Extracted scents and oils derived from plants, barks, seeds, roots and flowers are not only the basis for creating the most beautiful fragrances. Aromatherapy, a term created in the 1920s by French chemist René-Maurice Gatttefossé, is applied to improve beauty and overall health, and it is used widely in holistic practices.
As found out by Gattefossé himself, just as like the Egyptians did millions of years before, the essential oils found in nature have a beneficial effect in the body and in the mind. He began to use Lavender extract to heal the burns of soldiers.
In ancient Egypt oils were widely use for beauty and to keep the skin smooth, but they were also applied as medicine. According to the legend, Cleopatra, bathe herself everyday with rose essence oil, and milk to keep her skin smooth and healthy. She even got to the extend of perfuming her boat sails for them to smell well, and bring a calm ambience to her travels.
Doctors from the ancient cultures of India, China, Greece and Rome, discovered the properties of essential oils for healing, and health issues. Infections, burns, some skin diseases, and some fungus were treated with these oils that were applied and massage to the affected area of the skin.
However its beneficial extends, Aromatherapy was not as famous as it is today. Eastern cultures continue to use it over their extended history since is a part of their culture, and is link to their rituals and celebrations. In the West though, it had a rebirth and boom - becoming a huge part of popular culture in the 1980s.
This did not meant that its use in Europe or America came to a halt. Many spas, beauty salons, physicians and hospitals take advantage of the calming, relaxing and pain relief that many of these oils have, and apply them as complementary treatments. The most popular are: Rose, Lavender, Sandalwood, Lemon, Orange, Bergamot, Frankinsense and Peppermint.
Each one of them target a certain pain or behavior. For example Rose oil can be use to accompany depression and anxiety; also is good to use on people that have some sort of inflammation, even by helping relief arthritis and rheumatological pain. It has an antiseptic and antispasmodic effect, becoming an option to help distressed strained muscles (like cramps).
Bergamot oil also helps in depression diagnosis. The aroma spelled from the Bergamot is quite energetic and uplifting, hence stimulating. As a powerful stimulant it can aid improving digestion, and lowering sugar levels. It has an antibiotic and disinfectant effect (the oil is use in the production of skin soaps), as well as it is a sedative and cicatrisant.
Another popular oil is Lavender. It has excellent properties if you need a little help getting some sleep, is a relaxer and helps with nervous tension and anxiety; as well as pain relief. According to some dermatologist, lavender can help improve some acne cases too.
How does it work
Of course all these benefits will not work, if the body is not capable of assimilating them. Aromatherapy works as the word says, through the aroma of nature’s essential oils, but also through the combination of aroma and touch.
The scent of the essential oil is inhaled by the nose when you smell it. The act of inhaling and smelling an specific scent will activate two parts of the brain that activate memories and emotions that contribute for the wellbeing of the whole organism: The amygdala and the hippocampus.
The inhalation of the oils can be done via a little bottle that contains the oils, smelling a piece of cloth that has the aroma impregnated or also via vaporizers or diffusers.
When put on the skin, the cells are capable of absorbing the oils. The experience is much more better with massage since it will increase blood circulation.
Aromatherapy at home
Is recommended to consult your doctor or physician before trying out any of the essential oils, since some of them like peppermint essence have some contraindications.
You can try an aromatherapy bath just by putting some drops in the water. If you are feeling that you are coming down with a cold you can use eucalyptus or rosemary oil in the bath.
Why not a massage? To relieve stress use some drops of rose oil mixed with water or moisturizing cream around the neck, shoulders, back or just put some drops behind the the ears.
For energy and focus go for lemon oil. And if you are just looking for a cozy, nourishing ambience at home, Ylang ylang is the oil you are looking for.
