| Aromatherapy is the practice of using the scents of | | | | lemongrass, cirtronella |
| various plant extracts to assist in healing the mind, | | | | Ketones: ease congestion, aid flow of mucus, can be |
| body, and soul. The use of aromatherapy dates back | | | | toxic. Examples: fennel, hyssop, sage |
| over 5,000 years and has recently been rediscovered | | | | Alcohols: very antiseptic, anti-viral with uplifting |
| as a method of holistic healing. | | | | qualities. Examples: rosewood, geranium,rose |
| The most famous Egyptian technique using | | | | Phenols: bactericidal and strongly stimulating, can be |
| aromatherapy was embalming. However evidence | | | | highly irritating to the skin. Examples:clove, thyme, |
| exists to show that aromatherapy was also used in | | | | oregano |
| cosmetic and medicinal applications. During the same | | | | Oxides: expectorant and bactericidal. Examples: |
| time, records from China indicate that hundreds of | | | | rosemary, tea tree |
| plants were identified to exude healing aromatic | | | | Essential oils are quite different from fatty oils (e.g. |
| properties. Ayurvedic medicine, which spans the | | | | almond oil or sesame oil). Essential oils are volatile and |
| history of India, has always incorporated | | | | will evaporate quite quickly when exposed to air. |
| aromatherapy into its healing methods and spiritual | | | | Essential oils are soluble in fatty oils allowing the fatty |
| practices. | | | | oils to act as a carrier or base for the essential oils. |
| The ancient Greeks were quick to adopt | | | | This is very useful when using an essential oil topically |
| aromatherapy from Egypt and began using olive oil as | | | | which may be irritating at full strength. Dissolving into |
| a base. Romans learned these methods from Greece | | | | a fatty oil dilutes the irritant while allowing the healing |
| and were soon using scented oils in their famous | | | | properties to be easily absorbed into the skin. |
| baths. Although Native Americans and other native | | | | A safer and more gentle alternative to rare essential |
| cultures around the world continued to utilize the | | | | oils are hydrosols. These hydrosols are a by-product |
| effects of plant extracts, after the fall of the Roman | | | | of the distillation process and contain the same |
| Empire the recorded information on aromatherapy | | | | therapeutic properties of the essential oils but in |
| was lost and Western Civilization would have to | | | | much smaller amounts. Hydrosols are also much less |
| re-learn everything. (Not one of the most efficient | | | | expensive and can easily be used in a mister or |
| cultures, eh?) | | | | spritzers. |
| It took the scourge of the plague during the Middle | | | | Please remember the following safety precautions: |
| Ages to begin to rekindle an interest in this ancient | | | | -Never ingest essential oils |
| technique. It was discovered then that certain plant | | | | -Never allow essential oils to come in contact with |
| extracts seemed to prevent the spread of infection | | | | the eyes |
| and assist in decontaminating a house after its | | | | -Take care when using candle-lit diffusers |
| occupants had been afflicted. | | | | -Some essential oils are irritants or present other |
| A Persian philosopher, Avicenna (980 AD - 1037AD), | | | | hazards. Research the use of any essential oil prior to |
| is responsible for the reintroduction of aromatherapy. | | | | implementation |
| Once a method of distillation was discovered by the | | | | Here's a list of uses for essential oils: |
| Arabs, it didn't take long for the unfortunate | | | | Bath: fill the tub with bath water. Add 9-10 drops of |
| Crusades to bring these methods back to Europe. | | | | essential oil into the bath water, mix before getting |
| Very slow to catch on, it took until the 19th century | | | | into bath. Or add 9-10 drops of essential oil to one |
| before Europe and Great Britain spent any meaningful | | | | teaspoon of carrier oil, such as jojoba oil and add |
| time studying the effectiveness of aromatherapy on | | | | & mix into the bath water so the essential oil is |
| humans. (I imagine we were finding other uses for | | | | soluble in the carrier oil before adding to the bath. |
| the Arabic distillation process.) Finally, after a French | | | | Liquid Soap: add about 30-45 drops of essential oil to |
| chemist, Rene Maurice Gattefosse, burned his hand | | | | 8 ounces of unscented liquid hand soap or unscented |
| and healed it with some lavender oil he wrote a book | | | | liquid shower body wash. Shake vigorously. |
| on the antimicrobial properties of certain essential oils. | | | | Body Oil: add about 12-15 drops of essential oil to one |
| Thus, aromatherapy as we know it today was | | | | ounce of carrier oil, such as jojoba oil and shake to |
| born...again. | | | | blend. |
| If it weren't for Dr. Gattefosse and his burnt hand, | | | | Body Lotion: add 50-60 drops of essential oil to 16 |
| we may not have such an overwhelming olfactory | | | | ounces of unscented body lotion. Stir with a spoon or |
| experience as we walk through a shopping mall. Most | | | | stirring stick to blend the essential oil into the lotion |
| of the perfumes, candles, lotions, bath salts, etc. that | | | | until smooth. |
| we use today are centered on the fundamentals of | | | | Body Mist: add 10-15 drops of essential oil to a 1 |
| aromatherapy. After all, we don't really want to smell | | | | ounce glass misting bottle filled with spring or distilled |
| some of those ingredients listed on our favorite body | | | | water. Shake well and shake before each mist. |
| lotion do we? However if we take this a step | | | | Liniment: add 25-20 drops of essential oil to one |
| forward and learn how to best utilize the immense | | | | ounce of carrier oil, such as jojoba oil. Shake well to |
| power of plant extracts we very well might spend | | | | blend. |
| less time at the doctor's office and more time, | | | | Compress: add & mix 3-5 drops of essential oil |
| well...shopping for bubble bath! | | | | to a bowl of warm or cool water. Soak a wash cloth, |
| The sense of smell is a very powerful one. The | | | | wring and apply. |
| average human can distinguish over 10,000 distinct | | | | Shampoo/Conditioner: add 12-15 drops of essential oil |
| odors and people who lose their sense of smell often | | | | to one ounce of unscented or mild shampoo and |
| suffer from depression and anxiety. It is believed | | | | conditioner. Shake well to blend. |
| that smell is processed in the limbic system, the part | | | | Hair Brush: place three drops of essential oil into the |
| of the brain that controls moods, memory, emotion, | | | | palm of your hand; rub over the natural bristles of a |
| and learning. When a person's brain waves are | | | | hair brush. Brush your scalp and your hair. |
| monitored, it has been discovered that smelling | | | | Diffuser: add essential oils to an electric diffuser, |
| lavender increases alpha waves in the back of the | | | | candle burner or a lamp ring. |
| brain which are associated with relaxation while | | | | Room Mist: add 17-20 drops of essential oil to a 1 |
| jasmine stimulates beta waves in the front of the | | | | ounce glass misting bottle filled with spring or distilled |
| brain and are linked to stimulation and alertness. | | | | water. Shake well and shake before each mist. |
| Further studies have allowed scientists to break | | | | Scent: add five drops of an essential oil to a hanky or |
| down these scents in the following functional groups: | | | | tissue and carry with you throughout the day. Or |
| Monoterpenes: anti-viral, antiseptic, bactericidal, and | | | | place under your pillow case to ease you into sleep. |
| can be highly irritating to the skin. | | | | Scent: add five drops to a cotton ball and place in |
| Examples: lemon, pine, frankincense | | | | drawers and linen closets. |
| Esters: fungicidal, sedating, and very aromatically | | | | Place: a drop of essential oil in the palm of your hand, |
| pleasing. Examples: bergamot, Clary sage,lavender | | | | rub your hands together and inhale. |
| Aldehydes: sedating and antiseptic. Examples: melissa, | | | | |