What is aromatherapy? The common definition is "The use of pure essential oils, to seek to influence, to change or modify, mind, body or spirit: physiology or mood." That is certainly a mouthful. In this aromatherapy guide I will attempt to demystify what aromatherapy really is.
First I want to show you in this aromatherapy guide what aromatherapy is not. You may have seen advertisements on TV or in the store for household products with the claim that they use essential oils for aromatherapy in your home. This is not true aromatherapy. Yes it is true that the products have an aroma or should I say they smell. As your aromatherapy guide I use only the highest quality essential oils that are unadulterated by any chemicals. This is very important because these pure plant extracts are used not only for inhalation but are applied to the skin, which is the largest organ of the human body. Essential Oils are also ingested for specific purposes and only the pure, organic, unadulterated oils are acceptable for this type of treatment.
Aromatherapy is one of mankind's oldest holistic therapies. It was probably first used by the ancient Egyptians some 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. The word aromatherapy was not actually used until 1937 when the word was coined by Rene Gattefosse in France.
Aromatherapy utilizes volatile liquid plant materials, including the essential oils and other aromatic compounds of plants, to relax our bodies or stimulate its function, especially our senses. These volatile plant extracts are different than oil compounds we commonly use each day such as olive, peanut, walnut or safflower oil. These oils are thick and do not evaporate when exposed to the air. They are useful however in the application of essential oils to the skin. They are referred to as carrier oils.
The benefits of aromatherapy are only recently being studied by the scientific community. The most common usage of aromatherapy is in the application of essential oils in massage. Holistic aromatherapy encompasses much more as it is a healing process, affecting body, mind and spirit.*
Essential oils are very aromatic, but that is an added side benefit - their healing actions are quite physiological. For example, they can stimulate the part of the brain known as the limbic system, as well as the emotional centers of the brain. The essential oils used in Aromatherapy also act as natural antibiotics and fungicides, and possibly enhance the immune response. The essential oils in Aromatherapy help to cleanse,build, protect, enhance and empower the entire body, mind, and spirit.
I first began using aromatherapy to help in healing emotional trauma. I found that the success was much better than with traditional drug and psychotherapy. The benefits were so outstanding I began searching for other uses of aromatherapy for myself and others. Education in the medicinal use of aromatherapy is very limited in the United States, however there are some very good schools.
Aromatherapy education follows three distinct areas known as English, French and German models. The English model focuses on aromatherapy in massage. The German model focuses on inhalation and the French model on ingestion. The schools in the United States focus primarily on the English model while touching very briefly on the other two models. I feel from my experience that all three are beneficial and could be used separately or together.
My goal as your aromatherapy guide is to educate. I rely on scientific and medical information as well as my own personal experiences.
I will be posting information on this website to assist you in choosing the best Essential Oils for yourself and your family. Check back often as this Aromatherapy guide will be expanding.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The advice on this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Aromatherapy Guide
