Aromatic oils have been used for thousands of years to soothe, stimulate and heal mind and body. Records show that they were popular with the ancient Egyptians. Cedarwood oil, for example, was used for embalming and an urn containing traces of oil of frankincense was found in Tutankhamen’s tomb when it was opened in 1922. In about 400 BC, Hippocrates, the father of medicine, claimed, “The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and a scented massage every day”, and there are many references to the Greeks and Romans using oils therapeutically, such as myrrh to help heal wounds. But it wasn’t until the late 1920s that the term ‘aromatherapy’ was coined by French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, after he discovered the healing abilities of plant oils. Gattefosse’s work was further developed by an army surgeon called Jean Valnet, who used essential oils to treat wounded soldiers during the Second World War and, later, people with psychiatric illness. During the 1950s and 1960s the French biochemist and beautician Marguerite Maury began combining essential oil application with massage, specializing in skin conditions.
How Aromatherapy Works?
Each oil is made up of a unique combination of chemical components which have different therapeutic properties. Esters, for example, which are found in high quantities in oils such as chamomile and lavender, are excellent anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and wound-healing agents and have a soothing effect on the mind. Phenols, found in high quantities in oils such as clove and sage, have a strong antibiotic action and are mentally stimulating. The oils are extracted from plants – including flowers, trees, herbs and spices – most commonly by steam distillation. This involves putting the plant in a large vat and forcing steam through it. The heat and pressure release droplets of essential oil, which mix with the steam. When this cools, a liquid is formed, and it is from this that ‘essential’ oil is made. This is then used to treat a wide range of physical and psychological problems.
The concentrated oils are absorbed by the body in two different ways:
- Through the skin
When applied to the skin (where they are absorbed through the pores) they may be diluted in carrier oil such as grapeseed or sweet almond and massaged in; or added to a cream, ointment or warm bath. When applied via a massage, or added to a bath, the oils also give off vapors which are inhaled and, it is believed, then pass through the lungs into the surrounding blood capillaries. - By Inhalation
The vapors may also be inhaled by adding a few drops of oil to a burner or vaporizer, or to a bowl of hot water and covering head and bowl with a towel, or by sniffing a few drops on a tissue or direct from the bottle. When inhaled, the chemical molecules go straight to the olfactory receptors at the roof of the nose. These are linked to the area of the brain associated with smell. In response, the brain releases neurotransmitters that either relax or stimulate the nervous system. When essential oil molecules pass through the skin during a massage or bath, they are absorbed into the bloodstream. Here, they circulate around the body and can affect various organs, including the brain.
As well as treating physical, psychological and emotional problems, aromatherapy can also be used on a preventative level, helping balance mind, body and soul, and keep you in optimal health. Many studies have shown that feeling relaxed, positive and good about yourself boosts the immune system and protects against ill health.
Does Aromatherapy Really Work?
There is some clinical evidence that essential oils can help relieve certain conditions and mental states, including irritable bowel syndrome, bronchitis, epilepsy, depression and anxiety, and studies have found tea tree oil (a natural antibiotic) to be effective against some strains of bacteria which are resistant to orthodox antibiotics. The benefits of aromatherapy are also increasingly being recognized by the orthodox medical profession. It is now used in a number of hospitals, particularly in cancer, cardiac and maternity units, to help calm and relax patients, aid sleep, and ease pain and inflammation.
“Essential oils, particularly when combined with massage, can have a profound effect on patients’ health and wellbeing,” says massage therapist and aromatherapist Clare Maxwell-Hudson, who has worked extensively within the NHS. As well as the therapeutic properties of the oils, the simple act of touch when giving someone a massage can be very comforting and healing, and patients often remark on how cheered they feel by the aroma of the oils taking over from the clinical, antiseptic smell of the hospital.
Finding A Practitioner
As with the majority of complementary therapies, there is no government legislation regarding training and qualifications for practitioners. In other words, anyone can call themselves an aromatherapist. However, a number of self-regulating organizations have set their own training and practice standards, including disciplinary procedures and insurance requirements. Before seeing a practitioner it’s a good idea to check to which association they belong and what that entails in terms of training and code of practice, as this can vary widely.
If you yourself wanted to become aromatherapy practitioner, check out Alternative Healing Academy
What To Expect?
Your first appointment will include a detailed case history being taken, during which the practitioner will ask about your medical history, current physical and emotional state, diet and lifestyle and the reason for your visit. The therapist will also ascertain whether there are any contraindications to treating you: special care has to be taken when treating anyone who is pregnant or has a condition such as epilepsy, high blood pressure, phlebitis and thrombosis, for example. Specific oils will then be selected, according to their therapeutic properties, for treatment, although your therapist will probably also ask which oils you particularly like the smell of. Many aromatherapists believe we are intuitively attracted to the oils that are likely to have the most beneficial effect and that personal preference is very much a part of the healing process. Being involved in this way also helps us take responsibility for our own health.
Your aromatherapist will probably give you a full body massage using a blend of oils mixed specially for your needs. This will help your body absorb the oils, and also relax you and stimulate the lymphatic system, which is responsible for the removal of toxins from the body and an integral part of the immune system. There are a number of massage techniques, including traditional Swedish massage, remedial massage which works on the muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments and connective tissue at a deeper level, and manual lymphatic drainage which aims to speed up the removal of waste products in the body by stimulating the lymphatic system. All work equally well with essential oils.
Bernadette Spink is a remedial masseuse and aromatherapist who specializes in spinal pain and inflammation resulting from sports and other injuries, poor posture, psychological stress and the like. “The smell of the oils helps relax the patient mentally, soothe the nervous system and ease muscle tension so I can work more deeply with the massage,” she says. “Patients with spinal problems can be very nervous about having treatment, and I’m often amazed at how quickly they relax. Together with the massage, the oils also help to relieve pain and inflammation.”
You may be given a blend to use at home for self-massage, in the bath or in a burner. This will help to promote the healing process in between your treatments.
How The Oils Are Chosen
Due to the different chemical components that make up different oils, each one may be used to treat many different health problems. Aromatherapy works very much on a holistic level, taking into account your emotional and physical status. The symptoms you are experiencing, combined with your preferred aromas, will help your practitioner select the most appropriate oils for you from the range of oils with similar therapeutic properties. For example, if you are feeling depressed and are having difficulty sleeping, clary sage, which is an antidepressant and a sedative, may be indicated. But if you are depressed and feeling lethargic and sleepy, bergamot, which is an antidepressant and stimulant, may be a better choice. If you don’t like the smell of clary sage then jasmine, lavender and sandalwood are possible substitutes; if bergamot doesn’t appeal, patchouli or rosemary are alternative options.
Medical Aromatherapist
Medical aromatherapists are usually doctors or medical herbalists who have a detailed knowledge of anatomy and physiology and prescribe essential oils for internal use.
They administer the oils orally, rectally or vaginally. However, medical aromatherapy is not widely practised apart from in France where, for example, essential oils such as garlic, cinnamon and ginger may be prescribed as a natural alternative to antibiotics, peppermint oil for nausea, and bergamot for constipation.
Aromatherapy is good for:
- anxiety and depression
- loss of libido
- respiratory problems
- hormonal problems
- muscle aches and pains
- insomnia
- digestive disorders
- infections
- skin complaints
- irritable bowel syndrome
- circulatory problems
Aromatherapy:
AVAILABILITY: Widespread
MEDICAL EVIDENCE: Increasing
MEDICAL ACCEPTANCE: Mixed
SELF HELP: Easy
