Recently I announced excitedly to a colleague that ...



Vera Resnick

Reiki, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Bach Flower Remedies

Tel.: 09-7678734/054-640736

AROMATHERAPY - AN INTRODUCTION

This article addresses the following issues:

▪ What is aromatherapy?

▪ Modern science and aromatherapy

▪ What are essential oils? How do they work?

▪ Safety precautions when using essential oils

▪ How to use essential oils at home

Recently I announced excitedly to a colleague that research had just been published showing that sick people who were prayed for by others were likely to recuperate faster than those for whom nobody prayed. My colleague gave me a withering look, and asked "did you really need research to tell you that?"

A similar situation exists in aromatherapy today. On the one hand, research (including double-blind clinical trials) is being carried out today on many essential oils and herbs. The fascinating results include such facts that mint is good for digestion, chamomile is good for stomach ache and rose is good for the skin. Really, say the grandmothers amongst us complete with withering looks, did you really need research to tell you that?

What is aromatherapy? Aromatherapy involves treatment using essential oils for alleviation of mental and physical symptoms. An essential aromatherapy oil is the substance in the plant or flower containing the smell, which is enclosed in smell "glands". There are different methods used to extract the essential oil, including distillation and compression. Oils are used in various different ways, the most common today being massage using essential oils diluted in a carrier (vegetable) oil, and diffusion of essential oils in a burner.

In many ways the practice and art of aromatherapy is coming to a turning point, due to increasing scientific interest and to more stringent requirements from governments and health facilities regarding essential oils and herbs.

Initially, the use of essential oils and herbs was based on family and tribal tradition, mystics, witch doctors and wise women. Traditions were passed from generation to generation, mainly because the prescriptions worked. The term Aromatherapy was coined by a chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, in the 1930s, who, after burning his hand, plunged it the nearest bowl full of liquid. That bowl contained essential oil of Lavender. His hand healed well and unbelievably quickly, and thus scientific study of essential oils was launched.

Science has now entered the field with a passion, offering both validation for traditional remedies, and more interestingly, the option of developing new remedies based on broader and deeper knowledge of the chemical content and possible applications of herbs and essential oils. However, the strong effect of the essential oils on the emotions and their impact on recall and review of good and bad memories from the distant past is not a subject that can be investigated scientifically. For this reason, ideally aromatherapists need to maintain contact with both scientific and traditional inputs regarding essential oils.

Essential oils are termed oils as most of them don't mix with water, and those that do, only dissolve slightly. If you put a few drops of essential oil in a glass of water, however much you mix, you will constantly see those drops floating on top. If you shake the glass violently (without spilling..) you may see the oils seem to disperse, but if you let the glass stand, they will come together again. For this reason you should exercise caution when putting essential oils in your bath or gargling with essential oils, since you really have not diluted them at all. There have been cases reported of people putting stronger oils such as Cinnamon and Clove into their baths, and getting chemical burns on their skin as a result. Essential oils will mix with alcohol and with carrier oils such as sweet almond, sesame and olive oils.

What do these scents do? Essential oil molecules are very small, and can enter the bloodstream causing physiological changes - this can happen even when sniffed and not even applied topically, as the particles enter the lungs. These changes can involve anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral functions, as the oils impact on the immune system and affect hormone production and blood qualities (clotting etc.). In addition, the scents themselves affect the limbic system controlling the emotions, more directly through the olfactory nerve, and indirectly through blood circulation reaching the hypothalamus. Some oils are believed to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier, such as Sandalwood, and research is currently being carried out to determine more exactly its effects on brain function.

A fascinating application of aromatherapy is the use of scent to diagnose personality. Aromatherapists trained in this method can use the patient's essential oil preferences as a window into the soul, and can help their patients become aware of their strengths and weaknesses, in order to help them deal with issues in their lives.

Essential oils can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. They can cause serious burns from undiluted contact, from being out in the sun after use, or simply from over-use. I have seen a burn resulting from over-use and consequent allergic reaction to Lavender, one of the gentlest of all the oils, and this burn was not pretty. Reports are starting to come in regarding reactions to Tea Tree, which has been over-recommended in recent years as a cure for all that ails you.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do yourself and your baby a favour and double-check with a qualified aromatherapist whether you should use essential oils, and what oils would be best for you. It is not worth risking your health or that of your baby to try to "do-it-yourself" in order to save the money you would spend on a consultation. If you are on any medication, don't use oils on your own as there may be contra-indications, and you may be preventing your medication from doing what it's supposed to do. This is especially the case if you're on cortisone or any kind of chemotherapy that is directed at suppressing the immune system. Most essential oils work with strengthening and enhancing the immune system, and treatment under these kinds of circumstances is not a good idea.

When you smell a flower, you smell a part of the essential scent, as the substance contained in the scent glands is much more concentrated. For this reason, although there is an assumption that all essential oils must smell wonderful, most people who have been through a "sniff test" with an aromatherapist will say there were a lot of oils that smelt terrible!

There are very few hard and fast rules about what people like. Most people like the citrus oils, but some can't stand them. I see people in my practice who express such extreme differences in preferences that sometimes it is hard to believe they are sniffing the same oil. And then there was one patient who, out of my collection of 70 or 80 oils, could only tolerate two: Coriander and Bitter Orange. I discovered that the blend resulted in a very pleasant oil that rapidly alleviated his problem with dry skin, BUT Bitter Orange is extremely phototoxic, and should not be applied before going out into the sun.

Although there are many lists and recommendations as to what oil is good for which emotional state, I have found from experience that if someone dislikes lavender, although lavender is a classic for relaxation and helping to induce sleep this person will remain tense and sleepless no matter how many articles he or she reads to the contrary.

People go through phases during which they are drawn more to some oils and repelled by others, and although there are those who will choose a large number of oils during the "sniff test", closer examination will reduce the number drastically. It is so individual. I have heard reports that cinnamon is good to use as a comforting scent as most people remember cinnamon apple pie baking in their childhood homes. First of all, many dislike the essential oil when sniffed as it is strong and initially doesn't smell much like the spice. Secondly, those who remember the apple pie baking as a background to arguments and bad atmosphere, or had it served to them with a large heaping of maternal resentment, may not be so drawn to the smell of cinnamon...

The oils may be applied in different ways. The most common usages are inhalation and massage, and many aromatherapists in Israel work with these methods. Essential oils can be used in facial massages, but great care should be taken that neither the oils nor the fumes from strong oils come too close to the eyes. Putting a few (3-4) drops of undiluted essential oils in a bowl of hot water can work as an inhalation or as a facial steam bath, but again care should be taken with the eyes.

Contrary to what you will read in almost every article on aromatherapy published in the press, many of the oils can be ingested, and can even in some cases be used to supplement prescribed medication in order to speed a cure. However, ESSENTIAL OILS SHOULD NEVER BE INGESTED WITHOUT CONSULTING WITH AN AROMATHERAPIST TRAINED IN THIS METHOD.

Ginger is an example of an oil that produces excellent results when ingested. Other such oils include Carraway, Mint and Black Pepper. The quality and source of the essential oil being used is of critical importance when taking essential oils orally. Ingestion of essential oils was most probably a part of ancient medicine practices, although this method was further refined and tested clinically by Daniel Penouel and Pierre Franchomme over the last 20 years.

Currently the Schloss Institute in Tel Aviv is the main educational body teaching the use of essential oils through ingestion, although many other good schools in Israel teach use of essential oils in massage. The ingestion method is popular in Europe, but is less recommended in the US, probably out of fear of malpractice suits. The Schloss Institute also sells essential oils and other treatment supplies, but they will only sell to practitioners.

By contrast, most pharmacies and health shops offer essential oils for sale to the general public. If there are no qualified personnel on hand to advise you, there are various ways in which to check whether the oils sold in your local pharmacy or health shop are of good quality.

First of all, the label should say "pure essential oil". There are many bottles on sale of fragrance oils or mixtures, but as far as aromatherapy is concerned these may smell nice but they aren't the real thing for treatment. The second rule of thumb is to check the prices. Essential oil prices vary greatly depending on the source of the herb or flower, its rarity, and the method of extraction. Where all the bottles are labeled with the same price, you can be sure that the oils are not good quality, and probably not pure essential oils at all. Check the prices of specific oils. Rose Absolut, for example, can cost US$65 for one cc., so if you're being offered a 10cc. Bottle for 50 shekel, be suspicious. Neroli can cost NIS 90 or over for 1 cc. Very often, companies will dilute Rose, Jasmine, Neroli or other very expensive oils in a carrier oil, and this is usually shown on the bottle. Even in dilution, prices will usually be quite high. There are companies selling what is listed as essential oil of Neroli for NIS 38, but this is either a poor quality imitation or a synthetic blend. It is preferable to use the brand recommended by your aromatherapist, even if it is more expensive, to make sure that you are using oils obtained from a reliable source.

If you are going to use oils on your own, use them either in a burner (maximum 6 drops in water) or diluted in vegetable oil (1-5 drops to one teaspoon of vegetable oil). The amounts given here are very low, because when using the oils independently it is a much better idea to play safe.

A basic rule of thumb for aromatherapy treatment is what smells good to you is probably good for you. Don't choose an oil because you've heard it's good if you can't stand the smell. By the same token, it can be problematic to choose oils for someone else, something you should take into consideration when buying gifts for example. The skin, contrary to many adverts about moisturizers, allows very few substances to pass through its upper layers. However, scientific research has shown that essential oils actually help other substances pass through the skin layers. For this reason, you should never mix essential oils with any cosmetic creams, as you may be introducing unwanted substances into your body unintentionally.

If you find yourself feeling unwell after smelling or anointing yourself with a mixture of essential oils, you should drink several (at least six or so) glasses of water to flush the oils out of your system. If a localized irritation appears, washing the area with water will not help as the oils do not dissolve in water. It's best to put a plain vegetable oil (whatever you have on your kitchen counter!) on the area as soon as possible as first aid to reduce the irritation.

An aromatherapy body or facial massage can cost anywhere from NIS 150 upwards, in addition to the cost of the oils themselves. The experience is usually very relaxing, so you should be careful if you are planning to drive to work immediately afterwards. Consultation with aromatherapists trained in the ingestion method can also cost upwards of 250 NIS. Many aromatherapists today are also trained in other therapies such as reflexology or shiatsu, and will often combine different methods to reach the best results.

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