What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the practice of using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being. Aromatherapy is an ancient holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and emotional and physically well-being.

Essential oils, the pure essence of a plant, have been found to provide both psychological and physical benefits when used correctly and safely. Although essential oils, CO2 extracts and absolutes are distilled by different methods, the term essential oils is sometimes used as a blanket term to include all natural, aromatic, volatile, plant oils including CO2s and absolutes. It takes a lot of plant product to make essential oils. For example, it takes approximately 200 pounds/90 kg of lavender flowers to make just 1 pound/500 g of lavender essential oil.

In addition to essential oils, aromatherapy encourages the use of other complementary natural ingredients including cold pressed vegetable oils, jojoba (a liquid wax), hydrosols, herbs, milk powders, sea salts, sugars (an exfoliant), clays and muds.

Products that include synthetic ingredients are frowned upon in holistic aromatherapy. It is important to note that perfume oils also known as fragrance oils (and usually listed as "fragrance" on an ingredient label) are not the same as essential oils. Fragrance oils and perfume oils contain synthetic chemicals and do not provide the therapeutic benefits of essential oils.

An Introduction to the Benefits of Essential Oils

The natural chemical composition and aroma of essential oils can provide valuable psychological and physical therapeutic benefits. These benefits are usually achieved through methods that include inhalation and topical application of the diluted essential oil to the skin.

Aromatherapy works by stimulating the smell receptors in the nose, which then send messages through the nervous system to the limbic system in the brain which controls emotions. They are also thought to have an impact on your hypothalamus, which may respond to the essential oil by creating feel-good brain chemicals like serotonin.

Essential oils are comprised of naturally occurring chemicals. The composition of 100% pure Lavender Essential Oil, for example, includes Linalyl acetate and Linalool. Some individuals who are new to working with essential oils can become confused and frightened when the word chemical is used in conjunction to essential oils. Pure essential oils are not adulterated with additives of any kind. However, pure essential oils are indeed comprised of naturally occurring chemicals, also sometimes referred to as constituents.

When left undiluted or not diluted adequately, essential oils can pose a risk of sensitisation or irritation when applied topically. When not properly diluted, some can also be phototoxic. Prior to topical application, essential oils are first diluted with a carrier oil such as jojoba, sweet almond oil or apricot kernel oil.

Careful inhalation can also provide therapeutic benefit as the essential oil molecules enter the lungs and are absorbed into the bloodstream. Methods of inhalation include the use of diffusers, inhalers and aromatic jewelry.

Essential oils can vary greatly in quality and price. Factors that can affect the quality and price of the oil include the rarity of the botanical, the country of origin and growing/climate conditions, quality standards of the distiller, and how much oil is produced by the botanical.

Essential oils can often be purchased as blends of several essential oils. The advantage to purchasing pre-made essential oils blends is that you can save from having to buy every essential oil individually. When purchasing blends from experienced, reputable essential oil suppliers, you also have the advantage of using blends made by experienced aromatherapists and artisans.