What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the use of pure essential oils (EOs) extracted from different plants and their various parts, including flower petals, seeds, berries, fruit peels, buds, resins, bark, wood, grasses, twigs, stems, leaves, and roots. Essential oils are fragrant, highly concentrated essences of plants –considered to embody the “soul” or “life-force” of the plant. They may be concentrated in a specific part of a plant or present in several areas throughout the plant. A good example of the latter is the orange tree which produces different oils from its flower blossoms, leaves, twigs, and the fruit’s peel. Other essential oils such as peppermint, are extracted from the whole plant and oils like jasmine and rose are extracted strictly from the flower petals.
These potent, sometimes volatile essences, hidden in tiny glands within the plant, contain many beneficial properties and are used in aromatherapy to increase health and well-being. True aromatherapy never uses synthetic chemicals or additives like those found in most commercial fragrances or so-called “aromatherapy” air fresheners and similar products. Essential oils should not be confused with fragrance oils which are usually synthetically produced chemicals mixed together to evoke a certain scent (including the scent of certain essential oils). Often times, as is the case with many expensive perfumes, synthetic chemicals are also combined with essential oils. It is not uncommon for commercially produced perfumes and colognes to have as many as 500 different ingredients –the majority of which are synthetic.
While both essential oils and synthetic scents can have an emotional or psychological impact on humans and animals, some of the chemicals used in producing fragrances can be irritating and potentially harmful. They do not promote healing or health. If you’ve ever experienced a mild headache after smelling a commercial fragrance or scents, then you probably had an adverse reaction to some of the synthetics contained in the blend.
November 18th, 2009 at 10:41 am
I was thinking on this issue last evening and I resolved to search the web for more info. Your blog came up in my search and I’m impress what you have written on this subject field. As I’m currently expanding my search and thus cannot contribute further, however, I’ve bookmarked it and will be returning to further comment. Like I said, love this comment and will be back before long.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:29 am
I’ve been searching the World Wide Web for my research on this topic. I’m so glad what you shared brings a new attribute to the information I’m compiling. I truly appreciate the way which you look at this field of study, it provide me a unique way of looking at it now. Thanks for the share.
December 28th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Nice blog and some interesting information, I found it really by mistake looking for something else. Have bookmarked it and will be back soon.
January 5th, 2010 at 4:38 am
Aromatherapy is a complementary health modality which can be integrated into allopathic health care plans. Individuals should discuss essential oils with their physician before using aromatherapy products to complement medical conditions.