A Review of Aromatherapy Healing

Posted by Jane Hemphill on August 5th, 2008 at 10:12pm

Fragrances possess a unique ability to evoke emotions, memories, and visions. Since the dawn of time spiritual traditions as diverse as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Shinto, and Buddhism have used fragrances to enhance the experience of the Divine. Smells can trigger vivid memories, involving sights, sounds and emotional impressions of events in our distant past. A whiff of oatmeal cookies evokes in-depth childhood memories of my grandmother baking her culinary morsels of affection in a wood stove in her Northern Minnesota kitchen. The “smell” receptors in your nose communicate with two structures that are embedded deep in your brain and serve as storehouses for emotions and memories. These structures are called the amygdala and hippocampus.

The limbic system, sometimes referred to as our “old” brain, is responsible for our memories and emotions. The brain, in turn, releases certain neurochemicals, causing positive changes throughout the body. In a study conducted at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York, patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reported 63 percent less claustrophobic after getting exposed to the aroma of vanilla. There was no change in their heart rate. Many of the Holistic Healing Traditions mentioned herein have been the mode of healing and leading healthy lives since time immemorial and are thus typically time-tested. But, these techniques and the corresponding herbs, supplements etc.

Egyptians invented a rudimentary distillation machine that allowed for the crude extraction of cedarwood oil. Hippocrates, commonly called the ‘father of medicine’ practiced fumigations for both aromatic and medicinal benefits. Aromatherapy was practised by the Egyptians over 5,000 years ago. Since then it has been used in the treatment of physical, emotional and mental imbalances. However, it was the Greeks who furthered the knowledge of the Egyptians for medicinal use. They created the first distillation process.

These scents are usually mixed with base oils and used for massaging the body and scalp. They are also used in the bath so that the body cells can directly perceive them. Many ‘waters’ are essential oils added to water or alcohol and are not as good as true hydrosols. Essential oils, phytoncides and other natural VOCs work in different ways. At the scent level they activate the limbic system and emotional centers of the brain .

Lavender essential oil is known for a number of uses. As essential oils are known as great massage oils when diluted with other substances like carrier oils, Lavender oil is also a great massage oils for it helps relieve the body from nerve pain, muscle tensions and other stress-related strains. From the plants ancient cultures used for healing come essential oils to be used tor physical and psychological treatment by aromatherapy. Excellent for relaxing, and a good complementary headache/migraine treatment for some.

For an aromatherapy bath add 6-10 drops essential oil to the tub and mix well before getting in. Use the same dilution in a bowl of steaming hot water for a steam inhalation. For bathing, the usual mix is 10 to 30 drops of essential oil in 20 teaspoons of an unscented white lotion. Simply add this mix to the bathwater. Enter essential oils; these powerful plant derived medicines have been used for many years for treating skin conditions, enhancing beauty and promoting wellness. Oils have been found particularly useful for regenerating skin that has suffered from accidents or surgery, or has their remaining signs in the form of keloid, acne, or other scars.

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