and effect. The process takes place by the stimulation of the olfactory nerves in the nasal passage, which in turn send neuro signals to that portion of the brain that controls the limbic system. The triggering of this system induces a particular desired emotional, physiological, endocrine system, and or immune system response. The triggering action can occur either as an actual stimulation or a sedation of a particular response. Individual oils have specific sedating or stimulating effecrts on the desired system.
Essential oils are highly concentrated volatile aromatic essences derived from plants. Essential oils are about 100 times more concentrated than oils found in dried herbs.
Quality of essential oils is imperative and individuals should use great care when choosing to purchase or otherwise acquire these oils. The majority of essential oils produced around the world, which are used in food and in fragrances, usually contain some synthetic material, which has a tendency to lessen the quality significantly. Lesser quality essential oils in fragrances tend to have a consequent diminished therapeutic effect. It has been determined that synthetic oils do not work, and the use of natural and preferably organic raw materials is important in the preparation of the oils.
Types of Aromatherapy:
There are three types of Aromatherapy: cosmetic, massage, and olfactory. All three require essential oils to be diluted prior to use.
Cosmetic Aromatherapy involves the process of combining essential oils with facial, skin, hair and body care products.
Massage Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils in the process of massage therapy.
Olfactory Aromatherapy involves the release of fragrances from essential oils into the environment by direct inhalation and/or diffusion. The inhalation technique involves applying essential oils to a cloth or spraying a mixture of the diluted essential oil, into the air to be inhaled during normal breathing. Diffusion on the other hand, requires the evaporation of fragrances from the oil into the atmosphere with the use of specialized equipment.
Which conditions are aided by Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is known to have significant positive effects on stress, anxiety and psychosomatic induced problems, the skeletal pain as well as muscular pain, various digestive disorders, and female problems. There have been a number of published clinical studies showing positive results in the following conditions: behavior problems, sleep disorders, colds, and various emotional stress related disorders, male sexual dysfunction.
Safty Issues:
It is recommended, that the use of Aromatherapy essential oils should be undertaken through the guidance of a qualified Aromatherapy practitioner. This recommendation is due to the concentrated nature of the oils and related properties. Users should also be aware of the potential for allergic responses by certain individuals, who may be allergic to any number of essential oils, because they have been prepared from live botanical plants. Individuals who have allergies, blood pressure problems, epilepsy, and pregnant women should use particular care and caution when using Aromatherapy products.
