Hello and welcome to the world of aromatherapy. Does this word immediately evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity? Well, if it does, then read on to discover how aromatherapy can enhance and benefit your life. This page features information about aromatherapy in the following areas:
It is the controlled use of natural essential oils in the process of physical and emotional healing. You may have discovered that in some ways, you've been experiencing aromatherapy most of your life without even knowing it.
We have all experienced memory recall triggered by a particular scent; perhaps the scent of a favorite flower, or the perfume your grandmother used to wear, or an aunt's linen closet. The event can produce positive or negative memories. Certain scents may trigger negative thoughts of a person or place in your past. Whatever the case, the importance of scent in our lives is quite profound and in some ways, unique to each of us. Aromatherapy is a way to enjoy a controlled use of natural oils to enrich and benefit your life.
Whole, pure essential oils come from nature; they are the "essence" of plants. They are droplets of water-like fluid contained in the leaves, stems, bark, flowers, roots and/or fruits of different plants, and give the plant its unique scent. Essential oils are volatile, whereas they easily transfer from a liquid to a gaseous state at room temperature or higher. The amount of essential oil found in most plants is 1 to 2%, but can contain amounts from 0.01 to 10%. They can change in composition and location with a particular plant. For example, orange trees produce neroli oil in their blossoms, orange oil in their citrus, and petitgrain oil in their leaves. Essential oils are also very concentrated and extremely potent, and sometimes 75 to 100 times more concentrated than say, the herb it is present in. This is all the more reason to use these oils with thorough knowledge of their potency.
There are two common procedures for extracting true essential oils:
The process of steam distillation has 5 steps:
This process is also the most popular for obtaining the essential oils from plants. The steam is forced into a vat containing the plant material, which ruptures the oil glands and releases the oil. The volatile oils are cooled, separated from the water content, and bottled. It may take hundreds or thousands of pounds of plant material to distill a single pound of the essential oil. Bulgarian Rose oil requires about 4,000 pounds of hand-picked flower petals to make 1 pound of oil, obviously making this one expensive oil!
The second method, extraction, has 4 major steps:
This method is primarily used in the perfume and food industries, and does not produce a 100% pure essential oil. Solvents are used in the process to pull out the soluable molecules; therefore making them incomplete oils. Resins, concretes, absolutes, and pomades result from this method.
Essential oils are absorbed into the body two ways; through the skin and through nasal inhalation. Our sense of smell, controlled by the olfactory system, is some 10,000 times greater than any other sense. The olfactory system is directly linked to the limbic system, which is responsible for our emotional state, memory, and certain regulatory function.
Essential oils also penetrate the skin, or the integumentary system. Because essential oils have a low molecular weight and are organic in nature, they are absorbed through the pores and hair follicles of the skin, and unlike synthetic chemicals, they do not accumulate in the body. Absorption can take place anywhere from 15 minutes to 12 hours, and take from 3 to 6 hours to be metabolized in a healthy body. Excessive fat or toughened skin may slow down the rate of absorption; whereas heat, water, exercise, or broken skin may speed it up.
Aromatherapy is used to self-heal and soothe common, everyday health challenges. It is by no means a replacement for the opinion of a licensed physician, and should always be used with respect.
As with all things derived from nature, some essential oils are considered hazardous, and under certain circumstances, should be avoided. Some are phototoxic, neurotoxic, or carcinogenic, and safety precautions should always be considered when working with and administering any essential oil.
Here are common-sense safety points to note:
The list below describes those oils that are hazardous and/or have not been tested, and should be avoided for personal use:
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The next list describes essential oils that are phototoxic. These oils increase sunburn reaction in people with a history of skin cancer, large moles, or profuse dark freckles:
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The next list includes those oils to avoid during pregnancy. All essential oils in the harzardous list are included, in addition to the following:
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The final list describes those that are irritant-prone and can cause irritation to sensitive, inflamed, or allergic skin:
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By now you may be wondering just what the commonly-used essential oils are and how they're classified. To ensure brevity, only a short list of names is provided. Be sure to refer to the above lists for any hazards associated with the oils. The table below provides the common and botanical names, the plant origin, type and intensity of aroma, and the medicinal properties of each.
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Fresh, light, spicy/high | Antiseptic, antispasmodic, digestive, expectorant antidepressant, adrenal stimulant |
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Spicy, citrus/low | Analgesic, anti-infectous, antibacterial, anti-toxic, antiseptic, anti-depressant, tonic |
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Slightly fruity, herbal/extremely high | Analgesic, anti-convulsive, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, sedative |
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Sweet, warm, nutty-herbal/medium | Anti-convulsive, antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, deodorant, digestive, sedative |
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Medicinal, pungent, fresh/extremely high | Analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, deodorant, decongestant, expectorant, stimulant, antiviral, antibacterial |
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Warm, balsamic, woody/medium | Antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, diaphoretic, expectorant, laxative, stimulant, anti-inflammatory |
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Warm, exotic, floral/high | Antidepressant, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory |
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Tree, berries | Fresh, woody/ medium | Antiseptic, antispasmodic, astrigent, anti-toxic, anti-infectous, tonic, stimulent |
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Floral, slightly herbal/low | Analgesic, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, anticoagulant, deodorant |
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Fresh, lemon-like/ medium | Antiseptic, analgesic, antidepressant, astringent, diuretic, deodorant, insecticide, tonic, anti-inflammatory |
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Sweet, floral, slightly citrus/medium | Antiseptic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, deodorant, sedative, tonic, hypnotic |
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Pungent, earthy/ medium | Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, fungicide, insecticide, antidepressant, deodorant, tonic |
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Strong, sharp, minty/very high | Analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, expectorant, stomachic, vasoconstrictor, decongestant, anti-inflammatory |
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Fresh, forest-like/ high | Antiseptic, antiviral, deodorant, decongestant, diuretic, disinfectant, expectorant, stimulant |
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Intense, floral/ very high |
Antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, sedative, tonic |
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Fresh, woody, herbal/high | Analgesic, antiseptic, astringent, anti-spasmodic, digestive, decongestant, diuretic, parasitic, stimulant, tonic |
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Sharp, medicinal/ very high | Antibiotic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, expectorant, immune stimulant |
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Sweet, heavy, exotic/high | Antiseptic, aphrodisiac, antidepressant, sedative, tonic |
The blending of essential oils could be considered a creative art . When considering what oils to put together, as well as how much to include of each, preparing well-balanced blends takes thought and planning to create something that suits your needs. For example, using the chart above, you may consider putting together an antiseptic blend of pine and patchouli. The patchouli has a milder scent than pine, so the decision to use more of the patchouli or less of the stronger pine may come into play. Combining two strong oils together can also enhance their effectiveness.
There are no exact rules to blending; the choice is personal, and is perhaps one of the reasons why aromatherapy can be such a rewarding experience. There is one philosophy, however, for the use of essential oils, and that is "less is more." The key to good blending is a combination of balance and moderation.
An essential oil blend consists of the essential oil(s) of choice with a carrier oil added for application to the skin. You may also use an unscented body lotion as well, which is advantageous for not leaving a oily feeling on the skin. The most popular carrier oils are:
Sweet almond oil is of light to medium weight, protein-enriched, odorless, and good for all skin types. Sunflower oil is rich in lecithin and Vitamin E, is of medium weight, has a slight scent, and is good for all skin types. Olive oil comes in many grades. The first pressing is "extra virgin" and contains the highest amounts of vitamins and minerals. The second pressing is called "classico" or "virgin." All varieties will have some distinct fragrance and therefore, should be diluted 50% or less for use as a carrier.
There are many other oils available for use as carriers. Here are a few more:
Apricot kernal oil is extremely fine in texture and high in Vitamins A and B. It is frequently used in facial preparations and is good for delicate skin types. Evening primrose oil is a very good antioxidant and is a useful addition to other oil blends as a preservative (10% dilution). It is also good for delicate skin types. Soy oil is high in Vitamin E and lecithin, and is popular among massage therapists as an alternative to sweet almond oil. Finally, Vitamin E oil is best used directly from the capsule; 400IU for every ounce of carrier oil. It is also added to oil blends as an antioxidant at 2% dilution.
Below are recommended dilutions to meet the needs of certain people, as well as typical uses for essential oils:
The following table describes carrier and essential oil dilution volumes for use in blending:
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1% / 2% / 4% |
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