Aromatherapy, the therapeutic use of essential plant oils, boasts a history stretching back to ancient civilizations. While aromatic oils have long been employed to alleviate various ailments, formal scientific study of their properties began in 1928. Aromatherapy primarily aims to relieve stress and related conditions, promoting overall well-being and revitalizing both body and mind.
Essential oils stimulate olfactory nerve cells, transmitting messages to the limbic system, the brain region governing memory and emotions. Aromatherapy addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of well-being. Physically, it can ease specific conditions by stimulating the nervous, immune, and circulatory systems. Emotionally, it can trigger pleasant memories and positive feelings.
While the medical community may debate aromatherapy’s role as a sole treatment, its potential to support recovery is widely acknowledged. Essential oils are extracted through distillation from plant parts like leaves, roots, flowers, stems, and bark. They encapsulate the plant’s essence in a highly concentrated form. Despite being called “oils,” they often lack the properties of traditional oils. Their colors range from clear to yellow, as seen in lemongrass and orange oils.
These oils are administered in various ways: inhalation, addition to bathwater, and diluted topical application. Only unadulterated essential oils possess therapeutic value. Common carrier oils, also known as vegetable or base oils, include sweet almond, apricot kernel, avocado, grapeseed, jojoba, and sunflower oil.
Certain essential oils are not recommended for aromatherapy, especially without professional guidance. These include ajowan, bitter almond, arnica, sweet birch, calamus, camphor, pennyroyal, rue, sassafras, thuja, wintergreen and wormwood.
Aromatherapists practice in diverse settings, including private practices, mobile services, natural health clinics, beauty therapy centers, health clubs, hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes. Despite limited formal research, aromatherapists and some European physicians often prescribe aromatic oils for complaints like colds, flu, insomnia, sinusitis, migraines, digestive issues, and muscle pain. It’s crucial to remember that aromatic oils should never be ingested and should always be tested on a small skin area to assess sensitivity.