Aromatherapy Essential Oil

Aromatherapy essential oils are highly concentrated substances extracted from different kind of plants. The “essences” of plants, they are pulled from the leaves, flowers, twigs, barks, rind of fruit, and roots of plants usually through the process of distillation. These types of oils as many of you may or may not know, are used to bring upon healing of the body and the mind.

The Basics

Every one of the aromatherapy essential oils can be used either as one of two things: a standalone or as a mixture of several different types of oils. Many concoctions of aromatherapy essential oils almost always create an effect which might be more attractive than if you compare it to lone oils. But before you begin using any aromatherapy essential oils, there are some very important things you need to learn and know.

Although distillation is the common most method used to extract essential oils, there are actually a lot of other methods in practice. Extracting aromatherapy essential oils can be a very time consuming and even sometimes very costly. It also requires a high volume of experience so that the oils don’t end up spoiled or ruined, making them virtually unusable since they won’t be able to offer anymore of those great therapeutic benefits they are reported to have. And what’s more, is that it takes in excess of 220 pounds of rose petals to produce only 4 to 5 teaspoons full of aromatherapy essential oil, it is definitely a tiresome, tedious process which should only be left to the professionals.

The fact that a huge amount of plant materials are needed just to produce even just a tiny vial of aromatherapy essential oil, natural pure essential oils are very costly. But hey, that’s what makes them highly effective, remember you get what you pay for. Also remember that aromatherapy essential oils are highly concentrated. That means only apply a few drops at a time and you can have the desired effect.

Of course, there are synthetic oils available out there as we are all aware of but they are not nearly as success as pure essential oils.

How it Works

The main target of aromatherapy oils is our sense of smell or the “olfaction.” When aromatherapy essential oils are inhaled, the scent stimulates the cells in our olfactory nerves, bringing upon an impulse which is transferred to the emotional center of the brain. This emotional center of the brain, which is called the “limbic system”, is connected to specific areas of the brain such as memory, breathing, and blood circulation. It is also related to the endocrine glands which regulate hormone levels in the body.

Aromatherapy With Lavendar Oils

Several types of oils and scents are used in aromatherapy, each with something different to recommend them. The difference between types of aromatherapy oils lies in how they are produced, resulting in essential oils, absolutes, aromatherapy waters, resins, carrier oils, or infused oils. One popular option is lavender oil aromatherapy, which falls under the category of essential oils.

Lavender oil is obtained, like other essential oils, by distillation from the lavender flower. It is a dense, colorless liquid, with a high concentration of lavender. It is so highly concentrated that only a little is needed to obtain its full therapeutic benefits.

Lavender oil aromatherapy is one of those rare scents which are at once strong enough to detect without being overwhelming. The fragrant oil is used as a medicinal agent, and is commonly found in many perfumes. Lavender is fresh and sweet, slightly floral and deeply relaxing.

Lavender oils are often used in concert with carrier oils such as sweet almond oil, which carries its own slightly sweet scent. However, it can also be used with apricot kernel, grapeseed, or other light oils. Combining the oils is a good way to preserve the life of your lavender oil, and makes it easier for the oil to be absorbed into the skin.

Lavender oil aromatherapy may also be inhaled, either by being added to steam or through reed diffuser. It is a common choice to freshen a room, and can be used to set the mood for a whole house. If it is inhaled into the lungs it can be used to treat a variety of physical and mental ills.

Lavender has perhaps the greatest range in possible use. It is most commonly used to lift the mood, enhance restful sleep, focus the mind, and boost the natural immune system. Its other myriad uses are for treating acne, allergies, anxiety, asthma, athlete’s foot, bruises, burns, insect bites, oily skin, stress, stretch marks, sprains, labor pains, vertigo, and whooping cough. Even if you don’t find that lavender aromatherapy completely heals your physical ills, it is a sure bet that it will increase your mental well being.

Lavender oil aromatherapy combines well with any other oil, strengthening and complementing their effects. Depending on what you hope to achieve, lavender oil aromatherapy combines well with ylang ylang, clary sage, eucalyptus, rosemary, orange, bergamot, chamomile, or tea tree.

Organic Aromatherapy Oil

Plant oils have become widely used through a scientific practice called aromatherapy. This practice has been used for hundreds of generations, most commonly for healing our general well-being.

Aromatherapy has been used since the times of ancient Egyptians. The first processes came from them using a machine that removed scented oils from plants. The process is called distillation, and it was primarily the tool used when the oils were extracted from hard material such as bark, roots, or twigs. After collection of the oils, they were then turned into what we now know as perfume, massage oils, wound ointments, or bath scents. Choosing the word organic for their practice type is saying the least. They did not have access to synthetic materials during their time, so it was unlikely to have anything but organic, although they probably did were not aware they were using organic means.

Oil extractions take place in a number of ways in today’s society. The types of extractions are: solvent action, simple distillation, and carbon dioxide pressure. Depending on which method is used, a specific type of aromatherapy oil is produced organically. These oils include: floral waters, carrier oils, CO2s, infused oils, essential oils, and resins.

Pesticides used on plants are what prevents plants from being considered organic. When there is an absence of pesticides, the plants are considered organic, and organic aromatherapy oils are started through distillation. This method prevents chemicals from soaking into the plants, keeping them out of the aromatherapy oils. This lays the claim that organic aromatherapy oils far outweigh the pros and cons of non-organic oils.

Although most organic aromatherapy oil users have deemed this method as being safer than using non-organic oils, it is not been scientifically proven. It is safe to say however that with organic aromatherapy oils there is less chance of having the oils compromised by the addition of chemicals from pesticides. However, users of aromatherapy oils find that organic aromatherapy oils are more effective for overall theraputic health.

With more and more people becoming ‘green’ conscious, it is common to see organic therapy oil vendors pressing for oils that hold more quality scents and affects, than using the basic formula. Yes, the oils will comply with the laws for organic farming, but they will bury their organic uses with the products that gain a larger value from such potent oils. After all, the choice belongs to you for the type of oil you wish to use, whether it be organic or non-organic. Keep in mind though, anything organic is going to come with a price. Organic aromatherapy oil crops are require different growing methods, which directly affects the end user price.

Aromatherapy Treatment

Aromatherapy treatment is a form of alternative medicine, using plant derived essential oils and other aromatic compounds to treat a person’s mood or health. The essential oils are extracted from various parts of the plant using a process known as steam distillation. A typical distillation process would destroy the scent, so steam is introduced to allow simple separation. It was a French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, who coined the term “aromatherapy” to describe the process of using a plant therapeutically. Through this, the concept of modern aromatherapy treatment was born.

Aromatherapy treatment varies greatly depending on the circumstances of its use. A number of theories support the belief that aromatherapy treatments work both physically and physiologically, improving mental health. Scent has been proven to trigger the limbic system, the portion of the brain which controls emotion and stores memories. This is the basis for aromatherapy treatment, and is likely why essential oils have proven to be so useful. The other aspect of aromatherapy treatment says that the oils themselves have medicinal properties which are beneficial when they are absorbed into the body. This method is much more effective when the oils are absorbed directly into the skin, such as during a massage.

Aromatherapy treatments can be used for a variety of disorders, including but not limited to anxiety, stress, insomnia, muscular aches, headaches, asthma, eczema, digestive problems, and menstrual or menopausal related problems. With these complaints you have the option of seeing a licensed aromatherapist, or trying to treat the issue yourself. Aromatherapy treatments can be sold over the counter at pharmacies, health stores, and some department stores. Almost all aromatherapy treatments are available for home use.

There are several different ways to use essential oils in an aromatherapy treatment. They can be added to a bath, inhaled by using hot water, incense, or diffusers, or used in a massage. There are also several products which now contain essential oils, many of which claim to boost well-being or possess healing properties. It is a great boost to the aromatherapy community that aromatherapy treatments have recently been found effective in certain studies and in new discoveries. There have been several studies recently examining the effects of aromatherapy on groups of people, which included the use of a placebo in place of an aromatherapy treatment. These trials have consistently shown that aromatherapy treatments are among the best options out there, especially for your overall well-being.