What Is Aromatherapy? Beyond Just Smelling Nice
Do you agree Aromatherapy
has suffered from it's New Age stigma long enough? It's time to tell
the masses what these little bottles of liquid jewels are all about!
Here in the United States, common use of the term 'aromatherapy' has
been skewed so much that only that 'touchy-feely' aspect of 'feeling
good from smelling something nice' is it's complete definition to most
folks. If you happen to know better, this article may just be a
refresher in the science of therapeutic
essential oil
usage, but one that may help you teach others the 'why' of 'medical
aromatherapy' - if this concept is new, however, read on and learn -
this may be important to you someday!
We've always been attracted to pleasant smells - body perfumes have
been used for millennia, as have incense and scented balms in religious
and ritual ceremony. Plants have been used medicinally throughout
history as well. Therapeutic use of distilled aromatic compounds of
plants only 'officially' began in 1937 with the writing of Rene Maurice
Gattefosse's 'Aromatherapie' - a treatise on the physiological effects
of essential oils published by the scientist after his accidental
discovery of the healing properties of Lavender oil. Medical
aromatherapy practice continues strongly in Europe today - in France,
one can be prescribed an essential oil blend by a doctor, and have it
filled as we have pharmaceutical prescriptions prepared here. These are
not prescriptions for simple aromatic use; as the practice of
Aromatherapy includes the entire branch of botanical medicine using
volatile aromatic plant compounds, these prescriptions utilize other
broad-ranging physiologic effects of essential oils. These include
noted antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic,
anti-inflammatory and immune supportive effects of many oils, just to
name a few.
Essential oils effects on the nervous system an psyche through the
olfactory sense is not to be discounted, however. Studies have shown
repeatable results in essential oils' ability to lift the spirits and
sharpen the attention. Students inhaling Lemon and Rosemary essential
oils while studying have scored better on tests; other subjects have
slept better while inhaling Lavender (one article proclaimed these
results with "Lavender Works Better than Benzodiazepines !"). The
'aromatic' effect of essential oils is a result of the intimate wiring
of the smell sense with certain control systems of the brain. The
olfactory system is the only one of the five senses directly connected
to the bulk of your gray matter - the rest are routed first through the
thalamus. This direct connection has powerful implications for
physiological as well as psychological effects.
The olfactory region of the brain is closely associated with the limbic
region - that being the center of emotions, memory, sex drive and
intuition. The limbic system is also connected to parts of the brain
that control heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and hormone
levels. The olfactory region also connects to the hypothalamus, which
controls the entire hormonal system by influencing the pituitary. This
gives us a good ideas as to why essential oils can have an
'aromatherapeutic' effect - human studies have shown the inhalation of
essential oils can be calming, stimulating, uplifting, relaxing, and/or
clarifying, depending on the oil being inhaled.
The beneficial effects of essential oils reach far beyond that of the
olfactory sense and limbic system - bringing into view the true
potential of Aromatherapy. The most promising use of oils is in the
treatment of infectious illness, notes Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, America's
leading medical aromatherapist. Modern medicine is falling short in
this area; overuse of antibiotics has lead to chemically-resistant
'super bugs', and a series of antibiotics tends to throw the delicate
symbiotic natural balance of microorganisms in the human digestive
system out-of-whack for some time. Oregano and Cinnamon oils are some
of the most broad-spectrum antibacterial known - and while their use
demands practical knowledge due to their powerful nature, they do not
seem to create resistant bacterial strains or upset our own system's
balance. Other oils (which are generally less sensitizing) work very
well on some strains of bacteria and not as well on others - here, the
practitioner's ability to match the proper oil with the patient's
symptoms plays a critical role in the therapy's efficacy, as with any
medical treatment. The proven effects of essential oils also goes
beyond these illnesses - essential oils have
Broad acceptance of true 'medical aromatherapy' is a ways-off in the
US. There is a lack of knowledge within the established medical
community, and qualified aromatherapists are fairly rare, as of yet.
With the growing body of evidence validating the efficacy of natural
medicines, however, and the failing confidence in our allopathic
medical institutions, it may not be long until essential oils find
their rightful place in our medicine chests. In the meantime, be
cautious, have fun, and do stop and smell the roses, and lavenders,
patchoulis, sandalwoods, and all the other great aromatherapies
available to you!
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