The art of aromatherapy has been practiced for thousands of years. Strong evidence was found to link aromatherapy to many ancient traditions. Especially the Egyptians and the Greeks are well known for using essential oils for ritual and healing purposes. But also, the Chinese and Indians had specific essential oils which they used for healing treatments; even today, those cultures are very well known for their alternative medicine.
The effect of perfumes on the human body and early forms of aromatherapy was already known in Ancient Egypt. Though aromatic oils have been used to treat and cure various ailments and conditions for centuries, the formal study of their properties only started in 1928.
What is aromatherapy?
In its simplest form, aromatherapy uses essential plant oils for therapeutic purposes. Today we understand aromatherapy as a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Science has already proven that it enhances both physical and emotional health. And just recently, aromatherapy has gained more recognition in science and medicine. Moreover, it is about to become an integral part of modern medicine, focusing more on natural deprived alternatives to counterpart the side effects that often come with pharmaceutics medicine.
Usually, essential oils are employed to relieve a person from stress and various stress-related conditions. However, more research has been done; science has also found other components which can be used to treat specific diseases or illnesses.
Essential oils have changed my life
I have always been drawn to natural medicine. Being born hypersensitive helped me find ways to heal myself and others with natural remedies. There are no harmful side effects or long-term issues down the line when working with alternative medicine. Especially in our modern times where so many things are toxic and more people feel the effects of this. I use essential oils in my everyday life for cleaning, washing up, cooking, and helping myself stay healthy and happy. I truly believe that health is something that we consciously choose every day. True healing is possible by making the proper choice and working in harmony with nature. doTerra essential oils provide that natural solution for you and your family to stay healthy and take charge of your health.
Choose high-quality essential oils
One of the most well-established essential oil producers and well-known for their purity of products is doTerra. “When you choose doTERRA, you are choosing essential oils gently and carefully distilled from plants, harvested at the perfect moment by experienced growers around the world, for the ideal extract composition and efficacy. Each doTERRA essential oil is carefully and thoroughly tested using the strict CPTG Certified Pure Tested Grade™ quality protocol. Experienced essential oil users will immediately recognize the superior quality standard of doTERRA essential oils.
The doTERRA Difference
When you use a doTERRA essential oil, you’re using a pure oil with no contaminants, fillers or adulterations. doTERRA has created a standard to ensure that our oils are 100% pure, something that didn’t exist in the essential oil industry before.
Every batch of doTERRA essential oils goes through a rigorous testing process. Each oil is then sent to an independent third party for further testing and validation. The end result creates the best essential oils, products that you can be confident in using safely every day wih everyone in your family.
doTERRA Purity
In a market where every company claims to have ‘pure’ essential oils, how do you really know if the oils you’re buying are pure and safe for you and your family? You need to ensure that you know your oils are produced under the following precautions:
Sustainable and responsible sourcing (Where do the oils come from?)
Extensive and thorough testing (Are the oils tested for adulteration and contamination?)
Clear and accessible safety and usage information (How to use the oils safely)
Transparency (Is there third-party testing? Are test results available?)
The Science Behind Essential Oils
When you hear the word “volatile,” you may think it holds a negative connotation; however, in the case of essential oils, volatility refers to a substance’s ability to change its state quickly. The chemical makeup of volatile aromatic compounds in essential oils allows them to disperse quickly through the air. This is why you can recognize the aroma of essential oil from the moment you open the bottle—even from a distance.
How do Essential Oils Work?
As volatile aromatic compounds move quickly through the air, you will instantly experience the scent. With over 3,000 types of volatile aromatic compounds discovered so far, it is important to note that these compounds greatly determine each essential oil’s benefit, aroma, and nature. Because of its unique chemical makeup, each essential oil will vary from species to species and even from plant to plant. The delicate ratio of aromatic constituents found in any essential oil makes it unique and gives it specific benefits.
Why using essential oils can change your life?
Aromatherapy is concerned with the workings of the physical and emotional aspects of the person under treatment. Physically, aromatherapy helps in relieving specific conditions through the stimulation of the nervous, immune, and circulatory systems. In emotions, however, they may evoke pleasant memories and uplifted moods.
Aromatherapy works by inducing the olfactory nerve cells with aromatic oils, which then carry out the message to the limbic system in the brain. The limbic system is the part of the brain responsible for controlling memory and emotions.
You can even take essential oils internally:
Through intensive laboratory testing, certain essential oils are safe for humans and animals to be taken internally. However, you must ensure that you use the highest and purest quality and that those oils are specifically labeled to be safe for consumption.
The only brand I personally use in my everyday life is doTerra. Here I know their products are created to be taken internally, and their oils are labeled accordingly. Each oil has its very own components, and therefore, it can provide different healing effects.
“With so many different essential oils at your disposal, you can tailor them to your specific wants and needs rather than be forced to settle for a generic solution, making essential oils a widespread choice for those looking for the best natural solutions in the modern era. The versatility of essential oils is part of what has made them so popular in recent years. People love using essential oils for various tasks without buying multiple products. Some essential oils are soothing, toning, and grounding, while others are energizing, warming, and renewing. The variety of essential oils available allows you to naturally and effectively address your specific concerns. Everyone has his or her own reasons for using essential oils. They’ve become a common alternative solution because they can be tailored to fit preferences and needs and are—when sourced correctly—natural. Because you have so many essential oils to choose from, even The variety of essential oils available allows you to naturally and effectively address your specific concerns. Internal Use of Essential Oils 5 those with specific health concerns and sensitivities can enjoy the benefits that essential oils have to offer.” – Internal use of Essential oils – doTerra Ebook
How are essential oils created?
Essential oils are derived from the distillation of the elements of a plant, like the leaves, roots, flowers, stems, and bark. They hold the essence of the plants from which they originally came in high concentration. Though termed as oil, essential oils usually do not have the oil’s natural properties. Some essential oils are yellow, like lemongrass and orange, and many are clear.
How can you use essential oils?
These oils are used in various methods: inhalation, adding them to bathwater, and applying the diluted oil on the body.
Topical use of doTerra essential oils
Topical application is a very effective method for applying essential oils*. Because essential oils have low molecular weights and are lipid soluble, they easily penetrate the skin. Once absorbed, they stay in the applied area for a localised benefit.
Other Effective Methods of Topical Application
Add a few drops of oil to a warm bath.
Make a hot or cold compress by soaking a towel or cloth in water, adding essential oils, and then applying it to the desired area.
Add oil to a lotion or moisturizer and then apply to the skin.
Sensitive Areas to be Avoided:
Some facial areas, such as the skin around the eyes
Eyes and inner ears
Broken, damaged, or otherwise injured skin
Internal use of doTerra essential oils
Certain essential oils have a rich culinary history and can be used as dietary supplements supporting a variety of health conditions*. When you sprinkle cinnamon on your oatmeal, sip a mug of peppermint tea, or add fresh basil leaves to your spaghetti, you are consuming some volatile aromatic essential oil compounds.
Effective Methods of Internal Application
Use oils in recipes for cooking or baking to replace fresh or dried herbs and spices.
Remember that essential oils are much more potent than dried or fresh herbs and spices, so start with a minimal amount.
For more potent oils, it may be better to administer them by toothpicks (dip the end of a clean toothpick into the oil and then add to the food) rather than drops.
Add essential oils to water, smoothies, milk, tea, or other drinks.
Take essential oils in a veggie capsule or add them to a small amount of applesauce or yogurt.
*Read and follow the labels for specific instructions and safety information for all application methods.
The use of oil in aromatherapy is only restricted to those with unadulterated qualities. The purest of essential oils alone have therapeutic values.
Using essential oils with Carrier oils for topical use
The following list of the most familiar carrier oils is used in aromatherapy. Some of these are used as carrier oils (also known as vegetable oils or base oils):
– Almond, Sweet
– Apricot Kernel
– Avocado
– Borage
– Cocoa Butter
– Evening Primrose
– Grapeseed
– Hazelnut
– Jojoba
– Kukui
– Macadamia Nut
– Olive
– Peanut
– Pecan
– Rose Hip
– Sesame
– Shea Butter
– Sunflower
Which oils should not be used for aromatherapy
Below are listed oils that are not advisable to use in aromatherapy, especially if not supervised by a professional aromatherapy practitioner.
– Ajowan
– Almond, Bitter
– Arnica
– Birch, Sweet
– Boldo Leaf
– Broom, Spanish
– Calamus
– Camphor
– Deer Tongue
– Garlic
– Horseradish
– Jaborandi
– Melilotus
– Mugwort
– Mustard
– Onion
– Pennyroyal
– Rue
– Sassafras
– Thuja
– Wintergreen
– Wormseed
– Wormwood
Aromatherapists put into practice the workings of aromatherapy in a spectrum of work environments, including:
- private practice
- mobile visiting practice
- natural health clinics
- beauty therapy clinics
- health clubs
- hospitals
- hospices and
- nursing homes.
