I want to talk a little bit about aromatherapy. Be aware, though: there is MUCH, MUCH more you could learn about the aromatherapy and the use of essential oils than I have here in this blog.

You probably have heard of aromatherapy, or if not, you have heard people talking about essential oils, or you may have seen essential oils and essential oil diffusers for sale in different stores. Some stores that specialize in health foods, may have an aromatherapy diffuser set up.

But what exactly IS aromatherapy?

According to one course I took, aromatherapy is “the therapeutic use of pure essential oils to improve the health and balance of the skin, the body, the mind, and the emotions.” The range of essential oils is wide and at first glance may seem bewildering, but many have familiar common names and many come from plants found in everyday gardens or woodland areas.

If you pluck a rose and smell its fragrance, you have inhaled a tiny bit of rose essential oil. Or if you scrape your fingernail across a lemon’s peel, and smell the sweet-tangy citrus scent produced, you have inhaled lemon essential oil. But essential oils may come from fruit (lemons, oranges), flowers (lavender, patchouli), leaves and stems (sage, eucalyptus), resins (frankincense, myrrh), nuts and seeds (vanilla, rose hip), and even roots (ginger, spikenard).

The ways they are extracted vary, too. Citrus oils are extracted by piercing and/or scraping the skin of the fruit. Sometimes the oils are distilled, or heated until the essential oils evaporate, and are then recondensed like distilled water. Sometimes the essential oil may be pressed from its source, and even this varies as to whether the process is hot-pressing or cold-pressing.

Fragrances such as musk, cedar oil, frankincense, spikenard, and others have been used in religion, medicine, and for attracting a mate since time immemorial. In the Middle Ages, smelling floral essential oils was thought to help keep the plague at bay, since people believed it was spread through foul-smelling air.

During the reign of King George III, perfumes were considered to be so powerful an aphrodisiac, that a law was passed that said that any woman who enticed a man to marry her with use of cosmetics and perfume, would be charged with witchcraft, and if convicted, the marriage would be null and void!

In those days, whether medicinal or for catching a mate, it wasn’t called aromatherapy. That term didn’t come into use until it was coined in 1928 by a French chemist when he realized the potential healing and therapeutic properties of the oils.

But this is not just a lot of medieval mumbo-jumbo. Modern science now knows that, in addition to their enticing scents and their abilities to lift the spirits of those who smell them, essential oils have real medicinal and healing qualities.

For example, scientists discovered that sniffing both rosemary and peppermint oils can aid in having a healthy memory. Lavender, peppermint, rosemary, bergamot, and lemon balm are all known to help those who suffer from Alzheimers and other forms of dementia. While not a cure, they can help can alleviate many of the symptoms.

Tea tree (also called Ti Tree) oil is a natural antiseptic from a plant that grows in Australia. It is often used to treat acne, athlete’s foot, and insect bites. Other research has shown that the essential oils of cinnamon, clove, oregano, and rosemary possess strong antibacterial activity against salmonella, staph, and pseudomonas infections.

But… as with ALL other forms of therapeutic substances, there are caveats. First of all, nearly all essential oils should be diluted with a carrier oil such as grapeseed or almond oil, or mixed with water to make a hydrosol. Many pure essential oils can produce skin irritation or allergic reactions. Also, many essential oils are not safe to take internally, and you should be extra cautious when applying essential oils to infants. Check with a professional in either of these cases.

Always be sure to get your essential oils from a reliable source. DON’T use oils labelled “fragrance oils” because they may be artificial, or diluted with artificial ingredients. Your best bet is to purchase the oils from a health food store or some other dealer who specializes in such products… NOT at your local discount store. Cheaper is hardly ever better, when it comes to essential oils.

Here is a link to one of the best sources for essential oils that I know. My wife and I order the essential oils and herbs that we don't produce ourselves, from this company: Mountain Rose Herbs.  Check them out!