|
|
|
Feature: AromaTherapy
Has the scent of lavender ever made you sleepy? Does the aroma of warm apple pie bring back sweet memories of autumn afternoons in your grandmother’s kitchen? If so, then you instinctively understand the basic principle of aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils in order to take advantage of their benefits for the body, mind and spirit. Essential oils have been used therapeutically for hundreds of years but as modern medicines began to appear around the turn of the century the use of essential oils declined.
The term aromatherapy was coined in1928 by Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist. Gattefosse had earlier witnessed the curative capabilities of essential oils when he used them to treat wounds during World War I. After the war, he continued to experiment with various oils, and eventually classified them according to their “healing” properties: antitoxic, antiseptic, tonifying, stimulating, calming, and so on.
In 1937, he published Aromatherapy, which remains a classic book on the subject (it is available in English). Marguerite Maury, who built on Gattefosse’s work in the 1950s, is credited with developing aromatherapy as a holistic therapy. She was also the first to tailor specific oils to an individual’s health needs.
After that, the practice of aromatherapy enjoyed a strong revival that has continued into the present. While the professional practice of aromatherapy requires extensive training, anyone can enjoy many of the benefits of essential oils at home with just a little reading in one of the variety of affordable and readily available reference material now available in the market.
Today aromatherapy utilizes approximately 40 different essential oils, singly and in combination. Generally, they are helpful for treating stress and stress-related ailments, for invigorating the body, and for promoting general well-being.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are complex mixtures of naturally occurring compounds that exist in some plants which have fragrant flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, or seeds. From an organic chemist’s point of view, the active constituents of essential oils are composed of hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons which can be grouped according to their molecular structure into terpenes, esters, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and phenols.
Essential oils may be extracted from plants using a variety of methods but for aromatherapy purposes, the only acceptable methods are those that are non-toxic. This includes distillation, cold pressing, and, in a few cases, non-toxic solvent extraction. A good therapeutic grade essential oil is produced using non-toxic procedures that preserve the life-giving vital essence of the plant. Essential oils vary greatly in quality and not all are therapeutic grade.
Do not confuse essential oils with vegetable oils, which are also sometimes called “carrier” or “base” oils. Essential Oils are volatile, which means that they evaporate when exposed to air; they are very fragrant; they do not feel slick or oily, and do not leave an oily residue. Vegetable oils are used in aromatherapy for the purpose of diluting essential oils so that they can be safely applied to the skin.
What are fragrance oils?
“Fragrance oils” are chemical mixtures that mimic natural plant aromas. They may smell just like the “real thing” but are not appropriate for aromatherapy. Read product labels carefully and avoid those labelled as “fragrance oils”, “essential fragrance oils”, or “nature identical”.
Use of essential oil
You can practice aromatherapy at home by buying the individual oils (they’re commonly found at health-food stores and pharmacies) or you can visit a trained aroma therapist, who will probably mix up a blend of oils customized especially for you.
Add two to four drops of essential oil to a warm (not hot) bath. For massage/body oil, add one drop of essential oil per teaspoon of high quality, cold pressed vegetable oil, such as sweet almond or grape seed oil. For room fragrance, add a few drops to a pot of steaming (not boiling) water.
If you are mixing several oils in a blend, treat the blend as a single oil; in other words, use no more than four drops of the “blend” in a bath, or one drop of the blend to a teaspoon of vegetable oil.
The oils are used in a variety of ways:
• By direct application of the oils to the skin: Massage with aromatherapy oils allows the substances to be readily absorbed into the skin. To make aromatherapy massage oil, simply add a few drops of an essential oil to a small amount of unscented carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil or safflower oil. Certain oils, such as rosemary, are also used topically to help soothe joint and muscle pain. Always avoid the eyes when applying essential oils to the skin.
• By inhaling the scents: Breathing in the intense aromas of essential oils is often recommended for easing congestion due to colds, flu, or chronic sinusitis or bronchitis. For this purpose, an aroma therapist might suggest that you fill a basin with steaming water, add a few drops of eucalyptus or pine oil, and breathe in the fragrant fumes. You can also inhale essential oils by sprinkling a few drops on a handkerchief and breathing in the fumes (keep your eyes closed), or by simply removing the cap from the bottle and taking in the scent. For a less intense but still pleasant effect, some people like to use a special electrical device called a diffuser to disperse micro particles of an essential oil throughout a room.
• By adding the oils to a bath: Adding eight to 15 drops of an essential oil to your bath after the water has finished running creates a relaxing atmosphere and allows the oil to seep into your skin. It’s best not to use soap in an aromatherapy bath, because it may interfere with the absorption of the oil.
How does it work?
A considerable body of research shows that smell, the most acute of our senses, has a powerful influence on our bodies and minds. The scents from essential oils are believed to activate olfactory nerve cells in the nasal cavity, which then send impulses to the limbic system, the area of the brain associated with emotions and memory.
Proponents of aromatherapy believe that the aromatic oils work both emotionally and physically. Emotionally, they may make you feel better by evoking a pleasant memory (the smell of lemons might remind you of a cake a favourite aunt once made, for example). Physically, they may help to relieve certain conditions by stimulating the immune, circulatory, or nervous systems.
Aroma therapists stress that only pure, natural, unadulterated essential oils have true medicinal properties. Perfumes, shampoos, and bath oils scented with herbs may smell wonderful, but they are not intended to be therapeutic.
Health benefits
There is no evidence in the medical literature that aromatherapy on its own can prevent or heal disease. However, several studies have shown its ability to promote recovery in certain conditions and to reduce stress. A study of patients who had undergone heart surgery found that those who received a foot massage with neroli (orange) oil were less anxious than those who received the same massage with just plain oil.
In a controlled trial in Scotland, researchers reported that a few dabs of diluted thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedar oils, rubbed daily into the scalp for seven months, proved highly effective and safe in treating alopecia areata, a stress-related form of hair loss.
Among the more common aromatherapy recommendations are:
• Eucalyptus and wintergreen oils for relieving congestion.
• Jasmine oil for easing depression.
• Lavender oil for reducing anxiety and improving sleep.
• Lemon, orange, and other citrus oils for improving mood and increasing mental alertness.
• Peppermint oil for relieving nausea and aiding digestion.
• Rosemary oil for pain relief and muscle relaxation.
While aromatherapy is generally quite safe, it is important to keep in mind that it is a complementary therapy and not a substitute for conventional medical care.
Caution
• Essential oils should never be taken internally.
• To prevent allergic reactions, first test any essential oil on a small patch of clean skin. Mix a drop of the essential oil with a few drops of unscented carrier oil, such as safflower oil. Place a bandage over the area and wait for 24 hours. If no irritation occurs, you can use the oil. If you develop a rash, try another essential oil
• If you develop sensitivity to oil after using it for a while, stop using it.
• If you have asthma, consult your doctor before opting for aromatherapy, because certain oils can trigger bronchial spasms.
Know what you are purchasing
Some products sold as “essential oils” are diluted in cheaper “carrier” oils or are adulterated in some other way. Read product labels carefully but be aware that labels may not disclose full information. Several popular aromatherapy books outline simple tests that purchasers can perform at home, to aid in detecting inferior products. Become familiar with the botanical names of the oils you want to use and never purchase an essential oil that is not labelled with the botanical name, as well as the common name. i
|
|
|
|
