Though aromatherapy has become a household term, it is not Glade Bathroom Freshener, as TV would lead you to believe. Aromatherapy is the science of using pure, unadulterated botanical oils to affect the physiology and the emotions. Pure essential oils can balance emotions, clarify the mind, energize the body and connect us to well-being. When properly used, aromatherapy profoundly promotes health.

A brief history

Although the term "aromatherapy" is relatively new, the use of essential oils can be traced back 6,000 years to ceremonies in the ancient Vedic and Egyptian traditions. In Egypt plant extracts were used in ointments, cosmetics, healing balms and religious practices. Aromatic oils were widely used in Greece, Mesopotamia, and Rome. Hippocrates hailed, "The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and massage everyday." For centuries, oils continued to be used for their healing and balancing properties until the advent of modern science. Almost
overnight natural remedies were ignored and forgotten, aroma oils were used only in the fragrance industry, and synthetics ruled supreme.

In 1928, French chemist Rene Gattefosse stumbled upon the healing property of lavender while researching botanical essences. He knocked over a bunsen burner, badly burned his hand, and immediately applied lavender oil. He was amazed at how it relieved the pain and healed his hand with no scarring. This was the advent of modern aromatherapy as we know it.

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are tiny droplets that form in a sac or gland on the surface of a flower, leaf, bark, stem, or root, which give the plant its signature fragrance. It has been said that the essential oil of a plant is its very essence or spirit, a miraculous gift from Mother Nature. Christoph Streicher, local founder of Amrita Aromatherapy, explains, "When you smell a true essential oil, you are inhaling the consciousness of the plant. It is vital that these precious and tender essences are produced with utmost care." An essential oil is most commonly extracted using a steam distillation method that produces a highly fragrant and volatile substance, 75-100 times more potent than the plant itself. For example, it takes approximately 4,000 pounds of handpicked rose petals to make one pound of Bulgarian Rose Oil, making it one of the most expensive aroma oils on the market today.

Choosing the real thing

It is absolutely essential to know the quality of aroma oil that you are buying. According to master aromatherapist and author Valerie Cooksley, “It is futile to purchase a synthetic or adulterated fragrance no matter how charming because reconstituted or chemical copies simply don't work for therapeutic purposes." If an oil is labeled "perfume essential oil" or "fragrance essential oil," then it is a synthetic compound. If all the oils in a line of aromas are priced identically, then the oils have been diluted with synthetic oils or vegetable oils to make them more cost effective. Cooksley reminds us that "Only nature can produce whole essential oils." To find essential oils that are 100% pure and natural, look for organic or wildcrafted oils from a reputable producer or distributor, one that offers on-site testing to ensure purity. Gas Chromatography is a highly technical process that takes a fingerprint of an essential oil. It is then necessary to have a trained chemist on hand to interpret the fingerprint. Is it genuine or adulterated in some manner? If it is authentic, are the chemical constituents present in the proper proportions necessary for a truly exceptional oil? The fact is the higher the quality, the greater the therapeutic value. After much research into different brands, we found three brands that fulfilled Thymely’s high ideals of purity, integrity and effectiveness. These are Amrita, Elizabeth Van Buren, and Oshadhi. Yet one of these, offers the highest quality at a significantly lower cost. Why? Because it is located not on either coast but in the Midwest, where production costs are less. Amrita Aromatherapy, right here in Fairfield, is an exceptional aromatherapy provider that doesn’t compromise its standards. We are honored to support this local resource, and simultaneously enrich the local economy.

How do they work?

Aromatherapy uses the sense of smell, and simply by smelling an oil an olfactory response is elicited. Smell is the least understood of the five senses, and yet it is perhaps the most powerful. The olfactory membrane is the only place in the human body where the central nervous system is exposed to the outside environment. Upon smelling an aroma, an impulse travels along the olfactory nerve directly to the limbic part of the brain. The limbic brain is responsible for evoking memory, emotions, hunger response and sexual arousal. Before we consciously know that we are in contact with an aroma, our subconscious mind has already received it and reacted to it. On the level of the emotions, essential oils can be uplifting, soothing, stimulating, refreshing, and calming. An article in the British medical journal Lancet reported that patients suffering from insomnia fell asleep more quickly when exposed to lavender aroma. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has also experimented with aromatherapy on patients undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Those patients who complained of claustrophobia, while spending an hour in the magnetic capsule, felt less anxiety and discomfort when the aroma of vanilla was introduced. Aromatherapy is just as effective in healing the body. The molecular structure of an essential oil is tiny, which allows it to pass through the skin and directly into the bloodstream where it can affect the organs and other body systems. For instance, massage oil with Geranium Rose balances hormones and relieves fluid retention, in addition to relieving anxiety, depression and stress. Rosemary stimulates circulation particularly in those who have chronically cold hands and feet, and peppermint aids in digestion.

Aroma oils put to use

Aroma oils can be diffused using various diffusers, ranging from nebulizing diffusers to ceramic pots, vaporizers, and plug-in models like aroma balls and dashboard models. Our grandmothers were economical in their choices; they would scent a handkerchief and carry it throughout the day, or dowse a pillowcase with lavender at night.

Try bathing with 10-12 drops of your favorite oil in warm bath water and relax. Bathing in complete darkness is particularly effective in relieving stress and sensory overload. Essential oils are strong, so start with less and increase if desired. Or pamper yourself with a loving massage; you deserve it! Add essential oils to a mild shampoo or conditioner for healthy, silky hair. Apply a compress to some tender spot, 5 drops in warm water, dip a washcloth, wring, and apply. Essential oils are quite safe to diffuse; however, there are a few that are toxic, such as camphor, white birch, hyssop and sassafras, to name a few. Pregnant women should avoid certain oils such as sage, rosemary, myrrh, juniper, cypress and clary sage. Ingesting essential oils is strongly discouraged as they may be damaging to the digestive tract. And all oils, except lavender and tea tree, should be diluted in a carrier oil like almond, jojoba or grapeseed when applying topically. Try some of the following blends or make up your own. Blend together those oils that have similar therapeutic properties. But always choose aromas to which you are attracted.

Hay Fever -

Chamomile 2 drops
Lemon 2 drops
Lavender 1 drop
Use in a bath or just a drop or two of the blend on a tissue and inhale.

Memory Blend
-Basil 4 drops
Grapefruit 5 drops
Lavender 3 drops
Rosemary 2 drops
Put a few drops in a spray bottle and mist your workspace throughout the day. Or dilute with a carrier oil and dab on your temples.

Lover's Blend
-Rose 2 drops
Sandalwood 5 drops
Ylang Ylang 1 drop
Diffuse in a bedroom or add to a massage oil and have fun!

Stress Blend -
Neroli 3 drops
Bergamot 8 drops
Rose Geranium 3 drops
Diffuse or just put a few drops on a tissue.
Inhale as often as needed.

Learn more about essential oils

Three favorite books stand out from the rest, though there are many good references to choose from. The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, by Valerie Ann Worwood, is a vast collection of more than 600 formulas. The author is a naturopath and has interesting insights to share. This is the book I first refer to when I have a question. The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless is another excellent reference that contains exceptional profiles of the essential oils. This book is often used as a recommended text for certification courses. Last but certainly not least, Gabriel Mojay's Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit: Restoring Emotional and Mental Balance with Essential Oils is fabulous. Mojay is a pioneer, the first to demonstrate the profound spiritual and psychological benefits of aromatherapy. Beautifully illustrated, this reference examines in detail the use of oils for anxiety and depression. Highly recommended.