What is Aromatherapy by Kelly Holland Azzaro RA CCAP LMBT

Aromatherapy is the art and science of using essential oils, which are derived from aromatic plant, herb and fruit material for their therapeutic properties for holistic healing. This ancient art of using aromatic plants has been recorded for thousands of years throughout history. Egyptian jars which contained residue of essential oils where found inside tombs. Asian, Tibetan and Ayurvedic medicine have used and continue to use several forms of aromatic medicine modalities. The French chemist Gattefosse originated the word “Aromatherapie”, which is a beautiful word that encompasses “aroma” and “therapy”, aroma “scent” and therapy “modalities”. Aromatherapy can be used in many different forms, massage is the most well known, however there are other methods of aromatherapy application. Essential oils can be added to a warm bath for relaxation and rejuvenation. A diffuser to infuse the essential oils into your environment can stimulate the senses, you can get the benefits of aromatherapy by simply taking a deep breath. Spray bottles with a diluted mixture of essential oils and water sprayed onto a compress can be applied to the body to assist healing. These are some of the wonderful ways to “blend” aromatherapy into your life. What are Essential Oils Essential oils are extracted from specific parts of plants, herbs and fruits. Most citrus oils are derived from the rind of the fruits by a process called expression. This procedure takes the fruit and grates the rind to produce the essential oil. The exception to citrus oils is the three essential oils that are produced from the bitter orange tree, Orange from expression of the rind, Petitgrain which comes from the leaves and twigs and Neroli which is produced from the fresh flowers, both of these essential oils are derived from steam distillation. Steam distillation is a process that passes hot steam water through plant material ie; roots, leaves, flowers with the end result of essential oils floating on top of aromatic waters (hydrosols). Enfleurage is a process in which flowers are layered on a screen that is covered with fat or oil then pressed with a sheet of glass. This process is repeated over the course a couple of days or until the fat has absorbed the fragrance of the flowers, leaving a scented pomade type substance. This pomade is now processed with alcohol to remove the fat. Some of the more expensive and exotic essential oils (Jasmine, Rose and Ylang Ylang) are produced with enfleurage. These same richly fragrant essential oils are sometimes produced with CO2 Extraction. This method produces an “Absolute” a concentrated fragrance derived by a mixture of solvents with CO2 extraction. The later two methods (Enfleurage and CO2 Extraction) produce a product conducive for fragrant use, however most aromatherapist would not incorporate these oils in their holistic practice. Safety concerns and common sense are good tools to incorporate when using essential oils and aromatherapy products. “Less is Best” when applying essential oils to the body as well as diffusing. For topical use a “skin patch test” can be used to observe allergic and sensitive skin reactions. (Apply 1 drop of essential oil to a small amount of carrier oil to the inside of your arm by elbow crease area, place a band-aid over the oil and let set a couple of hours or more. After removing the band-aid look for signs of redness, itching and irritation, if any of these occur wash the area with water.) People who are allergic to the “Ragweed” plant family, may want to do a skin patch test with all “Chamomile” essential oils. Sometimes just inhaling a chamomile scent or drinking chamomile tea can bring on an allergic reaction. The same holds true for the “Smell” of the essential oil, everyone has different tastes with what type of food they love to eat, and what type of food they just can’t stomach. With scents you can experiment to “smell” which essential oils you like or dislike. The Scent of Smell is located in the olfaction system part of which is the “oldest part of the brain” referred to in the past as the “smell brain”(1). One of our strongest senses, the sense of smell of one essential oil can bring pleasure to one person and distaste to another. “ All though from my personal experience, there are very few scents that one does not like in aromatherapy.” “It is the chemistry of an essential oil that gives it its therapeutic properties.”(2) Essential oils have their own “chemical composition” this chemical makeup is what gives the oils it’s therapeutic properties. Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, hormonal regulator are a few of the actions of essential oils. Some essential oils are stimulating and some are sedating. This would definitely be an important factor when deciding which essential oil to use for relaxation or rejuvenation. Do you need to get a good nights sleep or do you need to stay awake and study? Or perhaps would it be a better idea to get restful nights sleep in order be well rested and prepared for the next days exam? Is your pain acute or chronic? Do you have any allergies? Are you pregnant? Do you have high blood pressure? Are the essential oils going to be used for an adult or a child? These are all good questions to consider when choosing which essential oils to incorporate into your lifestyle. Essential oils should always be mixed with a carrier oil (massage vegetable oil) before topical application.* When diffusing essential oils in a diffuser, follow manufacturers directions. Some diffuser equipment uses essential oils mixed with water which is then heated by a small candle, others are electric with pumps that disperse purely essential oils only, no water or carrier oils needed. *With the exception of Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) which small amounts can be used neat (1-2 drops directly from the bottle) on burns, insect bites and toe nail fungus. If irritation occurs gently wash the area with water or apply a small amount of carrier oil. Aromatherapy Training “True Aromatherapy” is a specialized training that requires the practitioner to acquire a wealth of knowledge which includes the skilled and safe use of essential oils, their chemical make-up and their therapeutic properties as well as contraindications of use. There are several massage schools as well as colleges that are offering beginner and advanced aromatherapy training. Some courses offer aromatherapy massage application techniques for licensed massage therapists and holistic practitioners. For the lay person who wants to learn about aromatherapy for personal home use can learn quite a bit from the many books available on the subject. There are one day and weekend workshops that offer a lot of information also. The best way to find out more is to call and ask questions of the aromatherapist, what are their qualifications, training and experience, are they a member of a any professional organizations. A serious professional will be more than happy to answer questions and share what type of aromatherapy modalities they have to offer. The National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) is a non- profit organization dedicated to the advancement of knowledge of true aromatherapy. A great source for info. www.naha.org Footnotes: (1) Battaglia, Salvatore “The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy” (2) Buckle, Jane R., “Clinical Aromatherapy in Nursing” Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to diagnose or take the place of professional healthcare. Please consult your health care practitioner if you are pregnant or have been diagnosed with any serious healthcare problems. Before using essential oils and aromatherapy products please consult with a professional aromatherapist. Keep all aromatherapy products out of reach of children. Do not get near eyes. If essential oils get in the eyes, flush with water and seek proper healthcare advice. We invite you to browse our website and call us for an appointment.  If you prefer, you can use our Online Form to request an appointment, ask questions, or tell us how we can help you.