| Is it voodoo? Is it mindplay? Is it because we're | | | | Aromatherapy is the practice of using volatile plant |
| cheap? Or is it just because human beings would | | | | oils, including essential oils, for physical and |
| rather heal themselves by smelling a scent, then by | | | | psychological well being. Essential oils are the pure |
| taking a needle or swallowing a pill. Is aromatherapy | | | | essence of a plant. It is important to remember that |
| the new feel good drug, well, actually no! | | | | perfume oils, also known as fragrances, are not the |
| Aromatherapy dates back centuries. India and Egypt | | | | same as essential oils. Perfume oils and fragrances |
| have been widely accepted as the countries where | | | | contain unnatural chemicals and can't provide the |
| aromatherapy originated. In Egypt, the use of | | | | benefits of essential oils. |
| aromatherapy was a privilege, and thus only the | | | | Aromatherapy has been used to treat everything |
| Pharaohs and high priests were allowed to indulge in | | | | from the common cold to central nervous system |
| it. Even Cleopatra was a known believer in | | | | disorders and diseases. Many people also look to |
| aromatherapy. From Egypt, the echoes of this new | | | | aromatherapy to help relieve their mental and |
| found healing spread to Arabia. From India it spread | | | | emotional disorders, such as depression and anxiety. |
| to China, Japan and Tibet. Dating back to the earliest | | | | Many essential oils have antibacterial and antiviral |
| stages of humanity, the use of aromatic type fumes | | | | properties, these elements allow essential oils the |
| has been apart of the daily lives and religious | | | | ability to help eliminate stress, increase energy, |
| ceremonies for a lot of people, to the point of being | | | | enhance memory and stimulate natural healing. |
| sacred. | | | | Aromatherapy sounds nice, smells great and appears |
| Unfortunately, with the 19th century came the | | | | easy, but like everything else in life, there's a catch |
| advent of modern medicine, and as is to be | | | | and aromatherapy is no different. The basic elements |
| expected, people started to turn away from | | | | of aromatherapy are essential oils. These oils are |
| aromatherapy and wanted to experience the new | | | | highly concentrated liquids that can be harmful if not |
| medicine. Thanks to French chemist Rene-Maurice | | | | used properly. Essential oils should always be diluted |
| Gattesfosse, the 1920s saw a revival in | | | | before you put them on the skin. Some oils can |
| aromatherapy. As the story goes, Rene severely | | | | cause allergic reactions in some people. Everybody is |
| burned himself in his lab and in order to stop the pain, | | | | different. Just because a certain oil doesn't irritate |
| he put his arm in the only cold substance that was | | | | your skin, doesn't mean it won't irritate someone |
| available, which happened to be a container of | | | | else. Some essential oils should be avoided during |
| lavender essential oil. His burns healed quickly, with | | | | pregnancy and also by those with asthma, epilepsy |
| very little scarring. From that point on, Rene spent | | | | and other health conditions. Not all essential oils should |
| the rest of his life studying aromatherapy, or the | | | | be used in aromatherapy. Wormwood, penny royal, |
| healing power of scented healing oils. | | | | onion, camphor, wintergreen and rue are a few of |
| Aromatherapy found it's way into Britain in the | | | | the oils that should be avoided. |
| 1950s;but it wasn't until the 1980s when people in the | | | | Aromatherapy is not the be all and end all, it's just |
| United States began to become aware of | | | | another step in the potential healing process. It's not |
| aromatherapy. So, what is aromatherapy? | | | | a miracle drug! It can't cure major illnesses! |