| There is a rumor going around that there are certain | | | | home use. This third way is to take the oil internally. |
| oils that not only leave you feeling fresh and light, but | | | | When this is done (under professional direction and |
| also have certain healing properties. Have you heard | | | | supervision), the oils are said to positively stimulate the |
| that rumor? Yes? I have too, which prompted me to | | | | immune system. |
| want to find out more. In my research, I was led down | | | | Uses |
| a path toward aromatherapy. Do you want to know | | | | There are many different types of essential oils that |
| more? Let's explore together! | | | | are used in aromatherapy - and they all have different |
| According to my research, aromatherapy is a form of | | | | ways of stimulating the body. For example, basil |
| alternative medicine that uses essential oils and other | | | | essential oils are used in perfumes as a way to help |
| scented plant compounds in order to positively affect | | | | sharpen concentration, reverse depression and relieve |
| a person's mood or health. On the technical side, the | | | | headaches. Bergamot is another essential oil with |
| reason that the essential oils are different than other | | | | significant effects, such as clearing both the urinary |
| herbal products is because of the distillation process | | | | and digestive tracts, as well as relieving cold sores and |
| which recovers the lighter "phytomolecules." Trust me; I | | | | the chicken pox. And the more popular tea tree oil is |
| don't know what they're talking about either. However, | | | | known as an antiseptic and disinfectant. But there are |
| what I do know is that many praise its benefits and | | | | many other essential oils out there. Some include black |
| highly recommend it, so my research took me in the | | | | pepper (surprised?), cloves, lemons, and thyme. But |
| direction of learning what different types are available, | | | | when considering any essential oil treatments, keep in |
| and why they are so helpful. | | | | mind that they are all highly concentrated and should |
| History | | | | therefore be kept away from small children, just like |
| Before we go into the types, I wanted to look at the | | | | any other medication. |
| history of this great medical tradition. Unlike many other | | | | Acceptance and Criticism |
| natural medical alternatives, the roots of aromatherapy | | | | Some countries, France in particular, consider the use |
| are grounded in the West. The term was coined by a | | | | of essential oils to be one of their mainstream forms |
| French chemist named René Maurice | | | | of medicine and even considered it to be its own |
| Gattefossé who was dedicated to researching | | | | branch of medicine like dentistry. In France, they use |
| the healing properties of essential oils. During one of his | | | | the essential oils as antiseptics, as well as antiviral, |
| chemistry projects, he accidentally set his arm on fire. | | | | antifungal, and antibacterial treatments, and the oils are |
| When he submerged it in the nearest cold liquid he | | | | regulated just as prescription drugs are. In order to |
| could find, he realized immediately that the pain in his | | | | decide which essential oil to use, they call upon a |
| arm was relieved. He looked at the vat and saw the | | | | technique called the aromatogram, which involves |
| cold liquid was NOx PH232, which is also called | | | | culturing a sample of infected tissue then growing the |
| lavender oil. And after a few days, he saw that the | | | | culture and dividing it among Petri dishes. The dishes |
| recovery time for his burn was significantly decreased; | | | | are then inoculated with different essential oils to |
| in addition, his redness, inflammation, blisters and | | | | determine which has the greatest effect, and that is |
| scarring were almost non-existent, helping him to | | | | how the appropriate oil is chosen. |
| further realize its healing properties. Not long after, a | | | | While this form of alternative medicine is highly |
| protégé named Jean Valnet continued | | | | respected by some, there are others who don't |
| Gattefossé's work by treating wounded | | | | believe in the effects of aromatherapy and feel that it |
| soldiers with essential oils during World War II. It was | | | | is another way to sell a dream to those who are |
| with these two chemists that aromatherapy was born. | | | | looking for a "quick medical fix." Those who believe in |
| How it Works | | | | aromatherapy, however, disregard this sentiment and |
| Aromatherapy is said to work as a preventative | | | | say that, just like deciding to use the other disregarded |
| measure to treat the body before a disease is able to | | | | alternative forms of medicine, including herbs and |
| present itself. There are two reasons alternative | | | | minerals, acupuncture and even meditation, it is up to |
| medical practitioners say that it works. One is that the | | | | every individual's interpretation of what works for them |
| scent from these special essential oils has a very | | | | that matters. In other words, don't knock it until you try |
| positive effect on the limbic system (the set of brain | | | | it. |
| structures that support emotion and memory). The | | | | Aromatherapy is still in the process of being accepted |
| other is that essential oils are said to have a direct | | | | in the Americas, but is becoming more appreciated by |
| pharmacological effect on the body. However, studies | | | | those who are tired of internalizing synthetic |
| have yet to prove that the effect is apparent. | | | | pharmaceuticals that seem to have tons of side |
| The two ways that essential oils are used in | | | | effects and essentially have the potential to do more |
| aromatherapy are at the scent level and the skin level. | | | | harm than good. Though it is still in the beginning stages |
| As mentioned before, at the scent level, the oils are | | | | of acceptance, there are plenty of alternative medicine |
| said to activate the emotional centers of the brain. | | | | practitioners who are willing to give it a try. It seems |
| When taken at the skin level, as found with the burned | | | | that many are noticing that the Earth has an abundant |
| Gattefossé, the oils have healing properties that | | | | supply of what we need to keep us well. And as this |
| speed up recovery time and act as a treatment to kill | | | | becomes more recognizable, there will be more |
| microbes and fungi; they are also used as massage | | | | opportunities to try the unique forms of alternative |
| oils by some. There is also a third way essential oils | | | | medicine available, including acupuncture, and of course, |
| are used, even though this is not recommended for | | | | aromatherapy. |