Introducing Aromatherapy | The Practice
Fresh air in a lush garden, a pleasant scented candle melting, enchanting incense sticks burning, an invigorating whiff of perfume passing all of a sudden, and even a delicious cup of herbal drink…we enjoy aromatherapy daily unintentionally, but a purposeful application of this practice could enrich our quality of life.
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Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils, the concentrated volatile liquid extracted from the “leaves, flowers, twigs, fruit, and roots[1]” of a plant and carrying its characteristic aroma and flavor, for the physical and psychological wellbeing.
As an essential oil is highly concentrated, it is first diluted in carrier oils, pure vegetable oils like sweet almond, grapeseed or jojoba, to make it safe to apply to the skin.
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There are some safety guidelines to follow when using essential oils:
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Don’t swallow essential oils, and if this happens, seek medical advice immediately.
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Don’t use an essential oil in its raw form; dilution in a carrier oil before application to the skin is a must.
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Avoid contact with eyes. Keep your eyes closed when inhaling an essential oil.
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Citrus oils are phototoxic. Don’t apply them before exposure to direct sunlight or ultraviolet light.
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There are specific instructions for using essential oils with babies and infants up to 3 years and children till the age of 10 regarding the kinds of oils and their dilution.
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If you have any medical condition, for example hypertension, pregnancy, sensitive skin, or other, consult a specialist and don’t experiment with essential oils on your own.
As a beginner, experimenting with aromatherapy requires using reference books and contacting experts to help you with the practice. If you intend to keep your own assortment of essential oils, it is important to follow the instructions for storage, such as preserving the oils in dark glass bottles with stopper necks with a label on each bottle mentioning the production and expiry dates. Again, books will provide you with these instructions.
As for the mode of usage, you can benefit from aromatherapy actively or passively; actively involves direct contact with the essential oils where it is absorbed in your body by means of massage, inhalation, baths, creams, lotions and compresses, some of which requires professional help, a great deal of care, and in some medical cases, prolonged sessions of therapy. Then there is the passive form of aromatherapy implemented in vaporizers, sprayers and candles; these act more on psychological status and are instantly effective.
In its simplest form, aromatherapy is intended to relieve stress, treat insomnia, quiet anger, calm agitation, and to generally uplift mood. The essential oils are mixed together in proportion according to the desired effect. For instance, Lavender is of the most famous essential oils for its capability to induce sleep. It is also helpful in pain relief in addition to a longer list of medical functions. To fight depression and uplift mood, jasmine, orange, rose, rosewood, and ylang ylang are good choices. For anxiety, bergamot, cedarwood, frankincense, and lavender again work perfectly.
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As aromatherapy is a widely spread practice, countless websites and books have been compiled to provide detailed guidance on this knowledge and lists of essential oil blends to relieve medical and psychological conditions.
Next time, as you pass by a garden, take a deep breath and fill your lungs with the aromatic air; a sense of well-being will envelope you; you have just a free session of aromatherapy offered to you by mother nature.
[1] Secrets of Aromatherapy, Jennie Harding, p.14
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