Aromatherapy - An Introductory Guide

Aromatherapy is the use of concentrated naturally occurring oils that have been extracted either from fruits, flowers and other parts of plants, to maintain and promote feelings of physical and mental well-being in humans. The term aromatherapy is first known to be attributed to a French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, who in the year 1928 applied lavender oil to a burn on his hand and found it helped speed up the bodies natural healing process.

Obviously the term aromatherapy implies a therapeutic capability to the essence of the oils, rather than their physical application. However, it is often the case that in physically applying these naturally occurring oils to the body that their essences are released. Subsequently the oil(s) are beneficial to the body by healing and soothing, as well as helping to calm the mind. The essence, or fragrance, of the oil(s) can affect the mind when inhaled as the olfactory receptors in your nose, your smell sensors if you like, are linked to the part of your brain that controls your moods. As we all know different smells can make us feel different things.

As an example, speaking personally; freshly cut grass - like sea air - fills me with a wonderful sense of positive energy whilst the smell of bacon cooking usually makes me feel hungry, even if Ive just eaten. So, it should be of little surprise that we can manufacture oils that release smells, essences/fragrances, that make us feel relaxed, energized, happy, etc.

There are currently many different oils to choose from, but only about 20 of them are commonly used. All of the oils are derived from what is called the five families of oils. These families are: Citrus, Floral, Green, Spicy and Woody. So, for example Lavender is in the Floral family, whereas Cedarwood is - of course - classified in the woody family.

All the different oils have different properties and those different properties are not restricted to any one oil or even family of oils. Youll probably find that you might have been using say a woody antiseptic regularly only to change to a green one, just because you felt like a change. This is all part of aromatherapy, as your body and moods change - so will your choice of oils. You will need to experiment with a range of oils to establish the ones best suited to you.

When using oils for aromatherapy you need to be sure to read the instructions carefully. A bottle labeled Essential oil should be the more concentrated form and will require diluting. Whereas a bottle labeled Aromatherapy oil may well already be diluted and ready to use. Aromatherapy oils can be used in a variety of ways from; simply inhaling it to using them in bathing or applying them as a lotion or in a massage. How ever you use aromatherapy remember it is a complimentary therapy, not a replacement for conventional medicines to an ailment or illness diagnosed by your medical doctor.