What Are Essential Oils?

[Denise Morgan (Helping Hand)]

What Are Essential Oils?

Aromatherapy is the art and science of utilizing essential oils for relieving symptoms in the physical body. These essential oils which are subtle derived from grasses, buds, peels, branches, needles, bark, leaves, seeds, berries, flowers, roots, fruits, woods, herbs, spices. Essential oils defend the plant from insects.

Aromatherapy indeed offers quick and easy solutions for a broad variety of everyday health problems. Aromatherapy would not be so attractive if the only thing it offered was a number of quick, simple, and economical solutions. Anyone who uses essential oils once will continue to explore them and will discover the diverse aspects of natural, aromatic essences – relaxation, stress reduction, immune strengthening, preventive cures, personal hygiene, and other steps on the way to healing and staying healthy. Perhaps aroma-therapy’s greatest asset lies in its ability to demonstrate the link between physical and emotional health to the user. Over time, what develops is an intuitive understanding of how natural scents, their medicinal application, and their influence on emotional well-being combine to form a healing network that far surpasses the mere counteracting of symptoms offered by conventional medicine.

While most people are familiar with the word ‘aromatherapy’, not everyone is aware of the true nature of the art. For some, aromatherapy is associated with a luxurious beauty treatment. Then there are those who believe that it is simply a relaxing massage with aromatic oils. To those drawn to the esoteric, aromatherapy is a sojourn into the realms of the deep psyche – triggered by the soul-caressing properties of nature’s ethereal essences. Other more down-to-earth people regard aromatherapy as a pleasant way to maintain health and vitality. Essential oils are some of the most concentrated natural extracts known, exerting significant antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, hormonal, and psychological effects. Essential oils have the ability to penetrate cell membranes, travel throughout the blood and tissues, and enhance electrical frequencies.

As we watch an essential oil work, it becomes clear that the powerful life force inherent in many essential oils gives them an unmatched ability to communicate and interact with cells in the human body. Only essential oils may be able to reach deep into the recesses of our brain, cross over the chemical barriers, and open the hidden channels within our minds and bodies, allowing us to reach our potential.

Aromatherapy is a pleasant therapy, but the essential oils used have medicinal applications. Some of them, for instance, are powerful anti-microbial agents, rivalling antibiotic drugs in their effectiveness. Others have psychotherapeutic applications, relieving stresses such as depression, insomnia, and pre-menstrual syndrome.

Aromatherapy is indeed all these things, and much more besides. After using them, there is no doubt that essential oils were ordained as the medicine for mankind and will be held as the medicine of our future: the missing link of modern medicine, where allopathic and holistic medicine join together for the leap into the 21st century.

Aromatherapy is the art and science of utilizing essential oils for relieving symptoms in the physical body. Essential oils defend the plant from insects.

Aromatherapy is the art and science of using oils extracted from aromatic plants to enhance health. When you choose essential oils it is vital to learn the botanical species and the plant part that each essential oil is extracted from. Also it is important to discover which country the essential oil is native to.

According to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinese manuscripts, priests and physicians were using essential oils thousands of years before Christ to heal the sick. Aromatherapy has been around and has been practiced in one form or another since the beginning of civilization. They are the oldest form of remedies and cosmetics known to man and were considered more valuable than gold. There are 188 references to oils in the Bible. Science is only now beginning to investigate the incredible healing properties of essential oils.

Supports a Healthy Immune System
Repel Virus
Repel Bacteria and other microbes
Mood Elevating
Antiseptic
Oxygenating
High in Antioxidants

[Denise Morgan (Helping Hand)]

Aromatherapy is by no means a new discovery – in fact, it has been practiced all over the world for centuries.

Aromatherapy promotes health of body, peacefulness of mind, helps the negative emotions to rest and by working in conjunction with the olfactory system, helps a person get in touch with their true selves.

Treatment is harmless, provided that the oils are sensibly and correctly used. Diagnosis is not advisable. Essential oils are gaining acceptance as a leading choice in home care.

Many chiropractors value essential oils with amazing results in chiropractic treatments. Scents that activate the brain’s emotional centre and redefining psychology. Practitioners of traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine have valued essential oils for thousands of years. More and more medical doctors are valuing the clinical benefits of essential oils. Certified organic essential oils improve and enhance the benefits of massage.

The composition of essential oils depends upon many factors, such as growing conditions, climate, methods of harvesting, and distillation.

Essential oils offer an inexhaustible reservoir of diversity and are the best way to provide modern man with a pleasant, safe, effective, and accessible means to utilize the pharmacologically active ingredients found in plants.
In European countries, Aromatherapy is a common part of everyday life and is used to treat all types of conditions. It is even covered by medical insurance in France. Ask a European about Aromatherapy and "bubble bath" will not be part of the answer.

Apart from the physical benefits, essential oils can have subtle effects on the mind and emotions. Essential oils taken from plants are described as being their "life force" they are essential to the plants' biological process, as well as being the substance that gives them their scent. These substances contain [natural] hormones, antibiotics, vitamins, and antiseptics. Essential oils are far more alive and potent than dried herbs." Synthetic oils, even if chemically similar will lack the natural elements and that vital life force that make essential oils so valuable therapeutically. Essential oils are far more alive and potent than dried herbs." Synthetic oils, even if chemically similar will lack the natural elements and that vital life force that make essential oils so valuable therapeutically.

A very popular way of using smell/aromatherapy is with essential oils either in a simmering pot. Add to hot water in a glass bowl, hot enough that you can touch but not burn your skin. This way you are not destroying the properties of the essential oils. As essential oils are volatile, which in this aspect means they are as light as air and carry through the air. Specially formulated scented oils can be worn on the skin; some oils can also be applied to a piece of jewelry.

The history of perfumes goes back centuries. The Bible documents the use of balms, ointments, and scented oils. Scent was perceived differently by different cultures. For the Ancient Egyptians, it was part of the burial ritual; Egyptians were buried with their most valuable possessions, including jewelry, spiritual writings and their favorite scented perfume. The Greeks believed it could be used for religious ceremonies; the Romans used perfumes to entice. For centuries, people have worn perfumed water or oils to seduce, entice or to set a mood. Men & women still do this to this day. Aromatherapy is not only pleasant to smell but also can be used to enhance passion, creativity, calm, etc. Many people use aromatherapy to help them sleep or even to stimulate the creative juices such as singers, artist & writers. Various New Age methods suggest using aromatherapy for restless or over active children or babies.

Aromatherapy is beneficial for the following.
Relaxation: If you need to unwind and relax you could add the scent to your bath or diffuse it in your in your home or work area using a diffuser or benefit from it in the form of a massage. An essential oil bath or massage will leave you grounded and relaxed.
Meditation: A couple of drops of the scented oil massaged on your temples and forehead lobes will help you meditate and replenish your energy.
Insomnia: An essential oil bath just before going to bed can help you get the sleep that is necessary. Diffusing it in the bedroom can help you sleep well; however, essential oils that are too strong should not be diffused in a completely walled area.

[Denise Morgan (Helping Hand)]

Rejuvenation: An Aromatherapy massage or bath can recharge you after a long, tiring day. It can renew and nourish your skin, your body and your soul.
Happiness: A specific essential oil brings cheer and happiness.
Suggested ways to use Aromatherapy Blends:
. Blend into a carrier oil and use for massage.
. Drop into a warm bath
. Add to your diffuser
. On a tissue to carry with you throughout your day.

Respect all essential oils as you would over the counter medications. Keep them out of the reach of children.