Whether you use essential oils from brand A or brand B, or perhaps even have several different oils at home, we are all engaged in aromatherapy.In this blog, we will introduce you to the basics of aromatherapy.
 
Aromatherapy, the Basics


Aromatherapy is a form of therapy where essential oils are used as a therapeutic component in treating physical and mental ailments and/or symptoms to promote and maintain health.
 
Aromatherapy is actually centuries old. For example, the Greeks and Romans enjoyed fragrant baths with lavender, Egyptians used oils for mummifying and embalming the deceased, and herbs, oil, and incense were used in many different cultures to honor gods, protect themselves, purify, and/or heal.
 
When we look at contemporary aromatherapy, three important founders are referenced:
 
Professor René Maurice Gattefossé, a French perfumer and chemist who developed and sold many fragrance concentrations and widely published on the medicinal effects of plant aromas. 
Madame Marguerite Maury, an Austrian surgical assistant who became acquainted with Gattefossé's work. She delved deeper into aromatherapy and developed various massage techniques and skincare using essential oils. For example, she created perfumes that precisely matched the physical and psychological problems of her clients.
Dr. Jean Valnet, a French physician specialized in herbal medicine. As a military doctor, he treated many wounds with aromatherapy and even received an award for it. Jean Valnet wrote the first book on aromatherapy and served as president of an association (Association d'etudes et de Recherches de Aromathérapie et Phytotherapie) to promote aromatherapy, professionalize it, and disseminate knowledge. 
 
How it Works

Essential oils are very versatile. On a physical level, you can use them, among other things, as follows:
  • Skin and hair, for example, in treating allergic reactions, eczema, acne, fungi, and other skin conditions.
  • Muscles and joints, for example, for muscle pain after exercise or sprains.
  • Respiratory system, for example, for relief from allergies and colds.
In addition, the application on a mental, energetic, and spiritual level is also great for using your essential oils. Scents stimulate your senses and often take you back to certain memories and events. 
 
To explain how this works, a brief description of our sense of smell. As soon as you inhale air, it quickly reaches the olfactory nerves. These are located at the top of your nasal cavity (the olfactory cavity), an area behind the skull, between the eye sockets. The olfactory nerves are directly connected to our limbic system, which is strongly involved in our emotions, among other things. When you smell a certain scent, it often immediately evokes certain feelings and memories. 
 
Each scent is composed of different molecules. In your nasal cavity, there are many olfactory receptors that pick up these scent molecules. The receptors then pass the captured information to the brain, where the scent is 'identified'. The brain can distinguish as many as 10,000(!) different scents. The more components a scent has, the more receptors are activated and the more impression a scent can make.
 

How your body will react to a certain scent is determined by the hypothalamus, a kind of hub where messages from the scent molecules arrive and from where certain bodily (re)actions are then initiated.

  • Is the scent wonderfully relaxing (lavender) or does it incite action and alertness (peppermint)?
  • Does the scent make you cheerful and happy or does it bring up sad memories, such as the loss of someone?
 


Essential oils are wonderful remedies for relieving physical ailments, but also for supporting your mindset and emotions and for use during (therapeutic) sessions to process and release events.
 

Application

If you want to get started with your essential oils, you can do so in various ways:
  • Aromatic
    • Diffusion via a diffuser or a lava stone
    • Via an aroma inhaler
    • By 'cupping'; put a drop of essential oil on your palm, rub your hands together, hold your palms in front of your nose, and inhale and exhale deeply several times. 
  • Via the skin (topical)
    • Using a roller
    • By massage
    • Using lotions, creams, and ointments
    • Using a compress
    • In a (foot) bath
  • By ingestion, for example, via a capsule. Please note that you must always use pure and unadulterated essential oils and seek proper advice from an aromatherapist regarding this application. 
The applications are virtually endless. Always remember to use your essential oils safely and responsibly. 

_____


Sources:
- Aromecum, drs. Harmen Rijpkema
- Aromatherapy Training Material, Civas Opleidingen
- Balancing Your Emotions, Thorsten Weiss

_____

*Disclaimer:

It is very important that you use 100% pure essential oils and that you are well informed about which oils can be safely ingested and which cannot. 

There may be a possible interaction between medications and essential oils, including an enhancement of medication side effects. Consult your doctor if you have questions about incorporating essential oils into your daily routine. Pay particular attention to which essential oil is safe to use during a (possible) pregnancy and when using blood thinners. Adjusted guidelines also apply to children. Consult a qualified doctor for this. 

This information has been compiled with the greatest possible care. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent illnesses, nor to replace medical advice from professional doctors and medications. Anyone suffering from an illness or injury should consult a qualified doctor.
_____