Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Sometimes it’s called essential oil therapy. Aromatherapy uses aromatic essential oils medicinally to improve the health of the body, mind, and spirit. It enhances both physical and emotional health.
Humans have used aromatherapy for thousands of years. Ancient cultures in China, India, Egypt, and elsewhere incorporated aromatic plant components in resins, balms, and oils. These natural substances were used for medical and religious purposes. They were known to have both physical and psychological benefits.
Essential oils distillation is attributed to the Persians in the 10th century, though the practice may have been in use for a long time prior to this. Information about essential oil distillation was published in the 16th century in Germany. French physicians in the 19th century recognized the potential of essential oils in treating disease.The term “aromatherapy” was coined by a French perfumer and chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé in a book he wrote on the topic that was published in 1937. He had previously discovered the healing potential of lavender in treating burns. The book discusses the use of essential oils in treating medical conditions.
Aromatherapy is thought of as both an art and a science. Recently, aromatherapy has gained more recognition in the fields of science and medicine.
Anointing is the ritual act of pouring aromatic oil over a person's head or entire body. By extension, the term is also applied to related acts of sprinkling, dousing, or smearing a person or object with any perfumed oil, milk, butter, or other fat.Anointing has been a sacred ritual for thousands of years in many different religions and ethnic groups, as a means of spiritual refreshment and physical invigoration. In the Orthodox tradition, the sacramental act of pouring aromatic oils onto the body, most often the head, is also called unction, and is primarily administered for physical and spiritual ills, although everyone is anointed during Holy Week. In this act of blessing, the aromatic oil used is believed to have both spiritual and physical healing qualities.
Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts. Plants are made of structural materials and phytochemicals. These chemicals have properties that not only benefit the plant but benefit people, too. It takes a tremendous amount of plant material to make essential oils, which can make some of them expensive. For example:
About 250 pounds of lavender flower make 1 pound of lavender essential oil.
About 5,000 pounds of rose petals or lemon balm make 1 pound of rose or lemon balm essential oil.Because it takes so much of the plant to make an essential oil, it’s a powerful botanical medicine.
Benefits of essential oils:
Essential oils can be used in aromatherapy, a kind of complementary medicine that uses smell to improve your health or applied topically to the skin.
Studies have shown that essential oils may help:
· Boost mood.
· Improve job performance through reduced stress and increased attentiveness.
· Improve sleep.
· Kill bacteria, fungus and viruses.
· Reduce anxiety and pain.
· Reduce inflammation.
· Reduce nausea.
· Relieve headaches
· Protection
· Aura Clearing
· Chakra balancing
Here’s a list of few essential oils that one must always keep within reach:
Peppermint: used to boost energy, aid digestion, treat canker sores, alleviate cervical pain
Lavender: used to relieve stress, promote hair growth
Sandalwood: used to calm nerves, help with focus, protective if applied to the nape of neck
Bergamot: used to reduce stress and improve skin conditions like eczema
Rose: used to improve mood, reduce anxiety, cleanse any space setting
Chamomile: used to improve mood and relaxation
Ylang-Ylang: used to treat headaches, nausea,skin conditions
Tea Tree: used to fight infections, boost immunity, used in gingivitis
Jasmine: used to help with depression, childbirth
Lemon: used to aid digestion, mood, headaches
Rosemary: alleviates pains, promote hair growth,
Sweet Marjoram: an excellent oil for muscle spasms, arthritis pain