If flower essences are the soul of the plant aromatherapy is the blood.
Aromatherapy conveys the concept of healing with aromatic substances. (Robert Tisserand)
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can be defined as the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit. Aromatherapy is an exploration into the physiological, psychological and spiritual realm of the individual's response to aromatic extracts as well as to observe and enhance the individual's innate healing process. As a holistic medicine, Aromatherapy is both a preventative approach as well as an active treatment during acute and chronic stages of illness or 'dis'-ease.
It is a natural, non-invasive treatment system designed to affect the whole person not just the symptom or disease and to assist the body's natural ability to regulate, heal and maintain itself by the correct use of essential oils.
Origin of the word Aromatherapie
The term "aromatherapie" was coined by Rene Maurice Gattefosse in 1928. Gattefossé is most well-known for the incident in which he burned his hand in his laboratory and plunged it a vat of lavender. To his surprise, his hand healed and did not bear the scarring he feared, if the hand had been left untreated.He utilized the word to imply the therapeutic use of aromatic substances (essential oils).
History
When and where did it begin? Also, society seems to be rediscovering it. Why did it die out?
NAHA Director Coordinator Shellie Enteen shares the following:
One could say that aromatherapy is as old as man’s relationship to the plant kingdom and so the beginning of aromatherapy is shrouded in the mists of time. No one knows the identity of the first person to recognize the healing properties of plants but detailed recipes using aromatic compounds are given in the Old Testament and well sealed urns filled with aromatic resins have been unearthed in the tombs of Pharaohs. Extensive therapeutic use of essential oils is recorded in ancient China and India and much of the Middle East. Roman soldiers on campaign had their wounds treated with honey and myrrh. Terra Cotta distillers have recently been found in archaeological digs, but widespread use of distilled essential oils from Europe began after the invention of glass distillation mechanisms in the 16th century and this opened the door to extracting the volatile components from Chamomile, Lavender and Rosemary and other plants found mainly in the northern regions.
Certainly before the late 1800’s, the essential oils themselves were harder to get and more highly prized than they are today. The increase in trade routes and conquest in war brought many of the essences and in some cases the plants themselves to new homes in new countries. A prime example is the oil of Frankincense (Boswellia carteri). Called Olibanum in the East and used in spiritual ritual, it was brought to Europe during the Crusades and given the current common name which means “the true incense.” Orange trees and other citrus are thought to originate in China and the East, brought back to Spain and Italy by explorers.
The popular use of essential oils and herbs for therapeutic purposes became eclipsed by the development of the microscope and the ability to isolate certain bioactive compounds and reproduce them synthetically. The most common example is the herb White Willow Bark; replaced by the synthetic form of this plant’s pain relieving compound, salicylic acid, which we know as aspirin. Synthesized compounds may be greater in strength than naturally occurring plant material and there is no need to rely on growing seasons and other issues that affect crops. Whether this is a total improvement is debatable.
Modern interest is credited to the famous story of French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse and his miraculous cure after burning himself in his cosmetics lab in the early 1900’s. In fact, he coined that term ‘Aroma-therapie’ in 1937 and produced a Materia Medica of the therapeutic uses of the aromatic extracts.
It is a natural, non-invasive treatment system designed to affect the whole person not just the symptom or disease and to assist the body's natural ability to regulate, heal and maintain itself by the correct use of essential oils.
Origin of the word Aromatherapie
The term "aromatherapie" was coined by Rene Maurice Gattefosse in 1928. Gattefossé is most well-known for the incident in which he burned his hand in his laboratory and plunged it a vat of lavender. To his surprise, his hand healed and did not bear the scarring he feared, if the hand had been left untreated.He utilized the word to imply the therapeutic use of aromatic substances (essential oils).
History
When and where did it begin? Also, society seems to be rediscovering it. Why did it die out?
NAHA Director Coordinator Shellie Enteen shares the following:
One could say that aromatherapy is as old as man’s relationship to the plant kingdom and so the beginning of aromatherapy is shrouded in the mists of time. No one knows the identity of the first person to recognize the healing properties of plants but detailed recipes using aromatic compounds are given in the Old Testament and well sealed urns filled with aromatic resins have been unearthed in the tombs of Pharaohs. Extensive therapeutic use of essential oils is recorded in ancient China and India and much of the Middle East. Roman soldiers on campaign had their wounds treated with honey and myrrh. Terra Cotta distillers have recently been found in archaeological digs, but widespread use of distilled essential oils from Europe began after the invention of glass distillation mechanisms in the 16th century and this opened the door to extracting the volatile components from Chamomile, Lavender and Rosemary and other plants found mainly in the northern regions.
Certainly before the late 1800’s, the essential oils themselves were harder to get and more highly prized than they are today. The increase in trade routes and conquest in war brought many of the essences and in some cases the plants themselves to new homes in new countries. A prime example is the oil of Frankincense (Boswellia carteri). Called Olibanum in the East and used in spiritual ritual, it was brought to Europe during the Crusades and given the current common name which means “the true incense.” Orange trees and other citrus are thought to originate in China and the East, brought back to Spain and Italy by explorers.
The popular use of essential oils and herbs for therapeutic purposes became eclipsed by the development of the microscope and the ability to isolate certain bioactive compounds and reproduce them synthetically. The most common example is the herb White Willow Bark; replaced by the synthetic form of this plant’s pain relieving compound, salicylic acid, which we know as aspirin. Synthesized compounds may be greater in strength than naturally occurring plant material and there is no need to rely on growing seasons and other issues that affect crops. Whether this is a total improvement is debatable.
Modern interest is credited to the famous story of French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse and his miraculous cure after burning himself in his cosmetics lab in the early 1900’s. In fact, he coined that term ‘Aroma-therapie’ in 1937 and produced a Materia Medica of the therapeutic uses of the aromatic extracts.
How it Works
Aromatherapy works on three main levels: through the sense of smell, through absorption and through absorption via skin
Smell: The sense of smell is the most primitive of all our senses and it is linked to some of the oldest and deepest parts of the brain. As we breathe in the aromas of the essential oils, it can trigger emotional and even physical responses and allow vivid memory recall of people or places.
When we breathe in aromatic molecules, they travel to the top of the nose where the molecules come in contact with specialized nerve cells called Olfactory cells. These cells have tiny hairs which recognize a specific aroma through the ‘lock and key’ process. This means each hair will only recognize a specific aroma. This process produces nerve impulses which travel to the limbic system, the part of the brain which is most concerned with survival, instincts and emotions.
It is thought by scientists that the activity of the nerve signal passing through this region causes mood change by altering brain chemistry.
Absorption: Another effective way that aromatherapy works is through the inhalation of the essential oils which then travels internally and absorbed. This is especially effective within the respiratory system as their antibacterial and antiviral properties make them ideal for maintaining a healthy respiratory system. This includes the sinuses, throat and chest and also to help relieve symptoms of infections and allergies.
Absorption Through the Skin: The molecules in the essential oils are small enough to allow them to penetrate through the skin. The molecules travel through the epidermis (the top layer of skin) reaching the dermis (a deeper layer of skin) and to the blood vessels allowing them to circulate through to all body areas.
Most essential oils have antibacterial properties; some are antiviral, anti-fungal and/or anti-inflammatory. Essential oils also contain antioxidants which help to prevent cell damage and protect against the build up of toxic waste in skin cells, thereby helping reduce signs of aging.
In skincare products, by penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin, essential oils can have a positive effect on the skin, such as optimizing the cellular renewal process, enhancing blood circulation and addressing problems such as acne, eczema and aging skin.
Once the constituents of essential oils enter the bloodstream they can be carried to all areas of your body. They reach areas with a good network of blood vessels more quickly; for example, the liver, kidneys and some muscle groups.
The majority of essential oil constituents leave the body within hours, mainly through excretion via the kidneys, although their effects can last much longer within the tissues.
Smell: The sense of smell is the most primitive of all our senses and it is linked to some of the oldest and deepest parts of the brain. As we breathe in the aromas of the essential oils, it can trigger emotional and even physical responses and allow vivid memory recall of people or places.
When we breathe in aromatic molecules, they travel to the top of the nose where the molecules come in contact with specialized nerve cells called Olfactory cells. These cells have tiny hairs which recognize a specific aroma through the ‘lock and key’ process. This means each hair will only recognize a specific aroma. This process produces nerve impulses which travel to the limbic system, the part of the brain which is most concerned with survival, instincts and emotions.
It is thought by scientists that the activity of the nerve signal passing through this region causes mood change by altering brain chemistry.
Absorption: Another effective way that aromatherapy works is through the inhalation of the essential oils which then travels internally and absorbed. This is especially effective within the respiratory system as their antibacterial and antiviral properties make them ideal for maintaining a healthy respiratory system. This includes the sinuses, throat and chest and also to help relieve symptoms of infections and allergies.
Absorption Through the Skin: The molecules in the essential oils are small enough to allow them to penetrate through the skin. The molecules travel through the epidermis (the top layer of skin) reaching the dermis (a deeper layer of skin) and to the blood vessels allowing them to circulate through to all body areas.
Most essential oils have antibacterial properties; some are antiviral, anti-fungal and/or anti-inflammatory. Essential oils also contain antioxidants which help to prevent cell damage and protect against the build up of toxic waste in skin cells, thereby helping reduce signs of aging.
In skincare products, by penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin, essential oils can have a positive effect on the skin, such as optimizing the cellular renewal process, enhancing blood circulation and addressing problems such as acne, eczema and aging skin.
Once the constituents of essential oils enter the bloodstream they can be carried to all areas of your body. They reach areas with a good network of blood vessels more quickly; for example, the liver, kidneys and some muscle groups.
The majority of essential oil constituents leave the body within hours, mainly through excretion via the kidneys, although their effects can last much longer within the tissues.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are “highly aromatic substances made in plants by special cells but at this stage the material is not yet an essential oil, but is called an essence. It becomes an essential oil only after it has been extracted by distillation." (https://naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/what-are-essential-oils/)
Essential oils are a complex make-up of volatile chemical components. These include, but are not limited to, phenols, alcohols, aldehydes, and esters. Each chemical component contributes to the overall therapeutic effect of the essential oil. An essential oil’s chemical make-up may vary from the plant from which it was extracted from due to its method of extraction; for example, distillation vs. carbon dioxide extraction vs. expression.
Essential oils are a complex make-up of volatile chemical components. These include, but are not limited to, phenols, alcohols, aldehydes, and esters. Each chemical component contributes to the overall therapeutic effect of the essential oil. An essential oil’s chemical make-up may vary from the plant from which it was extracted from due to its method of extraction; for example, distillation vs. carbon dioxide extraction vs. expression.
The Purpose of Essential Oils and Aromas in Plants
Essential oils are not just used for healing by people. Plants use essential oils stored within themselves too! Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a great means of communication between plants and are used in a number of ways:
- To attract pollinators: Plants cannot move around as people do. So, they need to attract potential pollinators in order to pass on their “genes” to the next generation and ensure that the species continues. If essential oils are located in the flower or fruit of a plant, it is generally used for attraction purposes. Pollinators of plants include bees, moths, birds, beetles, and bats. Different mammal species are attracted to different aromas. Each plant species puts out varying aromas. And once a plant is pollinated, its aroma changes so that the pollinator is guided towards another plant which is in need of pollination.3
- To defend the plant against predators: Again, plants are literally rooted to the spot in which they grow so they have to come up with some form of defense against predators. Essential oils stored in the root, leaf, or bark of a plant are usually used for defense purposes by the plant. Predators hoping for a tasty meal might munch on a plant’s leaf and experience nausea or even death. Certain plants emit toxic aromas designed to defend that plant. The chemical component of terpene is often the first line of defense in these situations. In one study, it was shown that maple tree saplings released chemical compounds into the air to warn others of danger when they were exposed to maple trees damaged by herbivores.4
- To warn other plants: Plants may also have a “dispute” with their neighbors over territorial rights! Some plants emit chemical components, such as terpenes, to warn other plants that they are encroaching on another plant’s growing area. Plants are particular who they choose as neighbors in some situations! On the other hand, plants can also warn each other of impending danger. Communication methods may vary between ultrasonic sound, thread-like fungi networks, and airborne chemical compounds. Either way, plants have each other’s back through neighborhood community and scientists are only just touching the surface on what be happening in the plant world via communication methods.
- For healing: Even plants use aromatic compounds to heal themselves. Resins, such as those emitted by conifer trees, help to “heal” the tree’s wounds. Wounds include the burrowing of insects into the tree’s bark and fungal infections. Resins possess anti-fungal and antiseptic healing properties, allowing the tree to literally heal itself.
Sources Cited:
https://www.aromatherapyassociates.com/usa/how-aromatherapy-works
https://naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/what-are-essential-oils/
https://www.aromatherapyassociates.com/usa/how-aromatherapy-works
https://naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/what-are-essential-oils/