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For thousands of years, aromatherapy has been used to promote physical, mental and spiritual health. It involves using a plant’s essential oil, taken from its flowers, leaves, bark or roots, and massaging it (mixed with another substance like oil or lotion) into the skin, inhaling it or using it to fragrance a room.

Even as far back as Egyptian times, essential oils were made by soaking plants and filtering the oil through a linen bag.

The actual term “aromatherapy,” however, wasn’t coined until 1928, by Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist. He first used the oils to treat wounds during World War I, and later continued experimenting with them. He found that certain oils had different healing properties, and he classified each oil as antiseptic, stimulating, calming, antitoxic, etc., depending on its uses.

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

It’s thought that essential oils activate nerve cells in the nose, which send impulses to the limbic system of the brain — the part that deals with emotions and memory.

Aromatherapy is used both emotionally to invigorate, calm, relieve stress and more, and physically to help relieve certain conditions by stimulating the immune system, circulatory system and nervous system.

Essential oils can be applied by an aromatherapist, who can mix a custom blend of oils for a specific complaint, or can be bought individually in health food stores. Unless you are very knowledgeable about essential oils and their effects, it’s best to consult with a trained aromatherapist before using them. Tiny amounts of essential oils can produce marked changes, and some can be harmful, particularly to pregnant women.

Traditionally, essential oils are used by:

• Mixing them with a carrier oil or lotion, and massaging them into the skin.
• Inhaling during an aromatherapy session.
• Adding them to bathwater. (Check out the new, highly recommended Vermont Soap Organics aromatherapy bath salts.)

Health Benefits of Aromatherapy

Essential oils have been used to treat a seemingly endless number of conditions, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Urinary tract infections
• Vertigo
• Headaches and earaches
• Panic attacks
• Dermatitis
• Fatigue
• Irritability

• Chickenpox
• Allergies
• Herpes
• Arthritis
• Stress
• Cancer
• Flatulence
• Laryngitis

Although much of aromatherapy’s benefits are based on anecdotal evidence, aromatherapy is receiving more attention from researchers as an effective and safe treatment option.

Promotes Deep Sleep

A 2005 study published in the journal Chronobiology International found that lavender essential oil acts as a mild sedative and promotes deep sleep. In the study, 31 healthy sleepers spent three nights in a sleep lab: one to adapt to the study, the next with lavender oil administered into the air and the third with a control (distilled water) stimulus.

The lavender:

• Increased the percentage of deep or slow-wave sleep in men and women.
• Increased stage 2 (light) sleep.
• Decreased rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep.

Further, all the participants reported higher vigor the morning after the lavender exposure.

Fight Staph Infection

Three essential oils studied by researchers at the University of Manchester were able to kill, within two minutes of contact:

• MRSA (staph infection)
• E. coli
• Many other bacteria and fungi

They say the oils can be blended into soaps and shampoos that, if used by hospital staff, doctors and patients, could eliminate the spread of these “super bugs.” Patients could even simply inhale the oils to prevent being at risk.

The particular oils used in the study will not be released until the researchers can find funding for a clinical trial.

Said researcher Peter Warn from the University’s Faculty of Medicine:

“We believe that our discovery could revolutionize the fight to combat MRSA and other `super bugs,’ but we need to carry out a trial and to do that we need a small amount of funding … We are having problems finding this funding because essential oils cannot be patented as they are naturally occurring, so few drug companies are interested in our work as they do not see it as commercially viable. Obviously, we find this very frustrating as we believe our findings could help to stamp out MRSA and save lives.”

Benefits for Childbirth

According to a paper published in the August 2005 issue of Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, an aromatherapy service produced beneficial results for patients at a UK maternity unit. The aromatherapy was found to normalize childbirth and increase the satisfaction of mothers in regard to their labor experiences.

Improvement in Shingles Outbreaks

A case study of six hospice patients with shingles outbreaks found that a combination of three essential oils improved symptoms significantly.

The patients sprayed a solution of 95 percent distilled water, 5 percent essential oil blend of Ravensara, Bergamot and Niaouli onto the rash at least three times a day. According to Noel Gilligan, the registered aromatherapist who ran the study, after 48 hours, all patients reported:

• A significant reduction in shingles pain.
• A scabbing and healing of the shingles pustules.
• Either a disappearance (one case) or reduction (five cases) or a “drying up” (three cases) of the pustules.

As we mentioned earlier, it is important to use caution when experimenting with pure essential oils. Certain varieties, in certain people, can exacerbate allergies and asthma, irritate the skin and cause uterine contractions in pregnant women. A trained aromatherapist can help you to determine which oils will be beneficial and safe for you.

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Pure essential oils have a wide range of therapeutic uses and benefits. Remember the method applied can effect your results.

First, please remember that essential oils should never be applied neat (undiluted) to your skin. There are absolutely NO exceptions to this! This includes the soles of your feet or palms of your hands. When using oils neat for inhalation purposes please exercise care and dispense your oils on a tissue or cotton ball for direct inhalation.

Research shows that Cold-Air Diffusing certain essential oils may:

1) Reduce bacteria, fungus, mold and unpleasant odors:

Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lemon or Lavender are known to have properties that will achieve these desired outcomes for you.

2) Relax and relieve tension, as well as clear the mind:

I highly recommend you try Lavender or Frankincense for these benefits!

3) Help with weight management:

Citrus oils are great for curbing your appetite, as well as uplifting your spirits! I recommend Lemon or Pink Grapefruit.

4) Improve your concentration, alertness and mental clarity:

Use Peppermint or Basil for improving your memory. Both are exellent when you’re studying for exams.

Start by diffusing your oils for no more than 15-30 minutes per day. As you become accustomed to the oils and recognize the effects, you may increase your time of exposure.

In illness, inhale near the “mouth” of your nebulizer or fan difuser. A short session of breathing in the oils for 4-5 minutes should be sufficient, repeat every few hours.

You can also dispense your oils on a tissue, cotton ball, or Organic Celtic smelling salts for Direct Inhalation of 30-60 seconds minimum and up to 5 minutes.

Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and can produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult with your physician regarding your health concerns.

KG has utilized essential oils in her energy medicine practice for more than 30 years. During that time she has facilitated healing for thousands of people suffering from personal trauma, illness and injury. Through her unique AromaTest

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First, please remember that essential oils should never be applied neat (undiluted) to your skin. There are absolutely NO exceptions to this! This includes the soles of your feet or palms of your hands. When using oils neat for inhalation purposes please exercise care and dispense your oils on a tissue or cotton ball for direct inhalation.

In Webster’s Dictionary Medicine is defined as anything that affects our well-being. Aromatic oils have an ancient history of doing just that. In this article I will talk about two methods known and practiced historically for their outstanding medicinal benefits. These two well-known methods are steam and the cooling vapors of a humidifier.

Here are a few ways to easily and simply apply these two methods for beneficial results:

STEAM INHALATION ~ Add 4-8 drops of essential oil to a large bowl of steaming hot water, put a towel over your head to capture the steam. Close your eyes and inhale until the water cools or until you stop smelling the oil. Repeat, if necessary, every 4-5 hours.

Steam inhalation relieves sinus congestion, coughs, colds, flu and sore throats.

Suggested oils to use: eucalyptus, lavender, lemon and tea tree.

HUMIDIFIER (COOL MIST) ~ Add 6-8 drops of essential oil to the water of your humidifier. Run overnight, or add the essential oils 2-3 times during the day, if running continuously. This is an effective method of using oils with a sick child.

Humidifier (cool mist) relieves fever and headache, calms and soothes anxiety when ill, kills germs, air freshener.

Suggested oils to use: lavender, lemon and peppermint

WARNING Essential Oils can damage humidifier plastic and rubber parts.

Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and can produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult with your physician regarding your health concerns.

KG has utilized essential oils in her energy medicine practice for more than 30 years. During that time she has facilitated healing for thousands of people suffering from personal trauma, illness and injury. Through her unique AromaTest

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