Aromatherapy for Health & Wellness: An Overview

Aromatic herbs have been used since ancient times to cleanse and heal both the body and the mind. Toward the end of the 19th century, scientific experiments into the anti-bacterial properties of plants began to clarify the chemical composition and potential healing powers of essential oil molecules.

Observations of the effectiveness of essential oils are gradually being backed by studies taking place in parts of central Europe, USA, Australia and the UK. All essential oils appear to be antiseptic and bactericidal to some degree, and some may also be helpful in the treatment of viral infections, which are resistant to all known orthodox medicines. All essential oils help to balance the emotions to some degree, and individually, they may be noted for their stimulating, uplifting, relaxing or euphoric properties. ¹

How Essential Oils Work in the Body

Essential oils have a fine molecular structure that can easily penetrate the outer layers of the skin, pores and the olfactory system carrying vital information to the blood, organs, tissue, memory, and emotional centers of the body.

Once within your system, essential oils work to re-establish harmony and revitalize those systems or organs that are malfunctioning or out of balance. Their effects are many and varied but they are well known primarily for their antiseptic properties, their role in stimulating healthy cell renewal, and their ability to restore balance and harmony to both body and mind -- stress relief in particular.

Essential oils will last between 12 and 24 hours in the body depending on viscosity (i.e. thickness), the dilution that was employed, how they were applied, skin type, and which body part they were applied to. After entering the bloodstream, essential oils circulate to the tissues and organs and eventually pass through the lymphatic system where they are eliminated through sweat and normal bodily functions.

The skin, lungs, liver, kidneys, intestines and lymph are the primary ways by which the human body detoxifies itself. All of these organs can benefit to a certain extent from the cleansing and energizing properties of essential oils. On an emotional level, essential oils can help to bring to the surface suppressed feelings of anger, jealousy, fear, or resentment --toxic emotions which may eventually manifest themselves as physical health problems.

Aromatherapy is an ideal tool for self-care because essential oils are both effective and pleasurable to use. Taking a hot, aromatherapy bath, receiving an aromatherapy massage, or simply sniffing essential oils can help boost your immune system, improving your health and overall well-being.

Of course, no amount of aromatherapy can compensate for a poor diet or bad lifestyle habits. When confronted with toxic overload from over-consumption of substances like sugar, salt, alcohol, and caffeine, or poor circulation due to inactivity, essential oils will concentrate their energies on relieving symptoms. To benefit from them over the long term, they need to be combined with a relaxed and balanced lifestyle, eating a wholesome, nutritious diet, and taking positive measures to manage anger and stress.

A Little Goes a Long Way

In aromatherapy it 's not the quantity but the quality that brings results. Just a few drops used in a carrier (i.e. vegetal oil, cream, lotion, balm or bath salts) can bring remarkable results. Sometimes just inhaling the aroma directly from the bottle is sufficient.

When used as indicated, in proper amounts, essential oils have no side effects. Dosage however, is important. Too much can have the opposite effect of what was intended. For example, Chamomile in very small quantities can be soothing to the digestive system and calming in general, but in larger quantities it can make you nauseous or induce vomiting. A good case example of why less is more.

¹ Source: Aromatherapy for Common Ailments. Shirley Price. Simon & Schuster. 1991