Inspirational Aromatherapy

Chapter 1 Aromatherapy is more than a smelly treatment.

Aromatherapy is more than a smelly treatment - it is the controlled use of essential oils extracted from aromatic plants by a process known as distillation.

Many people think of Aromatherapy as just another form of massage or a Beauty treatment with nothing more than superficial benefits but it is so much more than that!

The word Aroma means smell and therapy means treatment - so our nose plays a vital role in the process and this is where the greatest impact can be made. As we inhale pleasing fragrant aromas the cilia in our olfactory bulb at the back of the nose picks up the tiny molecules and like keys turning in locks the pathway to the neuro transmitters in the brain are opened and "pow!" we have the real effect of aromatherapy just as it was intended. Suddenly our body feels the soothing effects as our endorphins and encephalin are released, our limbic system transports us to lavender fields from long forgotten memories or puts us in the Rose scented arms of our Grandmothers as children once more. Essential oils can stimulate the limbic system which is the oldest part of our brain and the seat of all emotion. This is where the real treatment starts. Aromatherapy is a body, mind and spirit treatment that is what makes it truly holistic. By spirit we mean the charisma, personality and the essential part of what makes a person who they are and how they interact with life. We often refer to the term "high spirited", or "low in spirit". Aromatherapy can revive the spirit. As just like the petals of the flowers we obtain essential oils from, we humans open and close Depending on our moods and emotions. We have such synergy with essential oils because we are part of the same whole, life itself.

Aromatherapy is a powerful tool for developing peace of mind when our outer world is in turmoil, composure when we are steering through troubled times and vitality when our get up and go has got up and gone! Aromatherapy can support us through the changing times of our lives from childhood with growing pains, anxiety and night terrors that accompany this stage in our lives. Soothing, mothering Roman Chamomile, familiar and comforting lavender and fruity uplifting mandarin help children who are often never considered to be suffering from "stress"! It is not just adults that experience this dreaded condition and the effects of relationship break ups and the saga that can develop from disruption in our lives. This is when Aromatherapy can support those moments in time. Children should be encouraged to choose their own essential oils by smelling the lid of the bottle and allowing their tiny nose to draw its own conclusion as to what is best for them. Children enjoy fruity and flowery smells. I recently prepared a roller ball essential oil blend for a friend for her ten year old son. How should he use it she asked me? Knowing how intelligent her son was I told her to ask him how he wanted to use it? She returned the following week stating with a smile that he had applied the tiny roll on, around his nipples and belly button!

Oh how intuitive I replied, his heart and sacral chakra's, what a wise child. (He too was feeling the break-up of his separated parents and inner wisdom was being his guide as to where to put the blend.) It could just have been him having fun, but that is the beauty of Aromatherapy it's gentle, safe and effective in the right hands and so much more than a smelly treatment".

The turbulent teens and hormonal disruption!

We are all affected by the ups and downs and rhythms of life, from physical and physiological changes as we develop and grow through to the slower process as we reach peak and hit the gentle downward slope into the twilight and evening of our lives which brings with it new experiences .

As we reach our teenage years our bodies respond to the flood of hormones in many ways. Mood and emotion disrupts the quiet child we once knew and in some cases the terrible teen emerges.

PMT or PMS is a common collection of symptoms from food cravings, tearfulness, cramps and breast tenderness. Sometimes these cramps are so debilitating that they can stop a young woman in her tracks and keep her from work and study. Using essential oils throughout the cycle can prevent or at least soften these symptoms. 12 days before the period is due is a good time to start using a prepared blend. Aromatherapy really is more than a smelly treatment which helps soothes changeable moods and swinging emotions Bergamot and Geranium balancing and uplifting, dissolving depressive thoughts and generating positivity. Rose and Clary sage help to tone and regulate the cycle, reducing stress and easing cramps. The oils can be most beneficial for calming monthly anxiety when inhaled from a tissue or smelling strip. For more physical symptoms applied in a base oil or lotion to the abdomen and lower back at the onset of discomfort or if periods are regular, use as a preventative a day before the period is due.