Aromatherapy -
composed by Anine Theron
Aromatherapy is known as a holistic therapy. It’s not a one-day cure and physical results are not always immediately visible. Aromatherapy is a medical science that uses the natural extracts called essential oils made from plants
and flowers. It is an alternative therapy beneficial to the person in whole. The body's self-defense system signals affected from touch nerve fibers take precedence over the chronic pain nerve fibers.
The stimulation of touch also releases the brain chemicals known as endorphin's that act as body's own painkillers enabling the body cure itself. This helps the body's own healing process to begin. Certain substances can penetrate the skin, which means that skin is semi-permeable. Molecules of essential oils are small enough to penetrate the skin through hair follicles and spaces between the cells. Because they’re natural there is less chance of developing allergies to them.
It is part of a healthy lifestyle and can never be fully effective unless combined with other natural treatments, proper diet and exercise, which entails a balanced lifestyle. On top of that it is the easiest to use. The sense of smell is powerful. In fact, the body can distinguish around 10,000 different
scents, oils that have been extracted from naturally-occurring materials. Essential oils are far from being a new phenomenon. In fact, they've been around since Ancient Egyptian times.
Aromatherapy, as known today, is French of origin. Dr. Gattefosse’s work revealed that it was possible for the oil to reach the organs via the circulatory system. He was the first to use the word,
aromatherapy, and published it in a scientific paper in 1925 and a book in 1937.
It is easily absorbed into the lymph system and will end up in the bloodstream, reaching all the organs in the body. Another way is by means of inhalation. With the membranes of the mouth and nose being very thin, messages are sent to the brain, which in return recalls association or sends a command to
the appropriate part or organ in the body.
Essential Oils are very powerful components of plants - they have the capability of being harmful if
improperly used. Essential Oils can be very helpful for some cases, supportive in others, and have little to no effect in others. They are not intended to treat or cure serious medical conditions; there is no substitute for a consultation with a competent physician for any matters regarding your health,
or anyone else.
USES OF AROMATHERAPY Commonly known to be used for:
Relax muscles
Relieve menstrual cramps
Mood
enhancement
Improve skin tone
Stress release
Improve sleep
Regulate
hormones
Kill fungal and bacterial infections
Stimulate the immune,
respiratory and circulatory systems
Reduce inflammation
Aid
digestion
Aid blood circulation
Heal wounds
To Energize
BENEFITS OF AROMATHERAPY
1) The Smell Factor - The sense of smell is pretty powerful. In fact, the body can distinguish around 10,000 different scents. As scents are inhaled, the smell travels across the olfactory nerves located inside the nose and then up into the part of the brain that controls our moods, our
memories and our ability to learn.
2) Essential Oil Absorption – it works by absorbing essential oils into the skin and blood stream. The best advantages of diluted essential oils are that they can go directly to the spot where you need them the most.
3) Acts Directly - Essential oils applied directly on the skin reach the blood stream through massaging. While massaging with oils, when we have a sore muscle, we can use massage oils such as chamomile
essential oil and rub or massage the sore area to soothe muscle cramps. Other effects are the sensory nerve endings in our body responding in different ways for various kinds of massages. Deep pressure while massaging stimulates body's systems such as immune, circulatory, and digestive systems.
4) Relieves Depression and Rejuvenates - By inhaling the scent of the aromatherapy, the brain is stimulated. Massaging also stimulates the nerves and muscles and through this stimulation it causes a positive effect on the glandular and nervous systems and on the entire body.
5) Preventive Health-care - Aromatherapy massage can be effective in the form of preventive health care. It can strengthen our body, detoxify it, increase blood circulation and boost the immune and the lymphatic systems. The essential oils stimulate, balance, soothe and calm our system.
6) Pregnancy – it helps women greatly during pregnancy especially in relieving labor pain. These oils tackle depression, morning sickness and other pregnancy-related conditions. Foot-massage during
delivery calms the mind and brings down anxiety.
7) Baby-baths - Traditionally aromatherapy is used for baby-baths. It plays a vital role in massaging the baby with oils before bath and also adding oils to the bathing water. It purifies the atmosphere. It is great boon to mothers in teething problems, itchy conditions, etc.
8) Self- Administrative - Essential oils blended in various carrier oils can be used by us for our own massaging. For example, we can massage our forehead with eucalyptus oil when we have a headache.
9) Relief from Pain - Massaging with aromatic oils have been successfully used for ages for relief of physical pains such as migraine, body aches, sprains and muscle problems. The essential oils applied on the skin go deep and yield quick recovery.
Aromatherapy doesn't just smell good, it benefits you in many ways. Some more aromatherapy benefits that are commonly known include balance and overall well-being, relieve of minor discomforts,
diabetic friendly, rich in nutrients, immune builder, purify and detox bloodstream, dissolves fat within the liver, improves metabolism of fat, boosts metabolic rate, boosts energy levels and is an excellent
diuretic!
CAUTIONARY MEASURES OF AROMATHERAPY
It is very important that the essences used are completely natural and pure. Mineral oils should be
avoided, for they are not easily absorbed by the skin.
Although there are few side effects with aromatherapy, it’s important to remember that there is
still the possibility of an allergic reaction. The power of essential oils should never be underestimated by anyone by using more than necessary. Some oils may be hazardous to our health. Even the essential oils that are considered relatively safe and that rarely cause adverse reactions should be used only in very small quantities and usually diluted in carrier oil. Essential oils are extremely concentrated substances, one drop of essential oil often represents the potency of one ounce of plant material .This gives an idea of their healing potential and of the potential hazards of using essential oils improperly.
1) Keep away from eyes and genital areas.
2) Do not apply oils to skin without first diluting them.
3) Be sure to read the safety data for the oil you choose to use.
4) Pregnant or nursing women should always take special care when it comes to using essential oils and should never be used during the first 3 to 4 months of pregnancy.
- Essential oils to be avoided during the first 3 to 4 months of pregnancy, are –
Sweet Fennel, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Chamomile, Geranium and Lavender.
Thereafter use with caution.
- Essential oils to definitely be avoided completely during the full period of pregnancy, are
Basil, Clay sage, Hyssop, Juniper, Birch, Marjoram, Myrrh, Sage, Jasmine and Nutmeg.
5) Inhalation – use only one drop to make sure you’re not sensitive. Use fewer drops, for inhalation, if you are using oil that may cause irritation to your mucous membranes, including cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary, pine, thyme, cajuput.
6) Some skin types may be very sensitive to essential oils, especially very sensitive skin types and they can cause an allergic reaction. Best is to conduct a skin patch test before using a new essential oil. Do this by applying the essential oil that has been diluted with a carrier oil on the inner aspect of your elbow, bandage it and wait for 24 hours to see if you will develop rashes or itchiness or swelling or any other sign of an allergic reaction.
- Essential oils not to be used on sensitive skin at all:
Cinnamon (leaf), Fennel (sweet), Fir needle, Parsley, Pimenta leaf.
7) Some essential oils may make the skin more sensitive to ultra-violet light and should not be used prior to sun beds, exposure to sun or other sources of ultra-violet exposure. These will include –
Angelica, Bergamot, Cumin, Lemon, Lime, Orange and Verbena.
8) When suffering from either epilepsy or high blood pressure, avoid these completely –
Fennel, Hyssop, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme and Black Pepper.
9) Possible toxic oils include –
Sage – side effects, Aniseed – can cause damage to the nervous system if used for any length of time.
10) Essential oils to be
used the least or to avoided are the following –
Almond bitter, Boldo leaf, Calamus, Camphor (brown and yellow), Cassia, Cinnamon bark, Clove bud,
Clove leaf, Clove stem, Costus, Elecampane, Fennel (bitter), Horseradish, Jaborandi leaf, Mugwort, Mustard, Origanum, Pennyroyal, Pine (dwarf), Rue, Sassafras, Savin, Savory, Southern wood, Tansy, Thuja (cederleaf and plicata), Wintergreen, Wormseed and Wormwood.
and flowers. It is an alternative therapy beneficial to the person in whole. The body's self-defense system signals affected from touch nerve fibers take precedence over the chronic pain nerve fibers.
The stimulation of touch also releases the brain chemicals known as endorphin's that act as body's own painkillers enabling the body cure itself. This helps the body's own healing process to begin. Certain substances can penetrate the skin, which means that skin is semi-permeable. Molecules of essential oils are small enough to penetrate the skin through hair follicles and spaces between the cells. Because they’re natural there is less chance of developing allergies to them.
It is part of a healthy lifestyle and can never be fully effective unless combined with other natural treatments, proper diet and exercise, which entails a balanced lifestyle. On top of that it is the easiest to use. The sense of smell is powerful. In fact, the body can distinguish around 10,000 different
scents, oils that have been extracted from naturally-occurring materials. Essential oils are far from being a new phenomenon. In fact, they've been around since Ancient Egyptian times.
Aromatherapy, as known today, is French of origin. Dr. Gattefosse’s work revealed that it was possible for the oil to reach the organs via the circulatory system. He was the first to use the word,
aromatherapy, and published it in a scientific paper in 1925 and a book in 1937.
It is easily absorbed into the lymph system and will end up in the bloodstream, reaching all the organs in the body. Another way is by means of inhalation. With the membranes of the mouth and nose being very thin, messages are sent to the brain, which in return recalls association or sends a command to
the appropriate part or organ in the body.
Essential Oils are very powerful components of plants - they have the capability of being harmful if
improperly used. Essential Oils can be very helpful for some cases, supportive in others, and have little to no effect in others. They are not intended to treat or cure serious medical conditions; there is no substitute for a consultation with a competent physician for any matters regarding your health,
or anyone else.
USES OF AROMATHERAPY Commonly known to be used for:
Relax muscles
Relieve menstrual cramps
Mood
enhancement
Improve skin tone
Stress release
Improve sleep
Regulate
hormones
Kill fungal and bacterial infections
Stimulate the immune,
respiratory and circulatory systems
Reduce inflammation
Aid
digestion
Aid blood circulation
Heal wounds
To Energize
BENEFITS OF AROMATHERAPY
1) The Smell Factor - The sense of smell is pretty powerful. In fact, the body can distinguish around 10,000 different scents. As scents are inhaled, the smell travels across the olfactory nerves located inside the nose and then up into the part of the brain that controls our moods, our
memories and our ability to learn.
2) Essential Oil Absorption – it works by absorbing essential oils into the skin and blood stream. The best advantages of diluted essential oils are that they can go directly to the spot where you need them the most.
3) Acts Directly - Essential oils applied directly on the skin reach the blood stream through massaging. While massaging with oils, when we have a sore muscle, we can use massage oils such as chamomile
essential oil and rub or massage the sore area to soothe muscle cramps. Other effects are the sensory nerve endings in our body responding in different ways for various kinds of massages. Deep pressure while massaging stimulates body's systems such as immune, circulatory, and digestive systems.
4) Relieves Depression and Rejuvenates - By inhaling the scent of the aromatherapy, the brain is stimulated. Massaging also stimulates the nerves and muscles and through this stimulation it causes a positive effect on the glandular and nervous systems and on the entire body.
5) Preventive Health-care - Aromatherapy massage can be effective in the form of preventive health care. It can strengthen our body, detoxify it, increase blood circulation and boost the immune and the lymphatic systems. The essential oils stimulate, balance, soothe and calm our system.
6) Pregnancy – it helps women greatly during pregnancy especially in relieving labor pain. These oils tackle depression, morning sickness and other pregnancy-related conditions. Foot-massage during
delivery calms the mind and brings down anxiety.
7) Baby-baths - Traditionally aromatherapy is used for baby-baths. It plays a vital role in massaging the baby with oils before bath and also adding oils to the bathing water. It purifies the atmosphere. It is great boon to mothers in teething problems, itchy conditions, etc.
8) Self- Administrative - Essential oils blended in various carrier oils can be used by us for our own massaging. For example, we can massage our forehead with eucalyptus oil when we have a headache.
9) Relief from Pain - Massaging with aromatic oils have been successfully used for ages for relief of physical pains such as migraine, body aches, sprains and muscle problems. The essential oils applied on the skin go deep and yield quick recovery.
Aromatherapy doesn't just smell good, it benefits you in many ways. Some more aromatherapy benefits that are commonly known include balance and overall well-being, relieve of minor discomforts,
diabetic friendly, rich in nutrients, immune builder, purify and detox bloodstream, dissolves fat within the liver, improves metabolism of fat, boosts metabolic rate, boosts energy levels and is an excellent
diuretic!
CAUTIONARY MEASURES OF AROMATHERAPY
It is very important that the essences used are completely natural and pure. Mineral oils should be
avoided, for they are not easily absorbed by the skin.
Although there are few side effects with aromatherapy, it’s important to remember that there is
still the possibility of an allergic reaction. The power of essential oils should never be underestimated by anyone by using more than necessary. Some oils may be hazardous to our health. Even the essential oils that are considered relatively safe and that rarely cause adverse reactions should be used only in very small quantities and usually diluted in carrier oil. Essential oils are extremely concentrated substances, one drop of essential oil often represents the potency of one ounce of plant material .This gives an idea of their healing potential and of the potential hazards of using essential oils improperly.
1) Keep away from eyes and genital areas.
2) Do not apply oils to skin without first diluting them.
3) Be sure to read the safety data for the oil you choose to use.
4) Pregnant or nursing women should always take special care when it comes to using essential oils and should never be used during the first 3 to 4 months of pregnancy.
- Essential oils to be avoided during the first 3 to 4 months of pregnancy, are –
Sweet Fennel, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Chamomile, Geranium and Lavender.
Thereafter use with caution.
- Essential oils to definitely be avoided completely during the full period of pregnancy, are
Basil, Clay sage, Hyssop, Juniper, Birch, Marjoram, Myrrh, Sage, Jasmine and Nutmeg.
5) Inhalation – use only one drop to make sure you’re not sensitive. Use fewer drops, for inhalation, if you are using oil that may cause irritation to your mucous membranes, including cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary, pine, thyme, cajuput.
6) Some skin types may be very sensitive to essential oils, especially very sensitive skin types and they can cause an allergic reaction. Best is to conduct a skin patch test before using a new essential oil. Do this by applying the essential oil that has been diluted with a carrier oil on the inner aspect of your elbow, bandage it and wait for 24 hours to see if you will develop rashes or itchiness or swelling or any other sign of an allergic reaction.
- Essential oils not to be used on sensitive skin at all:
Cinnamon (leaf), Fennel (sweet), Fir needle, Parsley, Pimenta leaf.
7) Some essential oils may make the skin more sensitive to ultra-violet light and should not be used prior to sun beds, exposure to sun or other sources of ultra-violet exposure. These will include –
Angelica, Bergamot, Cumin, Lemon, Lime, Orange and Verbena.
8) When suffering from either epilepsy or high blood pressure, avoid these completely –
Fennel, Hyssop, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme and Black Pepper.
9) Possible toxic oils include –
Sage – side effects, Aniseed – can cause damage to the nervous system if used for any length of time.
10) Essential oils to be
used the least or to avoided are the following –
Almond bitter, Boldo leaf, Calamus, Camphor (brown and yellow), Cassia, Cinnamon bark, Clove bud,
Clove leaf, Clove stem, Costus, Elecampane, Fennel (bitter), Horseradish, Jaborandi leaf, Mugwort, Mustard, Origanum, Pennyroyal, Pine (dwarf), Rue, Sassafras, Savin, Savory, Southern wood, Tansy, Thuja (cederleaf and plicata), Wintergreen, Wormseed and Wormwood.