Why is it Called a Therapy? The therapeutic use of pure plant essential oils to enhance health and wellness is aromatherapy.
Pure and Quality: Are They the Same? The effectiveness of essential oils is dependent on purity and quality of the oil, so purchase only high grade oils from a reputable aromatherapist. Quality comes from growing climate, soil and harvesting. The oils vary with the location, season and growers. Purity is determined by whether or not contaminants or trash parts have gotten into the essential oil in the handling or extraction. The oil must also be undiluted by rough handling, machines or by being cut by the retailer to boost profits.
Large Volume to Get Small Volume The fact that it takes an enormous amount of specific parts of plants to extract even a very small amount of pure oil, makes essential oils – especially those from certain plants, very expensive. Add to this many of the delicate parts must be harvested and separated by hand. It is tremendously labor intensive. This is also why an ounce of essential oil is so very much more potent than an ounce of fresh or dry herb or plant. The oil is the potent part of the plant with all of the bulk waste removed.
Reliable Sources This is why you are not going to find high quality oils that are suitable for therapeutic use available over the counter in stores, and especially not in the large discount and drug stores servicing the everyday needs of the general public. You certainly will not find them in scented plug ins, air fresheners and cheap scented candles. Good quality products involve a lot of care and effort and they also cannot be blending in any toxic base without ruining them and creating an unhealthy, non-therapeutic product. So, in spite of the widely bandied about use of the term “aromatherapy” today, let the buyer beware – unless you are buying real therapeutic products from a professional source, it is not really aromatherapy. In fact if used to refer to a pleasant smell that uplifts the emotions just because you find it so, the proper term is perfume, air freshener or disinfectant.
Chemotype vs. Chemistry Aromatherapy is not scent. It is the effect of a chemotype on the body system through absorption and assimilation. A nice small can affect our mood, but moreover, an essential oil affect s mood (and other things) by interaction with our body chemistry on a physical level. The essence of the plant is the part containing the chemotypes, or the chemistry of the plant, that which can affect other systems and react with other chemistries.
The Drawbacks of Extracting Chemotypes Occasionally some chemotypes are extracted and put into formulations. Although the chemotypes are the same, the quality and handing is not, and the extraction often negates the overall beneficial effect that is rendered by synergies of all elements and properties within the natural compound. A drop of pure essential oil is composed of a few or several chemotypes. It is the combination that gives it the unique properties. The chemotypes do not have the same effect or effectiveness when isolated and used alone. This is why natural medicine, essential oils and herbs and natural vitamins and minerals are far superior to those synthesized.
Science is Good This is not to say that we should shun pharmaceutical products. Science has enabled man to increase potency, duration in the blood stream, timed release, sustained action and to more specifically target actions. Drugs give us more control. They also are far less expensive than natural essences and the quality is standardized to a degree which you cannot with natural products.
Essential Oils at Work
Holistic Therapy Natural plant essences work on many levels, unlike a synthetic. They work on the emotional body and the spiritual body as well as our physical bodies. They affect our moods, and our environment as well. Because they work on many levels we could say they are more effective, as they do more things at once.
Across the Border Essential oils are absorbed into the body and enter the bloodstream where they are distributed thought the body to all organs and systems immediately. It only takes 7 to 10 seconds for the blood to have it distributed throughout the whole body. This is one ways in which essential oils are so effective – no waiting to be digested. The action is quick and direct. These exceptionally small molecules are even able to pass the blood brain barrier and interact with our neurochemicals to affect our mood directly – more than a pretty scent – a real mood adjustment. This ability to be so easily absorbed, be quickly distributed and to interact with our chemistry so directly means oils with different properties can be used effectively to treat all organ systems equally well. Essential oils can balance hormones, kill bacteria and viruses, and act as stimulants, anti-depressants or sedatives.
How are Essential Oils Used?
Professional Uses All forms of massage and bodywork are greatly enhanced by the use of essential oils. They enhance the experience for the clients and enable the therapist to do more effective work with less strain.
Benefits of Essential Oils in Massage reduction of inflammation muscle relaxation Toning organ systems increased circulation mental relaxation pain relief Relieve ki blockages Cleanse the lymph Cleansing -detoxification Breaking down scar tissue Help break down fatty deposits
Home Use Essential oils may be used at home in diffusers, candles (real aromatherapy candles), incense (real incense), bath salts, lotions, body oils and sprays. There are many methods and purposes for essential oils in the home.
Aromatherapy Blends Aromatherapists create blends called synergies, in which the essential oils work together synergistically, having a greater modified effect than they might have alone. They use the essential oils to balance, temper, and buffer or enhance other essential oils in the blend. They also create new synergistic effects through combinations.
Home Blends There are many blends you can create on your own for home use, for effective, yet safe aromatherapy products. Choose something you like that suits your mood, or for a certain effect, such as if you are anxious, and want to relax, or need help sleeping or waking up.
Use this Site as Your Resource All of the information that you need is on this site, and there are several recipes too. If you have questions, just contact the Alchemist on this site or the Health and Wellness Blog. If you do not find some information on this site that you want, just let me know. You are also welcome to contribute your own stories and recipes here. http://www.alchemistsroom.us/aromatherapy-recipes-share.php
Alchemy by The Alchemist I created the following categories for my blends. The last category is a product that is my own unique creation. The second contains a line of blends to be used with the Tarot.
1. Therapeutic Blends 2. Meditation Blends 3. Therapeutic Perfumes.
Therapeutic Blends These are “medicinal,” they are treatments, to address a specific need, illness or problem.
Meditation Blends It is easy to see how the exquisite scents of the aromatherapy oils can transport us and assist us in reaching a meditative estate. Once on our journey, the choice of blend can help us to invoke the wisdom and spirit attitude we are trying to achieve. Churches and temples have long values essential oils for this purpose, using the potent incenses in the services. The essences were thought to be magical.
Aromatherapy of the Tarot I have been reading tarot since I was a teen and combined with some study in various tarot and mysticism, I developed a line of blends used for tarot, personal growth using tarot and mediation. I call the Tarot Oils or Aromatherapy of the Tarot. They are effective for personal and spiritual growth and for overcoming emotional obstacles.
How to Use Meditation Blends Use mediation essential oils in diffusers, incense or in small vials for inhalation, mists, or dab a small amount on Chakra centers. They are great for enhancing and focusing energy work. You will find that you are drawn to the one that you need when you need it. You may be working on more than one at any given time. Use these for growth, as you meditate or just for enjoyment. They will support you no matter how you use them.
Therapeutic Perfumes Do not settle for just the scent when it can be helping your health and wellbeing in some way. Get double value out of your scent. Some of the added benefits you could get form a perfume include: weight loss, appetite suppression, hormone balancing, controlling anxiety, and strengthening the immune system, detoxify and cleanse your body. These are just a few. Also real perfume, the fine kind, is made from essential oils, make them the oils you need and you are on your way to better health, that easily.
Common Sense And Safety Essential oils are not regulated by the FDA As natural products, they work differently from pharmaceuticals, by helping to bring the body back into balance.
* IMPORTANT: For external use only. Keep away from children and pets. Not for use by pregnant or nursing women. Not for use by anyone with a seizure disorder. Careful to use proper oils with any blood disorder. Some oils raise blood pressure and some reduce it. Keep all natural; products tightly capped and in a cool place, out of sunlight.
Should I do a Book? I am constantly being asked for the recipes to my special blends. Until this site, I did not give out my secret formulas. Perhaps I will just put them in a book – the truth shall unfold.
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