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subject: Aromatherapy Today - Living With Essential Oils by:Maria Schasteen [print this page]

Introduction
Introduction

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine

that uses volatile liquid plant materials, known

as essential oils, for psychological and physical

well-being. By inhaling natural scents, like

lavender or rose scent, affect 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, including essential oils

were used. the practice of using essential oils

taken from plants, flowers, roots, 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

extracted from herbs, trees and plants 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

Essential oils are the pure "essence" of a plant.

They have been found to provide both

psychological and physical benefits when used

correctly and safely. Therapeutic-grade essential

oils are unadulterated, highly effective

essential oils. But only 2% of essential oils

produced are therapeutic-grade. They are a 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 Life 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 oils 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.

About the author

Maria Schasteen is editor of http://www.aroma-essence.com, Nature's Most Trusted Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oil Resource Guide.

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