Essential oils have been used to treat ailments since the time of ancient Greeks and Romans. The term Aromatherapy to describe the use of these distillates was coined in 1930 by the French chemist Gattefose. Aromatherapy utilises powerful constituents distilled from many different plants. These distillates have formed the basis for many pharmaceuticals and skincare products today. Unfortunately most products now contain so little of these precious essentials the effect is lost amongst artificial ingredients and harsh chemicals. Sometimes they are substituted completely for chemicals with a similar fragrance. These do not have any beneficial effect.

Some people are suspicious of the efficacy of Aromatherapy. They are often exposed to commercial wannabes who sell smelly things with no therapeutic benefit. They may have had a treatment falsely referred to as Aromatherapy. This is disappointing for the client and the industry because Aromatherapy can achieve wonderful things when administered properly by a professional. You can find genuine Aromatherapists via ATMS Australian Traditional Medicine Society or IFA International Federation of Aromatherapists. When making an appointment you should ask if the practitioner is registered with either of these groups. The genuine Aromatherapist will proudly show their qualifications and may also be registered with Health cover providers. Check your provider to see if they offer rebates for Aromatherapy. More and more do as they recognise the real value of Aromatherapy as both preventative and complimentary medicine. To find an Aromatherapist local to you check directories online such as ntpages.com.au, atms.com.au or ifa.com.au.

Aromatherapy utilizes the essentials with a broad range of application methods. These fall into three main groups - internal, absorption through the skin and inhalation. Rarely are they taken orally because the digestive system limits the area of effect and there are risks involved. Essential oils should not be taken in this way without professional supervision as all essential oils are potentially toxic and if abused can be deadly. Absorption through the skin may be administered via massage, baths, poultices, ointments, gels, suppositories and more. Some people are sceptical as to whether things can actually be absorbed by the skin. Think of the effectiveness of nicotine patches. Our skin is not entirely impermeable. Some things just do get in. Often this is forgotten and people blindly slather their bodies in products full of petro chemicals and artificial fragrances. These are of no benefit and often harmful but for most people the concept that these products are affecting them internally is hard to grasp.

Inhalation is probably the most well known method of administering aromatherapy. This can be diffusing the essentials in a room with an electric or candle warmed oil burner, inhaled with the steam from a bowl of warm water or dry inhalation simply by sniffing a drop on a tissue. When people ask me does it really work I ask them this. Have you ever smelled something so bad it has made you want to throw up? If you have been really unlucky you may have been exposed to a smell that has made you gag or actually vomit. This is the effect of smell. It is very real. The only way our olfactory system can detect a smell is if particles are present even though they are minute and not visible to the naked eye they are there and when inhaled they are effective. The olfactory system which allows us the ability to smell also happens to be linked with a part of our brain and nervous system known as the limbic system. The olfactory system is designed to have an immediate effect on our nervous system without our brain having to interpret it. The subtlety of inhalation is particularly effective for emotional or mental disturbance. We all endure some degree of anxiety, stress or perhaps have troubled sleep. These problems can be treated easily and effectively via inhalation.

The joy of Aromatherapy is that it is so pleasant. You need no sugar to get this medicine down. It truly is a wonderful experience for the client and the practitioner. I was drawn to Aromatherapy because of its seemingly magical effects as well as the pleasure of working with the essential oils. So far I have mentioned psychological effects but essential oils are nature’s pharmaceuticals. They can help cuts, burns, bruises, scarring, skin conditions, digestive issues, aches and pains, colds and flu and the list goes on. It is impossible to list everything that essential oils can assist in the treatment of in this one article.

Perhaps you are recovering from an injury or operation. The oils can assist your healing maximising the speed of recovery and minimising scarring. The effectiveness is due to the lymphatic drainage techniques as well as the cicatrising qualities of the oils. If you are a cancer patient you may be experiencing uncomfortable side effects due to chemotherapy and radiation that can be treated symptomatically with essential oils3. You can also benefit from the relaxing stress relieving effects of the aromatherapy massage to help emotionally while boosting your immune system. Pregnant women can safely benefit from Aromatherapy massage and treatments for anxiety, aches and pains and other nasty side effects. Qualified Aromatherapists know which oils are safe for mum and the growing foetus. They can even provide oil blends to help prepare for what is to come, assist with the birthing process itself and aid healing after the birth. Most people do not understand how stress, even in the low levels that most of us endure reduces our immune system. Your immune system is fighting a daily battle against pathogens whether they are bacteria, viruses, fungus, or your own cells turned cancerous. Regular Aromatherapy is the best thing you can do for your immune system.

References:
1. Battaglia S. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy 2nd edition. The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy, Australia, 2003
2. Price S. Aromatherapy Workbook. Thorsons, England, 2000.
3. Gravett P. An investigationof the use of essential oils for the treatment of chemotherapy induced side-effects in a group of patients undergoing high dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue for breast cancer. AROMA ’95 Conference proceedings, Aromatherapy Publications, England, 1995.