About aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils therapeutically. Plant oils have been used for therapy and cosmetics for thousands of years with records going back to ancient Egypt, China and India.
The essential oils are extracted from flowers, leaves, roots, peel, resin or bark.
Essential oils are either absorbed through your skin using massage or through a cream, lotion or compress to which they have been added. Some people claim this may act as an antiseptic or a painkiller, although there is limited evidence for this. Alternatively the oils can be inhaled and some of the oil components enter your body.
Aromatherapy works in two ways: the skin absorbing the essential oils during the massage and the smell. When you inhale essential oils, this stimulates your olfactory system - the part of the brain connected to smell. A signal is transferred to your brain's limbic system that controls emotions and stores and retrieves learned memories and this triggers chemicals to be released.
These are thought to have different effects, causing you to feel relaxed or stimulated. In addition, the gentle massage often used to apply the diluted oils to your skin is likely to have a relaxing effect.
Some of the conditions aromatherapy is used for include:
- anxiety, stress or insomnia
- muscular aches and pains
- headaches
- digestive problems
- menstrual or menopausal problems
On the initial visit there is a detailed consultation regarding your medical history, diet, lifestyle and health problems. Aromatherapists practise holistically (treating the whole person) and try to find treatments and oils that suit you physically and mentally so single essential oil may be used or a blend of two or three.
The appropriate chosen oils are blended with a called a carrier oil. These light oils, mainly obtained from nuts or seeds such as almond or grapeseed, 'carry' the essential oils and provide lubrication for massage. It's important to tell your therapist if you have a nut or other allergy.
Your first session may last up to ah hour and a half because of the initial consultation.
You may find that one session is enough or decide to continue with regular treatments at intervals of one to four weeks. Each of these will last about an hour.
Please inform me if you have conditions including:
- allergies
- hay fever
- asthma
- eczema
- sensitive skin
Some oils, including citrus ones such as orange, grapefruit and bergamot, react with ultraviolet light and can cause your skin to burn more easily in sunlight.
Essential oils should never be used neat on your skin. Exceptions are lavender oil and tea tree oil but only in small amounts and not for long periods.
Aromatherapy isn't suitable if:
- you have epilepsy
- your blood pressure is high
- you have deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in your leg)
- you're (or may be) pregnant or breastfeeding
Some essential oils may either reduce or enhance the effects of certain conventional medicines.
If you're taking any medication, always check with your GP before using aromatherapy.