A Basic Introduction to Aromatherapy: Definitions & Precautions

Aromatherapy is a useful tool for encouraging good health, increasing wellness, and promoting healing. Aromatherapy can provide solutions for literally hundreds of different conditions such as soothing dry hands, treating headaches, and boosting your concentration. Many people consider aromatherapy a perfectly safe and natural approach to overall wellness but there are precautions you must take and rules of use to follow.

Aromatherapy Basics

The term “aromatherapy” was coined in 1928 by Rene Maurice Gattefosse to define the use of essential oils to treat different conditions. As aromatherapy has evolved through the years various definitions have emerged. Aromatherapy is known to some as a noninvasive and natural treatment that can help to balance body, mind, and energy. Some feel that the aromatic qualities of aromatherapy are only utilized effectively when supported by an applied approach such as massage. Most aromatherapy advocates agree that aromatherapy can assist an individual’s natural ability to maintain overall well being.

Aromatherapy is both a complementary and alternative treatment. A complementary treatment is used together with a conventional treatment to support a condition such as aromatherapy used to ease mouth pain after a root canal. Aromatherapy used as an alternative treatment means that it is being used in place of conventional treatments such as essential oils alone used to treat acne.

There are numerous ways to utilize the benefits of aromatherapy. Essential oils can be inhaled, infused in candles, or used in baths, massages, room sprays, and water bowls – to name just a few.

Essential Oil Basics

Essential oils are extracted from various flowers, trees, grasses, fruits, roots, and leaves. The process of distilling oil is varied and complex. A good general explanation is provided by The International Organization for Standardization and states, “An essential oil is a product made by distillation with either water or steam or by mechanical processing of citrus rinds or by dry distillation of natural materials. Following the distillation, the essential oil is physically separated from the water phase."

Anyone can jaunt over to the local co-op or get online and find numerous brands of essential oils to choose from. To choose the best essential oils for your health and home follow theses tips:

• Look for pure essential oils not synthetics. Therapeutic benefits are only gained by using pure oils. One helpful way to know that you’re getting pure oil is by price. You shouldn’t see a shelf of different types of oils all priced $9.99. The cost to manufacture different oils varies and true essential oils will reflect this in market price.
• Buy oil in dark bottles as some therapeutic benefits are lessoned by light exposure.
• Many pure essential oils are in actuality not so oily. Ironic but true. If you drop a bit of pure oil onto blotting paper it will soon evaporate leaving no oily mark.
• You may have better luck getting the real thing if you shop in a store that promotes health over beauty. Such as a health food store over a perfume shop.
• Eventually with enough experience your nose will learn to spot the fakes. Until then try ordering from one of one of these reputable sellers.

Quinessence Aromatherapy , Nature’s Gift, or Apothecary Shoppe

Safety Tips

• All essential oils must be diluted in a carrier or base oil before you apply it to your skin. Sweet Almond and apricot are two good base oils to try and there are many more available. When a recipe for an oil treatment says to use say, 2 drops of lavender really only use 2 drops. When it comes to essential oils more is not always better. Essential oils are very concentrated and thus very powerful even when diluted.
• If you’re allergic to nuts do not use carrier oils made from nuts. Try safflower or sunflower instead.
• Some essential oil treatments consist of gargling or swishing a bit of oil (dispersed in plenty of water) in your mouth. But overall The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) recommends that you stay away from ingesting oils when another application such as massage may be just as appropriate. Certain oils are toxic even in very small doses when ingested.
• When using aromatherapy with babies and elderly individuals, NAHA recommends using much smaller amount of oils if any. You should always consult a worthy guide or practitioner and be sure that the oils you use are safe for these age groups.
• Women who are pregnant should always check with their care provider before using aromatherapy of any kind.
• Always keep oils out of reach of children and if ingestion is suspected call your local poison control.

To sum up; the best advice is that a small guide such as this one cannot possible cover every single aromatherapy situation. Essential oils and aromatherapy methods of use are very complex topics and before you use oils you absolutely need to purchase and read an excellent guide book, talk with a professional aromatherapist, or consult with your personal physician.

Where to Learn More

My favorite book about essential oils is, “The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Over 600 Natural, Non-Toxic and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health - Beauty - a Safe Home Environment” by Valerie Ann Worwood. Worwood covers all the basics of essential oils and aromatherapy in good detail and outlines health and beauty treatments and toxic-free household uses of essential oils.

Another good read is, “Aromatherapy an A-Z: The Most Comprehensive Guide to Aromatherapy Ever Published” by Patricia Davis with illustrations by Sarah Budd.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is a component of The National Institute of Health. NCCAM’s website offers fact sheets regarding the use of alternative treatments, publications, and medical and scientific literature searches.

The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) is a nonprofit organization that strives to promote public awareness surrounding the benefits of aromatherapy. NAHA’s website is packed with useful information for both individuals who are new to aromatherapy and the more seasoned user.