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Aromatherapy Defined
Aromatherapy can be
found defined in numerous ways by many different people within
the realm of complimentary and alternative medicines. Below are
two of my favorite books on the subject of Aromatherapy. As you
will see, even though the words may be different, the
definitions express the same theory.
I encourage anyone
interested in learning more about aromatherapy to invest in
these two wonderful books.
From the Book
Aromatherapy A Mine of Information
This book was written by Lucinda
Deacon-Davis who is a qualified holistic therapist specializing
in aromatherapy, massage and reflexology.
Get
this book today! Click Here ---> 
What
is Aromatherapy?
"The
definition of aromatherapy is "the safe use of essential oils
for therapeutic benefits, enhancing the well-being, restoring
balance and revitalizing the mind, body and spirit". In other
words, essential oils - which come from plants - are used safely
in a way to promote general good health and well-being.
The
History of Aromatherapy
Since
ancient times, plants have been used to heal, fight infection,
aid digestion, and promote well-being. From prehistoric times
through Ancient Egyptians and the Arab world, knowledge of
plants came to the West via the Crusaders.
Herbalism and aromatherapy were neglected by advances in modern
science and medicine until their rediscovery in by European
scientists in the 1920s and 1930s, but since the 1970s
aromatherapy in Britain has boomed, taking its place in
mainstream alternative and conventional therapies."
From the Book
Healing Home Spa
This book was written by Valerie
Gennari Cooksley, R.N. who also authored Aromatherapy: A
Lifetime Guide and Healing with Essential Oils.
Get
this book today! Click Here --->
The
Essence of Health and Healing
"If
good things come in small packages, then Aromatherapy is Mother
Nature's gift to your health.
Aromatherapy is the ancient healing art of using essential oils
- highly concentrated aromatic extracts from flowers and plants
- to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
These oils contain unique healing properties that can both
prevent and cure an array of health problems. Some relax,
sedate, balance, rejuvenate, invigorate, and even enhance
memory. Some possess properties that fight inflammation and
infection, ease pain, and battle bacteria and fungus.
Essential oils are so powerful, it often only requires a drop or
two of the oils to perform is healing action. To give you an
idea of how potent these oils are, consider this: One drop of
essential oil equals about 30 cups of herbal tea in terms of
concentration.
By
definition, aromatherapy simply means the "study of scent". If
you have never experienced aromatherapy, a whole new world of
pleasure awaits you, one that blends ancient knowledge with
modern scientific proof of it power to heal the body and nourish
the mind. Aromatherapy is considered among the most therapeutic
and rejuvenating alternative therapies today."
Listed Below is an excellent article
written recently about Aromatherapy, specifically Aromatherapy
as a Sleep Aid:
Most Who Try Them Claim Therapies Help Them Sleep
Written by Hilary E. MacGregor for the Los Angeles Times
Sunday, March 18th, 2007
So How Does Aromatherapy Work? The
Scientific Answer.
Courtesy of
www.CoolQuiz.com
The
sense of smell is linked to the limbic system, an old part of
the brain. Specialized receptor cells of the olfactory
epithelium detect and recognize smells.
Your
nose is a huge cavity built to smell, moisten, and filter the
air you breathe. When you breathe in, the tiny hairs, called
cilia, act like a broom and filter everything trying to get into
your nose; from dust particles to bugs.
The air
passes through the nasal cavity and though a thick layer of
mucous to the olfactory bulb. The smells are recognized here
because each smell molecule fits into a nerve cell like a puzzle
piece. The cells then send signals to the brain via the
olfactory nerve. The brain then interprets those molecules as
the sweet flowers, or the curdling milk that you've held up to
your nose.
Humans
can detect over 10,000 different smells. The olfactory nerve
picks up the scents from the air you breathe and translate them
into nerve impulses or messages that are then sent to the
olfactory bulb located in the front of the brain.
Actually, how and why we smell is still inadequately known.
There are many theories about the exact process of our sense of
smell. Most believe that it is highly specialized processes in
which molecular rings and receptors invite odorant-bringing
proteins. It is a very complicate, intricately detailed, and
mysteriously misunderstood system, our sense of smell.
So How Does Aromatherapy Work? The Easy
Answer.
Has
your dinner ever burned? How did you know? Did your wonderful
husband mention he smelled something burning? How about do you
know when the cookies are done because your kids can now smell
them from the front yard? What do you think of when you smell
baby powder? Do you remember your child as a baby and does that
bring a smile to your face? How about the smell of your
husband's pillow when he's out of town on business?
What
does all that have to with Aromatherapy? Everything! All of
those examples produce a feeling - burned dinner, disappointment
- chocolate chip cookies, happiness from the children - baby
powder, joy and happiness at remembering holding your baby -
husband's pillow, sense of longing and sadness that he's gone or
it may make you feel more at ease because he "feels" there.
Scents can and do make a difference.
You
don't need to be a scientist to prove that certain scents do
inspire certain emotions. Having this knowledge opens doors that
you didn't think were there or maybe didn't believe they had any
effect on a person's well-being. Now you are living proof that
it does!
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