Senses

What is aromatherapy?

Simply put, aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils to improve one’s health. It is also field of healthcare practiced by professional aromatherapists. This branch of medicine is well established in Europe, and is gaining recognition in North America.

Plant based therapy and the use of essential oil has been practiced by people around the world for thousands of years. However, the actual word “aromatherapy” was coined in 1928 by a French chemist when he popularized the use of lavender essential oil to heal burns and reduce scarring.

The most important aromatherapy concept to understand is that treatment is centered on the administration of pure essential oils. Synthetically fragrance products and/or fragrance oils have no place in aromatherapy because they have no therapeutic value.

Another key concept to understand is aromatherapy means more than “smelling something to feel good.” Aromatherapists are interested in the medicinal properties of the plant oils, not just the scent.

How does aromatherapy work?

To practice aromatherapy essential oils need to enter the bloodstream, lymph fluids and interstitial fluids (a liquid surrounding all body cells).

There are two routes into the body:

Inhalation
Oils are breathed in through the lungs via normal respiration or steam vaporization.

Absorbtion
Oils are absorbed by the skin via massaging, bathing, compress, spot treatment, mouth rinse, etc.

Once in the bloodstream and body fluids, the essences have pharmacological effects, acting as immunostimulants and bio-catalysts. After triggering their healing benefits, the aromatic molecules are rapidly excreted from the body via the skin, sweat, urine, feces, or exhalation.