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Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the art of using oils extracted from plants for healing. These essential oils are most commonly used in massage, baths and inhalation treatments.

The history of aromatherapy
The principles of aromatherapy
What to expect when you see a therapist

The use of essential oils for medicinal purposes can be traced back as far as ancient Egypt and may even have been used prior to this period. Certainly there are references to plant medicine in the Lascaux cave paintings of Dordogne, France, which date from 18,000 BC. The Egyptians used aromatic oils in mummification and translations of hieroglyphics found in the temple of Edfou show that they were formulated by priests to make perfumes and medicines. Traditional Indian medicine (Ayur Veda), which goes back 3,000 years, also incorporated essential oils into it's healing potions.

The Greeks took over the practice of this early aromatherapy, with Hippocrates, writing in the 4th century, advocating a daily aromatic bath and scented massage as the way to health. Hippocrates catalogued the effects of 300 plants whilst Diodes, another ancient Greek, wrote a treatise on herbal medicine.

Greek and Egyptian knowledge influenced the Romans, leading to the first "De materio medica", written by Dioscorides in 50 AD, which contained a detailed account of the healing properties of many herbs and was translated into many languages. Persian physician and philosopher Avicenna developed the method of distillation, as we know it. The Crusaders brought his methods to Europe and by the Middle Ages essential oils were popular as medicines and perfumes. However, in the nineteenth century the qualities of these oils declined rapidly, as did their popularity, due to mass synthetic oil production.

Gattefosse, a French chemist coined the term 'aromatherpy' in the early twentieth century, after he accidentally burnt his hand during an explosion at his family's perfume factory and plunged it into the nearest container, which was full of pure lavender oil. The hand healed in hours with no sign of scarring or infection. This led Gattefosse to investigate the therapeutic actions of plant oils. Fellow Gauls Dr Jean Valnet and Margaret Maury, a biochemist and beautician developed his findings in the 1960's. Doctors in France soon began to use essential oils alongside conventional medicine, although their use within mainstream medicine worldwide remains limited. About 300 essential oils are in use today. Many are now freely available in chemists, health shops and some supermarkets.

Essential oils are extracted from flowers, seeds, fruits, leaves, bark, roots and resins, ideally without the use of chemicals from organically grown plants. Distillation (heating the plant by boiling or steaming until it vaporizes) is the most common form of extraction. Other methods include maceration (a traditional process by which plant material is immersed in hot oil to release its essence and scenting the oil), expression (crushing the rind of citrus fruit to obtain oil) and enfleurage (a less common approach in which flowers are pressed into fat-coated glass plates).

The oils are absorbed into the body via the skin's pores during massage or by inhalation through the nose. Molecules within the oils enter the bloodstream, and from there target the nervous system, thus affecting ones emotional and physical well being.

Essential oils contain a myriad of chemical substances such as alcohols, ketones, phenols and terpenes. Knowledge of the therapeutic value of these chemicals, as well as their potential toxicity if used incorrectly forms an important part of the aromatherapist's training.

Each essential oil has a number of different properties. For example, lavender is a sedative, antidepressant, antispasmodic and antiseptic. It is mainly used to relieve nervous tension, relieve digestive complaints and treat skin conditions such as burns, insect bites and acne.

Indeed, aromatherapy can help provide relief for a variety of conditions including arthritis, acne, back pain, PMT, depression, cold infections, insomnia and respiratory problems. However, although essential oils can be used quite safely at home, they must be treated with the utmost care and respect. Follow instructions very carefully and never be tempted to put neat oil on the skin or take oils internally unless a qualified aromatherapist has specifically instructed you. Moreover, always consult a practitioner before using if you are pregnant, or suffer from serious health problems such as epilepsy, seizures, asthma, cancer and high or low blood pressure.

Ideal essential oils for home use include lavender (the great all-rounder), tea tree (a powerful antiseptic), geranium (the mood enhancer), eucalyptus (a decongestant, antiviral and antibacterial of the highest calibre), and ylang-ylang (a wonderful aphrodisiac and antidepressant).

During the first session details are taken of current health, medications, diet, lifestyle and the client's expectations of the treatment. This information enables the therapist to treat the client with oils chosen specifically to suit their needs, physically and emotionally, at that time. Most aromatherapists will use massage as the most effective way to get the oils into the body. Base oils (usually vegetable, nut or seed oils) are used to dilute the essential oils since the latter are too highly concentrated to be used directly on the skin.

Aromatherapy is a discreet form of massage- you won't be expected to lie stark naked on the couch. The therapist will usually leave the room for a few minutes and ask you to get undressed (at least down to your underwear) and lie on the massage bed, where you will be covered by a towel.

The massage itself usually lasts approximately an hour, with plenty of time devoted to the key stress-holding areas, the neck and shoulders. Aftercare advice includes drinking plenty of water to help rid the body of the toxins that have been released during the session.

How much does a session cost?
Therapists fees will vary from area to area, with London and the South East usually being more expensive. A session will cost about £35 - £40 for one hour, more for longer. Many qualified therapists will offer a visiting service whereby they will come to see you in your home and will bring a portable massage couch with them. You need to make sure that there is enough room for the couch and that the room is warm. The advantage to the client who sees a visiting aromatherpist is that the experience can be so relaxing that you might not want the hassle of travelling home after your session. When the practitioner comes to you, you can just take full advantage of the relaxation induced by the treatment and even go straight to bed afterwards if you have an evening treatment.

For more information contact the CMA