Essential oils used in the therapeutic practice of aromatherapy are for the treatment of a number of different ailments or conditions and act both physically and mentally. Essential oils are extracted from plant material and are 100% pure. Most essential oils are extracted by distillation. They act slowly and should be used in conjunction with good nutrition and gentle exercise. Through therapeutic aromatherapy, the body may be assisted to detoxify and establish homeostasis (natural balance or equilibrium).
Essential oils, to varying degrees, have anti-viral, antibacterial, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. These oils work through the olfactory nerve (inhalation) and skin absorption. Essential oils are carried through the circulatory system to all the cells and organs of the body. Each organ takes only the components it needs from the essential oils, and the balance is discarded through the elimination systems.
To be a therapeutic aromatherapist has great value and it is a profession which must be held in high esteem. 'Therapeutic' and 'therapy' pertain to the healing and curative art. It is a branch of medical science dealing with the treatment of disease. 'Aroma' means an odour or smell, often one that is pleasant.
All essential oils have similar properties, but in varying degrees, and the skill of trained therapeutic aromatherapists is their ability, through their knowledge of these properties, to select the correct essential and carrier oils and mix these to treat the individual's condition effectively.
The aim of an aromatherapy massage is to aid oil penetration, relax the body, improve the circulatory and lymphatic systems, as well as stimulate reflex areas and meridians. Through this improved blood supply, nerve impulses are unblocked, stress and tension are relieved, and toxic wastes are flushed out. The body achieves homeostasis and can then use its natural healing potential.