Aromatherapy

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A therapy that uses aroma, or essential oils, to improve your quality of life.

History

• • • Aromatherapy is thought to be at least 6,000 years old.

The Egyptians where discovered to use it.

A medical papyri from around 1555BC contained remedies for various types of illnesses.

Changes

• The technique to extract oil from plants have changes since that time.

• They uses to squeeze the oils from the plants with their hands Which was known as Expression.

• We now have more modern techniques.

Hysterical Applications

• • • The Egyptians were fond of the perfumes made from these oils.

Traces have been found in perfume bottles in their burial tombs.

Paintings on the walls show ladies with elaborate head wear that was thought to be perfume distributors.

Other People

• • Indians of North America also used Aromatherapy.

Aromatic oils where used to produce herbal remedies.

More History

• • A French chemist, Rene Maurice Gattefosse found that lavender oil when applied to a burn had healing properties.

• In 1937 he published a book about anti microbial effects of oils and coined the term “Aromatherapy”.

He went on to set up a business selling essential oils.

Opinions

• • Many doctors say that Aromatherapy has no significant effect on health.

Relief stems from emotional response to the pleasing scents, rather than any physiological effects.

Uses for Aromatherapy

• • • • • • Reduction of stress Enhance relaxation Relive anxiety Improving well-being Relieving psychosomatic symptoms Relieves emotionally related disorders

In some cases it helped

• • • • • Insomnia Impotence Pain of arthritis Postpartum discomfort

However, medical science can find no physical reasons for these effects.

Common Essential Oils and Uses

• Lavender- heals burns and cuts, destroys bacteria • Peppermint- alleviates digestive problems; relieves headaches, and muscle pain • • Eucalyptus- lowers fever Tea Tree- Fights fungal, yeast, and bacterial infections • Thyme- relieves pain in joints

Warning

• High concentrated oils, when taken internally can cause toxic overdoses. •

Do Not

ingest even the tiniest amount without your doctor’s approval.

Ways of Treatment for Aromatherapy

• • • Inhalation- add essential oils to bowl of steaming water, place towel over head and bowl, and breath deeply the scented vapors • Diffusion- spraying oil- containing compounds into the air Message- Rubbing aromatic oil into the skin Bathing- Add oil to a tub of water. Full bath, hand, foot, or sponge bath.

More

• Hot & Cold Compresses- for muscle aches and pains, bruises, or headaches

Aromatherapy Recipes

• • • • • • • Acne Blend Air Freshener Bath Oil Carpet Deodorizer Dry Hand Lotion Facial Scrub Shampoo

Licensing

• • • • • There is no formal licensing procedure for Aromatherapy in the United States.

Aromatherapy is usually combined in other licensed fields of practice Chiropractors Psychologists Message Therapists