Change Your Mood with Aromatherapy
by Susie Michelle Cortright
http://www.momscape.com
Contemporary healers, therapists, and marketing gurus are grabbing hold
of a phenomenon that insects and animals instinctively understand: the
power of aroma.
Scientists pursue aromachology (the study of scent and its ability to
change human behavior) for its role in everything from medicine to marketing,
migraines to memory loss, and relaxation to revitalization.
The ancestry of aromatherapy
The ancestry of aromatherapy goes back some 4,000 years.
Ancient Egyptians used aromatic botanicals for massage, embalming, medicine,
and cosmetics.
Hippocrates himself might have been aromatherapy's first spokesman 2,000
years ago, as he touted the benefits of aromatic massage for physical
and emotional well-being.
In the 10th century, the Arabian world invented the process of distillation,
which allowed more efficient extraction of essential oils.
For centuries, cultures around the globe inhaled aromas, drank potions,
and wore aromatic amulets to protect them from harm.
In the early 1900s, France and England attempted to re-introduce these
ancient remedies and help them gain acceptance in the more traditional
medical community.
This trend continues in France today. Many French doctors prescribe aromatic
remedies, pharmacies stock essential oils, and insurance companies pay
for the treatment.
In the United States, aromatic healing is gaining ground.
Aromatherapy defined
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to treat ailments. These conditions
range from physical conditions to emotional problems.
From headaches to herpes. Dry skin to acne. Arthritis to asthma.
The essential oils of aromatherapy are extracted from aromatic plants
and herbs--from the flower, bark, root, twig, seed, berry, rhizome, or
leaves--generally through a process of steam distillation. These oils
may be inhaled or massaged into the skin, after combining with a vegetable,
nut or seed oil.
Massage with essential oils is most commonly used to alleviate skin ailments
and muscle pain or tension. Lavender, orange, marjoram, and chamomile
are particularly effective aromas in the use of massage.
Essential oils can be inhaled with the help of a vaporizer, an electric
diffuser or an aroma lamp.
How does it work?
Our sense of smell is more complex than you might think. Your nose contain
thousands of olfactory nerves.
While your tongue has the ability to taste sweet, sour, salt, and bitter,
it is your sense of smell that creates all the delightful flavors you
experience.
The olfactory bulb is part of your brain's limbic system, which is not
under conscious control. The limbic system controls digestion, libido,
and emotions.
So, it's not your imagination that scents evoke emotion. Aromas actually
trigger the release of chemicals in the brain that create a feeling of
well-being. Scientists say your body's response to an aroma takes just
four seconds.
Which Essential Oils are Right for You?
Essential oils are available in natural and synthetic forms. Natural essential
oils are not oils but non-oily, non-water-soluble substances, which dissolve
in alcohol and combine with true oils. Pure, natural essential oils may
be as much as 70 times more potent than the plant source itself.
Some synthetics are derived from natural products. The exact formulation
of an essential oil is virtually impossible to reproduce in the laboratory.
Even the smallest variation can produce significant changes in the oil's
effect.
Some synthetic oils fall into the category of artificial fragrances,
entirely made of petroleum products. These products generally do not produce
the same therapeutic effects as essential oils.
Each essential oil is comprised of different hormones and vitamins, which
combine to create different effects. Furthermore, the effects of each
essential oil can vary depending on the botanical species and where it
is grown. The effects of particular aromas also vary among cultures and
individuals, so the results of aromatherapy are not universal.
Still, aromatherapists have developed a roster of scents with relatively
predictable effects:
Aphrodisiacs
Jasmine, ylang ylang, patchouli
Energizers
lemon, basil, bergamot, sweet orange, peppermint, eucalyptus,
tangerine
Hair Care
(dry hair) cedarwood
(normal hair) lavender, ylang ylang
(oily hair) rosemary, lemongrass
PMS
cedarwood, clary sage, fennel, geranium, nerali, Roman chamomile
Relaxation
lavender, myrrh, cardamom, cedarwood, German chamomile, clary sage,
frankincense
Skin Care
(all skin types) Lavender, geranium, ylang ylang
(dry skin) rosemary, rosewood, carrot seed, sandalwood, peppermint,
rosemary
(oily skin) basil, eucalyptus, cedarwood, cypress, lemongrass,
ylang ylang, sage
About the author:
Susie Cortright is the editor of two "just for you" websites:
BestSelfHelp.com, which saves you time and money by cataloging only the
best personal growth tools, and Momscape.com, devoted to helping busy
parents find balance. Today, Momscape visitors receive Susie's "6
Days to Less Stress" course free: http://www.momscape.com.
And BestSelfHelp visitors receive a free self-help classic: http://www.bestselfhelp.com
|
