What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy, sometimes also referred to as aromatic or scent medicine, is the art of healing the body using naturally distilled essences from different parts of plant to improve and enhance your everyday emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. These essences are known as essential oils.
What are essential oils?
These oils are the concentrated essences of the aromatic plant. They can be used as an analgesic (to alleviate pain), an anti-inflammatory (to reduce swelling), an anti-bacterial, an anti-fungal, an anti-viral (to prevent infections).
Since scent stimulates the part of the brain that effects your emotions, essential oils can also soothe and calm....or energize and arouse. These essential oils are highly concentrated and are measured in drops. They should be housed in dark colored air tight bottles in a cool area, out of direct light. Unless noted, they should not be applied directly to the skin, but instead placed in a carrier oil such as almond oil, so as to avoid irritation.
How does aromatherapy work?
Our sense of smell is about 10,000 times stronger than our sense of taste, but it is truly underappreciated. The olfactory system of your brain has a memory of scents and the longest recall of all the senses. Just think ... does the smell of baking bread bring back vivid memories of visits with a relative in your childhood. Ever catch a whiff of the cologne/perfume of an old lover? Memories that are attached to sent are stronger! Scent also stimulates the limbic system of the brain which responds by releasing neuro-chemicals. Such as Seratonin and Endorphins. These chemicals calm us.. arouse us ... alleviate discomfort.
How can I use Essential Oils?
BATH: Swish 10-12 drops of a single oil or a blend into your bath water. Close yr. bathroom door to help retain all the scent, sink into yr. bath inhale and relax......
INHALATION: Place 3-5 drops of essential oil on a tissue. Breathe Deeply!
DIFFUSION: Replace those aerosol air fresheners. A few drops in a diffuser, you can buy electric devices, candle warmed, ceramic rings to place on lightbulbs, or just use a bowl of warm water. A few drops is all you need.
COMPRESS: Place 3-5 drops of essential oil into a basin of water. Dip a clean folded face cloth into the water, squeeze and gently apply.
MASSAGE: Blend 15 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil (Almond, Apricot, Jojoba) and indulge in the power of touch.
OTHER USES: Facial steams, foot soaks, insect repellent, household cleaning.... and much more ... use your imagination.
* Always decrease the drop amount when using Lemon or Peppermint in any application. *
Safety
Since essential oils are 100 times more potent than their plant sources, care must be taken in how and when they are used.
-Do not ingest oils by mouth
-Keep out of eyes
Most essential oils cannot be applied directly to the skin
-Research any essential oil in reference books, for specific precautions, warnings, etc.
As with any natural substance, the possibility exists for allergy ... start with very small amounts and watch for reactions, then increase dosage, within the given guidelines
Skin Irritants
These oils may irritate the skin, and should be diluted in a carrier oil before applying to the skin or used in a bath: basil, cinnamon, clove bud, fennel, Siberian fir, lemon, lemongrass, Melissa, peppermint, thyme, tea tree, verbena
Photosensitivity
These oils can cause skin sensitivity in the presence of ultraviolet light and should NOT be used before exposure to direct sunlight: angelica, bergamot, mandarin, lemon, lime, petitgrain, St. John's Wort, verbena
High Blood Pressure
The following oils should not be used by anyone with high blood pressure: hyssop, rosemary, sage, thyme
Skin Allergies
If one is suffering from dermatitis or other allergic skin conditions then these oils should be avoided: benison, rose geranium, jasmine, pine, ylang ylang
Toxic oils
These oils should be avoided: bitter almond, mugwort, mustard, pennyroyal, rue, sassafras, southernwood, tansy, wintergreen.
From: Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham
Back