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Aromatherapy

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Aromatherapyistheuseofaromaticplantoils,includingessentialoils,forpsychologicaland
physicalwellbeing.Aromatherapistsblendtherapeuticessentialoilsespeciallyforeachindividual
andsuggestmethodsofusesuchastopicalapplication,massage,inhalationorwaterimmersionto
stimulatethedesiredresponses.
Thedifferentsmells(aromas),andthechemicalconstituentsoftheoils,canproducedifferent
emotionalandphysiologicalreactions.Essentialoilscanbemassagedintotheskin,addedtobath
waterorvaporisedinanoilburner.Althougharomatherapyhasbeenpractisedforcenturiesin
variouscultures,themodernversionwasdevelopedmainlyinFrance.Aromatherapyhasnotyet
undergoneasmuchscientificscrutinyasothercomplementarytherapies,butresearchsofarshows
thatitcanbeaneffectivetreatmentforsomecomplaints.
A range of symptoms
Aromatherapycanbeofbenefitasaformofpreventativehealthcare.Aromaticplantoilscan
stimulate,balance,uplift,sootheandcalm.Aromatherapistsbelievethereleaseofstressand
tensioncanallowthebodysownhealingprocesstobegin.
Aromatherapyisusedtoalleviatethesymptomsof:

Digestiveproblems
Eczema
Headaches
Insomnia
Stress.

Using essential oils

Essentialoilsareextractedfromplantmaterialusingsteamorwaterdistillation.Selectedplant
materialsareheatedwithsteam,waterorbothuntiltheessentialoilvaporises.Theoilthen
condensesasitcools.
Allvolatilearomaticplantoilsareconcentratedplantoils.Theyshouldbeusedsparingly:onlya
fewdropsatatimeandalwaysdilutedinsomeothermedium,suchasplainmassageoil(cold
pressedvegetableoil)orunscentedbasecream(butnotamineraloilcreamsuchasmostbrands
ofsorboleneorbabyoil).Aromaticplantoilsdonotdissolveinwaterunlessmixedwitha
dispersantfirst.
Someofthewaysinwhicharomaticplantoilscanbeusedinclude:

Massage46dropsaddedto20ml(atablespoon)ofvegetable-basedoil.
Oil burner6dropsaddedtowaterandvaporisedinaburner.Neverleaveacandleoil
burnerunattended,asitisafirerisk.Electricvaporisersareavailableandaresafertouse
whenasleepornearchildren.
Bath46dropsaddedtoavegetable-basedoilinafullbath.
Inhalation23dropsaddedtoabasinofhotwater.

Aromaticplantoils,includingessentialoils,shouldneverbeingested(takeninbymouth)asthey
canbetoxic.
The sense of smell

Aromatherapy

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Thenostrilsopenupinsidetheskulltoformthenasalcavity,whichsitsdirectlybeneaththebrain.
Embeddedintheceilingofthenasalcavityaretheolfactorycells.Eachcellhastiny,moisthairs
thattrapodourmolecules.Itisthoughtthatanodouristranslatedintoelectricalimpulsesbythese
cells,thenpassedontothebrainviathetwoolfactorybulbs.Themessageisinterpretedbyapart
ofthebraincalledthecerebralcortex.Thesenseofsmellispoorlyunderstood,butwedoknow
thatitislinkedtotheoldest,mostprimitivepartofourbrainandseemstohaveadirectlinktoour
emotions.
Change is triggered in the brain
Accordingtoaromatherapytheory,thearomaticplantoilmoleculesbringaboutchangesinthe
brain.Someresearchersbelievethatwhenpeopleexperiencemoodchangesorphysicalchanges,
itisbecausethesmellhastriggeredamemory.Forinstance,ifapersonfeelsrelaxedwhenthey
smellcinnamon,itmightbebecausecinnamonconjuresuppleasantchildhoodmemories.
Popular aromatic plant oils
Afewofthepopulararomaticplantoilsandtheirusesforthefollowingsymptomsinclude:

Peppermintdigestivedisorders.
Rosemarymuscularpains,mentalstimulant.
Sandalwooddepression,anxietyandnervoustension.
Sweet orange depressionandanxiety.
Tea treerespiratoryproblems,antifungal,antibacterialandantiviral.
Lavenderheadaches,insomnia,burns,achesandpains.

Handle with care

Somearomaticplantoilsaretoxicandshouldneverbeusedatallforexample,camphor,
pennyroyalandwintergreen.
Aromaticplantoilsareverypotentandshouldneverbeswallowedorappliedundilutedtotheskin.
Peoplewithasthmaandthosepronetonosebleedsshouldusecautionwheninhalingvaporising
oils.Donotusearomaticplantoilsinanyorificesuchasears,mouthorvagina.
Aromaticplantoils(essentialoils)canbepoisonousiftakeninbymouth.Consumptionofessential
oilsisanincreasingcauseofpoisoninginchildren.Allaromaticplantoilsshouldbesecuredand
keptoutofreachofchildren.Ifpoisoningoccurs,ringtriplezero(000)orthePoisonsInformation
Centreon131126.
Pregnantwomenandpeoplewithcertainconditions,includingepilepsyandhighbloodpressure,
shouldconsultaqualifiedaromatherapistbeforeusinganyaromaticplantoils.Someoilscanbe
dangerousduringpregnancyandforpeoplewithcertainconditions.
Some people may be sensitive to aromatic plant oils
Undilutedaromaticplantoilsusedoversensitiveareas,suchasnostrilsoronsensitiveskin,could
irritateorburntheskin.Insomecases,theremaybeanallergicreactionsuchasaskinrashin
susceptiblepeople.Someoftheoilsthatmaycauseproblemsinclude:

Eucalyptus
Ginger(carbondioxideextracted)
Thyme
Blackpepper
Cinnamon
Clove
Oregano
Lemongrass
Basil
Somecitrusoils.

Where to get help

Aromatherapy

Qualifiedprofessionalaromatherapypractitioner
Doctorsornaturopathswitharomatherapytraining
InternationalFederationofAromatherapistsinformationlineTel.(02)97156622
Ifpoisoningoccurs,ringtriplezero(000)orthePoisonsInformationCentreTel.131126

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Things to remember

Aromatherapyistheuseofaromaticplantoilstobringaboutphysiologicalandemotional
changes.
Aromaticplantoilsshouldneverbeswallowedorappliedundilutedtotheskin.

Want to know more?

GotoMoreinformationforsupportgroups,relatedlinksandreferences.
This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

InternationalAromatherapy&AromaticMedicineAssociation

Copyight 1999/2008StateofVictoria.ReproducedfromtheBetterHealthChannel(www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)at
nocostwithpermissionoftheVictorianMinisterforHealth.Unauthorisedreproductionandotherusescomprisedinthe
copyrightareprohibitedwithoutpermission.
ThisBetterHealthChannelfactsheethaspassedthrougharigorousapprovalprocess.Forthelatestupdatesandmore
informationvisitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.

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