Natural Medicine’s New Frontier: Aromathearpy
As interest in all aspects of natural health and wellness grows, the use of essential oils is becoming more widespread. However, many individuals that are just learning about aromatherapy’s possibilities sometimes don’t know exactly what essential oils are. Well here’s a little primer that get you started in using these wonderful gifts of nature in your own life! Pure essential oils are complex mixtures of aromatic compounds produced by plants. These are the essences that give plants their wonderful scents; it is these easily evaporated compounds that you smell when inhaling the aroma from a rose, or a pine tree, or a bunch of fresh basil.
A pure essential oil differs significantly than other commonly used oils such as Olive or Canola oil; these are actually liquid fats, whereas essential oils are more akin to alcohol or other volatile compounds in their basic structure (but not their aroma or physiological properties). Essential oils are the aromatic compounds that give plants their particular scents – like that of Jasmine flowers or bunch of fresh herbs. The oils easily evaporate – hence the term ‘volatile’ – and these are the chemicals sensed by your nose. And the oils play an important role in the lives of plants – they offer protection from microbial, viral and animal invaders, and may even act as chemical messengers between plants of the same species.
Distilling pure essential oils of therapeutic grade is a delicate process. Steam distillation is the most common method, where steam is passed through a vessel containing fresh plant materials. The steam is captured and cooled, the resultant oil and water separated. To make an oil of the highest quality begins with the finest plant materials, followed with a close attention to the time, temperature and pressure of the distillation process. To much or too little of any factor can produce an oil of inferior quality and aroma, and one with lesser therapeutic properties. To chose an essential oil supplier, sample products from several companies – you can usually tell right away which oil will have the most profound uses for natural health and wellness simply by the beauty of the aroma.
Humankind has used plants for healing for many thousands of years, and it’s from this tradition of that the use of aromatic plant compounds is medicine began. Documented use of aromatic plants dates back to near 4500 B.C., though it was in the hands of the ancient Egyptians that the use of oils and plant aromatics was truly developed. Oils were used in the embalming process, in medicine and in purification rituals. In 1922, when King Tut’s tomb was opened, 50 alabaster jars made to contain nearly 350 liters of oil were discovered. There are also over 200 references to aromatics, incense and ointments in the Old and New Testaments; Frankincense, Myrrh, Galbanun, Cinnamon, Cassia, Rosemary, Hyssop and Spikenard are noted for being used for anointing rituals and healing of the sick.
The advent of the modern aromatherapy revolution, that most important to the use of essential oils in natural health and healing, began with French cosmetic scientist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse’s discovery of the healing powers of Lavender oil. This sparked the growth of scientific investigation of essential oils for natural medicinal purposes throughout Europe. France and Germany continue to lead the way in discovering the healing properties of essential oils, and utilizing them in conjunction with conventional medicine.
Research has confirmed centuries of practical use of essential oils, and we now know that the ‘fragrant pharmacy’ contains compounds with an extremely broad range of biochemical effects. There are about three hundred essential oils in general use today by professional practitioners, though the average household could fulfill all its likely needs with 10 (for wound healing, cold fighting, insect repelling, calming children and the like), perhaps 20 if their use were a touch more esoteric (for deepening meditation, enhancing yoga practice, etc).
The three primary modes of using essential oils are the following: Topical application (most often diluted in a carrier oil such as Almond oil, Hazelnut, Olive or other ‘fatty acid’) most often for muscular aches and pains and support for skin conditions and rejuvenation. Inhalation is commonly used for the psychological effects of oils – the olfactory sense organs being directly tied to the brain’s emotional centers. Inhalation is also successfully employed for sinus and bronchial congestion along with other breathing ailments. In certain cases, ingestion is prescribed – capsules of peppermint essential oil have been shown effective in scientific studies on the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, a debilitating condition thought to be the result of rampant bacterial grown in the intestines. The list of the proven efficacy of essential oils continues to grow. There are many good texts available to education yourself, and a growing number of professional practitioners in the field. If you’d like to incorporate essential oils in your own health and wellness program, a little research surrounding your own needs will lead you in the right direction. Essential oils are powerful medicine – be safe, understand what you’re doing, and you’ll likely find aromatherapy can support your own personal needs in a fun and pleasantly aromatic way.