Aromatherapy Benefits
What is Aromatherapy?Aromatherapy has been defined as “a therapy using aromas”. It is also a multifaceted healing art which uses the essential oils of aromatic plants and trees, herbs and shrubs, to promote health of body and serenity of mind. Many ancient cultures believed plants contained magical remedies to cure the body, enhance the mind and repel bad spirits. The roots of this therapy may be ancient but their basic principles are still valid today. Plant substances are found in abundance in modern day medicines. Aromatherapy utilizes our oldest method of discovering the world around us-our sense of smell. Of all the five senses , our sense of smell has the most direct and expedient connection to the brain. It is an interrelated part of the limbic system, the most primitive part of the brain- This area of the brain is primarily concerned with emotion and memory. Did you know that our sense of smell is 10,000 times more sensitive than our sense of taste? And that we have more olfactory receptors than visual receptors? The human nose is capable of detecting and discriminating among many thousands of compounds. For the past 50 years researchers have been discovering the undeniable effects of aromas. Aromatherapy is a great adjunct to most other forms of treatment such as psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, medical herbalism and orthodox medicine. What are Essential Oils?Essential oils represent Nature in one of her most powerful forms: Aromatic liquid substances extracted from certain species of flowers, grasses, fruits, leaves, roots and trees. They are the lifeblood, the personality or spirit of the plant.Essential oils are extracted from plants in a variety of ways. Steam distillation is most often used, a process that can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia. The tiny molecular structure makes essential oils readily absorbed into the bloodstream. Once in the blood, they interact with the body’s chemistry. “Each essence has its own personality, its own set of attributes, and this can be used to bring out certain qualities in us; helping us to see ourselves more clearly, to understand our faults, and to let the beauty and joy of our souls breathe a fresh, summery fragrance through our minds.” Robert B. Tisserand A Complex ChemistryThe therapeutic action of essential oils is usually attributed to the naturally occurring chemicals found within them.As an example: Within the essential oil of yuzu (citrus junos) for example, there are known to be 124 compounds, comprised of 44 alcohols, 26 hydrocarbons, 12 esters, 9 ketones, 14 aldehydes, 3 phenols and 16 miscellaneous others. (Volatile Components of Yuzu (Citrus Junos), Ichiro Watanabe et al from “Flavours and Fragrance”) With so many compounds available, it’s easy to see how essential oils can help with a wide variety of disorders and difficulties. “Essential oils are one of the great untapped resources of the world. Here we have a system of natural help that is far more than a system of medicine, that can prevent illness and alleviate symptoms. These extremely complex precious liquids are extracted from very specific species of plant life and are in harmony with people and planet alike. By taking essential oils into our lives we find a way to provide our family and home with the protection and pleasure they need without polluting ourselves or our environment with chemicals.” Valerie Ann Worwood Essential oils enter and leave the body with great efficiency, leaving no toxins behind. Benefits of Aromatherapy“In the hands of a competent aromatherapist, the workings of nature- often subtle in their thrust-become the gifts-of nature. In their highest applications, these gifts are for the benefit, the well-being, and the betterment of all of humankind.” Gwydion O’HaraAromatherapy can be used as a catalyst to spur on the body’s own natural defenses, enhancing the natural immune system, so that it kicks in at full power to alleviate the pain and suffering of an ailment. It can stimulate memories, calm nerves and heal bodies. A Pleasurable Therapy: Psycho-AromatherapyThe influence of aroma on the psyche has led to practice of “psycho-aromatherapy” whereby oils are used solely as mood-enhancing substances.Studies have worked with cancer patients, using positively associated smells, to counteract negative associations with chemotherapy treatments. In a Japanese study, a soothing lemon fragrance was wafted throughout a factory of video terminal operators for one month and the worker’s error rate dropped in half. Ways to UseNever use undiluted on skin. Dilute with a carrier or vegetable oil.What are some ways to use essential oils?
We experience other aromatherapy benefits virtually every day. Oftentimes we don't even realize it. Consider the aroma of fresh-baked bread, the smell of new-mown hay or fresh roasted coffee. It's all aromatherapy! Different StrokesRemember, different persons may react differently to different aromas.“Whether we utilize the art and science of aromatherapy for physical and mental wellness-as in its expression as a healing art-or to enhance our spirits and better the conditions of our lives…, we are beginning a journey of both knowledge and wonder. And to take the first steps, we need only follow our noses.” Gwydion O’Hara Some Resources
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