OILS: Introduction to aromatherapy (REMEDIES, HEALTH, HERBS)

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Introduction to aromatherapy

 

Aroma therapy and how it can help the body, an introduction to the

possibilities for healing using smells.

 

This alternative medical therapy combines massage with essential oils.

The word “Aromathérapie” was coined in 1928 by a French chemist,

René-Maurice Gattefossé, to describe the therapeutic action of aromatic

plant essence. However, aromatherapy as we know it today, and the use of

aromatherapy with massage, was popularized by an Austrian-born

biochemist and beautician called Marguerite Maury, who worked in France.

The art of aromatherapy harnesses the potent pure essences of aromatic

plants, flowers and resins to work on the most powerful of senses –

smell and touch – to restore the harmony of body and mind.

 

Aromatherapy is a holistic therapy in that it works on the person as a

whole. Though it is an excellent way of treating minor ailments, stress

and negative emotional states, it is not a substitute for conventional

medical treatment. If symptoms persist, always consult a medical doctor.

Never attempt to treat the following conditions: cancer, progressive

neural disorders, heart conditions, advanced asthmatic conditions,

post-operative states, severe varicose veins, very high blood pressure

and epilepsy.

 

The history of Aromatherapy

 

It is likely that the Chinese were the first to discover the remarkable

medicinal powers of plants as far back as 4,500BC, and the Greek

alchemists continued discovering how to distill the oils by boiling and

steaming. Traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, which incorporates

healing oils, goes back at least 3,000 years. However, the ancient

Egyptians were perhaps the most sophisticated in this respect, using

essential oils as perfumes, healing tools, and embalming agents for

mummification.

 

Essential Oils

 

The vital element in any aromatherapy treatment is the pure essential

oil. These oils are very different from the heavy oils we use for

cooking; they are concentrated essences, much lighter than water and

highly flammable. They evaporate quickly, so they are usually mixed with

other ingredients to trap their effectiveness. Because they are so

concentrated, essential oils are measured in drops, which are extracted

from an array of plant sources, including petals, leaves, seeds, nut

kernels, bark, stalks, flower heads and gums and resins from trees.

There are many ways of dispersing their fragrance and utilizing their

therapeutic properties, including inhalation, therapeutic massage,

fragrances, baths, shower, sauna, room sprays, pomanders, humidifiers,

wood fires, scented candles, compresses and body and facial oils.

 

The essential massage

 

An aromatherapy massage using essential oils is a therapeutic treatment

for both mind and body, which works mainly on the nervous system.

Aromatherapy is both holistic and practical in that it helps to protect

the body’s life-saving immune system and energize or stabilize emotions.

The highly potent essential oils penetrate the body via the skin and are

also inhaled as the massage progresses.

 

The Consultation

 

An aromatherapy treatment generally consists of a full body massage

using a specific blend of essential oils mixed into a carrier-oil. A

good therapist will allow you to smell the oil and give your approval

before she begins to work.. An aroma therapist uses a massage bench. To

help them to treat a wide variety of complaints, aroma therapists have

many oils at their fingertips, but they never mix or use them until they

have worked out a prescription for the receiver’s individual needs.

 

Receiving the massage

 

Before the massage, have a cool shower and don’t use an underarm

deodorant or body spray before a treatment; and don’t have a large meal

or drink alcohol. Don’t have a massage if you have flu or any serious

condition. After the massage, drink a glass of still water immediately.

Lie still for at least five minutes before getting up. Drink plenty of

water for the rest of the day, as the kidneys will be active in

eliminating the toxins. Avoid alcohol for at least 12 hours after the

treatment to give the body a chance to detoxify thoroughly.

 

Written by Gary Smith - © 2002 Pagewise

http://wawa.essortment.com/whatisaromathe_rfyr.htm

 

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