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A
BRIEF HISTORY
Initially used as a beauty treatment, aromatherapy is becoming
increasingly popular as a medical and therapeutic therapy.
Essential oils derived from plants are said to have different
therapeutic properties. Some are calming, others stimulating
and uplifting. Such oils have been used for healing and relaxation
by many cultures for thousands of years. Myrrh and frankincense
are mentioned in the Bible and the ancient Egyptians used oils
to embalm the dead. So how can it be made to work for you?
A few drops of
essential oil can be either added to a vegetable carrier oil
for a relaxing massage or placed in a vaporiser (a bowl of water
warmed over a candle) to scent a room. Six or eight drops added
to a warm bath may also encourage relaxation. Medicinal oils
like eucalyptus or peppermint can be added to a bowl of steaming
hot water for inhalation, or placed on a tissue or handkerchief
to sniff when needed.Plant roots, flowers, leaves and stalks
(even trees in some instances) are processed to extract the
oils. Distillation is the most common method of extraction,
whereby the plant is boiled or steamed until the oil vaporises.
This was developed about a thousand years ago by the Persian
physician Ali ibn-Sina (Avicenna) and brought to Europe by returning
Crusaders in the Middle Ages. |
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HOW DOES
IT WORK?
Molecules in the scents released by the oils are absorbed into
the bloodstream either through the skin during massage or by
inhalation through the nose and lungs. These pass to the olfactory
centres in the brain where they are thought to act on the hypothalamus,
the part of the brain that influences mood and the hormonal
system. The
psychological effects of smell have been well researched at
centres such as the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation,
Chicago, but the biochemical pathways that may enable specific
scents to have particular effects is less well known.Studies
on hospital patients in the UK show that massage with essential
oils of neroli or lavender can relieve anxiety. According to
researchers at the Cardiff Smell Lab, Cardiff University, smell
activates the same part of the brain where epilepsy often starts.
Dr Tim Betts, a neuropsychiatrist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,
Birmingham, found that epileptic patients who conditioned themselves
to associate the smell of certain essential oils (jasmine, ylang
ylang, camomile, lavender) with relaxation could prevent the
onset of a seizure simply by sniffing the oil. But oils of fennel,
rosemary, camphor and hyssop increased the risk of seizure for
some patients.
Medical interest in essential oils was rekindled in the early
20th century by Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist who
was impressed by the healing powers of lavender oil when applied
to a burn. Some French doctors now regularly prescribe essential
oils for certain conditions, with a similar approach to herbalists. |
| body
in perfect health |
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WHAT
IS IT GOOD FOR?
- Helps relieve stress &
aids relaxation
- Helps relieve muscle tension
& stiffness
- Reduces muscle spasms
- Improves circulation of
blood movement of lymph fluids
- Treats musculoskeletal problems
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Treatment
cost: £25 - £30
Duration: 1 Hour |
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