Aromatherapy is the practiced use of essential oils from various plants for healing. Although the actual term, aromatherapy, might make it sound as if the oils are inhaled, they can also be massaged into the skin or sometimes (although rarely) taken by mouth. You should never ingest essential oils by mouth without specific instruction from a trained and qualified specialist. Whether inhaled or applied on the skin, essential oils are gaining more and more attention as an alternative treatment for stress, infections, and other health problems. In many cases scientific evidence is still lacking to the exact benefits so it is best to seek advice from a trained specialist.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are concentrated extracts taken from the roots, leaves, seeds, or blossoms of plants. Each contains a specific mix of active ingredients, and this combination determines what the oil can and should be used for. Some oils are used to promote physical healing -- for example, to treat swelling or fungal infections. Others are used for their emotional value -- they may enhance relaxation or make a room smell pleasant. Orange blossom oil, for example, contains a large amount of an active ingredient that is believed to have a calming effect.
What is the history of aromatherapy?
Essential oils have been used for therapeutic purposes for nearly 6,000 years. The ancient Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used them in cosmetics, perfumes, and drugs. Essential oils were also commonly used for spiritual, therapeutic, hygienic, and ritualistic purposes.
In modern times, Rena Maurice Gattefossa, a French chemist, noticed the healing properties of lavender oil when he applied it to a burn on his hand caused by an explosion in his laboratory. He then started to analyze the chemical properties of essential oils and how they were used to treat burns, skin infections, gangrene, and wounds in soldiers during World War I. In 1928, Gattefossa founded the science of aromatherapy. By the 1950s massage therapists, beauticians, nurses, physiotherapists, doctors, and other health care providers began using aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy did not become popular in the United States until the 1980s. Today, many lotions, candles, and beauty products are sold as "aromatherapy." However, many of these products contain synthetic fragrances that do not have the same properties as essential oils. It is important to seek true aromatherapy treatments from a trained and qualified specialist such as a esthetician.
