What Exactly is Aromatherapy?

I'm sure by now (if not through our website then elsewhere) you have probably heard of “Aromatherapy.” Now-a-days you can't walk into a supermarket or drug store without seeing the word Aromatherapy plastered on some bath product, face cream, candle or air freshener. But what is Aromatherapy? Is it really a new phenomenon? Actually, Aromatherapy has been around since roughly 4000 B.C., when ointments were made of vegetable oils and fragrant plants were harvested to be used in steam baths or massaged on the body for therapeutic benefits. Around 1700 B.C. trade routes were established for the sole purpose of transporting aromatic spices, incense and perfumes.

The actual word, “Aromatherapy,” was not used until 1928 when a French chemist, Maurice Gattefosse coined the term following an accident. Gattefosse, who was working in his lab, experienced severe burns on both hands after an explosion. He immediately massaged pure lavender oil on his hands for relief. He noticed how his hands healed quickly and with very little scarring and thus began researching the therapeutic benefits of essential oils in plants. He is known as the “father of Aromatherapy.”

But what is Aromatherapy, and why does it work? Aromatherapy, quite simply means natural healing using the essential oils of fragrant plants to achieve mental, emotional and physical well-being. Only the pure essential oils of plants can be used to achieve the therapeutic benefits of true Aromatherapy. The essential oil is the purest part of a plant, known to Aromatherapists as the “life force” of the plant. Aromatherapy can very simply be thought of as “nature's first medicine.” Before we had pills, capsules and injections, man used nature's medicines via Aromatherapy.

It works by way of the olfactory system. The essential oils are minute particles that enter the nose when either released into the air or massaged onto the body. Sensory cells in the mucous membrane of the nose are stimulated by the presence of the tiny chemicals found in essential oils and are absorbed into the olfactory bulb in the brain. From the olfactory bulb, the organic chemicals are taken to the limbic system, also known as our “pleasure center,” or the system which affects mood, memory and emotion. The limbic system is also connected to the hypothalamus which controls hormones and the pituitary gland.

 Therefore, it is logical to assume that smell can and does elicit different responses including anger, comfort, anxiety, sensuality, fear, depression, joy, tension, vitality and so on.

So, you might be wondering about everything labeled “Aromatherapy.” Why is there such a price variation? For example, let's take the essential oil “roman chamomile.” In one store, you may see a small 10ml bottle labeled “pure essential oil,” with a price of $30.00. Then you go to the next store and see a large bottle of bath oil with “pure roman chamomile” on the label, and it sells for $2.99. It is important to know for therapeutic reasons and for economic reasons, which product to buy. Only “unadulterated, pure essential oils” should ever be used for therapeutic reasons. Each essential oil, and there are literally hundreds, have special attributes. Just as you might take one medication for a headache and another for heartburn, you should use essential oils based on their effects. Many times, essential oils are placed in large bottles of creams and oils, to be used more as a fragrance than for their therapeutic properties.

Certified Aromatherapists will tell you, if the oil is diluted or mixed with anything other than pure ingredients such as water or other natural oils then it is not therapeutic and the price should be adjusted accordingly. Many products use alcohol, preservatives and other fillers. These adjuncts dilute and sometimes erase the therapeutic benefits of pure essential oils. The essential oil of a plant is the pure essence of that plant, and it often times takes many, many pounds of a single plant to yield just a few ounces and that is why some essential oils seem so very expensive. The bottle of bath oil, selling for $2.99, may state on the label “pure roman chamomile,” but chances are there are probably just a few drops in the entire bottle and just enough to give off a roman chamomile fragrance.

In closing, the world of Aromatherapy can be fun, exciting and very beneficial in reducing stress and a variety of other ailments. Of course, serious and persistent symptoms should always be investigated with one's doctor before self-treating with any essential oil. Essential oils are not the panacea for all ills -- they work primarily to help promote rest, relaxation, feelings of calm and tranquility. Lavender is known for it's calming benefits and it is used to promote sleep. Lavender can be blended with roman chamomile to be used safely with children to help promote sleep and pleasant dreams (such as in our Sleep Baby™ Blend). Essential oils are dispersed using a small fan diffuser, an oil burner, a spray atomizer, dropped in the bath-tub or shower, or used in massage oils and creams.

Below is an effective recipe for repelling insects:

Insect Repellent Recipe
Equal amounts of the following essential oils may be blended together for an effective insect repellent during the summer months: cajeput, lavender, patchouli, and lemongrass. Mix in two fluid ounces of water and pour into a small mister and spray directly on the body avoiding the face and eyes.