Aromatherapy is the ancient art of using high quality oils extracted from various aromatic flowers,
plants fruit, bark, trees, grasses and seeds. It is a generic term that refers to any of the various
traditions that make use of aromatic oils, sometimes in combination with other alternative medical
practices and spiritual beliefs.
As a form of alternative medicine it uses volatile liquid plant materials or aromatic essences, known
as essential oils, and other aromatic compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person's
mood or health. Essential oils differ in chemical composition from other herbal products because
the distillation process only recovers the lighter phytomolecules. For this reason essential oils are
rich in a variety of aromatic compounds.
Popular uses of these products include bathing, inhalation, ingestion, direct application to the skin
(coupled with massage), and/or any topical application that incorporates the use of essential oils to
their products. It has a particularly Western currency and persuasion. Medical treatment involving
aromatic compounds may exist outside of the West, but may or may not be included in the term
'aromatherapy'
The History of Aromatherapy
The use of essential oils, and Aromatherapy, has roots in antiquity. The combined use of such
aromatic oils and massage (Aromatherapy) dates back around 5,000 years or more. The ancient
Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, all used aromatherapy oils. The first recorded use of
essential oils occurs in a Chinese text dating back some 4,700 years. The Egyptian physician
Imhotep recommended fragrant oils for bathing, massage, and for embalming their dead (Imhotep
is also the name of the Egyptian god of medicine and healing). Hippocrates, the father of modern
medicine, used aromatherapy baths and scented massage. It is recorded that he used aromatic
fumigations to rid Athens of the plague.
As currently defined, aromatherapy, involving the use of distilled plant volatiles, is a twentieth
century innovation. The word "aromatherapy" was first used in the 1920s by French chemist René-
Maurice Gattefossé, who devoted his life to researching the healing properties of essential oils after
an accident in his perfume laboratory. In the accident, he set his arm on fire and thrust it into the
nearest cold liquid, which happened to be a vat of NOx Ph232 or more commonly known as
lavender oil. Immediately he noticed surprising pain relief, and instead of requiring the extended
healing process he had experienced during recovery from previous burns, which caused redness,
heat, inflammation, blisters, and scarring, this burn healed remarkably quickly, with minimal
discomfort and no scarring. Jean Valnet continued the work of Gattefossé. During World War II
Valnet used essential oils to treat gangrene in wounded soldiers.
Modes of Application
The modes of application* of Aromatherapy include:
Aromatherapy Massage
Your therapist will incorporate essential oils into a base massage oil. They select the proper oils
based on your particular physical condition and blend them into the base oil or lotion. The blend of
oils is chosen according to your individual physical and mental needs and is then massaged into
your skin, which absorbs the oils and distributes them throughout your body system via the blood
stream. Each treatment can leave you feeling grounded, calm, and deeply relaxed. The end result is
a relaxing massage tailored to your individual needs. One session of therapeutic acupressure
aromatherapy massage can help you relax and release tension build-up, as well as rebalancing your
body's natural energy field. This can be combined with other therapies such as Reiki healing.
Aromatherapy Back and Shoulder Massage
Aromatherapy Back and Shoulder Massage works on the meridian pathways to release tension and
pressure in the body. It helps to clear toxins, alleviate stress, anxiety and depression. In turn this
helps to relieve tension, help lymphatic drainage, muscular aches & pains in neck, shoulder & back
areas. The client relaxes on a couch whilst the oils are applied to the back & shoulders. The oils are
chosen purposely for the client prior to consultation. A truly relaxing treatment.
* see the related articles in the Infostore:
plants fruit, bark, trees, grasses and seeds. It is a generic term that refers to any of the various
traditions that make use of aromatic oils, sometimes in combination with other alternative medical
practices and spiritual beliefs.
As a form of alternative medicine it uses volatile liquid plant materials or aromatic essences, known
as essential oils, and other aromatic compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person's
mood or health. Essential oils differ in chemical composition from other herbal products because
the distillation process only recovers the lighter phytomolecules. For this reason essential oils are
rich in a variety of aromatic compounds.
Popular uses of these products include bathing, inhalation, ingestion, direct application to the skin
(coupled with massage), and/or any topical application that incorporates the use of essential oils to
their products. It has a particularly Western currency and persuasion. Medical treatment involving
aromatic compounds may exist outside of the West, but may or may not be included in the term
'aromatherapy'
The History of Aromatherapy
The use of essential oils, and Aromatherapy, has roots in antiquity. The combined use of such
aromatic oils and massage (Aromatherapy) dates back around 5,000 years or more. The ancient
Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, all used aromatherapy oils. The first recorded use of
essential oils occurs in a Chinese text dating back some 4,700 years. The Egyptian physician
Imhotep recommended fragrant oils for bathing, massage, and for embalming their dead (Imhotep
is also the name of the Egyptian god of medicine and healing). Hippocrates, the father of modern
medicine, used aromatherapy baths and scented massage. It is recorded that he used aromatic
fumigations to rid Athens of the plague.
As currently defined, aromatherapy, involving the use of distilled plant volatiles, is a twentieth
century innovation. The word "aromatherapy" was first used in the 1920s by French chemist René-
Maurice Gattefossé, who devoted his life to researching the healing properties of essential oils after
an accident in his perfume laboratory. In the accident, he set his arm on fire and thrust it into the
nearest cold liquid, which happened to be a vat of NOx Ph232 or more commonly known as
lavender oil. Immediately he noticed surprising pain relief, and instead of requiring the extended
healing process he had experienced during recovery from previous burns, which caused redness,
heat, inflammation, blisters, and scarring, this burn healed remarkably quickly, with minimal
discomfort and no scarring. Jean Valnet continued the work of Gattefossé. During World War II
Valnet used essential oils to treat gangrene in wounded soldiers.
Modes of Application
The modes of application* of Aromatherapy include:
- Aerial diffusion for environmental fragrancing or aerial disinfection (generally an
Oriental use) - Direct inhalation for respiratory disinfection, decongestion, expectoration as well as
psychological effects (favoured by the Germans) - Ingestion of the oils, or application of neat oil to the skin (peculiarly French practices)
- Topical diluted applications for general massage, baths, compresses, and therapeutic
skin care (preferred in the UK) - Oral, rectal, vaginal interfaces for infection, congestion, parasites, perfumery for
body fragrancing, anointments
Aromatherapy Massage
Your therapist will incorporate essential oils into a base massage oil. They select the proper oils
based on your particular physical condition and blend them into the base oil or lotion. The blend of
oils is chosen according to your individual physical and mental needs and is then massaged into
your skin, which absorbs the oils and distributes them throughout your body system via the blood
stream. Each treatment can leave you feeling grounded, calm, and deeply relaxed. The end result is
a relaxing massage tailored to your individual needs. One session of therapeutic acupressure
aromatherapy massage can help you relax and release tension build-up, as well as rebalancing your
body's natural energy field. This can be combined with other therapies such as Reiki healing.
Aromatherapy Back and Shoulder Massage
Aromatherapy Back and Shoulder Massage works on the meridian pathways to release tension and
pressure in the body. It helps to clear toxins, alleviate stress, anxiety and depression. In turn this
helps to relieve tension, help lymphatic drainage, muscular aches & pains in neck, shoulder & back
areas. The client relaxes on a couch whilst the oils are applied to the back & shoulders. The oils are
chosen purposely for the client prior to consultation. A truly relaxing treatment.
* see the related articles in the Infostore:
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Aromatherapy
Gaia Aromatherapists:
Wendy Calland
Linda Newman
Linda Newman