Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile liquid
plant materials, known as essential oils, for psychological and physical well-
being. Inhaling natural scents, like lavender or rose scent, affects a person'
s mood and health. Aromatherapy is said to restore or enhance mental,
emotional and physical wellbeing.
The main branches of aromatherapy include home aromatherapy (self treatment,
perfume and cosmetic use), clinical aromatherapy, and aromachology (the
psychology of odors and their effects on the mind). Though aromatherapy has
become increasingly popular in recent years, it is actually part of a
tradition that began over two thousand years ago.
Aromatherapy - The Beginning
Aromatherapy has roots in antiquity where volatile plant oils were used. The
practice of using essential oils taken from plants, flowers, roots and seeds,
finally became "Aromatherapy", a term coined by French chemist Rene Maurice
Gattefosse in the 1920's. Aromatherapy refers to the use of essential oils
for therapeutic purposes.
While many consider aromatherapy among the simple home remedies, it is in
fact both a specific science and a deeply complex art. In addition, many
unscrupulous companies are currently producing "aromatherapy" products using
synthetic fragrances with no thought (and sometimes little knowledge) of
current safety practices. Whilst it is wise to consult safety guidelines
before using any aromatherapy product, there is also a clear need for wider
education in this area.
When seeking aromatherapy training, it is important for students to know the
background and experience of the teacher. The National Association for
Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) is a non-profit educational organization
dedicated to the development of high standards of aromatherapy teaching and
practice and is a good resource for ethical teachers and students. NAHA
currently has in place Suggested Guidelines for Aromatherapy Education and
Certification in an effort to provide guidance for students and teachers.
Not All Essential Oils Are Created Equal
Therapeutic-grade essential oils are unadulterated, highly effective
essential oils. But only 2% of essential oils produced worldwide are
therapeutic-grade. It's the plant's life essence, and hence most valuable and
expensive to distil. To select essential oils for health and wellbeing, only
therapeutic-grade essential oils should be considered.
Organic and wild harvested essential oils also tend to be more expensive.
However, a word of caution is necessary. Many of the chemicals that occur
naturally in essential oils are manufactured by the perfume industry and are
used to adulterate essential oils. The reason for synthetic oils: They are
cheap, and nobody can know the difference between the natural and the
synthetic product unless extensive lab tests are conducted.
Therefore, you must find a company you trust to buy your
therapeutic-grade essential oils from. Perfume oils and fragrances contain unnatural chemicals
and do not provide the therapeutic benefits of essential oils. It is
important to note that perfume oils also known as fragrance oils or "
fragrances" are not the same as essential oils.
Wellbeing Through The Live Essence Of A Plant
The term "aromatherapy" has been applied to such a wide range of products
today that many are labelled "aromatherapy" products simply because they
contain essential oils, although they may provide no therapeutic benefit.
The benefit of inhaling a
therapeutic-grade essential oil into the lungs is
believed to offer both psychological and physical benefits. Not only does the
aroma of the natural essential oil stimulate the brain to trigger a reaction,
but the natural constituents (naturally occurring chemicals) of the essential
oil are drawn into the lungs and can also supply physical benefit.
Combat Stress With Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a widely acknowledged, effective way to relieve stress,
including work-related stress. A healthy working environment is essential,
both for health and for job satisfaction. There are plenty of ways to relieve
stress outside the office, but ways of managing stress in the work place are
limited. Juggling work and home life can mean finding a balance between the
two. Starting to manage stress at work, some employers offer in-house massage
and Aromatherapy for a natural holistic approach to stress relief in the
workplace.
In addition, certain scents at the workplace have shown to raise mental
clarity and relieve stress. In a Japanese study, lemon essential oil in vapor
form has been found to reduce stress in mice. The inhalation of certain
aromatherapy oils such as lavender oil has been shown by research to have
immediate natural stress-relieving effects. From combating stress, easing
pain to alleviating tension headaches, aromatherapy is a relatively
inexpensive, easy and enjoyable way to boost health.
Aromatherapy is a caring, hands-on therapy which seeks to induce relaxation,
to increase energy, to reduce the effects of stress and to restore lost
balance to body, emotions and mind. Aromatherapy is often used to relieve
stress, headaches, insomnia, tension and pain, and to aid relaxation and
general wellbeing. Inhaling the appropriate fragrance can reduce stress,
lift a depression, hasten a good night's sleep, soothe your spirit, or give
you more energy.
Conclusion
Aromatherapy is an ancient art that uses the concept of healing with aromatic
substances. The practice has encompassed human pathology and the treatment of
different conditions (emotional and physical) with essential oils. Nurses,
doctors, massage therapists, osteopaths and trained aromatherapists are some
of the people who practice aromatherapy.
But for the aromatherapy connoisseur like you and me, aromatherapy first of
all offers pure enjoyment. Taking a whiff of a spice in the kitchen cabinet,
or smelling a bouquet of flowers is fundamental aromatherapy. Washing the
hands with the uplifting scent of germ-fighting essential oils, massaging
precious oils into the skin, diffusing therapeutic-grade oils in the home, or
simply wearing an essential oil as perfume are ways to benefit from the
ancient but ever so new and popular art of aromatherapy.
