The ancient Egyptians embalmed bodies with cedarwood and frankincense oils, but the Chinese can be credited with first discovering the medicinal power of plants. The therapeutic properties of essential oils were known to the Greeks and the Romans too, and as massage and bathing flourished in their times they used them therapeutically. See also Understanding Aromatherapy.
There has been a huge revival in the use of aromatherapy oils since the 1980s with the popularity of massage that uses different blends. But oils can be used in all kinds of different ways. Eucalyptus, basil and tea oils can be inhaled in steam or from an oil burner when we have a cold, a few drops of rosemary in the bath wakes us up and a couple of drops of lavender oil on a tissue induces sleep.
Medical evidence shows that aromatherapy may even be good for one’s heart and blood pressure. According to a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a group of Taiwanese researchers conducted an experiment where subjects were exposed to the essential oil of bergamot. During the trial, volunteers experienced a mild drop in both heart rate and systolic blood pressure.
Dr. Hal Blatman, medical director of the Blatman Pain Clinic in Cincinnati and a past president of the American Holistic Medical Association, explained that essential oils trigger the smell receptors of the nose, prompting chemical messages to travel on nerve pathways to the limbic system in the brain, which is associated with emotion and moods. “It’s easy to see smells have an effect on the body,” Blatman said. “Smells have deep emotional triggers in people.”
When the Adult Emergency Department at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center decided to help promote a healthier environment for its workers and patients, they chose to do so in a holistic way with the therapeutic use of aromatherapy. Essential oils were used to help naturally purify the air, promote the circulation of oxygen, reduce the spread of bacterial growth and to help promote stress-reduction. When the effectiveness of the program was evaluated, 84 per cent of emergency staff strongly agreed that the program contributed to a better work environment.
Although the use of holistic medicine is not widely accepted within the world of modern science, many practitioners fully appreciate the healthful and positive benefits of essential oils and Aromatherapy. It will be interesting to see how and if the use of these natural and effective products will be incorporated on a wider basis into the medical mainstream.
Until that time, the use of aromatherapy on a personal basis is one that many take advantage of on a regular basis. If one wants to set the mood for a relaxing night at home, a healing session of the body and spirit or a romantic evening for a loved one, one of the best ways to do this is with products containing essential oils.
UK based firm, AromaWorks, manufactures luxurious scented products made with natural oils, which can help provide the perfect setting. With the perfect blend of essential oils, each item is a delight for the senses.
‘Each of our products is made of the finest, all-natural ingredients,” explained Jane Hibbert, founder of AromaWorks. “Our candles are made with soy and beeswax then packed with essential oils. The quality of the essential oils is exquisite and there is a complex alchemical blend of up to nine essential oils in each candle that will help to promote the health and healing of the mind, body and spirit.’
Featured Products | |||
Lavender Oil | Tisserand | 9ml | £5.70 |
Tea Tree Oil | Absolute Aromas | 10ml | £4.50 |
Frankincense Oil | Absolute Aromas | 5ml | £6.75 |
Oil of Peppermint Capsules | Obbekjaers | 60 | £10.45 |
Japanese Peppermint Oil | Obbekjaers | 10ml | £6.95 |
Ylang Ylang Oil | Tisserand | 9ml | £10.20 |
Clary Sage Oil | Tisserand | 9ml | £9.35 |
Jasmine | Tisserand | 2ml | £20.85 |
Rose Absolute Oil | Tisserand | 2ml | £15.50 |
Geranium Oil | Tisserand | 9ml | £8.50 |
Grapefruit Oil | Tisserand | 9ml | £6.15 |
Rosemary Oil | Tisserand | 9ml | £6.05 |
Lemongrass Oil | Tisserand | 9ml | £5.10 |
Basil Oil | Health Aid | 5ml | £7.49 |
Citronella Oil | Tisserand | 9ml | £4.50 |
Ginger Oil | Tisserand | 9ml | £10.15 |
Clove Oil | Health Aid | 10ml | £5.99 |
Juniper Berry Oil | Absolute Aromas | 9ml | £10.15 |
You can purchase all of these products at www.superfooduk.com and get 5% discount by using the code: HSoul1 |
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