Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses essential oils for therapeutic purposes. It is believed to have very positive effects on a person’s health and emotions. Aromatherapy should be considered complementary to standard medical treatment and never a replacement. The practice of using plants to treat people has been a part of life for thousands of years. Our largest and oldest pharmaceutical corporations built their foundations with plants as their starting point. The well-known pharmaceutical giant Merck began as a small apothecary in Germany in 1668. The active ingredient in willow bark, which uses date back to 400 B.C. with Hippocrates, is what eventually led to the creation of aspirin. In addition, a great number of pharmaceutical products used today are plant derived, which clearly illustrates the healing properties of plants.
One of the first steps for anyone that is interested in aromatherapy is to make sure he or she is purchasing highquality essential oils. There are many companies with misleading and outright false claims regarding the purity of their oils. Therefore, do your homework. Go with a company that deals strictly in therapeutic-grade essential oils. Make sure the company provides full disclosure and participates in third-party testing to ensure the ingredients are what they claim. Find a company that works directly with their growers. Information such as country of origin, growing methods, the distillation method used, and Latin names should all be freely available from the company or retailer.
When you’ve decided on a brand you like and trust, Gina Caruso, a massage therapist at Pure & Simple Health, in Rockville Centre, Long Island, recommends purchasing a good book on the subject and to start with the basics.
“I am not an aromatherapist; however, my experience as a massage therapist and the frequent use of essential oils in my practice has taken me on a journey to learn as much as I can on this subject,” says Caruso. “When I started using essential oils in my treatments, I immediately noticed a high level of interest from my clients. They seemed fascinated by the oils. Even the kids that I work with love them. Then the questions started coming on how they could use the oils themselves.”
There are three main ways essential oils are used:
Inhalation – Our powerful sense of smell carries the scent to the olfactory system, which sends it to the limbic system of the brain. This system houses our emotions and retrieves memories. You may begin to feel relaxed or invigorated depending on the oil used. This can be done using a diffuser (made specifically for essential oils); by putting a few drops on a tissue or cotton ball and placing it nearby; in a bath or massage; or directly from the bottle.
Topical – Essential oils can be absorbed through the skin. Never use directly on the skin. The oils must be diluted with carrier oil. The carrier oils should be a “cold pressed” plantbased vegetable, nut or seed oil. Application during a massage will also provide the therapeutic benefit of the massage and of inhalation. You can apply to the bottoms of the feet, wrists and behind the ears.
Internally – Essential oils should NEVER be taken internally unless prescribed by an individual with the proper qualifications to do so.
The wellness revolution that is occurring worldwide displays a great desire to tap into the mind/body connection. There appears to be an ancient wisdom rising within us on the interconnectedness of all life. The potential healing properties of plants and their components within essential oils are finally being looked at by researchers in a more serious light. Scientific studies are on the rise. This points to the value of the knowledge that our ancestors possessed. They demonstrated the ability to create a more harmonious balance and existence with the natural world. This seems to be a connection we are striving for in our modern society. Essential oils are one very pleasant, effective and enjoyable way to tap into this experience of the shared and interactive life forces between humans and the Earth.
To learn more about essential oils, join Caruso at Pure & Simple Health for a talk on March 11 at 7 p.m.
Pure & Simple Health is located at 128 N. Long Beach Rd., Rockville Centre. For more information, call 516-203-7442. See ad on page 3.
