Aromatherapy & Essential Oils

The study and application of the effects of fragrance and botanical essences upon the body, mind and spirit. Breath is life and in that breath all things are transferred and processed within the body.

Aroma therapy should really be called Aroma Enhancement because it heightens our senses . Even the calming essences heighten the senses to the attunment of calming vibrations. The effect of aromatics have a variety of effects upon the brain. Scent stimulates brain activity and it is at that point that a transformative experience may occur. Humans have long valued the power of scent.

Frankincense was once traded with a value as precious as gold. It seems that scent is vital to the interactions that humans have with each other. Our memories , good and bad are often associated with scent. In application Aroma therapy is not limited to the fragrant passage of an aromatic through the air. Aroma therapy is actually in process every time we encounter a fragrance or place an herbal concoction on our skin.

Along with lingering scents that enter our etheric space there are chemical and physiological effects that occur when we come into contact with aromatics and botanicals. Because the skin is the largest organ of the body the application of aromatics to the skin transfer the essential qualities of plants into the body. The constituents of the plants actually begin working with the system at a cellular level.

The modern perfume industry has grown to such gigantic proportions because in the development of fragrances for the common market the basic concepts of Aroma therapy are employed. Basically people wear fragrances because it make them feel good or helps them get into a certain mood. Perfumes are usually a mixture of both synthetic and natural resources.

The wholistically pure therapeutic mind will insist that natural / synthetic blends cannot create the same therapeutic benefits as a pure essential oil. While this is true from a purist stand point and the singularly concentrated power of an essential, it would be misleading to say that the natural / synthetic blends are not somehow effective in the use of Aroma therapy. The commercial perfume industry has thrived for years on the allure of scent. The main determining factor here is that a good blend should have an amount of the natural extractions in balance to the synthetic blending.

This type of processing makes manufacturing less expensive and more stable in price for those who wish to use an everyday fragrance. Pure Essential oils are always unstable in price. A dram of essential rose oil would never be the same price as a pure grapefruit oil because it costs so much more to extract the essence of roses while the essential of grapefruit is readily available in large quantities. You may also see a fluctuation in the prices of essentials , due to the conditions of the growing season and new environmental laws set up to protect endangered botanicals . Natural / Synthetic blends are many times preferable to the more costly Essential oils if they are going to be used on the body as a perfume oil, to create a certain mood or to mimic a vibration. In the case of treating the skin or for the use of therapeutic, transformative Aromatherapy, it is preferable to use a real essential oil. In the creation of custom blended massage oils I never use synthetic ingredients. Sesame seed oil is my base of choice and I am fussy about the quality of the pure essentials that I choose. For my personal work that incorporates the etheric vibrations with a replenishment for the skin, pure and natural is my choice.

While the artful blending of a natural/synthetic fragrance certainly has it's appeal, I must say that just even a drop of real jasmine , vanilla or sandalwood is an experiential treat.

Scent plays an important role in our lives and has since ancient times. It enhances our emotions and triggers forgotten memories. We've all experienced a particular fragrance that reminded us of Grandma's kitchen, or a summer at camp. Scents can be used in healing also. Many people have experienced clearer breathing by sniffing a little eucalyptus, or camphor oil. Headaches may be eased with lavender.

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

The limbic system is the cerebral core of emotion and memory and it controls the entire endocrine system of hormones that regulate the body metabolism, stress, caloric levels, insulin balance , sexual arousal and more. The olfactory nerve receptors pick up the fragrance molecules and transport their message directly to the limbic system, bypassing the blood brain barrier.

Different effects may be accomplished by inhaling in either the right or left nostril. The olfactory nerves do not cross to the opposite side of the brain, therefore inhaling in the right nostril will have a different effect than when using the left nostril. It is important to use only essential oils, undiluted or adulterated with any other oil or substance.

Are you feeling stressed? Try a little eucalyptus, lavender or pine oil. Colds? Peppermint or rosemary might bring a little relief. Headache? Lavender is an old standby, as is rosemary or peppermint.

Aromatherapy doesn't always smell GOOD. The scent will trigger the brain to release the endorphins, chemicals, etc. to help the condition you may be trying to treat. Aromatherapy can be used by inhaling the scent, or a few drops of the essential oil may be put into hot water and drunk, or a small amount rubbed onto the skin (caution should be used as most essential oils are very strong and should be diluted prior to using directly on the skin).

SO What do you use for what??? The following list is just a sample of different conditions and the oils that may be beneficial.

Analgesic

Antibiotic

Antidepressant

Appetite

Appetite

Asthma

Boredom/Lethargy

Bronchitis

Colds

Cough

Cramps

Dizziness

Euphoriants

Fainting

Headache

Insomnia

Irritability

Memory

Migraine

Nerves

PMS

Sedatives

Spasms

Throat

Voice Loss

Wake up

Essential Oils

For example, we get orange oil from the rind of the fruit. The fragrant essence of neroli comes from the flower and Petitgrain is extracted from the leaves. Since essential oils are intense it is not recommended that you apply them straight to the skin. Many of the oils that would be used for soothing and calming can burn the skin or cause irritation rashes if applied to the skin without being stabilized in a carrier oil. Essential oils should be protected from direct exposure to heat and light. This can be accomplished by placing them in brown, blue or green glass bottles or wrapping a clear bottle with paper. I like to keep my essential oils in dark brown apothecary bottles. I wrap labels around the bottles and store them in a closed cabinet. The room in which I work while mixing my essential oils has light that can be dimmed and there are times when I prefer to mix my essentials almost in darkness.

It is said that the spirit of the plant is contained within the essential oil. In my experiences I feel that fine and pure essential oils are indeed active and they do seem to have a life all their own. To learn about the properties of essential oils for personal use , there are many wonderful books on the market for guidelines . The aromatherapist is always in a process of research and discovery. So take every opportunity offered to read, learn and experience. Blending the essential oils for use on the body or as an aromatic is a process finely balanced with practical plant knowledge, personal experience and intuitive artistic sensitivity. I have found that the best blends and choices for the use of essential oils happen when sensitivity and practicality are intricately woven together.

I believe that the creation of a good essential oil blend is something like the making of art. It is a glorious event when creativity and spirit come together to produce a tangible result. Interestingly enough, it seems that the sense for scent and vibration becomes more fine tuned as the individual becomes more attuned to the plant world. The more you work with essential oils the more clarity and understanding emerge as part of a personal developmental process. For a deeper understanding of the language of essential oils , growing some of the plant families that are of interest is an experiential process that offers unique insight. Something happens that surpasses all we can read in books when we have the opportunity to commune with the spirit of the plant in its essential form. I believe that each aromatherapist connects with specific plant identities that become the basis for their working palette. Because there are so many variable choices in the world of essential oils the choices and direction for blending will eventually become an individual signature of vibrational energies.

Natural Fragrance Oils

These oils are balanced blends of the natural essential oil, synthetic resources and a base such as propylene glycol or glycerin. The blends have a smaller percentage of the actual plant essence than the natural essential oil but they retain a quality of the vibrational effects of the essential oils. In the case of some essential fragrances the true oil is rarely produced because true oils are so minute in the plant, the process is cost prohibitive. For example Lotus is one of the most often synthesized compounds. Chemical and fragrance qualities are copied in order to produce mock essentials that carry the same fragrance and vibration. As in the case of Lotus oil, some essential oils currently being produced and marketed as Lotus oil are really derived from the water lily family.

Technically water lilies are of the Nymphaea family of plants while the true lotus is the genus Nelumbo. Each plant has different chemical properties. I believe that this new practice by suppliers to the essential oil business gives new thought to the benefits of substitutions in the role of essential plant and fragrance vibration. The practice of substitution seems to be more applicable in the area of fragrancing rather than the use of plant substances as treatments to the skin and body. Natural fragrances also differ from perfume oils or simply fragrance oils in that perfumes and general fragrances have a higher level of synthetics in their chemistry.

The Natural fragrance oil is a nice cost effective alternative to the high cost of using essential oils for a daily body fragrance. These oils are also quite concentrated in form and may be sold by the ounce, the half ounce and the quarter ounce. Many people like to add additional propylene glycol or glycerin to extend the amount of fragrance. It is similar to the dilution involved in going from a perfume to a cologne but the dilution material is not alcohol. Propylene Glycol is a thin emollient substance that is tasteless odorless colorless and nontoxic. Glycerin is a heavier slow moving thick substance that is slightly sweet to the taste. It is extremely emollient and nontoxic.

For use as only a fragrance, both carriers are considered superior to using a natural base carrier such as a vegetable oil because they stabilize the essential fragrances and increase the shelf life. When purchasing a good quality Natural Fragrance oil, expect the scent to be rather strong. If you like a certain natural fragrance oil but think that it may seem too overpowering, keep in mind that you can always adjust the intensity of the fragrance to your own personal taste. A good quality natural fragrance oil can be mixed very similarly to the way that essential oils are mixed to produce unique blends that carry specific vibrations. With a natural fragrance oil you can create a fragrance that will be your very own personal signature.