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Aromatherapy and Essential Oils
What is Aromatherapy?
It is the art and science of using pure essential oils which are extracted from natural
botanicals (leaves, stems, fruits, flowers, leaves, bark, seeds, berries or roots of plants, trees and
herbs), to calm, balance, and rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit. Concentrated essential oils carry
the same physiological, psychological and spiritual healing properties as the plant from which they are
derived from.
What is an Aromatherapy Massage?
An aromatherapy massage is typically a massage that is done with pure essential oils added
to either the massage lotion or the massage oil. Depending on the oils used, it can help to promote
relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety, ease muscle soreness, and create a sense of well-being. You can
go to my Massage Rates page to read about and book an aromatherapy
massage.
What are the different Essential Oils that are used?
There are many essenial oils available to use. Some of the more common and popular ones
are Lavender, Geranium, Sandalwood, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, and Peppermint, to
name just a few.
Click on my Essential Oils page where you'll find links to pages
for each of the oils. I will be adding pages as I have time, so check back often, or better yet, sign up
for my newsletter so that I can let you know when I update my site. You can also subscribe to my RSS
feed, by clicking on one of the buttons on the left side of the page.
History
Aromatherapy is more than six thousand years old. The Egyptians used essential oils for such
things as massage, skin care, healing preparations, perfumes, and even embalming.
In ancient India, Ayurvedic medicine included using Sandalwood oil with massages. In Greece,
Hippocrates recommended using oils of Marjoram, Cypress and Myrrh for aromatic baths and massage.
Essential oils of Rose, Jasmine, and Chamomile were used as tonics in China.
During the Middle Ages in Europe, Thyme, Rosemary, and Lavender were used as antiseptics.
Popular perfumes were Neroli, Rose, and Lavender. Frankincense and Sandalwood were used to enhance prayer
and meditation.
With the advent of modern medicine, natural remedies were pushed aside in favor of
synthetically produced chemicals. The therapeutic use of essential oils began it's revival in France
in the early 1900's when a chemist by the name of Rene-Maurice Gattefosse burned his hand quite badly.
Seeking relief from the pain, Gattefosse submerged his hand in a container of pure lavender oil. He was
amazed by how quickly the pain was relieved, and that it healed without any infection. He had already
been studying the effects of essential oils when the accident happened, and while continuing his studies
afterwards coined the term "Aromatherapy".
How Aromatherapy works:
The sense of smell is one of the most powerful of the senses. The olfactory nerves process
odors through the limbic system, which connects to all other parts of the brain and in particular to the
thalamus and hypothalamus from where our whole endocrine system is controlled. Smells can affect memory,
emotions, self expression, the whole adrenal system, our internal environment, and sexual system. This
is why a scent can be euphoric, aphrodisiac or stimulate clear thinking. In addition, inhaling essential
oils can have a direct impact on the health of the respiratory organs, for example during cold season.
Ways to use Aromatherapy:
- Diffusion
- Massage
- Skin Care
- Baths
- Spa treatments
Aromatherapy using pure essential oils benefits us in three major ways:
- Physiologically: As a stimulant, relaxant; anti-infective; or to relieve pain
and spasm.
- Topically: Treat different skin types by toning, moisturizing, stimulating, and acting
as an antibacterial/anti-fungal.
- Psychologically: Because essential oils emit fragrance, they effect the psyche, causing
mental, emotional, and behavioral changes.
Safety:
Essential Oils are very concentrated and in most cases should always be diluted in oil or
lotion before using on the skin. Avoid contact with the eyes or mucus membranes. If this happens, you can
flush the area using a vegetable oil or milk. Do not use water, as that will drive the oils deeper in.
Some of the essential oils are phototoxic, such as Bergamot, Orange, and Lemon, and should not be used
directly on the skin before going out in the sun.
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"A day without fragrance is a lost day."
- Ancient Egyptian saying.
The following books are a couple of my favorites. You can find more
at my
Amazon book store.
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