Aromatherapy

The word Aromatherapy combines two words - aroma (a fragrance or sweet smell) and therapy (or treatment).

Aromatherapy combines a gentle massage with the use of essential oils obtained from plants.  These essential oils give the plants its fragrance.  Some plants contain a great deal of oil, others as little as .01 per cent.  It takes at least 10 large buckets full of orange blossoms to extract just a thimbleful of neroli essential oil, for instance!

'Aromatherapy' is a modern word, but plants oils have been used for thousands of years.  They are known to have been used by the Egyptians as cosmetics and for embalming the dead in order to delay decomposition.  They were known in China and the use spread to the Greeks and Romans, and eventually to Britain.

In the 19th century, the use of oils for healing diminished as chemists began to imitate the medicinal properties of oils but the early 20th century brought renewed interest in natural products and treatments.  Modern day aromatherapy has its roots in the work of a chemist called Gattefosse who showed that essential oils penetrate the skin and, via the extra-cellular liquids, reach the blood and lymph, which carry them in the circulation to the organs.

Aromatherapy treatments are effective in dealing with minor ailments, skin problems and in particular stress or emotional difficulties.  Aromatherapy is a valuable preventative therapy which keeps clients well balanced emotionally and physically, reducing the chances of a serious illness occurring.  Home treatments consist of inhalation, baths, compresses and vaporising in special oil burners.  Aromatherapy oils should never be taken internally or used straight from the bottle.  All instructions and precautions should be strictly followed as some oils should not be used if you are pregnant or have high blood pressure.

When you go for an aromatherapy treatment, the aromatherapist first of all takes detailed notes about your health, building up a case history.  You will explain about any specific condition you have, then the aromatherapist will ask about your past medical history.  It is important that the aromatherapist knows if you have ever suffered from epilepsy, to know about allergies, diabetes or heart conditions.  The aromatherapist will also ask about any digestive, respiratory or menstrual symptoms  - do you suffer from catarrh or sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome or PMT?  You will be asked about blood pressure, headaches, colds and your sleeping pattern.  All these questions are important in building up a picture of your current state of health.

The oils to treat your condition are chosen and blended together and mixed into a carrier oil such as almond or grapeseed - about 3 drops of essential oil to 5 ml of base oil is all that is needed.  The addition of wheatgerm oil preserves the life of the blend and avocado, apricot kernel and jojoba may be used in small quantities.

The blended oils are applied to the skin using an aromatherapy massage.  This is a combination of techniques from other massage styles, adapted to help the absorption of the essential oils and to promote a feeling of well-being for the client.  It is smooth and flowing, without harsh or jarring movements.

Aromatherapy is suitable for everyone, from babies to people in their nineties and both men and women can benefit from the treatment.  Aromatherapy is wonderful as a preventative treatment as it improves circulation, helps clear the body of toxins and increases the body's own potential to fight off infection.  It is particularly helpful for those suffering from stress.

Treatments vary in length but are usually about 1½ hours for the initial session and an hour for subsequent sessions.