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Marty's Aromatherapy
Glossary
Glossary
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Marty's Aromatherapy
Glossary |
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Aromatherapy Theory
Aromatherapy is the treatment or prevention of disease by use of essential oils. Two basic mechanisms are offered to explain the purported effects. One is the influence of aroma on the brain, especially the limbic system through the olfactory system. The other is the direct pharmacological effects of the essential oils. While precise knowledge of the synergy between the body and aromatic oils is often claimed by aromatherapists, the efficacy of aromatherapy remains to be proven. However, some preliminary clinical studies show positive effects.
In the English-speaking world, practitioners tend to emphasize the use of oils in massage. Aromatherapy tends to be regarded as a complementary modality at best and a pseudoscientific fraud at worst. On the continent, especially in France, where it originated, aromatherapy is incorporated into mainstream medicine. There, the use of the antiseptic, antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties of oils in the control of infections is emphasized over the approaches familiar to North Americans. In France some essential oils are regulated as prescription drugs, and thus administered by a physician. French doctors use a technique called the aromatogram to guide their decision on which essential oil to use. First the doctor cultures a sample of infected tissue or secretion from the patient. Next the growing culture is divided among petri dishes supplied with agar. Each petri dish is inoculated with a different essential oil to determine which have the most activity against the target strain of microorganism. The antiseptic activity manifests as a pattern of inhibited growth. In many countries, essential oils are included in the national pharmacopoeia, but aromatherapy as science has never been recognized as a valid branch of medicine in the United States, Russia, Germany, or Japan. Essential oils (EOs), phytoncides, and other natural VOCs work in different ways. At the scent level they activate the limbic system and emotional centers of the brain. When applied to the skin (commonly in form of "massage oils," i.e., 1%–10% solutions of EO in carrier oil) they activate thermal receptors and kill microbes and fungi. Internal application of essential oil preparations (mainly in pharmacological drugs; generally not recommended for home use apart from dilution—1%–5% in fats or mineral oils, or hydrosoles) may stimulate the immune system. |
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Aromatherapy Glossary
Basil
is used in perfumery for its clear, sweet and mildly spicy aroma. In aromatherapy, it is used for sharpening concentration, for its uplifting effect on depression, and to relieve headaches and migraines. Basil oil has many chemotypes and some are known to be emmenagogues and should be avoided during pregnancy. A highly fragrant plant whose leaves are used as a seasoning herb for many different types of foods. Basil has become one of the most recognizable herbs ever since pesto, the mixture of basil, pine nuts and parmesan cheese, has become popular.
Bergamot
is one of the most popular oils in perfumery. It is an excellent insect repellent and may be helpful for both the urinary tract and for the digestive tract. It is useful for skin conditions linked to stress, such as cold sores and chicken pox, especially when combined with eucalyptus oil. Bergamot is a flavoring agent in Earl Grey tea. Cold-pressed Bergamot oil contains bergaptene, a strong photosensitizer when applied to the skin, so only distilled or 'bergaptene-free' types can be topically used.
Black pepper
has a sharp and spicy aroma. Common uses include stimulating the circulation and for muscular aches and pains. Skin application is useful for bruises, since it stimulates the circulation. Black pepper comes from the pepper plant, a smooth woody vine that can grow up to 33 feet in hot and humid tropical climates. They begin to bear small white clustered flowers after 3 to 4 years and develop into berries known as peppercorns. Ground peppercorns produce the spice we call pepper.
Citronella oil
, obtained from a relative of lemongrass, is used as an insect repellent and in perfumery. The oil is extracted from Cymbopogon nardus and Cymbopogon winterianus grasses, thus is all-natural.
Clove oil
is a topical analgesic, especially useful in dentistry. It is also used an antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, and antiemetic. Clove oil is made from the buds of the flowers of a tree that grows in tropical to equatorial regions. Madgascar to Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Eucalyptus oil
is often used in combination with peppermint to provide relief for the airways in case of cold or flu.
Geranium oil is used as an astringent, antiseptic and diuretic. Eucalyptus oil is steam distilled from the leaves of certain species - not all eucalyptus trees are suitable for oil production and different species have varying attributes medicinally speaking. It's highly flammable and contains compounds that are natural disinfectants and pest deterrents. Considered toxic.
Jasmine
is used as an aphrodisiac. A simply intoxicating oil produced from jasmine blossoms; 1000 pounds of blossoms (about 3.6 million fresh blossoms) produce one pound of Jasmine oil. The blossoms are collected before sunrise, and handled with care to preserve their delicate scent.
Lavender oil
is used as an antiseptic, to soothe minor cuts and burns, to calm and relax, for insomnia and to soothe headaches and migraines. An essential oil obtained by distillation from the flower spikes of certain species of lavender.
Lemon oil
is uplifting and anti-stress/anti-depressant. In a Japanese study, lemon essential oil in vapour form has been found to reduce stress in mice. Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodona) – Originating in Australia, lemon myrtle is a tree usually grown on plantations. It is also found in the form of shrubs in the rainforest. The tree or shrub is ornamental bearing copious amounts of lemon scented flowers and leaves. It is the leaves that are the part of the plant that is used for this oil. This oil is extracted by the process of steam distillation. It is said that this oil is more lemony than the actual true lemon oil called Citrus limonum.
Rose
is used as an aphrodisiac. Attar of rose is the steam-extracted essential oil from rose flowers that has been used in perfumes for centuries. Rose water, made from the rose oil, is widely used in Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. The French are known for their rose syrup, most commonly made from an extract of rose petals. In the United States, this French rose syrup is used to make rose scones.
Sandalwood oil
(The term sandalwood has been applied at various times to oils from several different sources. Today, almost all the sandalwood oil traded internationally is so-called East Indian sandalwood oil distilled from the heartwood and roots of Santalum album. Australian sandalwood oil from S. spicatum and West Indian and African "sandalwood" oils are no longer produced. Unless otherwise stated the following discussion relates to the East Indian type from S. album (referred to, here, simply as sandalwood oil).)is used as an aphrodisiac.
Tea tree oil
(Melaleuca alternifolia is a species of tree or tall shrub in the plant genus Melaleuca. Native to Australia, it occurs on the north coast and adjacent ranges of New South Wales.) and many other essential oils have topical (external) antimicrobial (i.e. antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, or antiparasitic) activity and are used as antiseptics, disinfectants, and in mouthrinses.
Thyme oil
(Thymus vulgaris) produces a number of essential oils; depending on the location in which the plant is grown, the thyme essential oil extracted may exhibit different chemical compositions. The most common thyme oil for aromatherapy use is sweet (common) thyme essential oil; red thyme essential oil is more aggressive in its chemical make-up. There are also other varieties of essential oils produced from the distillation of the herb thyme and it is important to correctly identify each essential oil before using.
Yarrow oil
is used to reduce joint inflammation and relieve cold and influenza symptoms. An essential oil is a concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aromatic compounds extracted from plants. It may be produced by distillation, expression, or solvent extraction. Essential oils are used in perfumery, aromatherapy, cosmetics, incense, medicine
Ylang-ylang oil
is used as an aphrodisiac. Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata var. genuina) is a tall tropical tree that grows up to 65 feet high with large delicate flowers that come in shades of yellow, mauve, or pink. The yellow flowers are preferred for the extraction of the essential oil, which is steam distilled from the freshly picked flowers in fractionated rounds to separate the topmost, delicate, floral notes (about 40% of the yield) from the more earthy-bourbon type notes of the successive fractionations. It is indigenous to tropical Asia, but the most prized oil come from Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. The oil is characterized as intensely sweet, soft, floral-balsamic, with a slightly spicy scent and a creamy-rich top note.
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