Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is one of the fastest growing alternative therapies. It is used in homes, therapy rooms, clinics and beauty salons all over the country. Nurses trained in aromatherapy are using essential oils in hospitals as pain relief for women in labor. Many more are using them in hospices and hospitals for cancer patients, and in many more areas of patient care. Scientific investigation has begun to prove the efficacy of this centuries-old treatment and it is being embraced by the medical profession as a therapy that complements orthodox treatment. Industry too, is poised to reap the benefits of essential oils. In Japan, engineers are incorporating aroma systems into new buildings. In one Japanese bank, for example, the essence of lavender and rosemary is wafted through the customer area in order to calm any waiting customers, while stimulating fragrances of lemon and eucalyptus are pumped behind the counter to try and keep the staff alert.

However, science has a long way to go. The Greeks, Romans and ancient Egyptians all made use of aromatherapy oils. Nearly 6,000 years ago the Egyptian physician Imhotep, who became the god of medicine and healing, recommended fragrant oils for bathing and massage. Hippocrates, the Greek father of medicine, recommended regular aromatherapy baths and scented massage and placed such store by the power of scent that he used aromatic fumigations to rid Athens of the plague. In England, essential oils were used to ward off the plague long before drugs and synthetic perfumes took their place. However, it was not until the 1930's that French chemist Rene'-Maurice Gattefosse' developed the use of aromatherapy as we know it today. Gattefosse' originated the term aromatherapy to define the therapeutic use of essential oils as a discipline in its own right.

His interest in the therapy stemmed from his personal experience of the benefits of lavender oil. Apparently, according to the story, he burned his hand in a laboratory experiment and pluged it into the nearest liquid, which happened to be a container of lavender oil. His hand healed remarkably quickly, without infection and with no traces of scarring. This remarkable discovery left Gattefosse' eager to find out more about the benefits of aromatherapy. He saw his discovery as an "embryo" of truth that future generations could encourage and grow into a more complete therapy. He based his belief on his own experience with the oils, the testimonies of others, and his scientific investigations. As a chemist he understood the "powerful vitalizing action, the undeniable healing power and the extensive therapeutic properties" of the oils. He also noted that they possessed psychotherapeutic benefits.

His work was expanded upon by French army surgeon Dr. Jean Valnet, who used essential oils as antiseptics during World War II. But it was Madame Marguerite Maury who developed the idea of aromathrerapy as a holistic therapy. She introduced the concept of prescribing oils for the individual, and was the first to combine the effects of essential oils with massage.

Building on the information received from all of these pioneering aromatherapists, moder therapists agree that essential oils should be prescribed for the individual and that they are most effective when massaged into the skin.

Aromatherapists also believe that one of the therapy's greatest attributes is that it works on the mind and body simultaneously, making it a perfect, gentle, mind and body medicine.

So What is Aromatherapy?
The word aromatherapy means "treatment using scents". It refers to the use of essential oils in holistic treatments to improve health and emotional well-being and restore balance to the body. Essential oils are aromatic essences extracted from plants, flowers, trees, fruit, bark, grasses and seeds with distinctive thrapeutic, psychological properties, which imporve and prevent illness. Around 150 essential oils have been extracted, each with its own unique scent and healing property. All essential oils have valuable antiseptic properties, Some have particular ones that make them antiviral, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, antidepressant, and expectorating. Others are stimulating, relaxing, aid digestion or have diuretic properties.

In fact, all the properties, and none of the side effects, of tailor-made drugs occur naturally in plants and their benefits are extracted through essential oils. These pure oils are usually extracted by steam distillation, but other methods, such as solvent extraction, effleurage, and expression can be used. The sources of the oils can be commonplace or rare and exquisite and this is evident in the price. For example, it takes approximately 100kg (220 lbs) of lavender to yield 3kg (6 1/2 lbs) of oil so lavender oil is fairly cheap., but it takes approximately eight million jasmine flowers hand-picked at dawn to yield just 1kg (2 1/4 lbs) of oil. Not surprisingly, pure jasmine oil is very expensive. To get their optimum benefits, essential oils must be extracted from natural, raw ingredients and remain as pure as possible. Synthetic copies simply do not work.

© Deenie Leon