Aromatherapy

If you think that the hands are the only ones that can soothe and heal the body and mind, you’ve got to think again.  Aside from our touching tools, our noses allow the mind and body to experience yet another relaxing treat— Aromatherapy!  This spa treatment is among those that quickly gained popularity because of its effectiveness and ease in administering.  How many times have you seen a flick that showed a girl, relaxing in her tub, surrounded by candles and rose petals?  Watching it makes you sigh and wish that it were you who gets pampered that way.  Aromatherapy is almost everywhere, too.   You’ve got scented candles, various oil burners and aromatic oils sitting on most store shelves, thus making aromatherapy very accessible.

Aromatherapy dates back to 3,500 BC.  It was identified with magic, religion, healing and mysticism.  The scientific development only happened around early 1900’s when French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé accidentally discovered the therapeutic effects of lavender oil in his perfume lab.

Two theories exist to support the healing wonders of aromatherapy.  Theorists claim that the aroma of the oils influence the brain quickly since it passes through the nose, which is its continuum.  The part of the brain that is greatly affected, they say, is the limbic system— our mind’s seat of emotions.  The other theory is that these oils have direct pharmacologic effects.  Essential oils are rubbed into the skin or given orally to achieve its medical effects.

One essential oil contains a good number of natural chemicals.  Thus, a certain oil has a couple of uses.  This nature makes these oils efficient healing agents because it targets more than one problem that a person might be complaining of.

Table of Essential Oils and its Uses

Problem	Essential Oil Used
Colds and Congestion	Thyme, Sweet Eucalyptus, Fir, Cinnamon, Niauli
Muscle Soreness & Fatigue	Marjoram, Cypress, Red Thyme, Rosemary, Eucalyptus
Muscle tone problems	Black Pepper, Basil, Cypress, Grapefruit, Rosemary, Lime
Scars and Stretchmarks	Orange Blossom, Mandarin, Sandalwood, Frankincense
Dry to Normal Skin	German Chamomile, Hyssop, Callendula, Lavender, Rose
Oily to Normal Skin	Juniper, Cypress, Jasmine, Palma Rose, Pettigraine, Lemon, Orange
Mental Stress	Sandalwood, Grapefruit, Lavender, Patchouli, Bergamot, Germanium
Emotional Stress	Bergamot, Sandalwood, Rose, Germanium, Vetiver
Acne	Lavender, Tea Treee, Mints, Rose Germanium, Grapefruit, German Chamomile
Ageing	Clary-sage, Neroli , Rose, Lemon, Rosemary, Frankincense
Cellulites	Grapefruit, Juniper, Fennel, Cypress, Thyme, Lemon, Sage, Basil