Aromatherapy
means "treatment using scents". It is a holistic treatment
of caring for the body with pleasant smelling botanical
oils. Aromatherapy is developed from the ancient practice of
using natural plant essences to promote health and
well-being. It consists of the use of pure essential oils
derived from a wide range of plants.
Aromatherapy is used for the relief of aches & pains and
injuries, while relieving the discomforts of many health
problems, care for the skin, alleviate tension and fatigue
and invigorate the entire body. Essential oils can affect
the mood, alleviate fatigue, relieve depression and anxiety,
reduce stress, relax, uplift, sedate or stimulate, and
promote relaxation restoring both physical and emotional
well-being.
The essential oils are aromatic essences extracted from
plants, flowers, trees, fruits, bark, grasses and seeds with
distinctive therapeutic, psychological, and physiological
properties, which improve and prevent illness.
There are about 150 essential oils. Most of these oils have
antiseptic properties; some are anti-viral,
anti-inflammatory, pain relieving, antidepressant and
expectorant. Other properties of the essential oils, which
are taken advantage of in aromatherapy, are their
stimulation, relaxation, digestion improvement, and diuretic
properties. The appropriate oils can have powerful results,
both on the body and the spirit. To get the maximum benefit
from essential oils, it should be made from natural, pure
raw materials. Synthetically made oils i.e. "Fragrance
Oils", "Perfumes" and other artificially made substitutes
for Pure Essential Oils simply do not work.
DOES
AROMATHERAPY REALLY WORK?
YES. Modern scientific research has proven the potency and
healing qualities of Pure Essential
Oils. Aromatherapy is one of the fastest growing fields in
alternative medicine! Pure Essential Oils are prescribed in
Great Britain and throughout Europe for their medicinal
benefits. Aromatherapy is widely used at home, clinics and
hospitals for a variety of applications such as pain relief
for women in labour pain, relieving pain caused by the side
effects of the chemotherapy undergone by the cancer
patients, and rehabilitation of cardiac patients.
Aromatherapy is already slowly getting into the mainstream.
In Japan, engineers are incorporating aroma systems into new
buildings. In one such application, the scent of lavender
and rosemary is pumped into the customer area to calm down
the waiting customers, while the perfumes from lemon and
eucalyptus is used in the bank teller counters to keep the
staff alert.
HISTORY
Aromatherapy had been around for 6000 years or more. The
Greeks, Romans, and ancient Egyptians all used aromatherapy
oils. The Egyptian physicians recommended fragrant oils for
bathing, massage, and for embalming their dead nearly 6000
years ago. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used
aromatherapy baths and scented massage. He used aromatic
fumigations to rid Athens of the plague.
The modern era of aromatherapy dawned in 1930 when French
chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse coined the term aromatherapy
for the therapeutic use of essential oils. He was fascinated
by the benefits of lavender oil in healing his burned hand
without leaving any scars. He started investigating the
effect of other essential oils for healing and for their
psychotherapeutic benefits.
HOW DOES
AROMATHERAPY WORK?
Scientific studies have shown
that essential oils contain chemical components that can
exert specific effects on the mind and body. Their chemistry
is complex, but generally includes alcohols, esters, ketones,
aldehydes, and terpenes. Aromatherapy works the best when it
works on the mind and body simultaneously.
WHAT CAN
AROMATHERAPY TREAT?
Aromatherapy is particularly
effective for stress, anxiety, and psychosomatic induced
problems, muscular and rheumatic pains, digestive disorders
and women's problems, such as PMS, menopausal complaints and
postnatal depression. Here is a summary of the results from
clinical studies:
Behavior
Sleep
Discomfort after
childbirth
Colds
Stress
SAFETY ISSUES
!
If used as recommended, and under the care of a qualified
practitioner, aromatherapy is very safe. Please remember
that essential oils are very concentrated you should not use
too much.
It is essential to be wary of any allergies people have to
essential oils.
Caution is particularly recommended for patients who are
pregnant, have allergy, high blood pressure or epilepsy or
for young children or babies.
For an
aromatherapy consultation, or for any inquiries
please contact us.