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Making
Scents of Aromatherapy
By Suzie Michelle Cortright
Once a year or so, I will catch a most remarkable
scent. One sniff of this warm yet energizing aroma fills me with
a fond nostalgia.
I call it "Mrs. Brower's perfume."
Mrs. Brower was my first grade teacher, and her chosen scent evokes
a flood of memories.
Contemporary healers, therapists, and marketing
gurus are grabbing hold of a phenomenon that insects and animals
instinctively understand: the power of aroma.
Scientists pursue aromachology (the study
of scent and its ability to change human behavior) for its role
in everything from medicine to marketing, migraines to memory loss,
and relaxation to revitalization.
The ancestry of aromatherapy
The ancestry of aromatherapy goes back some 4,000 years. Ancient
Egyptians used aromatic botanicals for massage, embalming, medicine,
and cosmetics.
Hippocrates himself might have been the aromatherapy's
first spokesman 2,000 years ago, as he touted the benefits of aromatic
massage for physical and emotional well-being.
In the 10th century, the Arabian world invented
the process of distillation, which allowed more efficient extraction
of essential oils.
For centuries, cultures around the globe
inhaled aromas, drank potions, and wore aromatic amulets to protect
them from harm.
In the early 1900s, France and England attempted
to re-introduce these ancient remedies and help them gain acceptance
in the more traditional medical community.
This trend continues in France today. Many
French doctors prescribe aromatic remedies, pharmacies stock essential
oils, and insurance companies pay for the treatment.
Aromatherapy defined
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to treat ailments. These
conditions range from physical conditions to emotional problems.
From headaches to herpes. Dry skin to acne. Arthritis to asthma.
The essential oils of aromatherapy are extracted
from aromatic plants and herbs--from the flower, bark, root, twig,
seed, berry, rhizome, or leaves--generally through a process of
steam distillation. These oils may be inhaled or massaged into the
skin, after combining with a vegetable, nut or seed oil.
Massage with essential oils is most commonly
used to alleviate skin ailments and muscle pain or tension. Lavender,
orange, marjoram, and chamomile are particularly effective aromas
in the use of massage.
Essential oils can be inhaled with the help
of a vaporizer, an electric diffuser or an aroma lamp.
How does it work?
Our sense of smell is more complex than you might think. Your nose
contain thousands of olfactory nerves.
While your tongue has the ability to taste
sweet, sour, salt, and bitter, it is your sense of smell that creates
all the delightful flavors you experience.
The olfactory bulb is part of your brain's
limbic system, which is not under conscious control. The limbic
system controls digestion, libido, and emotions.
So, it's not your imagination that scents
evoke emotion. Aromas actually trigger the release of chemicals
in the brain that create a feeling of well-being. Scientists say
your body's response to an aroma takes just four seconds.
Which Essential Oils are Right for You?
Essential oils are available in natural and synthetic forms.
Natural essential oils are not oils but non-oily,
non-water-soluble substances, which dissolve in alcohol
and combine with true oils. Pure, natural essential oils may be
as much as 70 times more potent than the plant source itself.
Some synthetics are derived from natural
products. The exact formulation of an essential oil is virtually
impossible to reproduce in the laboratory. Even the smallest variation
can produce significant changes in the oil's effect.
Some synthetic oils fall into the category
of artificial fragrances, entirely made of petroleum products. These
products generally do not produce the same therapeutic effects as
essential oils.
Each essential oil is comprised of different
hormones and vitamins, which combine to create different effects.
Furthermore, the effects of each essential oil can vary depending
on the botanical species and where it is grown. The effects of particular
aromas also vary among cultures and individuals,
so the results of aromatherapy are not universal. Still, aromatherapists
have developed a roster of scents with relatively predictable effects:
Aphrodisiacs
Jasmine, ylang ylang, patchouli
Energizers
lemon, basil, bergamot, sweet orange, peppermint, eucalyptus, tangerine
Hair Care
(dry hair) cedarwood
(normal hair) lavender, ylang ylang
(oily hair) rosemary, lemongrass
PMS
cedarwood, clary sage, fennel, geranium, nerali, Roman chamomile
Relaxation
lavender, myrrh, cardamom, cedarwood, German chamomile, clary sage,
frankincense
Skin
Care
(all skin types) Lavender, geranium, ylang ylang
(dry skin) rosemary, rosewood, carrot seed, sandalwood, peppermint,
rosemary
(oily skin) basil, eucalyptus, cedarwood, cypress, lemongrass, ylang
ylang, sage
Copyright 2003 Susie Cortright
Susie Michelle Cortright is the author of several books for women
and founder of the award-winning Momscape.com, a website designed
to help busy women find balance. Visit http://www.momscape.com today
and get Susie's *free* course-by-email "6 Days to Less Stress"
as well as the *free* pdf ebook, "Spa Recipes for All Seasons."
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