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WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY? Aromatherapy is the practice of
using essential oils in order to take advantage of their benefits for
the body, mind and spirit. Essential oils have been used
therapeutically for hundreds of years but as modern medicines began to
appear around the turn of the century the use of essential oils
declined.
In the 1950's, the practice of
aromatherapy enjoyed a strong revival that has continued into the
present. While the professional practice of aromatherapy requires
extensive training, anyone can enjoy many of the benefits of essential
oils at home with just a little reading in one of the many affordable
and readily available reference texts now on the market.
WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?
Essential oils are complex mixtures of naturally occurring compounds
that exist in some plants which have fragrant flowers, leaves, wood,
bark, roots, or seeds. From an organic chemist's point of view, the
active constituents of essential oils are composed of hydrocarbons and
oxygenated hydrocarbons which can be grouped according to their
molecular structure into terpenes, esters, alcohols, aldehydes,
ketones, and phenols.
Essential oils may be extracted from
plants using a variety of methods but for aromatherapy purposes, the
only acceptable methods are those that are non-toxic. This includes
distillation, cold pressing, and, in a few cases, non-toxic solvent
extraction. A good therapeutic grade essential oil is produced using
non-toxic procedures that preserve the life-giving vital essence of
the plant. Essential oils vary greatly in quality and not all are
therapeutic grade.
Do not confuse essential oils with
vegetable oils, which are also sometimes called "carrier" or "base"
oils. Essential Oils are volatile, which means that they evaporate
when exposed to air; they are very fragrant; they do not feel slick or
oily, and do not leave an oily residue. Vegetable oils, such as
almond oil, apricot oil, olive oil, or avocado oil are not really
fragrant; they do not evaporate readily; they do feel oily and leave
an oily residue. Vegetable oils are used in aromatherapy for the
purpose of diluting essential oils so that they can be safely applied
to the skin.
WHAT ARE FRAGRANCE 0ILS?
"Fragrance oils" are chemical mixtures that mimic natural plant
aromas. They may smell just like the "real thing" but are not
appropriate for aromatherapy. Read product labels carefully and avoid
those labeled as "fragrance oils", "essential fragrance oils", or
"nature identical".
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PURCHASING. Some products sold as "essential oils"
are diluted in cheaper "carrier" oils or are adulterated in some other
way. Again, read product labels carefully but be aware that labels
may not disclose full information. Several popular aromatherapy books
outline simple tests that purchasers can perform at home, to aid in
detecting inferior products. We encourage you to learn these methods
and apply them to the products you purchase. Become familiar with the
botanical names of the oils you want to use and never purchase an
essential oil that is not labeled with the botanical name, as well as
the common name.
USE
OF ESSENTIAL OIL: Add
2 to 4 drops of essential oil to a warm (not hot) bath. For a
massage/body oil, add 1 drop of essential oil per teaspoon of high
quality, cold pressed vegetable oil, such as sweet almond or grape
seed oil. For a room fragrance, add a few drops to a diffuser or a
pot of steaming (not boiling) water. If you are mixing several oils
in a "blend", treat the "blend" as a single oil; in other words, use
no more than 4 drops of the "blend" in a bath, or 1 drop of the
"blend" to a teaspoon of vegetable oil. These and other methods of
use are described in aromatherapy reference books.
STORAGE: The
shelf-life of most essential oils is about 12 months, with proper
handling. Oils should be stored in a cool (not cold) place, where
they are not exposed to sunlight. Refrigeration of essential oils is
not recommended since some can be spoiled by this procedure. Open
bottles only for use and keep caps securely closed, as exposure to air
speeds the deterioration of any botanical product, including essential
oils.
Joie Power, Ph.D. practices as a
Wellness Consultant, Healer, Reiki Master, and Personal Development
coach. She is a retired neurobehavioral specialist with training in
the neurological aspects of olfaction (smell) and emotional
functioning, as well as psychoneuroimmunology, mind/body approaches,
dreamwork, and aromatherapy. She provides consultation to individuals,
physicians and holistic practitioners.
For information on contacting Dr.
Power,
click here.
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