The Benefits Of Aromatherapy And Essential Oils

Learn how aromatherapy can help you heal and feel better

The practice of using volatile plant oils to enhance the psychological and physical aspects of an individual is called aromatherapy. The invigorating or uplifting scents of this process relies on elements, such as essential oils of well-known plants and flowers to provide an array of health benefits when used in the proper manner. To date, there is close to 100 essential oils used in aromatherapy techniques.

Essential oils are extracted from herbs, plants, fruits, and flowers, which work once they come in contact with the blood stream. Aromatherapy is also seen when an individual spreads a scented lotion or cream on their body and pleasantly takes in the enveloping scent. Additionally, one should take notice that perfume oils (such as "fragrance oils") are not in the same category as essential oils, as these options contain man-made chemicals that do more harm than good.

The Benefits of Aromatherapy

As the aromatherapy essential oils are inhaled into the lungs, a wide-range of benefits that affect the brain and body have been noted for many centuries. Reactions are triggered in the brain, while physical changes take place to ease the symptoms of many different common ailments - on of the reactions is the connection. Many people seeking natural approaches to achieve an improved status in health consider aromatherapy. Instead of relying on caffeine and prescribed medications, aromatherapy provides a treatment that carries very few side effects. A host of medical concerns are treated using aromatherapy, such as PMS cramps, high blood pressure, congestion, dandruff, blemished skin, minor aches and joint pains, tension headaches, insomnia, and a failing immune system.

Aromatherapy is also convenient, as it is a practice easily accomplished within the comforts of your own home. While professionals in the massage or spa business offer pricey aromatherapy sessions, those sticking to a budget can still benefit from the same techniques, but within their own controlled setting. For example, a simple scented candle is enough to send a person into the arms of relaxation.
                                              

Common Aromatherapy Scents

Depending on what you wish to achieve in aromatherapy, you will encounter a variety of selections that treat ailments spanning from bronchial coughs to stress. Accomplishing a state of relaxation, rejuvenation, and invigoration is often associated with aromatherapy oils of sage, lavender, and sandalwood. These selections contain components that possess the ability to ease the signs and symptoms of tension, anxiety, and insomnia.

To intensify the sense of wellbeing, essential oils are sometimes combined with therapeutic massage in order to enhance the overall process. As the oils are absorbed through the skin, they come in contact with the circulation of blood, which speeds up the effectiveness of the aromatherapy oils while still being absorbed through the nose.

Studies have even revealed that lavender can slow down the heart rate and lower blood pressure. It also works wonders by relieving muscle tension. Chamomile also allows one to relax. Encouraging a sense of motivation is associated with the essential oils of pine, mint, or citrus. When using candles and sprays that contain essential oils of lime, orange, lemon, or grapefruit - an uplifted spirit is the result. Peppermint and eucalyptus are known to create stimulation within the body. Aromatherapy has also been used to set the mood in the bedroom, as gardenia, sandalwood, and jasmine bring romantic scents into the air.

Overall, an individual can take advantage of aromatherapy by seeking the lotions, candles, gels, bath salts, room sprays, inhalants, and vaporizers that utilize the essential oils that correspond to their concerns.

By Lee Dobbins Published: 10/20/2007

Technorati Tags: essential aromatherapy, herbal aromatherapy

Aromatherapy, Essential Oils and Benefits

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Aromatherapy uses essential oils for their curative properties. They give soothing effects to body and brain.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils for their remedial properties. All essential oils or essences can be divided into three classes: (i) terpenic (ii) oxygenated and (iii) sulphurized. All have antiseptic, healing and anti-bacterial properties and above all different chemical structures.

Essences are not only useful because of their bacterial action but also due to their healing effects obtained by means of a range of activities. They are also used in beauty products like soap, shampoo, perfumes and lotions. These aroma products with remedial properties help to treat acne and other skin disorders.

Essences can be divided according to these activities: antispasmodic or spasmolytic, stimulatory, hormonal and anti-fermentative. In this connection it is remarkable how the traditional use of certain plants has now been justified by qualitative analysis of their essences.

In old days people sprinkled themselves with the essence of rosemary, sage, thyme, and other fragrant plants as a protection against contagious diseases during epidemics.

It has been proved that many plants for example, produce substances with hormonal qualities similar to the female ovarian hormones and therefore behave in the same way. Sage, willow, hops, and liquorice have long been popular remedies to increase the milk flow of a nursing mother or to correct and stabilize the menstrual flow. There are most likely many other types of plant that produce such hormones or others that are akin to them. It is important, therefore, that these valuable natural resources should be discovered, classified and used under strict medical control to avoid dependence on ill-tolerated synthetic preparations.

Many people have the personal experience of the anti-putrefactive and anti-fermentative uses of certain essential oil-producing plants such as funnel, coriander and anise, which are especially effective remedies against such complaints as gastritis and colitis.

Know more on Home remedies at Natural cures guide - a health guide to make you and your family live better, fit and healthy.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

By Nick Mutt Published: 5/13/2008

Technorati Tags: essential aromatherapy, oils herbs

  Here is a guide to methods of extraction of essential oils from various plant sources… There are several methods of obtaining aromatic substances from plant material, most of which are described below. But strictly speaking, essential oils are only those obtained by distillation or expression.

Distillation

Distillation is the most widely used and the most economical method of extracting essential oils. There is a great deal of skill involved in the process of distillation in the if the precious essential oil is not to be lost or changed in its composition. Some plants are distilled immediately after harvesting, whereas others may be left for a few days or even dried prior to extraction.

In distillation, the plant material is heated, either by placing it in water which is brought to the boil or by passing steam through it. The heat and steam cause the cell structure of the plant material to burst and break down, thus freeing the essential oils. The essential oil molecules and steam are carried along a pipe and channelled through a cooling tank, where they return to the liquid form and are collected in a vat. The emerging liquid is a mixture of oil and water, and since essential oils are not water soluble they can be easily separated from the water and siphoned off. Essential oils which are lighter than water will float on the surface, whereas heavier oils such as clove will sink.

Expression

This method is reserved exclusively for members of the citrus family such as bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin and orange. The essence yielded is found in small sacs which are located under the surface of rind. This process was originally carried out using simple hand pressure. The citrus essence was squeezed from the rinds and then collected in a sponge which, once saturated, was squeezed into a bucket. Due to the labour costs involved the majority of citrus oil is now expressed using mechanical presses.

Solvent Extraction

The process of solvent extraction does not yield essential oils. This method is employed for flowers, gums and resins and it produces ‘absolutes’ and ‘resinoids’. The technique is used for higher yield or to extract oils that cannot be obtained by any other process. Jasmine, for example, is adversely affected by hot water and steam.

Absolutes

To yield an absolute the aromatic plant material (flowers, leaves, etc.) is extracted by hydrocarbon solvents such as benzene or hexane. The plant material is covered with the solvent and slowly heated to dissolve the aromatic molecules. The solvent extracts the odour and then the solvent is filtered off to produce a ‘concrete’. A concrete is a solid, wax-like substance containing about 50 per cent wax and 50 per cent volatile oil such as jasmine.

To obtain the absolute the concrete is mixed with pure alcohol to dissolve out the aromatic molecules, and then chilled. This mixture is filtered to eliminate waste products and to separate out insoluble waxes. The alcohol is evaporated off gently under vaccum. The thick, viscous, coloured liquid known as the absolute is left behind.

Resinoids

Solvent extraction can also be used for gums and resins to produce resinoids. Resins are the solid/semi-solid substances which exude naturally from a tree or plant that has been damaged. Commercially, resins are obtained by cutting into the bark or stem, and the gum-like substance hardens once it is exposed to the air.

The natural resinous material is extracted with a hydrocarbon solvent such as petroleum ether, hexane or alcohol. These solvents are then filtered off and subsequently removed by distillation. A resinoid remains where a hydrocarbon solvent has been used (eg. benzoin resinoid). Resinoids are often employed by the perfume manufacturers as fixatives to prolong the aroma of a fragrance (as are concretes).

Enfleurage

The process of enfleurage also yields an absolute, although this method is virtually obsolete nowadays. It is very time consuming and labour intensive and, therefore, highly expensive. Formerly this was the main method of extraction for delicate flowers such as jasmine which continue to produce perfume even after they have ben picked. It involves the use of purified odourless cold fat which is spread over sheets of glass mounted in large rectangular wooden frames. Flowers are strewn upon this layer of fat which absorbs the essential oil. After approximately a day the flowers are removed to be replaced by fresh flowers. The process is repeated many times - even beyond months - until the fat is saturated.

Carbon Dioxide Extraction

The relatively new method was introduced only in the 1980s. The price is high because the equipment used is expensive. The process has been designed for the perfume industry. Oils which are extracted utilising carbon dioxide are supposed to be superior, pure and very close to the natural essential oil as it exists in the plant - and they are completely free of residues of carbon dioxide.

Hydrodiffusion/percolation

Hydrodiffusion or percolation is the most modern method of extraction. This process is faster than distillation, and the equipment is much more simple than that used for carbon dioxide extraction. Steam spray is passed through the plant material (which is suspended on a grid) from above. The emerging liquid composed of oil and condensed steam is then cooled. The result is a mixture of essential oil and water (as in the distillation process) which can be easily separated.

Maceration

For this process plants are placed into a vat of warm vegetable oil which causes the plant cells to rupture, causing the absorption of the essential oils. The vat is then agitated for several days. The resulting oil is filtered and bottled, and is ready for use as a massage medium. Examples of macerated oils are calendula, carrot and hypericum.

Aromatherapy Essential Oils
Essential oils are the concentrated essence of plant material widely used in aromatherapy. They are droplets of water-like fluid contained in the leaves, stems, bark, flowers, roots and/or fruits of different plants, and give the plant its unique .

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