The fragrance of well-being

Aromatherapy is not an invention of the modern age. Just like yoga, Ayurveda or massage, it comes back to us from time immemorial. Although aromatherapy is often confused with the use of pleasantly smelling substances, in fact, colorful “bombs” for baths, scented gels for “soul and body”, incense sticks have nothing to do with this science. The basis of aromatherapy is essential oils, fragrant volatile substances contained in different parts of plants. It is believed that this ethereal component of a plant carries the entire supply of its vitality and energy, which is why it is called its soul.

Spirit of history

The use of oils is evidenced by rock paintings of cave dwellers, references to them are found in the manuscripts of ancient civilizations – from Sumer to Ancient Rome. In ancient Egypt, the bodies of the deceased pharaohs were embalmed with essential oils and various diseases were treated. Aromas were an integral part of medicine and everyday life throughout the ancient world.

Cult rituals often used the property of essential oils (for example, frankincense) to influence consciousness. In one of the Chinese manuscripts it is said that “spirits act purifying and restoring, strengthening energy and filling thoughts with calmness and peace.” The first aromatherapy ointments based on olive oil were created in ancient Greece.

The Arab scientist Avicenna discovered a way to extract aromatic essence from plants not by pomace, but by steam distillation, making the production of precious oils more accessible and efficient.

During the time of the Crusades, some essential oil plants were brought from the Middle East to the south of France and this was the beginning of the Western tradition of aromatherapy.

The success of aromatherapy in recent times is associated with the name of the French chemist Rene Maurice Gatefoss (Rene Maurice Gatefosse). He studied essential oils in order to use their properties in the manufacture of cosmetics, but one day, as a result of an explosion in his laboratory, he burned his hand. Due to severe pain, he lowered her into the first vessel he came across, which, fortunately, turned out to be filled with lavender oil. The burn healed amazingly quickly, and there were no traces of it left.

The successful use of lavender and tea tree oils in hospitals during World War I finally convinced the chemist of the uniqueness and benefits of essential oils. It was he who introduced the concept of “aromatherapy” as part of herbal therapy. Thanks to the work of his followers Dr. Jean Valnet and biochemist Marguerite Mauri, aroma oils have been appreciated and become an integral part of the French cosmetics industry.

Tops and roots

The effect of a fragrance on a person depends on many factors: the concentration of the smell, the circumstances under which the person felt it, the associations that are associated with it. Aromatherapy can be used as one of the means to solve complex psychological problems, but this requires a very high qualification of specialists.

No less effective is the therapeutic, that is, physiological, effect of aroma oils. Getting into the body through the respiratory organs or skin, and then into the blood and lymph, it can affect the chemical processes of the body, the functioning of the endocrine glands, digestion and the immune system. According to experts, oils could replace up to 70% of drugs, as well as enhance the effect of the remaining 30%. “Of course, aromatherapy is not a panacea for all diseases,” Irina Zhivilina clarifies. – It does not cure cancer, AIDS and other serious diseases (although searches are underway). But it will always help relieve stress, cure colds and overcome skin problems, not to mention its preventive and cosmetic properties.

As for the action of essential oils at the molecular level, it occurs both with external and internal use – at present, science has only begun to study these subtle mechanisms.

With or without rules

The first rule: no essential oil is used in its pure form and does not dissolve in water. When taking baths, oils must be dissolved in an emulsifier, which can be honey, sea salt, cream or a special hydrophilic oil. Dose – about 5 drops per bath. Otherwise, the oil will form a film on the water, and then end up on the skin, which will lead to a burn.

For cosmetic use or application to the skin during massage, essential oils are dissolved in base vegetable oils. The base oils include all vegetable oils obtained by cold pressing from the kernels and seeds of plants: almond, avocado, wheat, cocoa, etc. Usually, 2 drops of the essential mixture are used per 5 ml of base oil.

The second rule: real aroma oil cannot be cheap. Quality assurance is the inscription “XNUMX% pure (and not “natural”) essential oil.” It is best to purchase them in pharmacies – consultants will give all the necessary information about their properties and how best to use each specific oil.

However, aromatherapists do not prohibit experimenting with the smells they like on their own. If you do not dare to rely on your intuition, you can buy ready-made mixtures: anti-stress, anti-inflammatory, etc.

Winter on the nose

Aromatherapy is an exceptionally pleasant and effective remedy for overcoming winter gloom and exhaustion. With an unimportant mood, the sunny aromas of citrus fruits: orange, grapefruit and lemon will help to cope. Tea tree, eucalyptus, juniper oils prevent colds: in kindergartens where aroma lamps or aroma stones that do not require fire are used, the incidence of children decreases by 2,5 times.

Tea tree oil is also a powerful antiseptic. It can be used for wet cleaning of premises: a few drops of oil are dissolved in a couple of tablespoons of alcohol and added to water. To get rid of nasal congestion, you can put two drops of eucalyptus oil on the corner of the pillow. Aroma medallions, which are constantly carried with you, help to cope with chronic fatigue (citrus oil) and regulate appetite (fennel oil). But if depression still prevailed, then you should go for an aroma massage session using nard oil from the valerian family.

But real miracles can be created by the work of a specialist who will first conduct an individual diagnosis of both the physical and mental state of a person. Such a system of aroma diagnostics was developed by the Iris Aromatherapy Center: an aromatherapist communicates with the client for two hours, and after two weeks he provides him with an individually developed combination of oils. Advice and assistance in choosing oils can be obtained from health and yoga clubs.

Based on individual mixtures, sprays, bath salts, skin creams and much more can be prepared. According to Svetlana Sitnikova, aromatherapy consultant at the SatNam yoga club, “any aroma mixture should be composed in such a way as not only to heal the body, but to help the personality open up, like a flower bud, restore its integrity and harmony.”

3 best recipes

• Colds: once a day, rub the neck, back and chest area with freshly prepared massage oil: for one dessert spoon of vegetable oil, 5 drops of eucalyptus oil, 3 drops of thyme, 2 drops of tea tree.
• Pain in the joints: dissolve 5 drops of rosemary, cinnamon and juniper oils in 50 ml of alcohol, dilute with water in a ratio of 1: 2 and use as compresses.
• PMS: light massage of the lower abdomen with aromatherapy oil – 2 drops of ylang-ylang, mint, patchouli oil per dessert spoon of base oil.

5 ambulances

The aromatherapy “first aid kit” from Elena Aksenova, an aromatherapy specialist at the Karl Hadek Cosmetics Center, contains remedies for the most common problems.