Origin of the word Aromatherapies

The term “aromatherapie” was coined by Rene Maurice Gattefosse in 1928.  He utilized the word to imply the therapeutic use of aromatic substances (essential oils). Since the beginning of Aromatherapy, the practice has encompassed human pathology and the treatment of different conditions (emotional and physical) with essential oils. 

As Aromatherapy developed into a practice it adopted a holistic approach encompassing the body, mind and spirit. Roman emperors used the oil of black pepper to help their charges deal with over-indulgence. Early Greek doctors used juniper as a diuretic. Egyptians used the method of infusion to extract the oils from aromatic plants which were used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes as well as embalming. At a similar time, ancient Chinese civilizations were also using some form of aromatics.

What is Aromatherapy?

“Aromatherapy is... the skilled and controlled use of essential oils for physical and emotional health and well being.”  Valerie Cooksley

“Aromatherapy conveys the concept of healing with aromatic substances.”   Robert Tisserand

As holistic therapy, Aromatherapy is able to work on several levels of the individuals well being. These oils can physically stimulate actions in the brain or body. It has been found that when these oils are used in hospitals, patients fall asleep faster and stay asleep for longer. With growing health care costs and the sometimes impersonal quality of conventional medicine, we have turned to nature to find the answers to our questions. Individuals now realize that they must take personal responsibility for their health and strive to educate their selves on living more balanced lives.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic extracts which are distilled from a variety of aromatic plant material including grasses, leaves, flowers, needles & twigs, peel of fruit, wood and roots.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in their Vocabulary of Natural Materials (ISO/D1S9235.2) defines an essential oil as follows: "An essential oil is a product made by distillation with either water or steam or by mechanical processing of citrus rinds or by dry distillation of natural materials. Following the distillation, the essential oil is physically separated from the water phase."

Dr. Brian Lawrence states "For an essential oil to be a true essential oil, it must be isolated by physical means only. The physical methods used are distillation (steam, steam/water and water) or expression (also known as cold pressing, a unique feature for citrus peel oils). There is one other method of oil isolation specific to a very limited number of essential oil plants. This is a maceration / distillation. In the process, the plant material is macerated in warm water to release the enzyme-bound essential oil. Examples of oils produced by maceration are onion, garlic, wintergreen, bitter almond, etc. “

Bath therapy with essential oils can have significant effects on the healing of skin disorders and relieving muscular aches and pains. It can also enhance respiratory functions, reducing levels of stress, as well as increasing blood circulation. Aromatic bathing can facilitate healing on both physiologically as well as psychologically levels. 

Typically 3-6 drops of oil gives maximum benefit, but customizing the drops can be based upon personal choice of oils.  The water should be warm but not too hot and the essential oils should be added to the bath either once the individual is in it or right before the individual is in the water.  The oil should be swished around in the water in order to disperse concentration of essential oils. 

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