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Aromatherapy:
The Good Sense of Good Scents
by Cynthia J. Loving, LMBT & Holistic
Aromatherapist
Aromatherapy
has become a household word! The supermarket shelves are hailing their
aromatherapy soaps, cleaning products, room deodorants, laundry detergents,
baby shampoos, cardboard scents for your automobile, candles and so
much more. Not only has the word "aromatherapy" become a
part of our language, it has also become one of the most misused words
in our vocabulary.
Aromatherapy
is the art and science of using natural, plant essential oils in maintaining
or regaining health and wellbeing of mind, body and spirit. The key
words of this definition are: natural-according to nature; plant-a
living organism that has the ability to synthesize food from carbon
dioxide and possesses cellulose cell walls; essential oils-volatile
oils that give distinctive odor, flavor, etc. to a plant, flower or
fruit; health-physical and mental wellbeing; and wellbeing-a state
of being well.
Using
the above definitions, one must throw out most claims of "aromatherapy."
Items made of synthetic and petroleum products do not fit the criteria.
Further, many of them are of questionable benefit to your health and
wellbeing and, in fact, may be detrimental to your state of wellness.
In addition, the production and use of many of these are harmful to
our home, planet Earth.
Essential
oils are highly concentrated substances extracted from various parts
of a plant. The key words here are highly concentrated - to make one
pound of eucalyptus essential oil it takes approximately 50 pounds
of leaves and twigs; about 150 pounds of lavender flowers are needed
to make 1 pound of oil; rose requires somewhere between 4,000 and
6,000 pounds of petals to make a pound of essential oil. Concentrated!
This
brings us to Safety Issues…there are a few:
-
Due
to the chemical make-up of some essential oils, there are some never to be used
in aromatherapy and others that should never be applied to the skin. Some to be
wary of are: Cedarleaf, cinnamon, clove, horseradish, mugwort, mustard, oregano,
pennyroyal, rue, sassafras, savin, savory, tansy, thuja, wintergreen, wormseed,
wormwood.
- Due to the concentration
it is usually necessary to dilute essential oils prior to applying to the skin.
Most oils are safe to use at a 2% dilution (12 drops in 1 ounce of carrier oil).
- Unless you are
working with a certified aromatherapist, do not use essential oils on or near
infants, young children, people in fragile health, the elderly or during pregnancy.
- Avoid stimulating
oils with people prone to seizure activity.
- Avoid the following
if you have high blood pressure: hyssop, rosemary, sage, thyme.
- Do not use any
essential oil on the skin for longer than 3 weeks without switching to another
oil or taking a break of 3-7 days.
- The label should
have the common name, the botanical name and country of origin.
- Essential oils
are sensitive to light. Only buy oils bottled in amber or cobalt blue bottles
and store in a cool, dark place.
- The bottles should
have a small plastic piece in the neck of the bottle to prevent spillage.
- If it is a blend,
it should list all the ingredients on the label.
- Store
your oils away from homeopathic remedies. The oils can negate the
homeopathic.
True
aromatherapy is a pleasant, easy to use, inexpensive form of self-care.
Have a stuffy nose? -try inhaling essential oil of rosemary or eucalyptus.
Nose won't stop running? -inhaling cedarwood atlas or cypress can
help dry it up. Burned your fingers on the grill?
-
put
lavender on the burn and get almost instant pain relief and its
anti-microbial qualities. Being bugged?
-
use
lemongrass, lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint to repel those pests.
Skin difficulties?
-
elemi
or many other essential oils help bring balance. Feeling low?
-
grapefruit
can help lift the spirits. Losing your hair?
-
a
few drops of bay leaf or rosemary in a natural shampoo can stimulate
the return of your locks. Having difficulty meditating?
-
sacred
spikenard can bring serenity.
All this
and more are yours through the appropriate use of essential oils,
nature's powerful gifts.
Cynthia Loving is a Holistic
Aromatherapist who has been studying with teachers from numerous countries
for 16 years. She is an aromatherapy practitioner, educator, consultant
and supplier of quality essential oils from around the globe. Cynthia
is also a Licensed Massage & Bodywork Therapist, a practitioner and
educator in Comprehensive Craniosacral Therapy and a lecturer in complementary/alternative
practices. Cynthia may be contacted at 336-294-7727 or www.lovingscents.com
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