Karen Sullivan - Natural Remedies: Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Home Remedies, Homeopathy, Nutrition

Understanding Aromatherapy

The word aromatherapy literally means treatment using scents, and the therapy has evolved as a branch of herbal medicine. Unlike the herbs used in herbal medicine, essential oils are not taken internally but are inhaled or applied to the skin.

Aromatherapy Treatment

Aromatherapy is gentle enough to be used by people of all ages and states of health. It is nurturing for babies and children and offers comfort and care to the elderly. Pregnant women, and even seriously ill patients can benefit from professional treatment. The therapy has been shown to be particularly effective in preventing and treating stress and anxiety-related disorders, muscular and rheumatic pains, digestive problems, menstrual irregularities, menopausal complaints, insomnia and depression.

Be Aware

Aromatherapy is compatible with conventional medicine and most other forms of holistic treatment. However, if you are taking other medication, consult your doctor first. Some oils are not compatible with homeopathic treatment. Aromatherapy is safe to use at home for minor or short-term problems providing you follow certain guidelines:

• Do not: take essential oils internally unless advised by a registered aromatherapist.
• Do not: apply them undiluted to the skin unless it is stated that it is safe to do so.
• Do not: put essential oils in the eyes.
• Do not: keep essential oils where children can reach them.

Consult a qualified practitioner for advice and treatment if you:

• Are pregnant
• Have an allergy
• Have a chronic condition such as high blood pressure or epilepsy
• Are receiving medical or psychiatric treatment
• Are taking homeopathic remedies
• Are treating an infant

Essential Oils

Essential oils are extracted from the aromatic essences of certain plants, trees, fruit, flowers, herbs and spices. They are natural, volatile oils with identifiable chemical and medicinal properties. Over 150 essential oils have been extracted, each one with its own scent and unique healing properties. Oils are sourced from plants as commonplace as parsley and as exquisite as jasmine. For optimum benefits, essential oils must be extracted from natural raw ingredients and remain as pure as possible.

Essential oils can be used alone or blended together. Oils are blended to create a more sophisticated fragrance or to enhance or change the medicinal actions of the oils. When blended well, therapists can create a synergistic blend, where the oils work in harmony and to great effect.

How Essential Oils Work

Essential oils enter the body by inhalation and absorption through the pores of the skin. Once in the body, they work in three ways: pharmacologically, physiologically and psychologically. The chemical constituents of the oils are carried in the bloodstream to all areas of the body, where they react with the bodys chemistry in a way that is similar to drugs. Certain oils also have an affinity with particular areas of the body, and their properties have balancing, sedating or stimulating effects on body systems. Once inhaled, aromatic signals are sent to the limbic system of the brain, where they exert a direct effect on the mind and emotions.

Properties of Oils

The oils and their actions are extremely complex. All the oils are antiseptic, but each one also has individual properties; for example, they may be analgesic, fungicidal, diuretic or expectorant. The collective components of each oil also work together to give it a dominant characteristic. It can be relaxing, refreshing or stimulating. Essential oils also have notable physiological effects. Certain oils have an affinity with particular areas of the body. For example, rose has an affinity with the female reproductive system, while spice oils tend to benefit the digestive system. The oil may also sedate an overactive system, or stimulate a different part of the body that is sluggish. Some oils such as lavender are known as adaptogens, meaning they do whatever the body requires of them at the time. The psychological response is triggered by the effect of the aromatic molecules on the brain.

Treating Yourself

There are many ways to use essential oils at home. Massage and bathing tend to be the most popular, and techniques that involve applying oils to the body are usually more effective than inhalation. However, there are several other techniques that are particularly beneficial for certain conditions. These include steam inhalations, creams, lotions and shampoos, gargles and mouthwashes, neat applications (only appropriate for some oils), douches and compresses.

Carrier Oils

When essential oils are used for massage, they must be mixed into a base or carrier, as they are too concentrated and powerful to be used on the skin in an undiluted form. Carrier oils also provide the lubrication needed for the massage itself.A carrier oil can be any unperfumed vegetable oil, such as soya, safflower or sunflower oils, although the oils most often used in aromatherapy are sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil. Some carrier oils have therapeutic qualities of their own for example, peach kernel, avocado and apricot kernel are rich and nourishing, and high in vitamin E. Olive oil has many healing properties, although its strong odour sometimes masks the scent of the oil itself. A good ratio of oils is three drops of essential oil for every 5 ml of carrier oil.

Flowers

Flowers are used in essential oils for treating a wide range of ailments, from anxiety to throat infections. They were used as perfumes in ancient times to prevent diseases, then believed to be spread through bad odours.Their scents are among the most soothing of all oils, and flowers such as lavender have long been used to combat stress and aid sleep.

Rose (Rosa centifolia, R. damascena)

The rose has many therapeutic properties but its oil is very expensive to produce. The oil is distilled from the blossoms of the rose, usually from two types of roses, although there are many variations. The oils vary slightly in colour and fragrance, but have similar properties and uses. Rose oil can be used in tiny quantities and still be extremely effective.

Female Ailments

A renowned aphrodisiac, sedative and a tonic with antidepressant properties, rose has an affinity with the female reproductive system, helping to regulate the menstrual cycle and alleviate premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or postnatal depression. Broken veins, ageing or wrinkled skin also benefit from treatment with the essential oil. Rose should not be used during the first three months of pregnancy and not at all if there is a history of miscarriage.

Other Uses

Rose is useful in treating headaches, earache, conjunctivitis, coughs and hay fever. In some cases it can help to encourage wound healing. Rose oil is a powerful antiseptic against viruses and bacteria; it acts as a tonic for the heart, circulation, liver, stomach and uterus, and helps to detoxify the blood and organs.

Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)

Jasmine is known as the king of essential oils, largely because it takes so many flowers to produce a small quantity of this expensive oil, and because just a little oil offers profound therapeutic benefits. Very rarely jasmine may cause an allergic reaction.

Help for Men and Women

Jasmine has a reputation as an aphrodisiac, reducing impotence in men and frigidity in women. It is also a uterine tonic which can help with period pain and disorders of the uterus; its pain-relieving properties and ability to strengthen contractions make it one of the best oils to use during childbirth; it is also believed to strengthen male sex organs and has been used for prostate problems. Its relaxing and antidepressant effect helps with postnatal depression.