| Long before the term alternative medicine was being | | | | are great. Certainly you need to recognize and |
| used, aromatherapy was being practiced by the | | | | accept that if you want to get about 5 tsp of oil |
| Egyptians for over 5,000 years. When being used by | | | | from rose petals it will take about 220lbs of petals to |
| the Egyptians oil was being extracted from the many | | | | do it and this is why pure essential oils are so |
| aromatic plants around them through infusion and | | | | expensive. Although the effectiveness of the oils is |
| then used for their not only cosmetic and medicinal | | | | not comprised as it only takes a few drops to |
| purposes but also for embalming as well. They then | | | | generate the effect required. However there is a |
| passed the knowledge they had gained on to the | | | | cheaper alternative namely synthetic oil, however |
| Greeks and it served as the beginning of their | | | | they do not offer the person the same healing |
| research into how to use the oils and fragrance of | | | | properties as their natural counterparts. |
| some flowers for their relaxing and stimulating | | | | Essential oils work by stimulating a person's olfactory |
| effects. In fact when looking back further in history | | | | system and later on the brain or limbic system. The |
| we find that ancient man depended very much on his | | | | fragrance along with other properties and effects |
| environment for their basic needs and to survive | | | | relating to the oils will determine how a person's body |
| which led them to discover the more natural ways of | | | | system and its parts are stimulated. Whilst having a |
| preserving food and how certain conditions could be | | | | massage using these oils they are not only absorbed |
| treated using herbs and aromatics. | | | | by the body but are inhaled at the same time and |
| First of all we will look at Eastern Roots. The use of | | | | eventually when being absorbed through the skin |
| aromatics are shown in a Chinese Herbal Book by | | | | they will reach the organs and body system of the |
| Shen Nung dated 2,700 BC and which provides | | | | person being treated. The time it takes for the oils |
| specific details on over 300 plants and how they can | | | | to absorb through the skin can be from as little as 20 |
| be used. Also the ancient Chinese would burn incense | | | | minutes and take as long as 2 hours or more and |
| and wood as part of their religious beliefs and | | | | there it is wise to avoid taking a shower or bath |
| practices and even in today's modern society many | | | | straight after any massage so that the maximum |
| Chinese still observe these practices today. You will | | | | effect is received from the massage therapy. |
| also discover that the Chinese used aromatics in | | | | The time that the effect lasts on a person can vary |
| relation to the acupressure, massage and other | | | | from 3-24 hours to 2-3 days or even as long as |
| therapies that they used. | | | | week. Oils that have a short live time span in regard |
| Whilst now in modern society many people place a | | | | to their scent are Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Thyme |
| very high premium on their health and well being but | | | | and Bergamot whilst Hyssop, Lavender, Balm and |
| due to the high cost of traditional and conventional | | | | various other oils can last between 2 to 3 days. The |
| medicines available (surgery and Medicare) more and | | | | oils that take as long as a week to completely |
| more people are turning to aromatherapy and | | | | evaporate are Jasmine, Sandalwood, Ginger and |
| essential oil therapy as well as other forms of | | | | Cedar Wood. |
| alternative medicine. | | | | Many people when using aromatherapy are looking to |
| The basics of using essential oils in an aromatherapy | | | | achieve a sense of calm in their lives and these |
| bath are as follows:- | | | | people will look to using a combination of three types |
| 1. It facilitates equilibrium of both the physical, mental | | | | of oils to help with this and they will base them on |
| and spiritual health of a person through natural means. | | | | how long they last. They can be used by mixing |
| 2. In some cases it has been found that alternative | | | | them into a warm bath and will help the person to |
| treatments are considered as strong and effective | | | | become relaxed and calm, they will help to eliminate |
| as complementary treatments to regular medical | | | | the stress and depression that they are feeling as |
| practices. | | | | well as both energizing and soothing the body of any |
| 3. The main component of aromatherapy is the | | | | aches that they are feeling. Certainly by using |
| essential oils and are highly concentrated essences | | | | essential oils during a massage will help increase the |
| which are known for their healing effects. | | | | healing and calming effect that the person is feeling. |
| Essentials oils are aroma producing oils which come | | | | However any massage carried out using essential oils |
| from flowers such as the rose, from leaves such as | | | | must also include a carrier oil to help prevent irritation |
| basil, twig, bark, fruit rind and many other parts of | | | | and skin reactions on the person being treated. Such |
| plants. Although experts say that extracting the oils | | | | carrier oils that are used to help dilute the essential |
| can be quite time consuming and complex and | | | | oils are avocado oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, wheat |
| requires a large amount of patience on behalf of the | | | | germ oil, almond oil, soya oil and hazelnut oil. |
| person carrying out the work the benefits at the end | | | | |