Aromatherapy & Essential Oils
by Donna Thomson
Aromatherapy is a form of holistic aromatic healing which uses 'essential oils' to benefit the mind, body and spirit. The use of aromatherapy in healing dates back over 5000 years, when people discovered the many and varied properties and uses of what surrounded them in their natural environment. Civilisations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, Indians and Romans made regular use of aromatherapy in their daily and ceremonial lives.
Essential oils - What are they?
Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts (leaves, trees, flowers, grasses) used for therapeutic purposes. They are considered the 'essence' of the plant.
How do they work?
Inhalation of essential oils stimulates the olfactory and other sensory organs which send messages to the brain. Here, the oils can have a positive affect on things like our emotional state, concentration, memory, thought processes, mental stresses and even sexual responses.
Absorption of essential oils via the skin (never internally) can directly treat the skin, muscles and travel through the bloodstream to internal organs. Whether applied specifically to the area of an ailment, or more generally to the skin or pulse points, the essential oils will travel to where they are needed via your circulatory system. To demonstrate this effect, if you were to rub garlic on the soles of your feet, after a while the garlic will have travelled through your system until you have garlic breath. Try it if you are game!
Fragrant Oil vs. Pure Essential Oil
A product that says 'aromatherapy' on the label is not a guarantee of a natural or pure product. Companies use the terms 'aromatherapy' and 'fragrance' or 'fragrant oil' to sell synthetic chemical products which are in no way related to the therapeutic 'pure essential oils'. Fragrant oils are often found in the supermarket for only a couple of dollars per bottle and their only questionable benefit is that they have a smell/perfume. To find the products that have the therapeutic properties used in true aromatherapy, it must be labelled 'pure essential oil'. Also, pure essential oils will always be stored in dark glass bottles (amber or blue). If you are unsure, then hold off until you can be assured you are buying the real thing.
Synergy
The use of single essential oils can be very beneficial for anything from physical ailments to stress, anxiety, romance, cleaning, uplifting and much more. However, when three or more compatible essential oils are combined, their potency magnifies beyond the power of the three individual oils alone. This is called 'synergy', where the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts. While more than three oils can also have a synergistic effect, it is recommended to stick with combinations of three for simplicity's sake.
One of the easiest ways to determine whether a combination of essential oils are compatible is to take the lids off the bottles, hold them together, and waft them under your nose. If they work well together you should sense a new individual fragrance. If they do not work well together one or more of those oils will stand out individually, perhaps in an overpowering or distinct way compared to the other oils. It is easier than you may think and I'll be sharing a number of blends in follow-up articles to get you started.
Using Essential Oils
Essential oils can be used in a number of ways, depending on the benefits you wish to receive from them. For inhalation purposes you can waft a bottle under your nose, put a couple of drops on a tissue or handkerchief to inhale, add a few drops to water in an oil burner, or even add drops to a spray bottle of water to spray around the room.
You can also add a few drops of one or more essential oils to a carrier or base oil such as almond or jojoba oil, for use in massage, skin care and for physical ailments. Similarly, oils can be added to plain skin creams such as sorboline. If you intend to use oils in a bath, you will need to combine them in a small amount of carrier oil first, so the oil is able to disperse in the water. Alternatively you can add a few drops of essential oil to a cup of milk before adding to a bath, creating a soothing luxurious bath not unlike that which Cleopatra indulged in.
Precautions
It is important to remember that pure essential oils are potent and therefore only a few drops need to be used at any time. Never add undiluted essential oils to a burner as they are highly flammable. Citrus oils can be irritating if applied directly to the skin and some people may find they have a reaction even when using diluted citrus oils. So I recommend doing a patch test on a small area of skin first. Remember, you still gain many benefits from using such oils in burners even if you find you react to them physically on your skin.
As with anything used in healing, find out about the essential oils before you use them. While most essential oils have no adverse effects, some are not recommended for people with pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure and take great care if using essential oils during pregnancy. I've personally only ever used lavender oil while pregnant to be on the safe side.
Conclusion
With a little care and knowledge your life can be greatly enhanced with the use of essential oils. The uses are numerous and the benefits can be felt simply via inhalation or absorption. Whether you are looking to be uplifted, de-stressed, soothe aching muscles, or bring a little romance into your relationhip, give aromatherapy a try and you will have some very enjoyable and beneficial experiences!