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Aromatherapy
and Essential Oils - An Overview
| Aromatherapy
is an age-old treatment known to many of the earliest
civilisations. In Egypt they were using Essential
Oils as far back as 4500 BC for embalming, massage oils,
cosmetics
and medicinal purposes.
Essential
Oils used for Aromatherapy are extracted from flowers, leaves,
fruit, tree bark, roots, herbs,spices, resin and wood. Each
oil has its own individual smell and healing properties.
These oils are often described as the "soul"
of the plant. All oils
are natural antiseptics, and beyond that, they can
also be antibiotic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-spasmodic,
insecticidal, calming, stimulating, anti-depressant etc.
Material
used to make Essential Oils is harvested at different
times of the year depending on the type of plant that it
comes from. Aromas can vary from year to year
because of climate changes, altitude, soil conditions and the
amount of rainfall and sunshine.
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Lavender
Field
Tea
Tree Plantation
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Essential
Oils are mixed into vegetable oils (Coconut, Sweet Almond, Sunflower,
Grapeseed for example) and once they are massaged into
the skin, they are absorbed quickly and give highly
effective results. Essential Oils have very small
molecules which enable them to be penetrate the skin
and be absorbed into the bloodstream. This is a very powerful
but gentle
way of treating the body.
Cautions
Essential
Oils are very powerful and should be used with care
and well diluted.
NEVER use essential oils or products containing
them on or around cats - they are toxic.
Essential
Oils should NEVER be used neat directly on the skin
as they can cause irritation.
Do
not use during pregnancy without the advice of an Aromatherapist.
Never
put the oils in eyes or on the sensitive tissues surrounding
them.
Never
take oils internally.
Keep oils out of the reach of children and animals.
If
you suffer from allergies or skin problems, use the
oils very carefully.
Make sure that you do a patch
test before using them widely.
If
you have any doubts, consult a qualified Aromatherapist.
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