Aroma reaches and influences our deepest human instincts. And, because we have millions of smelling nerves, our sense of smell is the most powerful one. The word aromatherapy means to treat with aroma through inhalation. Research has shown that we respond to aroma within one to three seconds. Aromatherapy also includes the topical application of essential oils that pass through the cell membranes of the skin and diffuse into the bloodstream.

No one knows exactly when our ancestors began using herbs and oils in healing the sick. The plants from which we now derive essential oils had been used for thousands of years before the technique of distilling oils was discovered. The Egyptians were using aromatics 3,000 years before Christ for medicinal and cosmetic purposes, and to embalm their dead. The ancient Greeks acquired much of their medical knowledge from the Egyptians, as well as making further discoveries of their own. In 1920, a French doctor brought them back into use after a laboratory accident. He burned his arm and plunged it into a container of lavender oil he believed was water. To his surprise, the pain stopped in moments. In 1989, it was discovered that the amygdala, located in the brain, plays a major role in storing and releasing emotional trauma, and that aroma has a profound effect in triggering a response from this gland. Today in England, aromatherapy has become a widespread and valued form of holistic therapy. There are about 300 essential oils in general use today by professional practitioners, but the average household only needs about ten.

Essential oils are extracted from resins, barks, leaves, flowers, and seeds, or expelled from citrus rinds. The oil is concentrated in different parts of the plants. Geranium oil comes from the leaves and stalks, while ginger oil comes from the root-like stems which grow underground. Cinnamon oil comes from the bark of the tree, and pine oil comes from the needles and twigs. It takes fifty pounds of plant material to make one pound of oil. Rose oil, for example, is very expensive because it requires 2,300 pounds of leaves for one pound. If you tear the leaf of a plant, a clear liquid emerges. It is this volatile resin—also known as the essential oil—that is designed to clean the torn or broken area, kill bacteria, and start the regeneration process. Research has shown that essential oils enhance and support our immune system, inhibit bacteria growth, oxygenate, and detoxify. Unlike chemical drugs, the oils do not remain in the body. They are excreted through urine and feces, perspiration, and exhalation, leaving no toxins behind. Modern-day research has confirmed that in addition to being anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal, there are essential oils which are anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, circulatory stimulating, and much more.

HOW DO I USE ESSENTIAL OILS?
The most effective way to use the oils is by external application or by inhalation. These methods include massage, compresses, cosmetics, room sprays, and baths. Under supervision, a few oils can be ingested, but this is actually the least effective method because it involves their passing through the digestive system where they come into contact with digestive juices, which affect their chemistry. I believe massage is the most important method of treatment because it combines the effects of the oils themselves with the awareness and care of a sensitive therapist. The second most important use is in aromatic baths, which can be used in between massage treatments. A couple of drops of essential oil in a bathtub where you can soak for 30–45 minutes will leave you with the therapeutic value of whichever oils you have chosen. The third method is room perfuming, using a burner or diffuser. This is the most subtle of the traditional methods because it involves only the aroma of the plant, representing its energy in the most refined form.

For effective therapeutic use, it is important that only pure oils be used. If possible, use oils from plants that are organically grown. They will cost more than poorer quality oils, but you will use only minute amounts, and if properly stored, they will last for a very long time. Do not judge an oil by how good the aroma smells, because reconstituted oils or chemical copies of nature do not work for medicinal purposes. The perfume industry has devised products that mimic the smell of the real thing. Beware of body shops! Buy your oils at a business concerned with health.

In an environment filled with chemicals that are harmful to many, essential oils are one of the great, untapped resources of the world. These beautiful, precious liquids are available to anyone looking for a way to provide both protection and pleasure for yourself and family, including pets. As the season changes, now is a good time to begin learning about this wonderful gift from nature. With fall and winter approaching, here are some helpful oils for common ailments: eucalyptus or thyme for coughs, tea tree, lemon, or clove for colds, lavender, cinnamon or oregano for flu, peppermint or geranium for mouth ulcers. Use, heal, and enjoy.

Kendall Hale combines massage, energetic healing, aromatherapy and flower essences to nurture her clients’ individual physical and emotional needs. She has a private practice in Asheville and Fairview.

Contact this writer: writer@newlifejournal.com

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