|
| |
The Atlanta Journal
and Constitution
09-16-1999
ahhhh-romatherapy
BATHING, MASSAGES AMONG BENEFITS OF PRIZED PURE OILS, DEEMED ESSENTIAL FOR
MENTAL STIMULATION, STRESS RELIEF
BYLINE: Sabine Morrow, Staff
EDITION: Home
SECTION: Buyer's Edge
Aromatherapy is one of today's hottest trends, but it's certainly nothing new.
There's ample evidence that aromatic medicine and the art of aromatherapy were
widely used in both Egypt and India more than 4,000 years ago. Using aromatic
plants, the Egyptians created medicines, embalming preparations, massage oils,
perfumes and cosmetics.
Meanwhile in India, aromatics also were used as part of the ancient medical
practice ayurveda, which still exists today.
These days you can't march down a supermarket aisle without running into
merchandise emblazoned with the term aromatherapy.
"Aromatherapy is so popular because it works, especially in a society that's so
stressed," says Lauren Marie Thomas, certified aromatherapist and reflexologist
with the Heal Center in Sandy Springs.
Essential oils benefit you emotionally through your sense of smell and are
beneficial to your body by skin absorption. Getting the benefits of aromatherapy
can be as easy as soaking in a tub scented with a combination of essential oils
or having a total body massage with specially mixed oils.
However, not all aromatherapy products are created equal, says Candace Apple,
owner of Phoenix & Dragon New Age bookstore on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs,
which sells Earth Harmony, a locally developed line of oils.
"Aromatherapy is such a generic name today," Apple says. "A lot of products say
aromatherapy, but not all of them are made from all natural essential oils."
Those essential oils are what give aromatherapy its power. Don't confuse
aromatic with therapeutic. Just because a product smells wonderful doesn't mean
it boasts any therapeutic benefits. So, while you think a sniff of Chanel's
Coco perfume will send all your cares away, chances are it won't encourage
creativity, calm your headache or provide a mental stimulant.
Those prized pure oils don't come cheaply. The good news is that you don't need
to buy very much. A standard 9-milliliter bottle of pure oil will run from
around $5 to $15. If you buy oil blends, they're even less expensive, but you
won't get the benefits of essential oils.
You can find a variety of scented candles, but for therapeutic value, make sure
they contain essential oils, not synthetic perfumes. Expect the prices to start
at around $10 for a good but fairly small candle.
Would-be students of aromatherapy should do their homework. Thomas suggests
taking a class or assembling a small library.
"Make sure you get a reputable book on contraindications," she says. "The
chemical aspect is important. Even though they smell like perfume, the oils are
chemicals. You have to be careful because although you're talking about drops of
oil, it's easy to over-stimulate yourself."
While small amounts of some essential oils can be placed directly on your skin,
for scented massage or skin care, a few drops of the oils are mixed with a
carrier oil, which is any vegetable or nut oil such as grapeseed, hazelnut,
jojoba or almond. Don't use mineral oil or baby oil because it won't penetrate
the skin and the essentials won't get to do their work.
Along with bathing and massages, there are several popular ways to avail
yourself of the benefits of aromatherapy. You can use a diffuser, a ceramic or
metal vessel that holds a small candle and has a little well at the top. Add a
few drops of pure essential oils with a little water, then light the candle, and
when the flame heats the water, it disperses the oil's fragrance throughout the
room.
Cindi Martin of Atlanta is a newcomer to the world of
aromatherapy, but she's already a fan, especially of the diffuser.
"I don't know a lot about it," she says, "but I have a friend who's interested
in aromatherapy, and she gave me one of those little oil burners a few weeks
ago. I just picked up a few more oils because I'm starting to mix them to get a
special scent.
"I light it every night before I go to bed, and I find it very restful. I'm
hooked on jasmine oil mixed with a little lemon --- that's my latest creation."
Even if you spend a lot of time in your car, you can indulge in aromatherapy.
You can buy a car diffuser that plugs into your cigarette lighter. Simply place
a few drops of your favorite oils on a diffuser pad, slip it into the gadget and
the heat sends out scents that might keep you calm in the midst of a traffic
tie-up.
"Aromatherapy is a very subtle way to improve your health, especially stress,
without turning to pharmaceuticals," Thomas says. "A few drops of oil in a
diffuser can change your whole mood."
ahhhh-romatherapy
Aromatherapy oils are extracted from a variety of common and uncommon plants.
Here are the essential plants and what they do:
Cedarwood - Used to relieve chronic anxiety and reduce stress.
Chamomile - Used for calming headaches and as an anti-inflammatory.
Excellent for massage, facial masks, compresses and face oil.
Eucalyptus - Has a cleansing effect on the mind and body and a
deodorizing effect on the environment. Use for colds as a decongestant or in
massage for arthritic pain and muscular aches.
Geranium - Helps balance mood swings. In skin care, it promotes healing.
Lavender - Probably the most popular and versatile
essential oil. It has a soothing and calming effect and is also used as a first
aid remedy.
Marjoram - Calms the nervous system and has sedating qualities that
promote sleep. Excellent massage oil for sore muscles and tension. It blends
well with lavender.
Orange - From the outer rind of the fruit, this oil is used for slow
digestion, constipation, overeating, tension headaches and tiredness.
Patchouli - With its rich aroma, this oil can
relieve anxiety, and it's reputed to have aphrodisiac qualities that can be
enhanced by blending with ylang-ylang. It also sooths chapped skin.
Peppermint - Promotes clear thinking and stimulates the brain. Energizes
when used in massage. It aids digestion and may settle an upset stomach.
Pine - This is the oil for inspiration. It clears
the mind, and when used in massage, it acts as an aid for colds and flu.
Rosemary - Acts as a brain stimulant to heighten
sensory perception and memory recall. It's a good oil to use in massage and is
traditionally used in hair care as a rinse or scalp rub.
Sandalwood - A strengthening aroma that brings courage and relieves
irrational fears. It also has a reputation as an aphrodisiac and promotes
elasticity to cracked skin.
Ylang-ylang - The exotic aroma uplifts the spirit
and is used as a relaxant. It blends well with orange, patchouli and sandalwood.
Illustrations from "Essential Oils," Aurum Press
ON THE BOOK SHELF
"Aromatherapy," Anna Selby and Peter Albright, M.D. ($12.95, Macmillan)
"Aromatherapy for Scentual Awareness," Judith White and Karen Downes ($14, Crown
Trade Paperbacks)
"Aromatherapy for Women," Maggie Tisserand ($8.95, Healing Arts Press)
"Essential Oils," Susan Curtis ($14.95, Aurum Press)
"Flower Power," Anne McIntyre ($22.50, Henry Holt and Co.)
"The Art of Aromatherapy," Robert B. Tisserand ($10.95, Healing Arts Press)
# # #
Note: HeavenScent begs to differ
with specifically two paragraphs in this article:
“Those
prized pure oils don't come cheaply. The good news is that you don't need to buy
very much. A standard 9-milliliter bottle of pure oil will run from around $5 to
$15. If you buy oil blends, they're even less expensive, but you won't get the
benefits of essential oils.
You can find a variety of scented candles, but for therapeutic value, make sure
they contain essential oils, not synthetic perfumes. Expect the prices to start
at around $10 for a good but fairly small candle.”
Granted this is an older article, but even allowing for
inflation, the prices quoted in this article cannot be Therapeutic Grade A
Medicinal Oils! And, you cannot make the blanket statement that pre-blended
oils are less expensive, either! Blends are created from several different
oils, so they will always be higher in cost. Plus, it depends on what specific
oils make-up that blend. If Helichrysum, Rose, Sandalwood, Melissa,
Frankincense, etc., are part of that blend - - - than the cost is always going
to be way higher because these are expensive oils to adequately distill,
supplies may be endangered species, and quality following the distilling process
may be minimal compared to other oils going through the same process. When I
see essential oils for $5.00 to $15.00 - - I consider them to be worthless.
In addition, diffusing essential oils calls for room
temperature (to cooler air) to maintain all the chemical constituents within
that oil. Heating diminishes therapeutic value and is not recommended, with the
exception of adding them to foods following the cooking process. Traditionally
the essential oils sold in tea light sets commercially are highly adulterated
oils, many with known carcinogens!
** This information is provided for educational use only. It is
not provided in order to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or
injured condition of the body. Responsibility nor liability will be incurred to
any person or entity with respect to any loss, damage, or injury caused or
alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained above.
Consult your health care professional if necessary.
|
Young
Living Essential Oils