Aromatherapy - Far More than Fragrance
Aromatherapy – Far More than Fragrance
By Lisa M. Browder
I hesitate to tell anyone I’m an Aromatherapist because the word is too often associated with home plug-in fragrances and scented candles. People tend to hear the “aroma” part of the word and miss the “therapy” part. In fact, the therapeutic use of essential oils has existed for centuries, predating the synthetic medications of today’s society.
Many Western medicines were developed by isolating a single constituent from an essential oil and replicating it in a laboratory. Each individual essential oil may contain 150-200 constituents in varying amounts, all playing a part in the therapeutic effect of the whole. So then the question becomes: Does isolating a single constituent lessen its synergistic effects? It’s pretty clear that isolating and replicating a single constituent may make it more powerful, but it also often brings a laundry list of possible complications and side effects.
As Jane Buckle says in her book, Clinical Aromatherapy:
photo by: Lisa M. Browder
Orthodox medicine may save lives, but it does have considerable drawbacks: expense, serious side effects, and a considerable loss of life. Orthodox medicine prides itself on being reductionist. It treats everyone more or less the same regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, diet, stress level, or weight.
In his book, Aromatherapy to Tend and Heal the Body, Robert Tisserand says:
If we imagine that healing is like opening a door, the action of a chemical drug is like that of a sledge-hammer, while the action of an essential oil is like that of a key. The key is apparently much less powerful – it is very much smaller, and it is more difficult to demonstrate its effectiveness. However, the key works very much ‘in harmony’ with the nature of the door; in fact the door lock was made to receive a key. In opening the door the key proves its usefulness without the destructive, harmful effects of the sledge-hammer. However, keys have one drawback. While a sledgehammer will open any door, the key will only work if you use the correct key for the individual lock.
Once you’ve found the right key, it then requires patience because essential oils’ effectiveness has been proven in a number of promising clinical studies, few more impressive than a study by K.A. Hammer, C.F. Carson and T.V. Riley, published in the 1999 Journal of Applied Microbiology. The scientists inoculated 11 essential oils with 10 different organisms, from Candida albicans, to E. Coli and Staphylococcus aureus. One of the study’s conclusions stated: “In summary, this study confirms that many essential oils and plant extracts possess in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity.” In addition to smelling good, essential oils definitely do something. If interested, you can find more clinical studies by going to “Google scholar” and typing in “essential oil research.”
So while it’s nice to enjoy the “aroma” aspect of a blend, if you want it to do something physiologically, that requires quality (and unadulterated) oils. For that reason, I don’t recommend buying blends with names like “Relax” or “Soothe” unless you know what’s really in them. For instance, if you look at the list of ingredients for a body lotion called “Relax” and it lists Lavender Fragrance as an ingredient, the lavender is more than likely synthetic.
To create your own blend for tired muscles, mix your preferred essential oils into two ounces of a good quality unscented, hypoallergenic lotion and then ladle it into a container. Affix a label so you know what and how much is contained in the bottle or jar and then start with a patch test. Put a dab on the inside of your wrist and cover it with a Band-Aid for 24 hours. If you have any kind of skin irritation, discontinue use. Your two ounces of lotion should not contain more than 20 total essential oil drops and I’d recommend no more than 15-16. Please keep in mind that when working with essential oils, more is not better. Although there are other essential oils that can be used for aching muscles, I have chosen some common and affordable ones for you.
8 Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia) 5 Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) 3 Juniper (Juniperus communis)
8 Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia) 5 Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) 2 Lemon (Citrus limon)
There are many websites that carry essential oils and, if you call in, have knowledgeable staff who can answer any questions about authenticity or usage. I have found wyndmerenaturals.com, originalswissaromatics.com and naturesgift.com to have a nice variety of essential oils at acceptable industry prices.
The use of essential oils is a wonderful way to relax, both physically and mentally. There are, however, important things to remember: essential oils are more than simple fragrances, they have physiological effects on the body and they must be used judiciously.