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Aromatherapy as it is recognised today has been around since the 1920s
Aromatherapy as it is recognised today has been around since the 1920s.
Its name implies that it is a treatment or cure based on the inhalation
of aromatics from the plant that is being used - while this may be
true, this is only a small part of the story. This therapy has become
increasingly popular over recent years, as natural and complimentary
remedies as well as ancient and traditional practices for healthy
living undergo something of a renaissance. So is aromatherapy a
worthwhile treatment to consider, or just a load of New Age nonsense?
This
therapy may be used in a variety of ways, and not just as an
alternative medicine. At the core of the practice is the use of
essential oils, which have been described as the "essence" or "life
force" of plants - these are blended together, with carrier oils or
water, or added to other products (such as potpourris and room sprays)
to increase their potency. These oils are made up of tiny molecules
obtained in minute quantities from many natural sources, which can
penetrate the skin and so be used in many ways, such as perfumes,
massage oils, hair tonics, cosmetic creams and healing ointments.
Aromatherapy oils can also be put to use as cleaning agents for the
kitchen or bathroom, insect repellents, to create flea collars for
pets, for air fresheners and many other uses. It is an approach that is
often favoured by those who prefer to use natural alternatives wherever
possible in their lives to escape the chemicals and substances of
synthetic products that are perceived as harmful or undesirable.
As
an alternative medicine, aromatherapy oils are often used in carrier
oils (such as sweet almond oil) rubbed directly onto the skin -
however, these oils are very concentrated and should never be used
undiluted, be taken internally and only with proper supervision in
pregnancy. Massage is a very popular (and relaxing!) method of using
aromatherapy, as it combines the healing oils with the the rapeutic
benefits of touch, but they can also be added to baths, inhalers or
vaporisers. As the essential oils are affected by sunlight, they need
to be stored in dark glass bottles, well sealed and upright, in a cool
dark place - and well out of the reach of children. The length of time
you can keep oils for does vary; orange and lemon will never keep for
long, where as patchouli actually improves with time.
Commonly used blends include:
- camomile (for PMT, insomnia, stress and anxiety)
- ylang ylang (as a sedative, but used in the East as an aphrodisiac!)
- lavender (good for burns, headache, insect bites and promotes rapid healing)
- tea tree (has antibacterial properties)
- basil (for de-stressing)
- eucalyptus (for colds)
- ginger (for nausea)
I
have used some of these mixes, and have found lavender to be especially
effective for sunburn and headaches and tea tree good for treating
spots without drying the skin out too much. I also once made a blend of
a couple of essential oils (lavender and bergamot) to try and treat
some skin problems I was having at the time, but unfortunately this
turned out to be less successful and made little difference other than
to make my skin feel quite greasy!
One area where I have
found aromatherapy to be very useful is in the treatment of stress.
During my A-levels (anyone who has taken them knows how stressful they
can be!!!) I used essential oils in an oil burner - this is simply a
small ceramic vase with a dish on top in which you place a few drops of
your chosen oil in water; when a candle is lit inside the vase, the oil
heats up and evaporates to fill the room with scent. Depending on my
mood, I would either burn citrus oils to clear my mind of sluggishness
and wake me up ready for revision, or lavender to relax me and reduce
anxiety and tension. I found this to be very effective and would
recommend it to all students as a good technique when preparing for
exams.
< br>Finally, I would like to say that aromatherapy
is definitely something I would advise members to look into and
consider as a complement to modern medicine (rather than a replacement
for it). Although I have personally found not all applications of this
technique to be successful, it certainly worth a try as it is without
side effects, and even if a treatment doesn't work, it can do you no
harm (in most cases - check carefully if pregnant or if you suffer from
conditions such as asthma though). Unfortunately, it can be quite an
expensive hobby - essential oils can cost up to £16 for a 10ml bottle!
Good sites to visit:
http://www.fragrant.demon.co.uk/index.html
http://www.aromaweb.com/
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