Contents
What Is Aromatherapy?
Basics of Essential Oils
Basics of Carrier Oils
How to Use Essential Oils
Essential Oil Precautions
How to Make Essential Oil Blends
Aromatherapy Equipment
12 Commonly Used Essential Oils
Basil
Chamomile
Eucalyptus
Geranium
Lavender
Lemon
Orange
Peppermint
Rose
Rosemary
Tea Tree
Ylang-Ylang
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- Basics of essential oils and carrier oils and how they work
- Properties and applications of the most common aromatherapy blends
- A guide to using essential oils for skin care, mood enhancement, and more
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What Is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the practice of enhancing health, mood, and appearance through the use of concentrated plant extracts called essential oils. Some essential oils, such as chamomile and lavender, calm the nervous system, whereas others, such as peppermint and rosemary, have stimulating properties. Applied topically or inhaled, essential oils can ease physiological and emotional symptoms. They can also be diffused through your home’s ventilation system to provide a gentle, pleasant fragrance.
How Is Aromatherapy Used?
Aromatherapy is used for a wide variety of applications:
- Essential oils can be added to unscented shampoos, conditioners, cleansers, creams, masks, and scrubs.
- Oils such as chamomile, geranium, lavender, and tea tree can relieve pain from insect bites and cuts.
- Adding an essential oil such as eucalyptus, lemon, or peppermint to unscented liquid cleansers, room spritzers, dryer sheets, or vacuum bags makes a house more fragrant.
- Diffusing a mild citrus scent through your ventilation system at work can add a pleasant, calming touch to the office.
How Does Aromatherapy Work?
When an essential oil is inhaled, its molecules travel up through the nose to the limbic system, the part of the brain that is the center of memory, arousal, and emotion. Sniffing a pleasing scent is one of the fastest means of receiving agreeable psychological or physiological effects: of the five senses, smell is the only one in which messages travel directly to the limbic system, bypassing the cerebral cortex, the “thinking” part of the brain.
Aromatics Through the Ages
Though the term “aromatherapy” didn’t arise until the 20th century, aromatics have been used for centuries.
- China has used salves, liniments, and herbal teas from camphor, ginger, jasmine, and rose since 4500 BCE.
- Egyptian priests, aristocrats, and pharaohs used extracts and resins of frankincense, juniper, spikenard, myrrh, and cypress in their perfumes, medicines, and cosmetics, as well as in spiritual ceremonies.
- In India, herbs such as cinnamon, myrrh, ginger, coriander, and sandalwood have long been used for massages and in perfumes and baths.
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