Aromatherapy in a nut shell

AROMA THERAPY

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils (EOs), and other aromatic compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person's mood or health.

History of Aromatherapy:
The history of aromatherapy essential oils dates back to centuries ago to ancient civilizations such as those of Egypt, India, China and Greece. The roots of Aromatherapy can be traced back more than 3,500 years before the birth of Christ, to a time when the use of aromatics was first recorded in human history. In reality, the history of aromatherapy is inexorably linked to the development of aromatic medicine, which in the early days was itself combined with religion, mysticism and magic. This was a time when the ancient Egyptians first burned incense made from aromatic woods, herbs and spices in honour of their gods. They believed that as the smoke rose up to the heavens, it would carry their prayers and wishes directly to the deities. Eventually, the development of aromatics as medicines would create the foundations that aromatherapy was built upon. The Father of Medicine Hippocrates (circa 460-377 BC) was the first physician to dismiss the Egyptian belief that illness was caused by supernatural forces. Instead, he believed the doctor should try to discover natural explanations for disease by observing the patient carefully, and make a judgment only after consideration of the symptoms.His treatments would typically employ mild physio-therapies, baths, massage with infusions, or the internal use of herbs such as fennel, parsley, hypericum or valerian. Hippocrates is said to have studied and documented over 200 different herbs during his lifetime. He believed that surgery should be used only as a last resort and was among the first to regard the entire body as an organism. Therefore we have Hippocrates to thank for a concept fundemental to true aromatherapy - that of holism.

Benefits of aromatherapy:

The benefits of aromatherapy can be listed as follows:

1. Heals wounds
2. Tones the skin
3. Regulates hormones
4. Decreases sinus
5. Relieve tension headache
6. Kills fungal and bacterial infection
7. Relaxes muscles
8. Energizes
9. Aid digestion
10. Aid blood circulation

Precautions:

Though the ill effects are very rare, there may be a few like this if the essential oils are not used properly:

1. Undiluted essential oils when used on skin can cause allergies.
2. The therapist should vary the essential oils, if not the prolonged use of the same oils can cause allergic reactions.
3. Essential oils should not be consumed internally.

Did you know?
1. Cleopatra, known for her beautiful skin was said to use essential oils in her baths.
2. Essential oils enhance your immune system.
3. Essential oils are often described for their various odors and scents, also known as "notes":
4. Aromatherapy is used for relieving pain caused by the side effects of the chemotherapy.
5. The use of plant oils can be traced back over 6000 years!!!!!!
6. Smell is a potent brain trigger. In biological terms, the neural networks of our sense of smell bypass our thinking brain and take a direct route to our emotion and memory centers.
7. Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a Frenchman from a family of perfumers, coined the term aromatherapy.
8. Few drops of lavender and lime will help in jet lag.
9. Aytar, an ancient perfume was made from rose and sandalwood.
10. Lavender and peppermint are natural insect repellents.