Scents, aromas, fragrances are a primitive trigger for emotional responses and physical bodily reactions. This knowledge has been used throughout history as a method of altering the mood, of producing feelings of calm and relaxation, and of enhancing cognition or feelings of pleasure. The newborn infant can recognize it’s mother’s scent and be comforted by that. The aroma of baking bread in mother’s kitchen can cause physical bodily response such as pleasant warm, comforting memories and salivation. The scent of flower blossoms brings happy feelings for most people unless that smell has been associated by that individual with a traumatic event, in which case it may invoke a negative or defensive bodily response. To many people, a particular flower and it’s aroma may be a metaphor for complex emotional ideas, such as roses as an expression of love on Valentine’s Day. Or, as so eloquently stated by Mark Twain, “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
Aromatherapy is a branch of herbalism which generally describes using volatile plant materials, known as essential oils, and similar aromatic compounds extracted from plants, for the purpose of improving health and well-being. It is used by many holistic practitioners, and others such as health care professionals.
Many products that we use every day contain essential oils including mouthwashes, air fresheners, rubs like Vicks VapoRub. Many aromatherapists would not consider this to be a therapeutic use of essential oils because they are not in an isolated pure form. However, even in this form, they have been useful in treating illness, infection, and pain.
There are many ways to use essential oils. They may be applied externally. They will be absorbed through the skin, entering the deeper tissue to treat a physical target, for example: tension in the neck and shoulder muscles. Parts of the essential oil are eventually absorbed through to the bloodstream (which some research shows may be identified in the lab in as little as 15-20 minutes).
When rubbed on externally, the essential oil is also inhaled. So that you have a physical response from the rubbing on a particular body part and/or inhalation into the lungs, and also have an emotional response from the inhalant’s aroma. In this way, a treatment can take advantage of the physical and emotional components in the same treatment. Therefore, you could create an aromatherapy lotion using a recipe to soothe a skin condition, for instance, and also treat the loneliness and feelings of abandonment that underlye the condition.
Some examples of oils in use:
Basil is used for its clear, sweet and mildly spicy aroma. In aromatherapy, it is used to relieve headaches and migraines, for nausea, for herpes and shingles, for relieving grief, for increasing sexual concentration, and for treating depression, and to relieve headaches and migraines. Basil essential oil has been used an an emmenagogue to help bring on menstruation so avoid using when pregnant.
Bergamot(citrus, not bee balm) is an excellent insect repellent. It’s helpful for both the urinary tract and for the digestive tract. It is useful for insomnia, skin conditions linked to stress, such as herpes cold sores and is usually combined with eucalyptus oil in this case.
Black pepper has a sharp and spicy aroma. Common uses include stimulating the circulation and for muscular aches and pains.
Citronella oil, obtained from a relative of lemongrass, is used as an insect repellent.
Clove oil is a topical analgesic, especially useful in tooth pain. It is also used an antiseptic and is calming.
Eucalyptus oil is often used to reduce fatigue, and with peppermint to relax the airways, and topically for lice.
Geranium oil is used for insomnia, PMS, fluid retention, as an astringent, antiseptic and diuretic.
Jasmine is used as an antidepressant, helpful for cramps, menstrual and prostate problems, and aphrodisiac.
Lavender oil is used to soothe and calm, for headaches and migraines, as an antiseptic, and for cuts and burns, and for memory.
Lemon oil is uplifts the mood, and is an anti-stress/anti-depressant.
Rose is used for asthma, liver problems, envy, relationship problems, and as an aphrodisiac.
Sandalwood oil is used to relieve insomnia, for persistent cough, throat problems, and as an aphrodisiac.
Tea tree oil and many other essential oils have topical effects (external)and antimicrobial (anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, or anti-parasitic)
Thyme oil is used for problem skin, congestion, and for making honeybee tea.
Yarrow oil is used to reduce joint inflammation and relieve cold and flu symptoms.
Ylang-ylang oil is used in depression, and as an aphrodisiac.
