Aromatherapy – What it is and How it Works
Aromatherapy and Essential Oils
Aromatherapy is a natural wellness practice that uses essential oils to support healthy lifestyle habits, emotional wellness, stress management, sleep, and overall well-being. Many people use aromatherapy as part of their daily routines to help create a calmer, healthier environment at home.
If you are one of the many people who ask, “What is Aromatherapy?” I am going to share an overview of the history of aromatherapy and essential oils, how they work, why they are so effective, and their health benefits.
As a certified aromatherapist and someone who used essential oils as part of my own recovery journey from RSD/CRPS, I’ve seen firsthand how these tools can support stress relief, nervous system balance, pain management, and overall wellness.
The History of Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy has been around for thousands of years. It originated with the Egyptians and was used by them in their mummification process. They say that you could still smell the rosewood and frankincense when King Tut’s tomb was opened – that is powerful! There are numerous mentions in the Bible, and the gifts to Baby Jesus were frankincense, myrrh, and gold. If you read about the benefits of frankincense and myrrh, it isn’t surprising that they gave those oils to Baby Jesus.
During the Black Plague in Europe, people used aromatics to ward off the plague, placing them in the hollow tops of their walking sticks. Several others who avoided the plague were perfumers, glove makers, and thieves who stole jewels and treasures from graveyards. The glove makers would dip the newly made gloves in essential oils, and the thieves wore essential oils to protect themselves from germs from the plague-ridden dead bodies.
Renee Gattefosse, a French pioneer, is credited with coining the term ‘aromatherapy. He also wrote the first book about aromatherapy in 1937. In 2004, Richard Axel and Linda Buck were awarded the Nobel Prize for their work and their discoveries of “odorant receptors and the organization of the olfactory system”. This is a remarkable achievement and very exciting for the field of aromatherapy. Today, in Europe, aromatherapy is used throughout the medical system.
What is Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses 100% pure essential oils to influence, affect, modify, change, and/or alter mood, emotions, physical concerns, and behaviors. It can complement numerous healing modalities. It can also support the body’s healing by supplying cells with energy, strengthening the immune system, and fostering a positive attitude. Many aromatherapists use essential oils topically on the abdomen to relieve symptoms associated with poor gut health.
What are Essential Oils
Essential oils are the “liquid” form of herbal plants derived from the leaves, flowers, stems, roots, seeds, bark, fruits, and resins. Essential oils are 50-100 times more potent than the actual herb. There are only 400 plants that produce essential oils, and most of those used today come from 300 of them. Pure essential oils carry their own fingerprint and possess numerous healing properties, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiseptic. Therapeutic-grade essential oils can be traced back to a particular field, year, and distiller. Red Mandarin supports adrenal and nervous system function, while Tea Tree can offer antifungal protection.
How Essential Oils Work..
The body’s sense of smell is more sensitive than any other sense because it has a direct pathway to the brain, bypassing the spinal cord and digestive system. Aromatic scents travel through the nose, dissolving in the mucosal membrane, passing to the cilia (olfactory nerves), and then to the olfactory bulb, where they relate to the limbic system. The limbic system is the part of the brain that tells us how to respond to a situation.
Aromatherapy and the use of pure essential oils can help us connect, channel, shift, and heal emotions on both mental and physical levels. This works very well for stress or feeling down. When we smell particular scents, it can bring us peace and comfort or provide us with energy and vitality. That is why many individuals want to create their own aromatherapy products. If you decide to create your own, remember to always dilute the essential oils in a base before use, such as in a lotion or carrier oil.
Health Benefits of Essential Oils
Some studies have shown that aromatherapy with essential oils may help with the following:
- Improve or boost your mood.
- Reduce stress and increase alertness.
- Better quality of sleep.
- Effective for killing fungi, viruses, and bacteria.
- Help in reducing anxiety and pain.
- Anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation.
- Help in reducing nausea.
- Headache relief.
Aromatherapy for Chronic Pain and Inflammation
- Frankincense — anti-inflammatory and meditative
- Peppermint — pain relief – it’s like “ice” in a bottle
- Lavender — nervous system support and stress relief
- Copaiba — inflammation and pain
- Ginger — gut support and nausea
I have also created several aromatherapy products that might interest you.
Working with Essential Oils
If you are working with essential oils on an emotional level, it is helpful to know that scents can trigger the hypothalamus and pituitary glands to respond to various situations. When using essential oils on a physical level, the oils are absorbed into the mucosal lining, the bloodstream, and the lymph system within approximately 3 seconds, allowing your body to respond to physical ailments and concerns immediately.
Essential oils do come with some safety concerns, and are not water-soluble; they are fat-soluble. It is extremely important to note that they should not be used internally, and most require a carrier oil before being applied to the skin. Should you accidentally contact the skin with an essential oil, rinse it with milk or oil, as this will help diffuse the oil on the skin. You should also use caution when working with them if you are pregnant, and keep all essential oils out of reach of children. If you are not comfortable creating your own aromatherapy products, you can always schedule an aromatherapy consultation.
Aromahead Institute is where I earned my Professional Aromatherapist Certification. They offer excellent courses if you want to learn more.
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