Aromatherapy is a way to improve the quality of everyday living on many levels (physical, emotional and spiritual). Everyone has had emotional responses to certain scents pleasant and unpleasant this is our primordial olfactory system at work. Introducing scents into our everyday life enhances our well-being as scents keep us connected to Mother Earth. Essential oils can invoke memories and emotions because are sense of smell or Olfactory system is 'Hard Wired' into our brain. Giving our ability to smell - an immediate 'Recall' ability.
Today, aromatherapy and essential oils experience a resurgence of therapeutic recognition and mainstream popularity. Aromatherapy is a natural way to feel better, using pure, safe, essential oils extracted from naturally aromatic living plants. These botanical essences help us to maintain balance, health, and contribute to our inner harmony.
Aromatherapy is both an art and a science. The art applies to blending. The combination of mutually enhancing oils is referred to as a synergistic blend. Creating blends requires an understanding of each essential oil due to each oils naturally occurring chemical component properties. With experience and intuition wonderfully aromatic blends can be created with no one ever smelling the same. The science applies to understanding the unique chemical and therapeutic property of essential oils.
Unfortunately, because essential oils are derived from naturally occurring plant material they are an agricultural product subject to change of weather and location much like a vintage of wine. An example might be doing a vertical challenge of comparing an English and French Lavender or another example is smelling a steam distilled and cold pressed version of Ginger Root - whereas the cold pressed Ginger Root even from the same crop will smell like you just cut into a fresh Ginger Root. Steam distillation by virtue of heat causes some of the beautiful notes to be left out or 'Lost' in the process. So, when purchasing Essential Oils always seek the organic, and cold pressed versions, if available.
Space clearing is a way to refresh and enhance our environment, encouraging changes such as rejuvenation and wellness. The essences and oils allow us to experience the vibrational energy of the individual plant extracts. Essences or 'Floral Waters' are water based infusions that hold the energetic pattern of a particular essential oils left over from the distillation process.
For personal use you can spray aromatherapy mists above and around your head, allowing the mist to float down into your aura. Many clients use them for healing spaces, to assist meditation and for yoga and qigong.
AROMATHERAPY USAGE
The use of aromatherapy goes way back in time. Pleasing scents have always had a beneficial effect upon the physical, psychological and spiritual well-being of people. Now you see the word aromatherapy just about everywhere and its true meaning has become lost.
Aromatherapy is the art of using pure essential oils derived from natural plants and trees to affect ones physical or emotional state. But, the word Aromatherapy has become an over used word, where you can now find products labeled as such but they are made of synthetic perfumes or a mix of synthetic fragrances and essential oils. You need to be an educated consumer to derive the benefits from true essential oils.
True aromatherapy is the use of high quality essential oils for healing. Subtle Aromatherapy, which makes use of essential oils to affect the subtle body, the psyche and the soul. In order for aromatherapy to be therapeutic, high quality essentials must be used. Essentials oils are very versatile and can be used in massage oils to affect the body in a gentle way, in spray mists, diffusers, personal perfume blends or in the bathtub.
Subtle aromatherapy can be applied in meditation, reiki, healing sessions, chakra balancing and distance healing. Researchers throughout the world are proving what ancient people intuitively knew: Essential oils have powerful effects on the mind, body and soul. John Steele, an aromatic consultant and Robert Tisserand, a leading British Aromatherapist, have studied the effects of various essential oils on brain wave patterns. They have shown that beta brain waves, which indicate a state of heightened awareness, are increased when stimulating oils such as black pepper, rosemary or basil are inhaled. Calming oils such as lavender and rose produce more alpha and theta brain waves, indicative of relaxation and well-being.
Common oils such as lavender is known to be calming and balancing. Researchers at Wesleyan University tested the effects of lavender on sleep and found that lavender can increase the amount of time people spend in the most restorative sleep stage. With only a few basic oils such as Lavender, Orange or Bergamot which are lovely to have in the home as they increase feelings of joy and happiness and are suitable oils for the kitchen and around small children.
Other research indicates that peppermint can invigorate you while exercising. Pine and Rosemary are known to clean the air and help concentration.
Choose to be a wise consumer and use natural products, organically produced and or are eco certified as Green in your life, they are not only healthier for you, but also good for the environment.
About Essential Oils
Essential oils are natural, aromatic oils are the concentrated essence of plants. Peppermint essential oil is distilled from the leaves of the plant, while lemon essential oil is extracted from the peels of the fruit. When you smell a rose, or when you rub pine needles in your hands, you smell essential oils in their natural state. These oils are also found in roots, barks, grasses, flowers, gums, buds and other plant parts. However, not all essential oils can be captured and stabilized for use. Lilacs and Honeysuckle produce beautiful scents but, the essences cannot be harvested.
Quality Medicinal Grade essential oils lend value as a fragrance as well as possessing therapeutic qualities.
At times you just need something to clean and clear the air. But how do you know which scents are safe? "Fragrance products often contain aldehydes like formaldehyde, a common indoor air pollutant and probable carcinogen and aromatic hydrocarbons, which can be irritating to the eyes and respiratory system," says Joseph Ponessa, Ph.D., an indoor air specialist at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension."
You need to check labels for synthetic scents, it will use the word "fragrance" which can release hormone-disrupting chemicals known as phthalates. For a healthier alternative try aromatherapy with pure essential oils which are distilled from flowers ( lavender, rose), woods (sandalwood, cedar), leaves (basil, eucalyptus) and resins (frankincense, myrrh)
Many manufacturers do not always reveal a complete list of ingredients. Even high end products can be elusive about labeling. An article in the New York Times magazine, "Now Let Us Spray" recently praised a variety of boutique-brand fragrances, and when the "Green Guide" contacted these companies, they would not disclose the ingredients. You truly have to do your own research when purchasing clean products. Many aromatherapy products on the market today use synthetic ingredients.
Safety Tips:
Read labels. In addition to "fragrance", watch out for limonene and camphor which are irritants. Paradichlorobenzene is a known allergen and probable carcinogen. Avoid aerosol air fresheners that contain butane, isobutane and propane, which are neurotoxic and easily inhaled.
Please note that all information regarding Essential Oils is for informational purposes only. And is not recommended as a substitute for medical care & the information is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
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