Aromatherapy 'An Art and a Science'

Aromatherapy has been a therapeutic massage technique close to my heart for many years now. I studied advanced Aromatherapy for a year as part of my degree and professionally qualified in it as an Aromatherapist and then combined that knowledge with my learning in the Homeopathy, Herbal Medicine and Organic Chemistry modules, I was hooked. I spent hours researching essential oils, obsessed about sources of oils, purity and where to get my organic oils from. Smelling away and researching therapeutic properties endlessly. I realized it was Flowers, Trees, Plants and Herbs from which the essential oils are produced that worked so naturally on a very powerful, energetic, vibrational level and also working deep in the body on a cellular level in harmony with our own natural Organic Chemistry down to a molecular level. It became intensely interesting and a profound obsession for me and made me want to research deeper into Aromatherapy and how it works on our brains and bodies.

Aromatherapy is an ancient therapeutic practice dating back to ancient Egypt where egyptians learnt how to distill and macerate the oil from flowers, herbs and trees to produce essential oils and then use them for all kinds of therapeutic and aromatic purposes. The trade today in essential oils is worldwide with consignments passing between France, China, Brazil, Bulgaria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, The US, Australia, USSR, Israel, Spain, Egypt, Britain, Thailand, Java, Guatamala, Somalia amongst other places.

Purity, source and origin are very important factors these days for full therapeutic effect as a lot of cheap synthetic copies flood the market. My favourite at the moment is the High Altitude Organic Lavender which is handpicked and hand harvested on the mountains of France. A beautiful top note and an oil that can be used on pretty much any client, blended or otherwise. Sandalwood is another favourite of mine, however now the beautiful sandalwood trees in the Mysore region of India are endangered and the oil production from these 200 year old trees has now been stopped. Now ethical farming of sandalwood trees is happening in Australia to produce ethical sandalwood essential oil - as ancient Indian Sandalwood is regarded as rare and unethical to buy now. It was amazing, worth more than gold

Aromatherapy Oils and their Organic chemical compounds work with our cells and organs to naturally stimulate healing and repair damaged tissues, organs, cells and stimulate the lymphatic and the immune system. It is amazing and the body takes in and then eliminates these oils after about 12 hours or so after your massage. The Limbic system in the brain also responds to the Aromas and produce sedative effects to relax you.

Essential oils have been used dating back some 5000 years in Egypt, but it became popular in Europe in the 1900's where the French Apothecary using essential oils came about. The french physician Dr Jean Valnet followed the research of french chemist Dr Gatefosse - who coined the name Aromatherapy which is used today. Dr Valnet used essential oils for the treatment of war injuries during World War II to disinfect and heal. He in turn published a book in 1964 called 'Aromatherapie, Traitement des Maladies par les Essence des Plantes' .

I am trying to find this book now. Hope its not all in French!

One day I will write a book myself, that is how much I love it..

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