Aromatherapy is a fascinating subject and one that has recently gained more recognition in the field of science and medicine.
What is it?!
Aromatherapy is 'the controlled therapeutic admission of highly concentrated oils extracted from plants.'
Throughout history, plants and plant extracts have played a major part in our lives. For more than 4000 years flowers, seeds, leaves, fruit, stalks, roots, bark, and rhizomes have been used in medicines. Aromatherapy is another way in which plants are used for medicinal purposes, they can be used therapeutically to treat both physical and emotional conditions. This is done by diluting the oil using a lotion, carrier oil, or cream before being applied to the skins and absorbed or inhaled.
How does it work?
When the oil penetrates the skin it is transported by cellular liquids to the blood and other lymphatic systems, which then carry them around the body to all the organs where they react directly with the body's chemistry. This means that they bypass the digestive system, unlike other conventional medicine, avoiding common problems such as stomach irritation. The oils move quickly and easily through the body and can take effect almost immediately.
Essential oils affect the client in 3 ways:
- Pharmacologically - the chemical changes which take place when the oil enters the body and reacts with the hormones and enzymes
- Physiologically - the oil affects individual organs or the body systems by, for example, sedating them or stimulating them
- Psychologically - often caused by the stimulation of memory, this is related to the emotional reaction that takes place when the oil is inhaled
Not only can the oils treat existing disorders; they are also excellent for use as preventative medicine. For example, they are excellent at stimulating the immune system or reducing stress for example.
Why use it?
What is becoming more widely accepted is that aromatherapy can offer amazing benefits to physical conditions. It can create a sense of well-being, both physically and emotionally, balancing †he mind, body, and spirit.
Oils can support a wide variety of conditions from sore throats and poor sleep to headaches. One study has even found a certain essential oil to be more effective at killing a type of lyme bacteria than antibiotics. While research into the effective use of essential oils is ongoing, here are some of the key benefits:
- support pain management
- improve sleep quality
- reduce stress and anxiety
- soothe sore joints
- relieve headaches
- ease discomforts of labour
- boost immune system
- relax tight muscles
- hospice and palliative care
- alleviate side effects of chemotherapy
Who can use it?
All therapists using oils should be blending their own! No questions. Whether you are a sports therapist, holistic massage therapist or reflexologist then the use and understanding of essential oils can boost your treatments and take you to a new and unique space in terms of what you can offer your clients.
Tamara, our level 3 sports tutor talked to us about her journey into the industry, explaining some of the additional strings she has added to her bow along the way.