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Learn the Fragrant Art of Aromatherapy

BY KATHI KEVILLE

The scent of a rose, a freshly baked cinnamon roll, mint tea brewing or an orange as its peeled all of these are distinctively delightful and all come to us thanks to herbs. When youstroll through an herb garden or open a bottle of herbal lotion or shampoo, the fragrance is often what most captures your attention and imagination.

Our sense of smell is powerful, yet underappreciated. Rudyard Kipling wrote, Smells are surer than sounds and sights to make the heartstrings c rack. However, most of us arent veryattuned to how important our sense of smell is studies have shown that most people consider smell to be the least valuable of the five senses.

Researchers now are finding that essential oils have measurable effects on both the body and the emotions. Use the suggestions in this article to help you get reacquainted with yourall-important sense of smell.

Basil taketh away sorrowfulness, which cometh of m elancholy, and makes a man me rry and glad.

John Gerard

LEARN THE ESSENTIAL FACTS

Essential oils are the source of herbal aromas. Formed in all fragrant plants, essential oils are as medicinal as the herbs that produce them. These oils provide most of the taste in theherbs and spices used to flavor food. And they add their scent, as well as their healing properties, to cosmetics and body-care products. Considering all they offer, its no wonder thatessential oils are the basis of the healing art known as aromatherapy.

Each type of essential oil has a unique chemistry that dictates its medicinal properties. Some of the simplest aromatherapy remedies treat common complaints, such as indigestion,swelling and infection. For example, adding eucalyptus to a steaming pot of water and inhaling the steam helps combat a bacterial or viral sinus infection. Peppermint in a liniment warmsmuscles and eases away pain. The essential oils of many herbs, such as peppermint and chamomile, are used to relieve indigestion. Essential oils also penetrate through the skin easily,so applying a lotion that contains an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic herb, such as lavender, is an effective healing method.

Even more intriguing is how the various aromas of essential oils affect emotions. Potent scents produced by various herbs can act on the brain to relax us, energize us or even treat

depression. Herbalists have long known of these qualities John Gerard, in his 17th-century herbal, observed that the fragrance of certain herbs increased feelings of happiness andwell-being. Lemon balm was said to cheer the heart, and basil taketh away sorrowfulness, which cometh of melancholy, and makes a man merry and glad.

THE SENSE BEHIND THE SCENTS

Even if youve never purchased a bottle of essential oil, chances are you have already incorporated aromatherapy into your life. Every time you drink a cup of fragrant tea or flavor yourfood with an aromatic culinary herb like basil or rosemary, the aromas have an impact on your mind. In fact, we probably are so attracted to pleasant scents because of the positive way in

which they affect our emotions.

While sniffing fragrant herbs may be a weaker remedy compared to taking pharmaceutical drugs, aromatherapy can be used safely and repeatedly without worrying about side effects.Many times, aromatherapy is not potent enough to be used as the sole treatment, but it makes an excellent adjunct approach when combined with other therapies.

Scientists, as well as aromatherapists, are interested in how the power of scent increases emotional well-being. Researchers are investigating if and how the scents historically used toalter emotions actually work. T hey discovered that just smelling chamomile produces a relaxing effect on brain waves: Simply inhaling the aroma from a cup of chamomile tea is enough torelax a person, before he or she even drinks the tea. Peppermint and eucalyptus have been shown to stimulate the mind and make people more attentive. Researchers even thinkaromatherapy may help slow the progress of memory problems, such as dementia.

While we wait for research to verify the effectiveness of aromatherapy, aromatherapists like myself continue to investigate ways in which healing fragrance has been used for thousandsof years. Its easy to put aromatherapy to practical use. For example, rosemary and bay laurel stimulate the mind and particularly help memory. One simple trick is to sniff a few leaveswhen studying for an exam or trying to memorize anything important. Then, sniff them again when you need to recall the information.

When youre looking for a way to stay awake, make energy salts by adding a few drops of peppermint to a couple tablespoons of rock salt (available in grocery stores) in a small, lidded

container. Open the container and sniff as desired. Ive included a simple chart to help you choose the best aromatherapy scents for your needs (see T raditional Aromatherapy Oils andTheir Uses on Page 44).

If youre having trouble sleeping or simply need to relax, place a drop or two of lavender oil on your sheets to send you off to dreamland. (Because the oil may leave spots on your sheets,mix the oil with a little water in a small spray bottle, then spritz the sheets.) Another technique is to tuck a small lavender-scented dream pillow in your pillowcase. I travel extensively, so Ialways carry a lavender pillow in my suitcase, as well as a lavender-rose aromatherapy spray (available at health-food stores) to ensure restful sleep.

Shop around to find the many aromatherapy massage oils, bath oils, and skin- and hair-care products that are available these days. You also can buy pure essential oils to make yourown creations. When you go to buy essential oils, youll notice that they vary greatly in price. Their cost is reflected in how difficult the plants are to cultivate and the oils to produce. Whenyou consider that it takes about 600 pounds of rose petals to produce a single ounce of rose oil, its no wonder rose oil is so expensive.

EASY, EVERYDAY AROMATHERAPY

One simple way to use aromatherapy is as a bath oil. Add 3 to 6 drops of pure essential oil to the bathtub (or to a Jacuzzi or hot tub it wont corrode if its pure essential oil). You alsocan make a massage and body oil by adding 6 to 8 drops o f essential oil to 1 ounce of any vegetable oil or a commercial, unscented massage oil base. Because they are so light, sweetalmond oil and jojoba oil are especially good as massage oils. Be careful when using peppermint, cinnamon and citrus oils, especially orange, in skin products. These are hot oils thatcan redden skin and produce a burning sensation.

Fill a room with fragrance by gently simmering a pot of water and adding a few drops of essential oil, which will dissipate into the air. You also can purchase an electric aromatherapydiffuser to which you can add your own essential oil. Place water in the receptacle and add a few drops of essential oil. A candle diffuser also will work, although the scent usually will last

only an hour or so. Combine different oils if youre feeling creative.

RESOURCES

Vtae(800) 643-3011www.vtae.com

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3/21/2009

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Resting in the River(888) 465-0563www.RestingInTheRiver.com

Sun Rose Aromatics(888) 382-9451www.SunRoseAromatics.com

The Essential Oil Company(800) 729-5912www.EssentialOil.com

Penny PriceAromatherapy USA

(815) 814-1444www.PennyPrice-USA.com

ACCEPT NO IMITATIONS

Although theyre often less expensive, avoid synthetic versions, which also can be labeled essential oils. The increasing popularity of aromatherapy means there are many productsavailable, but even some of those sold in health-food stores are made with synthetics. Aromatherapists worry about the effect of these oils synthetic ingredients, especially since many ofthem contain petroleum compounds and other potential toxins.

When you purchase essential oils or aromatherapy products that contain them, be sure the essential oils are pure and made from plants. Look on the label for the botanical name of theplant from which the oil was derived. Unfortunately, many favorite scents are very expensive or not possible to produce. The scents of magnolia, carnation and lotus are a few examples.Also, rose and jasmine two of the most popular, as well as expensive, essential oils are probably synthetic or diluted if sold for less than $120 per ounce.

Im wary of using the many aromatherapy candles that are scented synthetically. I find it worthwhile to spend a little extra on candles or other products that state they contain onlynatural essential oils. Not only are they better for your health, they smell so much better!

TRADITIONAL AROMATHERAPY OILS AND THEIR USES

Basil (Ocimum basilicum): Overcomes grief and melancholy

Cedar (Cedrus spp.): Emotional fortitude and clarity

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita): Calming and lifts depression

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea): Calming

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus): Energizing, antibacterial

Jasmine (Jasminum officinale): Aphrodisiac

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): Relaxation, lifts the spirit

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis): Increases cheerfulness

Orange (Citrus sinensis): A calming antidepressant

Peppermint (Mentha piperita): Increases awareness and energy

Rose (Rosa spp.): Instills love and compassion, relaxing

Rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens): Balance

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): Improves memory, energizing

Sandalwood (Santalum album): Calming

Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata): Deep relaxation accompanied by euphoric feelings

USE AROMATHERAPY SAFELY

Another safety consideration is that essential oils are very potent. They are far more concentrated than herb teas or tinctures, so be careful with how much and how often you use them.Do not take essential oils internally without the guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Keep essential oils away from your eyes.

As a general rule, dont apply essential oils directly to your skin undiluted. However, some oils are perfectly safe to apply to your skin for example, lavender oil on burns or insect bitesand tea tree oil on pimples.

Remember that these oils go into your skin and eventually your bloodstream, and use caution. Your liver and kidneys are responsible for clearing essential oils, along with other foreignsubstances, from your body, and an overdose strains them. If you ever feel dizzy, nauseous or develop a headache while using or working with essential oils, your body is sending you awarning to back off. This can occur just from inhaling too much essential oil.

Allergies or sensitivities to essential oils always are possible. Yet people who are allergic to fragrances often find only synthetic fragrances bothersome. Many times Ive seen students inmy aromatherapy seminars enjoy inhaling the fragrance of a natural rose oil when they believed they were allergic to all rose oils. People who are more familiar with synthetic oils are

surprised to find how closely the scent of most essential oils resembles the plants from which they came, and how much more pleasant they are. Of course, they also are amazed whenthey see how effective aromatherapy is as a healing art.

Kathi Keville is an herbalist and aromatherapist with 35 years of experience. She is the author of 12 books, including Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art (The CrossingPress, 1995), with Mindy Green. She teaches seminars at her farm in Nevada City, California, and throughout the United States. Visit her website at www.Aha Herb.com.

the Fragrant Art of Aromatherapy http://www.herbcompanion.com/print-article.aspx

3/21/2009