Aromatherapy
is an excellent natural treatment that uses concentrated, herbal energies
in essential oil (pure extracts from plants) in association with massage,
friction, inhalation, compresses and baths to heal all kinds of health
problems. It rejuvenates the body and uplifts the mind and hence solves
problems such as stress, tension, headaches, migraine, acne, hair
fall, dandruff, diabetes, arthritis and many more.
The term
"Aromatherapy" was coined by a cosmetic chemist, Rene-Maurice
Gattefosse, who dedicated his life to research the remarkable healing
properties of nature's essential oils. On burning his hand in the
lab, Gattefosse thrust it into the nearest cold liquid on his work
desk and instantly discovered that the pain reduced. Plus there was
no inflammation or scarring whatsoever. He later realised that the
liquid was extracted lavender oil!
This
discovery got Gattefosse interested, and he dug into further research
on the essential oils to discover that they had excellent therapeutic
properties.
Hippocrates,
the father of medicine, said that the way to health is to have an
aromatic bath and scented massage every day. As far back as the fourth
century B.C., aromatic oils were used by Egyptians, Romans, Indians,
Chinese, Arabs and Babylonians therapeutically.
What
are essential oils?
Most of us are already familiar with essential oil in our everyday
life, probably without realising it. Each time we add spice to a recipe,
put mint chutney on idlis and pakoras or crush a clove of garlic for
a salad dressing, we are using essential oils. Many sweets are also
flavoured with essential oils or their derivatives.
Essential
oils are the most potent form of a plant's aromatic and fragrant materials.
They are obtained, usually by distillation or expression, from the
flowers, leaves, stems, bark or wood of aromatic plants and trees.
There are 300 oils in general use today that have therapeutic properties
stretching right from antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-toxic,
anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant properties to stimulating,
seductive, digestive and deodorising properties.
Individual essential oils may contain many hundreds of chemical components,
which all react together in a way impossible to reproduce synthetically.
How
essential oils work with body and mind
Aromatherapy is one of the only holistic medicines that take into
account the difference in health problems caused due to stress and
those that are genuine ailments.
