Introduction To Aromatherapy

What Is Aromatherapy?

Imagine, a fragrance washes over you and suddenly you are transported back in time to a treasured moment from long ago.... That is the beauty, the essence, the miracle of subtle aromatherapy.
Organic aromas such as freshly baked bread, a newly mown lawn, the salty sea, or the sweet smell of the earth after a rainfall fill our everyday lives. This is the sensory world of smell, which is one of the ways our being gives and receives information.
Aromas are received through the olfactory system of the nose. The olfactory membranes under the bony covering of the nose contain hundreds of millions of extremely sensitive nerve endings for receiving and processing aromas. Microscopic vaporized oil particles from every organic substance enter the nose and float along specialized cilia which differentiate each chemical and respond in kind by generating a unique code of nervous impulses which are received by the central nervous system. These impulses then begin a long but momentary journey.
First they are carried to the limbic mid-brain (the center of our emotionals and memories), and then to the base of the brain, which is the pathway between the spine and higher brain centers, passing between the pituitary gland (switchboard of the endocrine system and ALL emotions) and the pineal gland (regulates our biological clock and stimulates our inner vision) and then to a little known part of the brain called the amygdala, which stores and releases emotional trauma. Finally the impulses travel to our taste perception, the gustatory center of the brain. It is no wonder odors, smells and aromas create such a biological and emotional response!
The molecular chemistry of the essence of a plant, it’s essential oil, is diverse and complicated. Each chemical constituent creates a singular effect. For example, oils containing sesquiterpenes, such as Frankincense and Sandalwood, are able to pass the blood brain barrier in the brain, allowing oxygenation of the pineal and pituitary glands.

"In studies conducted at Vienna and Berlin Universities, researchers found that sesquiterpenes in the essential oils of sandalwood and frankincense can increase levels of oxygen in the brain by up to 28% (Nasel, 1992). Such an increase in brain oxygen may lead to a heightened level of activity in the hypothalamus and limbic system of the brain, which can have dramatic effects not only on emotions, learning, and attitude, but also on many physical processes of the body, such as immune function, hormone balance, and energy levels. High levels of sesquiterpenes also occur in melissa (lemon balm), myrrh, and clove oil. This synergy from the combination of the many constituents unique to each plant’s essential oil is powerful indeed.

When applied to the skin, the plant’s life-force is absorbed into the body’s fluid systems which eventually circulates through the organ and glandular systems of the body and eventually through all fluids and tissues of the body. The foot is the most porous of all the body's skin. Rub a clove of garlic on the bottom of your foot and in 1-3 minutes you will taste it in your mouth and “feel” the sensation in your nose! Essential oils applied to the feet, the most porous part of the body, travel throughout the body and affect the cells, including the hair, in just 10-20 minutes.
New research suggests that because the olfactory nerves are similar to other nerves in the body, they may have the ability to form and transmit intelligent codes of information to all other parts of the body via neurotransmitter chemicals in the body. Recent research suggests that intelligence occurs not only in the brain but inside neurotransmitters.
There is no doubt that essential oils through inhalation and the direct application to the skin affect not only the physical body, but the mind, emotions and spirit. The potential for healing is enormous with therapeutic-grade essential oils. We are only beginning to understand their power and effectiveness. I invite you to explore and experiment with the oils. Remember, go slow, inhaling or applying only one or two oils at a time. Savor each oil and give each one time for its voice to speak to you. Soon, you will know the oils intimately.

Enjoy!

aisha

Some aromatherapy books you may like:

''Aromatherapy Workbook'' by Shirley Price,

''The Fragrant Mind'' by Valerie Ann Worwood,

''The Illustrated Encylopedia Of Essential Oils'' by Julia Lawless,

and my favourite ''Aromatherapy For Healing The Spirit'' by Gabriel Mojay,