Aromatherapy & Essential Oils

"The universe is full of magical things,
patiently waiting for our
wits to grow sharper."
-Phillpotts

What is Aromatherapy?

So what is aromatherapy? It seems to be the latest "buzz" word these days - the newest "thing". Is it a new thing? No, not really. While the term "aromatherapy" was brought to light within this century, the practice of using plants and their substances goes back thousands of years. Aromatherapy, is the use of pure essential oils obtained by distillation (from named botanical species) through the sense of smell by inhalation, by bathing and through application of these therapeutic volatile substances to treat mental, emotional and physical states.

Aromatherapy has therapeutic benefits upon the body, the mind and some say even upon the spirit & soul. Aromatherapy can help to relax, energize, and bring a sense of peace to one that is caught up in the everyday trials and tribulations of living in today's fast paced world.

There are many things that aromatherapy can be used for ~ acne, athletes foot, PMS, pre and post menopausal women, depression, anxiety, environmental fragrancing, dry skin, insect bites, concentration, digestion, sore muscles, cleaning house, insomnia, headaches, circulation and to relieve stress and tension....just to name a few examples!

Aromatherapy is becoming more and more popular as people search for a way to get "back to the natural" and away from the synthetic world which envelops us. It wasn't very long ago, that if you or your child had an upset stomach, instead of running to the store to get a bottle of Pepto Bismol, you would run to your backyard and snip some spearmint, peppermint and maybe some chamomile. From this you would make a tea, which would soothe the upset stomach. Your linens would have been scented with fresh lavender instead of Downey's April "fresh" scent. Your furniture would have been polished with a lemon oil wax, not lemon scented Pledge. So you see, the use of aromatic herbs, plants and oils in cooking, perfume, cosmetics, incense and medicinally is really not a "new" thing.

Currently, it seems that everything is labeled "aromatherapy." The next time you go shopping, take a minute to see how many things you can find that are now being toted as having aromatherapy benefits. Popular categories are cosmetics, bathing products, household cleaners, pet supplies, stationary, pens, air fresheners, candles, shampoo, and conditioner. The list goes on and on! What I hope you learn from your visit in the Garden is that there is a difference between real essential oils and synthetic perfume oils, and just because something is labeled as being an "aromatherapy" product, it is not always necessarily the case.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are the volatile materials contained within plant cells and are derived by a physical process (such as distillation) from the plant. Some essential oils are not in the living tissue, but are found during destruction of the living tissue.

Essential oils are the liquid that is generally distilled (usually by steam) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant and are life force, or soul if you will of the plant. Essential oils contain the true essence of the plant it was derived from.

Essential oils are not the same as perfume oils. Where essential oils are derived from the true plants, perfume oils are artificially created fragrances or contain artificial substances and do not offer the therapeutic benefits that essential oils offer.

The chemical composition and aroma of essential oils can provide valuable psychological and physical therapeutic benefits. These benefits are achieved through methods including inhalation, bathing and application of the diluted oil to the skin.

When using essential oils, they should be diluted with a vegetable or other carrier oil such as sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, grapeseed oil and then applying this blend to the skin for absorption. Inhalation of the oils can also provide therapeutic benefits as the oil molecules enter the lungs via the olfactory system and are absorbed into the bloodstream.

Essential oils are highly concentrated and less is more. To protect your oils, they should be ideally kept in amber or cobalt blue bottles and away from heat and the sun.