clinical aromatherapy

What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the use of plant substances that have been extracted into essential oils, to encourage good health, equilibrium and well being. The name aromatherapy is somewhat misleading, because scent is only one aspect of aromatherapy. Essential oils can have a very positive and powerful effect on enhancing and healing the body, mind and spirit.

Aromatics have been used since the beginning of time. Modern day research has confirmed their therapeutic and medicinal qualities of being anti-bacterial, anti fungal, antiseptic, antiinflammatory, anti-viral, anti-venomous, anti-depressive, anti-neuralgic, stimulant, nervine, digestive and diuretic in nature.

Essential oils have been known to have a positive effect on all the major physical systems of the body including the circulatory, lymphatic, eliminative, reproductive, endocrine, muscular and skeletal.

The effect of essential oils on the mental and emotions is extraordinary: uplifting depression, anxiety into clarity and stress into calming. Essential oils are known to be sedative or stimulating in nature, addressing the autonomic nervous system to produce the desired effect.

Essential oils are extracted from grasses, leaves, flowers, fruits, bark, wood, bushes, needles, twigs, roots, resins and shrubs from all over the world. Each essential oil has its own unique medicinal qualities, characteristics and therapeutic effects.

Myrrh, frankincense, and benzoin are extracted from tree sap.

Orange, lemon, lime, mandarin, tangerine, grapefruit and bergamot oils are expressed from the peels of the fruit.

Eucalyptus and tea tree come from the leaves and twigs of the plant.

Lavender, jasmine, neroli and ylang ylang are from the flowers.

Geranium, basil, marjoram, oregano, thyme, chamomile and clary sage are from the leaves, stalks and flowering tops.

Pine, spruce and fir come from the needles and twigs of the plant.

Cinnamon and rosewood come from the bark of the tree.

The essential oil is stored in specialized oil or resin cells, glandular hairs, cells or scales in most plants. Essential oils are likened to the blood of the plant.

The chemical properties and therapeutic effects of the essential oils will differ depending on the soil, climate conditions and altitude of the countries where these plants grow.

The essential oil trade is now world wide ranging from Africa, Australia, China, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Java, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Spain, Turkey, United States and others.

These earthly medicinals are a very powerful healing force that can be used on a daily basis or in therapeutic preparations for acute and chronic conditions.

Copyright © 2002 Aroma Apothecary

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