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Shanna
A. Schultz
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Aromatherapy
in Your Life: Essential Oil Quality and Safetry Considerations
by Shanna A. Schultz
With the rise in popularity of natural and alternative health treatments, people are starting to take a more active role in their health. Aromatherapy is a wonderful tool to use to do this, becuase it is cost effective and it can be practiced in the daily life of the average person. Indeed, aromatherapy has become a household term as well as a buzz word used to sell a wide range of products which may or may not have therapeutic qualities.
True aromatherapy involves using therapeutic grade essential oils (essences derived from plants) for any number of reasons, from improving specific health conditions, decreasing stress, inducing sleep, etc. Aromatherapy is more than smelling a pleasant aroma. Molecules from true essential oils attach to the olfactory receptors in the nose. From there, signals are passed directly on to the brain and the brain responds by releasing the appropriate hormones into the bloodstream, effecting changes within the body. True aromatherapy causes physiological changes within the body.
I have a couple of primary gripes regarding aromatherapy products that are sold in stores today. The first involves false advertising. Walking through any major retail store today, you will see products ranging from candles to room fresheners, massage oils and other personal care products, cleaning products and many others that are all labeled with the term "aromatherapy". Most of these products do not contain any real essential oils and instead contain synthetic fragrance oils. They may or may not smell wonderful, but apart from that they have no real therapeutic benefit. This is misleading to the consumer and detracts from the trade of professional aromatherapists and those who take the care to make their products with real essential oils.
The second problem that I have with aromatherapy products has to do with safety. Real essential oils can cause profound effects within the body. They are complex and are made up of hundreds of chemical constituents. Many oils are not to be used under certain conditions, some of which include pregnancy, high and low blood pressure and exposure to the sun.
Many products that DO actually contain therapeutic quality essential oils do not carry the proper warnings. In addition, with the modern age and advent of the internet, information (both correct and incorrect) is proliferated freely. Many websites list aromatherapy blends, but do not list warnings for those using them.
In closing, when using aromatherapy in your life, I recommend cnsultation with someone thoroughly familiar with the properties of the oils that you are using, or purchasing a good book on the subject. With knowledge and proper precaution, aromatherapy can be a true healing force in your life.
Last Updated: December 19, 2007