| Aromatherapy | | by Lisa Meyers | What Is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the practice of using plant oils, for psychological and physical well-being. An aroma can have a positive psychological effect on the body. Essential oils which are the pure "essence" of a plant have been found to provide both psychological and physical benefits when used correctly and safely.
Perfume oils also known as fragrance oils or "fragrances" are not the same as essential oils. Perfume oils and fragrances contain unnatural chemicals.
How Does Aromatherapy Work?
The scent of essential oils is conveyed by the olfactory nerve to areas of the brain that can influence emotions and hormonal response. When used in a bath or massage, the oils are absorbed through the skin and carried by body fluids to the main body systems; such as the nervous and muscular systems for a healing effect.
Know Your Aromatherapist & Distributors
There are many "aromatherapists" that are selling aromatherapy products that address themselves as a "Certified Aromatherapist." What you should know is that a "Certified Aromatherapist" can be "certified" by taking a course that lasts only a few hours or by earning a degree over a couple of years. The field is not regulated and so what defines a "Certified Aromatherapist" is a pretty wide definition. There are also many distributors that will sell you products that are not as "pure" as they claim, and there are many that will make some pretty wild claims of what these essential oils can do. My suggestion to you is to always be careful about who you give your trust to. Empower yourself by being an educated consumer.
I started making my own blends and my friends and family have delighted in enjoying the fruits of my creativity. I went so far as to name them according to what the mixed essential oils were intended to do; such as Love, Wisdom, Peaceful Sleep, Stress Release, and Sensual Beauty. I have to admit that my husband really liked the Sensual Beauty blend on me when I wore it as a perfume to bed one night! If you need help in making your own or would like suggestions I will be more than happy to help.
Aromatherapy Skeptics
On the other side of the spectrum, there are many skeptics of alternative therapy including aromatherapy. The attitude of western medicine practitioners have been slow to utilize those things that have not been scientifically proven.
It is true that there have not been many case studies done to demonstrate the concrete physical therapeutic effects of essential oils. It is also very difficult to measure the emotions. So when we say that an essential oil allows us to feel uplifted, well what constitutes uplifted? How do we measure that? Should we have to in order to be in favor of these wonderful essential oils? Many people will agree that having a pleasant scent that resonates with them is therapeutic. How many times have you been uplifted when you have caught the scent of spring flowers, or soothed from the warm smell of a cinnamon bun. If scents did not affect us, we wouldn't be such large consumers of deodorant, perfume, scented soaps and more.
Until we scientifically measure the emotional and physical effects of essential oils in controlled studies, there is little we can do but simply enjoy the wonderful aromas nature provides. Again, my suggestion is to be an educated consumer and intuit what feels right for you.
http://www.ascension.net/articles.asp?Category=2&Article=31
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