image credits: International Federation Of Aromatherapists (IFA)
What is aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Sometimes it’s called essential oil therapy. Aromatherapy uses aromatic essential oils medicinally to improve the health of the body, mind, and spirit. It enhances both physical and emotional health.
Aromatherapy is thought of as both an art and a science. Recently, aromatherapy has gained more recognition in the fields of science and medicine.
How long has aromatherapy been around?
Humans have used aromatherapy for thousands of years. Ancient cultures in China, India, Egypt, and elsewhere incorporated aromatic plant components in resins, balms, and oils. These natural substances were used for medical and religious purposes. They were known to have both physical and psychological benefits.
Essential oils distillation is attributed to the Persians in the 10th century, though the practice may have been in use for a long time prior to this. Information about essential oil distillation was published in the 16th century in Germany. French physicians in the 19th century recognized the potential of essential oils in treating disease.
Medical doctors became more established in the 19th century and focused on using chemical drugs. However, the French and German doctors still recognized the role of natural botanicals in treating illness.
The term “aromatherapy” was coined by a French perfumer and chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé in a book he wrote on the topic that was published in 1937. He had previously discovered the healing potential of lavender in treating burns. The book discusses the use of essential oils in treating medical conditions.
How does aromatherapy treatment work?
Aromatherapy works through the sense of smell and skin absorption using products such as these:
diffusers
aromatic spritzers
inhalers
bathing salts
body oils, creams, or lotions for massage or topical application
facial steamers
hot and cold compresses
clay masks
You can use these alone or in any combination.
There are nearly one hundred types of essential oils available. Generally, people use the most popular oils.
Essential oils are available online, in health food stores, and in some regular supermarkets. It’s important to buy from a reputable producer since the oils aren’t regulated by the FDA. This ensures you’re buying a quality product that is 100 percent natural. It shouldn’t contain any additives or synthetic ingredients. Check out these essential oils available on Amazon.
Each essential oil has an array of unique healing properties, uses, and effects. Combining essential oils to create a synergistic blend creates even more benefits.
Aromatherapy benefits
Aromatherapy has an array of benefits. It’s said to:
manage pain
improve sleep quality
reduce stress, agitation, and anxiety
soothe sore joints
treat headaches and migraines
alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy
ease discomforts of labor
fight bacteria, virus, or fungus
improve digestion
improve hospice and palliative care
boost immunity
One of my favorite plants for fragrance in the garden is definitely StarJasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides. Jasmine is a beautiful woody vine with deep green leaves that look like bay leaf and produce multitudes of tiny white flowers with a beautiful scent several times a year. To sit near a Jasmine vine on a sunny June day, eyes closed, and inhaling the soft sweet fragrance is magical.
This type of jasmine is reliably hardy in zone 8-10 and all throughout the south and west where it is partially evergreen. It can overwinter in NYC in mild winters, (zone 6...) but loses its leaves until spring. I have a huge pot of jasmine in northern Westchester that comes into a cool sunny garage in winter and outside in summer, so it can definitely be grown as a potted houseplant plant as well in the right winter location.
Even though aromatherapy is specifically the use of the essential oils produced by plants, a scented garden is equally therapeutic.
Thus the wise advice to “stop and smell the roses” is an easy way to experience the benefits of aromatherapy, whenever and wherever you are. Take a moment to savor the fragrance of plants.
Jasmine is one of my favorites!
David Kulick