What is an essential oil?

"Aromatherapie" is the word coined by Henri Maurice Gattefosse in France in 1928 to describe the science he was beginning to explore: that of using the aromatic components of plants to facilitate healing. The story goes that Gattefosse burned his hand in his laboratory and thrust it into a container of Lavender oil; it apparently healed much more quickly than expected, and with minimal scarring.

These aromatic oils had been used for healing for millennia before Gattefosse 's dramatic experience; in fact, there are records of their use by Babylonian physicians as early as 5000 BC. Similarly, there are records in Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine from 2000 BC, as well as passages of the Bible that speak of their healing properties. They have been part of folk medicine for millennia, but Gattefosse is acknowledged as the "father" of modern Aromatherapy because he started the process of scientific documentation of the components of essential oils and their healing abilities.

Jumping out of order for the sake of logical progression, I'll define essential oils next. These are liquids obtained from plants, which evaporate at room temperature with characteristic aromas. They are also called "volatile oils" because of this ability to evaporate readily. One can experience essential oils by rubbing one's hands in the foliage of a rosemary, lavender, or peppermint plant and sniffing one's fingers. They were believed to carry the "essence", the soul or unique identity, of the plants they came from.

One theory is that these oils perform a similar function for plants to that which pheronomes do for animals: they allow for communication. They can send a message to bees that this is a good flower to visit or similarly repel other insects. Lavender oil has been used for millennia to repel moths. Jasmine has been used for even longer to attract lovers.

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How do they work to aid health in the body?

Essential oils seem to work in three ways. If used in baths, compresses, or cosmetics, the very small molecules involved will be absorbed through the skin and into the capillaries that underlie it. Or if used in vaporisers or diffusers, they will be breathed in and absorbed through the respiratory mucosa. Then they are carried by the blood through the body to the different organs they target to exert their physical effects.

They are also absorbed in the nasal mucosa and taken up by scent receptors, which send signals through the nerves to the limbic system. This is the area of the brain where memories associated with strong emotions are stored. It also links directly to the parts of the brain that control many of the automatic functions of the body, such as bloodpressure, heartrate, respirations, and gut movements. Thus the essential oils can have a strong effect on the emotions, both through the body functions associated with them and through memory

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What are the safety precautions to be aware of when using aromatherapy?

Essential oils are highly concentrated and very potent substances that can be harmful if not handled properly. Therefore, some precautions should be taken in order to avoid damaging effects and enjoy aromatherapy benefits. Read the following safety tips to get informed about the secure use of the essential oils. However, this page cannot include all the circumstances that you may face. If you have any doubts about the safe use of essential oils, please consult our qualified aromatherapist.

• Never apply essential oils undiluted to skin. You should first add the essential oils to a base oil (sweet almond oil, hazelnut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, etc) and then you can safely apply the blend to your body. Only a few gentle essential oils (lavender, chamomile) can be used directly on the skin (in very small quantities) in cases of insect bites or burns.

• Use small quantities of oils. Remember that only a few drops are needed for any aromatherapy blend. Usually the body products (for adults) are consisted of only 2% of essential oils and 98% of base oils. Keep in mind that by using only a few drops of essential oils, you not only save money, but you use essential oils wisely and safely.

• Beware of potential allergic reactions. Before using for the first time any essential oil it is advisable to check for possible allergic reactions. Keep in mind that an essential oil which is described as safe, may cause allergic reaction to some individuals and therefore you should always test it before use. Dilute only 1 drop of the essential oil with carrier oil and apply the mix on your skin. Wait at least 24 hours to verify whether it is irritating for you or not.

• Do not use essential oils close to the eyes area. Remember that you should never use essential oils near your eyes. Always close your eyes when you inhale an essential oil and consider that washing carefully your hands after using any essential oil is the best way to avoid eyes irritation or damages.

• Essential oils during pregnancy and lactation. Although there are controversial opinions about this issue, we advise you to consult your GP before using any essential oils during pregnancy and lactation. Most doctors and physicians suggest avoiding the following essential oils: rosemary, hyssop, sage, jasmin, peppermint, juniper and myrrh oil.

• Aromatherapy and children. Children may use essential oils only under the careful supervision of an experienced adult. Consequently, it is wise to keep the aromatherapy kit out of children’s reach. Moreover, special caution should be taken when using aromatherapy products for babies and children. There are several oils that are not appropriate for children, while the suitable essential oils should be diluted twice or more.

• Aromatherapy and medical conditions. Special care should be taken in cases of health problems such as asthma, epilepsy and high blood pressure. Asthmatics and people suffering from respiratory disorders must avoid inhalations. The contraindicated essential oils for epilepsy are hyssop, rosemary, sage, fennel and eucalyptus oils while for high blood pressure, sage, rosemary, eucalyptus, thyme and rose.

• Essential oils may cause skin sensitivity to sunlight. The essential oils from the Citrus Family (lemon, lime, bitter orange, grapefruit, bergamot etc) increase the sensitivity of skin to sunlight. Hence, you should always wait for at least 5 hours after using them and before exposing your skin to ultraviolet sun rays, otherwise you will redden and burn your skin.

• External and internal use of essential oils. Do not ingest essential oils. Use them only externally. Many essential oils are toxic and thus internal use can be extremely dangerous. Oral consumption can take place only under the guidance of a qualified and specially trained aroma therapist.

• Essential oils are flammable. Almost all essential oils are flammable. Thus, you should be very careful when handling them. Do not put the bottles of essential oils near fire or naked flame and never burn pure essential oils (without water) in an aromatherapy vaporizer.

• Essential oils storage. Essential oils should be stored in a cool dark place or in the fridge. Try to keep temperature fluctuations as less as possible in order to preserve their therapeutic attributes. Essential oils are usually sold in small dark yellow, violet or blue glass bottles. The dark glass protects the essential oils from ultraviolet rays which may deteriorate their potency. Remember to close tightly the bottles’ lids because essential oils are volatile substances. Properly stored oils have 6 months minimum lifetime and 2-5 years maximum.

• Emergency actions. If you spill by mistake an essential oil into your skin or eyes, wash without delay the affected area with much vegetable oil or milk (which works better than water) and request your doctor’s immediate medical care. If you accidentally consume any essential oil, drink a lot of milk and go right away to the nearest poison control center for suitable medical care.

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What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the art and science of utilising naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonise and promote the health of body, mind and spirit.

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What is the aim of aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy seeks to explore the physiological, psychological and spiritual realm of the individual’s responses to aromatic extracts. As a holistic medicine, the natural treatment system is designed to affect the whole person, not just the symptom or disease. It is both a preventative approach as well as an active therapy during acute and chronic stages of disease or illness.

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How did aromatherapy originate?
The term “aromatherapie” was coined by French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse in 1928, after he used lavender oil to heal a bad burn he suffered in his lab. He used this word to imply the therapeutic use of aromatic substances (essential oils) and wrote the Materia Medica of aromatherapy.

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What is some of the history of aromatherapy?

One could say that aromatherapy is as old as man’s relationship to the plant kingdom and so the beginning of aromatherapy is shrouded in the mists of time. Extensive therapeutic use of essential oils is recorded in ancient China and India and much of the Middle East. Roman soldiers on campaign had their wounds treated with honey and Myrrh (a strong anti-bacterial oil). Terra Cotta distillers have recently been found in archaeological digs, but widespread use of distilled essential oils from Europe began after the invention of glass distillation mechanisms in the 16th century. This opened the door to extracting the volatile components from Chamomile, Lavender and Rosemary and other plants found mainly in Northern regions.

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Where do essential oils come from?

The essential oils are complex substances containing many chemical components. The oils are not concentrated from the whole plant, unlike most herbal medicines, but are extracted from flowers, leaves, roots, peel, resin or bark.

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Why do essential oils vary in price?

Essential oils vary in price due to their method of extraction, where in the world the source comes from, how difficult it is to extract the oil from the source and how much of the raw material is needed to produce a drop of oil.

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How do essential oils enter the body?

Essential oils are either absorbed through the skin in an oil or cream base and they are inhaled in which case some of the oil’s components enter the body.

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What is the effect of essential oils on the mind?

When a person inhales essential oils, this stimulates the olfactory system (The part of the brain connected to smell) to send a signal to the brain’s limbic system. This area stores memories and is responsible for emotions. When this area is stimulated chemicals are released into the body to create the affect.

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How do I use essential oils at home?

It is important to get advice from a qualified Aromatherapist before using them at home as they are powerful oils and some need to be avoided in certain situations such as pregnancy, epilepsy and if taking particular medications.

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Can I use more than one oil at a time?

Yes. It is often advised to use up to 5 oils in one blend to avoid them interacting too much. You don’t necessarily need 5 though as only one or two may be the ones needed for a specific individual.

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Can essential oils be used neat on the skin?

No. Essential oils are very concentrated so need to be diluted in a carrier oil or cream. Less is more with oils in terms of dilution. Rarely a small drop of Tea tree or Lavender can be applied to things such as verrucas.

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Can I take essential oils internally?

No. They are for externally use only as are far too concentrated to use internally. If some oil is swallowed by accident milk should be consumed and the person should go to the nearest A & E immediately.

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Is it possible to still use aromatherapy when pregnant?

During the first three months of pregnancy aromatherapy should be avoided. After this some oils can be used to help with symptoms such as stretch marks, nausea and back ache. There are some oils which should be avoided throughout the entire pregnancy so a qualified Aromatherapist should be consulted.

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Can aromatherapy be used on children?

Aromatherapy is a lovely way to help with many illnesses and problems children have. For babies essential oils should be avoided in the first three months and then mainly Lavender or Chamomile used till about 3 years old. Base oils are often a great way to help with problems such as cradle cap or eczema, but parents should always consult an aromatherapist to find the best treatment.

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Is it possible to get adverse reactions from the oils?

Some people with very sensitive skin may find that particular oils aggravate their skin. This may be due to being allergic or sensitive to the source of the oil or that the person’s skin is damaged from an issue such as psoriasis or eczema. Discontinue use of the oils and use the base oils which are less likely to cause a reaction.

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